As Manchester United travel to the West Midlands today for a rare Friday night fixture, Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood will be looking to add to his winning start to the season following a 0-1 away win at Premiership new boys Bournemouth last weekend.
Manchester United to be honest, were lucky to come away with a win last weekend against Tottenham, which if Tim Sherwood has seen the match will fill him with confidence that his team can beat United at Villa Park under the Friday night lights.
If history is anything to go by, the opposite is most likely to occur, as Villa haven’t beaten United at home for two decades, drawing seven and losing 12 of their last 19 attempts.
We are going to go along with the statistics and back Manchester United to win at odds of 8/11 with BET365, and not just because history points to a Red Devil victory, but because Louis van Gaal would have had a right-go at the team following the opening day fiasco at Old Trafford against Spurs, but also the fact that the Dutchman has told the team that in order to win the Premiership they must improve on the fact that they only won six away games last season.
And also given the fact the 64-year-old former Barcelona and Bayern Munich trainer has told Wayne Rooney had can have his favoured centre-forward role back just so long as he can repeat the 35 goals he scored during the 2011/2012 season we are backing the England captain to score anytime at odds of 11/10 with BET365.
Goalkeeper
With David De Gea looking as though he may never play another game for United even if he does not move to Real Madrid, LVG will continue with Argentinian new signing Sergio Romero, who except for some dodgy footwork and a few questionable kicks to touch did not look all that bad.
United fans will hope that after now having made his debut for United opening day jitters will have vanished and that the 28-year-old can settle into his new role at Old Trafford.
Defence
New signing Matteo Darmian will continue at right-back following his impressive performance against Spurs with youngster Luke Shaw wide out left eager to nail down a regular place in LVG’s team now that he is in his second season since moving to United from Southampton. In the centre of the park LVG will keep the two centre-backs Blind and Smalling after they along with Romero managed to keep a clean sheet for the Red Devils despite having to defend against a very attack minded Tottenham team.
Midfield
Morgan Schneiderlin was also impressive in United’s win last weekend and looks set to be one of the first names van Gaal adds to his team sheet each week following an effortless move from his former club.
Partnering the Frenchman will be the rock in United’s team, Michael Carrick who when fit is almost certain to play each weekend.
As far as the creative players are concerned Juan Mata and Ashley Young will continue to make the flanks their own, while new signing Memphis Depay will be looking to either supply or feed off of Captain Wayne Rooney with manager van Gaal giving the young former PSV player carte blanche to roam freely in midfield.
Attack
Captain Wayne Rooney will once more be looked upon to get United on the scoreboard and given the 29-year-olds ambition to prove himself as the clubs top striker it’s hard to imagine him not finding the back of the net in what we predict will not be a landslide but a win none the less for a United team with champions ambitions.
