In the past couple of weeks Sir Alex Ferguson has selected Ashley Young in Manchester United’s starting XI. For me this has been a mistake and the man who should be starting in place of the winger should be Javier Hernandez.
Yesterday United drew 1-1 away to Swansea. The offence in this game was a tale of two halves. In the first half United only really looked dangerous from Robin van Persie set-pieces which Patrice Evra’s goal came from. The defence again failed as they have so many times this season when Michu equalised.
When the players came out after half-time, it was like United’s attackers had woken up but for all their effort and hard-work, United’s crossing let them down and the goal that they badly needed eluded them.
Young’s performance today was terrible. His crossing was shabby when it can be so much better. If Sir Alex would have started Hernandez, I see the game being a lot different as it would have meant Wayne Rooney being played out-wide leaving our Mexican forward up-top where his movement alongside van Persie would have hurt Swansea.
On Boxing Day hopefully we will get the presents we need. These presents are to defend better, to start Hernandez and for our goalkeepers to be at their best, but who could complain after all we’re still top of the table.
By Harold Hershman @hhdj89
Rooney was poor against Swansea and that is the main reason we didn't win. If he could have actually passed the ball we might have scored a winner. Giggs had more impact when he came on and we might have won if the change was done earlier. I'm sure Ferguson will make changes for the Newastle game. I would go back to the diamond and bench Young and Valencia. They are both not playing well enough and I wouold go as far to say they are very poor right now. A new winger needs to be bought to get both of them to step up their game big time. I think Wilfred Zaha would be the ticket because he is young and hungry and would put a lot of pressure of Valencia and Young.
Hernandez is a natural goalscorer but he can get lost in games and that's why he doesn't start all the time. I would however bring him into the team now for the next three games because we badly need to win those matches. I wouldn't stress about dropping two points yet because I believe Man City will drop points over the Christmas and New Year fixtures as well. We cannot however afford to drop anymore points.
………….Carrick…………..
Fletcher…………..Cleverley
…………..Rooney…………..
.Hernandez……Van Persie.