Or is it Daley Blind? With domestic football back on the agenda after the first international football break of the season, we’re all looking forward to the Dutchman’s debut at Old Trafford. Oh, throw in Rojo, Di Maria and Falcao, and the excitement reaches a point where we might explode even before the game starts.
Hopefully his first game for United will end better than the past week has for him and Holland, who lost both games that they played (friendly 2-0 against Italy, then 2-1 against Czech Republic in their first Euro 2016 qualifier). At least he got an assist for his country’s only goal in the two games.
Other United players were also involved for their countries in the past week. Blind’s compatriot Robin Van Persie took part in both games, though he was taken off in the last ten minutes against Italy; also, Danny Welbeck scored both goals for England in their 2-0 win against Switzerland. What? Oh, never mind.
Moving on quickly, Angel Di Maria put a brilliant show on when Argentina faced World Champions Germany as he scored one and assisted the other three goals in a 4-2 win. Of course it was only a friendly, and Germany had a ‘second string’ side out, but if our new number seven puts that kind of performance in while wearing a United shirt, we don’t have much to worry about. Can you imagine his crosses finding Falcao, Van Persie, and Rooney (Wilson even)? Surely they’d be able to convert a few chances he creates into goals?
Our new Argentinean defender Marcos Rojo also played in that game, and having now got his work permit to play in England, will probably make his debut against QPR on Sunday as well.
United’s Radamel Falcao (how good does that sound?) made his Colombia return by playing in the last 13 minutes in a friendly against Brazil, his first appearance after missing the World Cup through injury.
David De Gea played the full ninety minutes in Spain’s friendly defeat against France, but didn’t take part in their 5-1 win against Macedonia.
Back to England, we had Phil Jones feature in both games for the national team, though he was taken off with a possible hamstring injury with about fifteen minutes to go against Switzerland. After being examined by the club doctors on Tuesday, he will be having a full-scan and could miss this weekend’s game.
Wayne Rooney also played in the two games, scoring the only goal against Norway, and playing a part in England’s first goal against the Swiss. Looking at him, he’s definitely not at his best right now, after impressing in pre-season. I still think it might have been a rash decision making him captain at United, especially with all the new arrivals, but I also think that with his very good football brain, he’ll step up a few levels and make the most of this opportunity. With more world class players alongside him, it might be easier for him to get back to his best. Hopefully he’ll show he’s more than capable of skippering such a star-studded side, though his sub-par first touch might be shown up even more now.
Tyler Blackett made his debut for England’s U/21s by coming on for ten minutes in a 3-0 win against Moldova, even assisting in their third goal, while Michael Keane played the whole game, after having also played in their 1-0 at Lithuania a few days earlier. Not bad for a club that has lost its way when it comes to youth football products eh?
Looking at other Premier League clubs in the news in the past week, Chelsea have made a few headlines about their TWENTY-SIX players that are out on loan. That’s one more player than the twenty-five that they can register to play in the Premier League, while QPR are being warned of demotion to the Conference if they get relegated from the top division, unless they pay the huge fine they’ll be incurred with after failing to adhere to the Football League’s FFP rules.
Back to United, the club has announced record revenues of about £430 million this week, proving once again why the Glazers will be owners of the club for years to come. Why let go of something that makes you so much money?
Looking at this weekend’s game, Phil Dowd will referee United-QPR at Old Trafford on Sunday (4pm UK), and we very much hope that players like Luke Shaw, Rojo, Blind, Falcao and Di Maria play their part in the club’s first competitive win under Louis Van Gaal. Throw in others like Rafael, Mata, Herrera, Rooney and Van Persie, and we realise that three points are more than possible against another newly promoted side. I mean, what can possibly go wrong?
COME ON UNITED!!!
