PREVIEW: Swansea City v Manchester United

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Saturday 17th August 2013 – KO 5:30pm Nigerian Time Live on Super Sports 3

Referee: Phil Dowd, Assistants: G Beswick, D Bryan. Fourth Official: L Mason

Today marks the start of a new era with David Moyes taking charge of his first Barclays Premier League match in charge of Manchester United. The Red Devils were handed a tough start to the season with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium as their first match. United then face Chelsea at Old Trafford on Bank Holiday Monday before travelling up the M62 to face Liverpool at Anfield. A slightly easier match at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace follows that match with a trip across town to face rivals Manchester City sit either side of the first UEFA Champions League group stage match.

It was never going to be an easy transition, but all we can do is get behind the new manager and the squad and see what happens. Most supporters would have thought the club would have secured their first summer signing by now, but with just over two weeks to go, things still seem to be happening on that front. I am sure United will sign someone, but right now I can only suggest players from a list of players the press have linked the club with.

Swansea City have strengthened their squad considerably this season. Bringing in Jernade Meade, Wilfried Bony, Jonjo Shelvey, Alex Gogic, Gregor Zabret, Alejandro Pozuelo, Jordi Amat and José Cañas, who will add strength in-depth for Martin Laudrup’s men and possibly get them pushing for another European place again this coming season.

At the start of last season United were facing an away match against Everton on the Monday night after the season started on the Saturday. Everton won 1-0 and it was Marouane Fellaini scoring the goal which turned into the winner just before the hour mark of the match. On the first day of the season over the last ten seasons; United have won six of the matches, losing two and drawing two, so The Red Devils do not do that bad on the first day of the season, going by the last ten seasons anyway.

Come on David Moyes, play like Fergie’s boys, we’ll go wild, wild, wild……..

What the boss says:

“It’s a very tough away fixture. Michael Laudrup has done a really good job there and strengthened the team a lot this summer. I would expect Swansea to have another season as good as last year and they’ve already had a couple of European games as well which gives them the feeling they are a little more match-ready. 

“We know it will be a hard game but we feel we’re getting ready as well and getting everybody back fit. Because of that, hopefully we’ll go there and give ourselves a good chance of winning. The only real injury we’ve had is Rafael’s that looks like keeping him out for four-to-six weeks with a hamstring. We’ve had a few other small niggles, keeping people out for a few days, but, hopefully, most people will be available and ready for the game.”

- David Moyes

Players to watch:

Robin van Persie: The Dutch striker is expected to start off the season where he left off, by scoring crucial goals helping United on their way to their first victory of the season. United have a good record against Swansea in the Barclays Premier League, with three wins and one draw in four matches. Robin has only scored once against Swansea in the Barclays Premier League, whilst playing for Arsenal. I am sure he would like to open his account against them for United this season.

Michu: The Spanish forward was in my opinion one of the players of last season. He scored 22 goals in 43 appearances after Michael Laudrup signed him for £2 million, which was a bargain. He scored in both fixtures against United last season, which hounded the Red Devils, especially in the match just before Christmas. The final match of the season at Old Trafford, Michu scored the equaliser, which prompted Rio Ferdinand to score the winner for Sir Alex’s last ever home match. I expect Michu to be lively once again this season.

Manchester United Statistics:

Based on Barclays Premier League 2012/13 [statistics taken from the Official Barclays Premier League website]

Played 38 matches, won 28, drawn 5, lost 5 and currently have 89 points
Scored 86 goals (2.26 goals per match) & conceded 43 goals (1.13 goals per match) – 4 were pens
Longest unbeaten streak is 18 matches
Clean sheet record 34%

Swansea City Statistics:

Based on Barclays Premier League 2012/13 [statistics taken from the Official Barclays Premier League website]

Played 38 matches, won 11, drawn 13, lost 14 and currently have 46 points
Scored 47 goals (1.24 goal per match) & conceded 51 goals (1.34 goals per match) – 0 were pens
Longest unbeaten streak is 7 matches
Clean sheet record 26%

Top Scorers (pre-season):

Manchester United: 4 – Jesse Lingard, 3 – Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, 1 – Fabio da Silva, Own Goal, Angelo Henriquez, Adnan Januzaj, Shinji Kagawa, Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia, Wilfried Zaha

Swansea City: 6 – Rory Donnelly, 5 – Michu, 4 – Nathan Dyer, Pablo Hernandez, 3 – Alejandro Pozuelo, 2 – Wilfried Bony, Kenji Gorré, Jonjo Shelvey, 1 – Roland Lamah, Àngel Rangel, Wayne Routledge, Ki Sung-Yueng

Manchester United Form:

Last six matches: Wigan Athletic 2-0 W, Sevilla 1-3 L, AIK Fotboll 1-1 D, Kitchee FC 2-5 W, Cerezo Osaka 2-2 D, Yokohama F, Marinos 3-2 L, A-League All Stars 1-5 W

Swansea City Form:

Last six competitive matches: Malmö FF 0-0 D, Malmö FF 4-0 W, Reading 0-3 W, Exeter City 0-2 W, Yeovil Town 0-5 W, ADO Den Haag 0-1 W, Haaglandia 0-10 W

Head to Head in the Barclays Premier League:

Played 4 matches in the Barclays Premier League:

Manchester United: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 0 – Scored 6 goals, conceded 2 goals and kept 2 clean sheets

Swansea City: Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 3 – Scored 2 goals, conceded 6 goals and kept 0 clean sheets

West Bromwich Albion have never beaten Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League and have always lost against them at The Hawthorns, which is a pretty good record for United.

Manchester United Squad:

Manager: David Moyes

Goalkeepers: 1. David De Gea, 13, Anders Lindegaard, 40. Ben Amos, 50. Sam Johnstone;

Defenders: 2. Rafael da Silva, 3. Patrice Evra, 4. Phil Jones, 5. Rio Ferdinand, 6. Jonny Evans, 12. Chris Smalling, 15. Nemanja Vidic, 22. Fabio da Silva, 28. Alexander Büttner, 30. Guillermo Varela, 31. Scott Wootton, 36. Marnick Vermijl, 38. Michael Keane, 42. Tyler Blackett;

Midfielders: 8. Anderson, 11. Ryan Giggs, 16. Michael Carrick, 17. Nani, 18. Ashley Young, 23. Tom Cleverley, 24. Darren Fletcher, 25. Antonio Valencia, 26. Shinji Kagawa, 29. Wilfried Zaha, 32. Nick Powell, 33. Bebe, 34. Larnell Cole, 35. Jesse Lingard, 39. Tom Thorpe, 44. Adnan Januzaj, 45. Davide Petrucci;

Strikers: 10. Wayne Rooney, 14. Javier Hernandez, 19. Danny Welbeck, 20. Robin van Persie, 21. Angelo Henriquez, 27. Federico Macheda, 48. Will Keane

Doubts/Injuries: 2. Rafael da Silva (hamstring), 6. Jonny Evans (ankle), 16. Michael Carrick (eye infection), 17. Nani (groin), 18. Ashley Young (ankle/foot), 24. Darren Fletcher (ulcerative colitis), 32. Nick Powell (leg injury) [injury details taken from PhysioRoom.com]

Suspensions: 2. Rafael da Silva (1 matches) [suspensions confirmed by the FA.com]

Predicted Formation/Starting XI:

De Gea;

Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra;

Anderson, Cleverley;

Zaha, Giggs, Kagawa;

van Persie

Score Prediction:

Swansea City 1 – 3 Manchester United