Preferred Line Up v. Stoke City

Since the transfer of Mata there has been certain amount of excitement in Manchester United Season. Mata , who already has an assist to his name is starting to ease into our line up. Since his arrival majority of fans are wondering what our line up will look like. Today's game against Stoke is very important, A win may take us to 5th place provided Spurs lose and Everton drop points in their respective games.

All our attacking players will be eager to link up with Mata. My preferred Line up today will be

______________ De Gea __________________

Rafael_____ Evans ______ Smalling____ Evra

_______   Fletcher ______ Jones____________

___ Mata ______ Rooney _______ Janujaz __

_______________ RVP ___________________

This would be my Line up today . The defense would be the same like in the last game. I would prefer a continuity there.

In Midfield I would pick Fletcher and Jones as against Stoke you need strength in the middle. Cleverley could struggle here so Jones would  be better. He did well against Cardiff where he provided protection to the Back 4.

The attack is where things gets interesting. I really hope Moyes doesn't stick to 4-4-2 line up as it wont make full use of Mata's talent. RVP should start provided he is fit enough. No need to risk him . If he is fit then let him start and score a goal or two then sub him like in last game. If RVP doesn't start then either go with Hernandez at top or push Rooney up front and play Kagawa as #10. I really want to see Mata-Kagawa-Janujaz play together. I hope Moyes doesn't forget about Kagawa. Let him play a game or two with Mata and let us see how he does. Same with Hernandez, he is under utilized so I hope he also gets his chance when RVP or Rooney is rested.

Prediction- I will go for a 3-1 victory for us. It would be shocking if we don't get 3 points as we have gained some momentum in the last week or so with the signing of Mata and a win against Cardiff. Let us we win this one  and hope other team above us drop points.

A Line up with Mata

What a week it has been for Manchester United. A week where United got beaten by Chelsea, a Week where United got Knocked out from the Capital One Cup by Sunderland and now in the same week we have bought one of the most Exciting play maker in the world of football JUAN MATA.

Mata just moments ago has landed in Carrington and he is going to undergo a Medical today. So we can breathe a Sigh of Relief that we have Signed a player in January and not any player but a top quality player. So now the question begs where will Mata play. How our line up could look like with Mata. Lets look

    .........................De Gea...............................

Rafael......... Evans............Vidic.....................Evra

................  Fletcher....... Carrick.............................

........ Mata ................................. Janujaz..............

....................   Rooney  ........................................

....................   RVP   ...........................................

I feel this would be our best line up. Mata and Janujaz need not play as an out and out Winger but can play as an attacking forward. With this line up Mata, Janujaz and Rooney all three can interchange their Position. Kagawa can also be given the chance instead of a Janujaz or Rooney.
Manchester United have to sacrifice the wing play if they have to play this line up, even though United have always play with two winger but the time has come to change that setup. We can always play with wingers if we buy quality ones but right now this is the best formation.

What you guys think? What would be the best line up with MATA in the squad.

Chelsea v. Manchester United Preview

Who would have thought in the start of the season that Manchester United would be out of the tittle race in Mid-January itself. I am usually a Optimistic guy but We have to be reasonable and accept that It is highly unlikely that United will win the tittle this season. The thing that Manchester United and Moyes will be focusing on is to Finish Top 4. Now this is where the game against Chelsea becomes very Important. We are 9 points below Chelsea, A win will reduce it to 6 but a loss here will mean we would be 12 points behind the third place side Chelsea. Which would further mean that we will be fighting for the 4th Spot and not even the 2nd and 3rd Spot. 

Manchester United will be without their two Talisman Strikers in RVP and Rooney against Chelsea. This is a huge blow. You may put all the blame on Moyes for our poor show this season but we have to look at the injuries we have suffered. Apart from these two world class players we are also without the services of Energetic Phil Jones. I have to say we have really missed him this Month. With these injuries young players like Janujaz , Welbeck , Kagawa etc are getting their chance to prove their worth and Welbeck and Janujaz have really showed they can lead the United Attack. 

Chelsea have not lost at Home this season in Premier League and Mourinho has not lost at Stamford Bridge while Managing Chelsea. Manchester United themselves dont have that a good record at the Bridge. Apart from the chaotic win last season (3-2 to United) at the bridge they have struggled at Chelsea's turf.

 Many predict us to lose this game and the  Swedish International Ibrahimovic even saying he would retire if United beats Chelsea today. They are not wrong, we have been so inconsistent and poor this season that even an Optimistic Fan like me will predict a defeat today. But this is where it gets interesting, What if a BIG IF we BEAT chelsea, a fluke win maybe. Imagine the confidence that our boys and more importantly Moyes will get if we get those 3 points against Jose's men in their turf. That could very well be the turning point of Moyes's Career. Moyes will be well aware of this. He knows this is a game if by any chance his team manages a win then he could look Forward. I am not saying this win will make us win the tittle, No it wont. But it could turn Moyes Career Upwards. Many said we wouldnt Beat Arsenal when they came at Old trafford this season but we did manage to win that one. I know this game is much tougher but thats where the fun part is. I dont want to get carried away but  a Win would send a Shock wave to the Football world (Especially to Zlatan). Moyes has already broken many records of losing matches at Old trafford against clubs Like Swansea and WBA. Let him break another record of ending Mourinho's run at the bridge.

Football is a funny game and it would be a foolish thing to write us off. We are the defending champion and are one of the Top clubs in the World Football so write us off at your own peril. I still think it will be huge task of beating chelsea today. A draw would be ok but both teams would love to win this game. 

MY PREDICTION- I want us to win but i will be reasonable and predict this to be a 1-1 Draw. Yes I am going for a draw. Jose always plays safe so he wont risk losing and Moyes would also not want to lose. So a Draw will make both the Parties satisfied. Let us hope we get a good Football today and not a repeat of the last game these two giants played against Each other at the start of the season.