The start of the new league season was everything about a kick in the teeth for the club and fans. It appeared nothing we did or indeed achieved in pre season was worthy preparation for the business end of things. Swansea got all three points from Old Trafford without really breaking sweat. It appeared that the defeat could be attributed more to ourselves than the opposition.
The players seemed to have no confidence whatsoever in anything that was done in summer tour of the USA. United were nervous. Ultimately they froze. It was a pity. The week ahead led to social media calls for the owners to invest some of the hundreds of millions that they make from the club. In came Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon to provide more cover for a defence that is severely short of bodies let alone quality.
Rojo though was not the difference between us and the Swans on opening day. In any event, at least three more big names will have to get in before the end of the month if the squad is going to be largely impacted on by new signings. It means United simply performed at excess capacity last week and need to go all out this time round.
We travel to Sunderland on Sunday in a bid to get our season started. We have been blessed with the easiest start to a season in ages and yet we are already playing catch up to our rivals. Sunday has therefore taken on a new importance. It's a about putting something on the board. It is inconceivable that come close of EPL business on Sunday, we could have Nil points to show out of a very winnable 6 at the start of the season. If LVG says confidence was smashed by last week's result, how much more shall we lose if we come away from the Stadium of Light without the points?
Pictures from the training ground indicate that Evans, RVP, and Valencia are back in training. Welbeck seems to have recovered as well. That in itself gives us better options for Sunday. It will be interesting to see who the manager starts in the wing back position given his options this week.
Ultimately though, it will come down to whether the players can turn up and express themselves come kick off. It was difficult to analyse last week's result because a lot about it was hard to explain....not when we had just completed the best pre season in recent memory.
This weekend might just be one for second chances.
Labels: PREVIEWS
