West Brom are on a cracking run of form at the moment and we can’t go into the game under estimating Roy Hodgson’s side like I think we might have done in mid-week against Athletic Bilbao. About that game, I thought they were absolutely fantastic. It shows there are more than two teams in Spain! They were relaxed on the ball, created chances for fun and scored a couple of great goals. It’s not very often teams come to Old Trafford and play without fear but it’s the best I have seen an away side play at The Theatre of Dreams in a very long time. OK, we could have performed better in defence but young players like Smalling and Jones are still learning the game, I think it’s all good experience for them and the tie isn’t over yet. They came into the first leg as under dogs, now in front of a passionate Spanish crowd they will be expected to go through and that is never easy.
We can make it, keep the faith!!!!
Back onto the Baggies and they are coming off three straight wins and getting AVB the sack. They are safe from relegation and sit tenth in the League. What a season it is turning out to be for Roy Hodgson, he proved he was a good manager at Fulham, got treated terribly by the Scousers and now seems to have found a home at the Hawthorns. They are a neat and tidy team that defends properly, doesn’t take to many risks and they have started to add a few more goals to their game with the likes of Odemwingie, Long and Fortune upfront. We drew against them at home last season but I can see us taking all three points this time round. We ended up beating Spurs pretty comfortably last Sunday, the Gaffer will pick a similar team and if we want to win the League we need to beat the Baggies!
City are away to Swansea which has proved a tricky place to go all season, this could be a pivotal weekend in the title race. Fingers crossed!
Danger man: Peter Odemwingie
I was very impressed with Odemwingie last season and I just wondered whether he would be able to score goals again this year now that defences knew all about him. Well the answer is yes, he recently scored a hat-trick against Wolves, two against Sunderland and won the Premier League player of the month in February. He’s got plenty of pace and is a proper goal poacher. One thing that would drive me crazy if I played with him would be that he is so selfish in front of goal but I think that’s not always a bad thing and I sometimes wish Wazza would add that to his game. But you can’t have everything!!!
Prediction : United are gonna win 3-2 against West Brom – Nani might get a couple!!!!
Thanks for match the preview Maysie.
Agreed there are more than two teams in la Liga, be very glad we never met Atletico Madrid , my favourites to win the Europa league this year or at the minimum to get to Bucharest for the final.
Athletic last night were superb , Barcelona esque , the closest player to the opposing player , that has the football is chased right down to make the opposition player rush a hurried pass or launch the ball into a 50 – 50 area of the park. Exactly what Bilbao did to United, no time on the ball , United players not making the angles close to each other to work the football gradually up the field, retaining possesion .The stats for ball retention showed Bilbao to have almost 10 % more possession than United.
The major concern for me is still the amount of shots the young Spaniard de Gea has to deal with, this needs to be cut out at source. You can see David de Gea becoming more vocal with the players in front of him.Which is great , although not ‘ publically ‘ criticising his team mates, that’s a no – no.
Shouting if he has grasped this in English yet , put a block in, put your body on the line.
I agree to a certain extent regards keep the faith in northern Spain , United as we know do things the hard way and have us all biting our finger nails to the last minute.
Rooney might have just provided a life – line with the rather fortunate penalty via Javier Hernandez’s attempt on goal .However small blessings and hope.
A cautionary note of the 19 games United have played against Spanish teams away from home , won a mere 2. As we know only a win will suffice .
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Yes the Baggies are a neat side, Roy Hodgson has them organized and disciplined in retaining their shape .
Cautious but clever , I can see this being a close call , I think like after a defeat , particularly at home, the manager will go with a , 4 – 5 – 1 to ensure unlike the Bilbao we don’t get over whelmed in the midfield.
I am going for a 2 -1 .
Spot on Odemwingie scores at a rate of 1 goal per two games.
Would it not be perfect in the Swans could do us a favour they are pretty solid at the Liberty stadium and knock that Etihad juggernaut of course.
Ha Ha about Wazza, that’s confidence and trust in your ability like Rooney has , your not the clubs 7th top goal scorer of ‘ all ‘ time for nothing.
“Keep the faith ” or else . lol.
****Thanks for the match preview **** Jaysus I should proof read before I post ! 🙂