Still Following the Trawler

BREAKING: We'll play Barcelona, PSG, Club América and San Jose in the USA on #MUtour. Details: http://t.co/yqw61y7hQf pic.twitter.com/Pcw7AsI30t — Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 28, 2015

The defeat to Chelsea last Saturday was highly disappointing - the result, the lack of initiative we showed coming forward, the inability to penetrate the Chelsea defense, and as a way of highlighting how reliant we are on Michael Carrick! According to reports today he is still a doubt for Sunday's trip to Goodison Park, however I'm hoping Everton won't be able to stamp out are creative players as well as Zouma, Matic, Ivanovic et al did last week. Also it looks like Blind will return from injury, so no doubt he'll nicely slot into the defensive-midfield role, with Shaw deservedly keeping his place after his highly promising display vs. Chelsea. The return of Blind should actually sort out our formation out from the messy, "early season throw-back" that appeared at Stamford Bridge, softening the blow of Carrick's absence. As a solid, protective layer in front of the defense he'll be able to free the players around him (Herrera, Mata and Young) in ord...

Watch Wayne Rooney’s goal of the season, 10 years ago today… Posted by Manchester United on Thursday, April 23, 2015

Via  the Guardian : Yesterday, 22nd April 2015, marked the one year anniversary of David Moyes' sacking as United manager. In this piece in the Guardian, Jamie Jackson looks back at the decision to cut-short his six year contract, the enormity of the task that Moyes just couldn't cope with, and how things are looking good for United 12 months on. The David Moyes mantra since being sacked as Manchester United manager 12 months on Wednesday is that he was not allowed time to succeed. The Scot maintains any chance to discover if he could do the job was thwarted when Ed Woodward, the executive vice‑chairman, tore up his six-year contract on 22 April of last season, 10 months into his tenure. Yet in doing so Woodward – and the Glazers – were effectively saying to Moyes’s plea for more time: “How soon is now?” The prescient answer might actually have come two months earlier. Because, by the time the trigger was finally pulled, Moyes’s United were in seventh place on 57 points...

"That is sensational"See the amazing Robin van Persie goal which set Manchester United on their way to a 13th #BPL title, #OnThisDay two years ago... Posted by Premier League on Wednesday, April 22, 2015

1. Our successful system was disrupted thanks to so many injuries With Blind, Jones, Rojo and Carrick all out injured for a game which was always going to  be challenging, United had to reshuffle - bringing in players who have spent large periods of the season on the bench (and therefore have been out-of-the-loop in terms of their involvement in United's  recent revival), while playing some key players out of position (see 'Falcao and Rooney' below). In what has been a truly fantastic run of form for United we maintained our game-plan of keeping incredibly high levels of possession (71% at Stamford Bridge? How many other teams have achieved that in recent years??) however with the absence of so many key players - Carrick's influence in midfield being felt most strongly - our effectiveness in front of goal was almost entirely absent (only two shots on target out of 15 attempts). Our football at times was decent and we definitely deserved a draw given the number of attack...

So Ashely Young started the derby last Sunday ahead of Di Maria for the fourth game running, even though I suggested that the Argentine was a definite to face City. Did van Gaal live to rue the decision and wish he had listened to the advice of his favourite blogger? Erm. No. Young has proven us all wrong this season (except for the England manager, who is clearly too fixated on Harry Kane and other over-hyped Tottenham players this season to recognise the most vastly improved England player of recent years). His performance last week then should guarantee his name in LVG's starting line-up for the incredibly challenging trip to Stamford Bridge. In addition to Young keeping his place I also see no need to change anything else for the Chelsea game...that was until I  saw this ! So it looks like no Carrick, Blind, Jones and Rojo unfortunately. A major blow and a potential killer for our chances to get a result against the best team in the league. It will mean largely changing the for...

An honour to be nominated for the @PFA awards Many thanks to all my teammates for making it possible #PFAawards pic.twitter.com/fwsCx0yJ2Y — David De Gea (@D_DeGea) April 16, 2015 Todo un honor estar nominado a dos de los premios @PFA Muchas gracias a mis compañeros por hacerlo posible #PFAawards pic.twitter.com/wLu4adgKPt — David De Gea (@D_DeGea) April 16, 2015

Manchester United vs Manchester City Analysis with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. Posted by Manchester United Die Hard Fans on Monday, April 13, 2015

Via  the Telegraph : Henry Winter in his post-match analysis of United's derby-day demolition  in the Telegraph has revealed some rather interesting statistics about one of United's key men and his impact in our recent revival: Marouane Fellaini... The above chart show that in the 21 games Fellaini has played in this season, United have a points/game rate of 2.1, compared to 1.8 when he hasn't featured. However even more impressively is the win percentage - which stands at 66.7% when he's played and 45.5% when he's out of the side. Highly impressive and rather conclusive figures that prove - whether people like it or not - the big man is indeed one of United's main men this season.

1. Ashley Young Undoubtedly the stand-out performer in the derby. Two assists and a goal, as well as a performance that saw him combine a tireless work-rate with some crucial defensive cover for Blind. What a turnaround for the player who last season, along with Fellaini (see no.2), defined United's flaws and weak-spirit under David Moyes. 2. Fellaini On that note, it appears as though Moyes knew what he was doing all along! The most improved United player ever? I personally can't think of a player who has gone from useless to undroppable from one season to the next. On current form, he is perhaps our strongest and most unique asset as defenses just don't have an answer for his strength and power. It feels a little like he's become our Michael Carrick in the attacking area of the pitch - creating chances, releasing the wingers (his link-up play with Young was sublime) while controlling the flow of play. Yet another excellent and crucial performance from Fellaini. 3.  Un...

I enjoyed that... OT is a special place, especially on days like that. Sometimes 3 points means a little bit more. pic.twitter.com/129VNS4nux — Michael Carrick (@carras16) April 12, 2015 Buzzing with the result and nice to chip in with a goal!! 🔴 Manchester is Red 🔴 @ManUtd #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ibi6EVf9aG — Chris Smalling (@ChrisSmalling) April 12, 2015 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 — Ashley Young (@youngy18) April 12, 2015 Always nice to win a derby. Thanks to the fans who were brilliant today. Important 3 points — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) April 12, 2015 Proud to be Red, proud of these fans! Keep on! Orgulloso de ser Red, orgulloso de esta afición! Seguimos! pic.twitter.com/yk2t1oIQPi — David De Gea (@D_DeGea) April 12, 2015 Yes!!!! Well done boys!! Massive win! Un paso más hacia el objetivo! @ManUtd @ManUtd_Es pic.twitter.com/gtE5RbJWA2 — Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) April 12, 2015 Leave you with this - good night pic.twitter.com/bjU3LkMmOd — Philip Neville (@fizzer18) A...

In my Predicted XI for the Aston Villa game I suggested that Di Maria make a return to the starting line-up for the first time in the league since the Newcastle win on 4th March. Well, it never happened, yet when he was introduced in the 70th minute - a change which was met my rapturous applause and adulation from the United faithful - he reminded us exactly why deserves his place back. Young was as competent on the left as we have now come to expect of him lately however Di maria assist for Rooney's goal, as well as his movement and passing, was class. Definitely a starter in the biggest game of the season this Sunday. Other changes from the 3-1 win at home to Villa? Absolutely zilch. Enjoy the derby everyone! COME ON UNITED !!

Via  Mail Online : Manchester City have been complacent and Manchester United will punish them... JAMIE REDKNAPP : After losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup, I couldn’t see United going anywhere. Things changed at Liverpool. They gained confidence and now they aren’t just winning, they’re playing well. With City, there is a mental issue and they have lost three away games on the bounce. That’s not good enough. MARTIN KEOWN : It looked like City had conquered this rivalry. Not anymore. When I saw them lose the Community Shield I already had my suspicions. True champions forget the past and go for the next challenge. City seemed complacent. For United, Louis van Gaal’s experiments are finally producing results.   BRYAN ROBSON : City’s slip surprises me. The initial dip coincided with Yaya Toure going off to the Africa Cup of Nations. Prior to that City were dominating defences. United took time to settle in to Van Gaal’s ways but they’ve timed it well. Via  Manchester Evening N...

Via  the Telegraph : After kicking up a fuss about United's pre-season tour last summer, where United played five games in five different cities (travelling from LA before moving on to Denver, Washington DC, Detroit and Miami), his desire to start the season off in far less demanding fashion appears to have come true...   Louis van Gaal has won his battle for less-demanding pre-season tour commitments at Manchester United with the club close to finalising a two-week trip to the United States in July.  Van Gaal made a series of public complaints last summer about the organisation of the club’s five-game tour of the States, with the Dutchman angered by travelling distances, kick-off times and the commercial demands placed on his players.  While Van Gaal accepts the need for the club to satisfy its many sponsors and partners by undertaking tours to the States and Far East, the United manager has overseen every aspect of this summer’s pre-season preparations after i...

The images below have been circulating online today, showing United's upcoming away and third kit's. A lot of people who remember watching Mark Hughes (and his perm) terrorise defenses in the 80's have greeted the news that Adidas will takeover from Nike as our official shirt sponsor with joy, hoping for a return to a more simple and retro style of kit. Judging from the below images however, with the awful and rather invasive Chevrolet logo dominating the front of the shirt (as well as the weird all-red United logo in the black third kit), I am not sure... ICYMI: Adidas Manchester United 15-16 Away and Third Kits Leaked: http://t.co/ZfNcTLvOqx — Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) April 8, 2015

Via  Daily Mail : United's routine victory against Aston Villa on Saturday, followed by City's shock defeat away to Crystal Palace (their third away defeat in a row) yesterday, saw us sit above them in the league table for the first time since November 23, 2013...that's a shocking 499 days!  Not something to be proud of, of course, yet given the timing of this reversal of fortunes (exactly one month ago they were five points ahead of United and firmly in second place, battling Chelsea for top spot) it is certainly something United fans will be pleased about. As United host City this Sunday in a game that is certain to have a significant impact on both the race for Champions League places and the title, United surprisingly go into the match as the form team and arguably favourites to claim all three points. I myself am a lot less confident than the form book suggests I should be, yet there is no denying our football - both in terms of results and performances - has improved ...

width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?requiressl%3Dyes%26id%3D853f7b35df220de7%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%253Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1500722715%26sparams%3Drequiressl,id,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D4555ED8E7C706D50B57063EFFCCB1AE26207CB5C.1F8E07286AD3A969B64C3D51865C5A6F61B5B44%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D853f7b35df220de7%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DEzKa2s7ISix4te2wADvuR_pKYoo&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" />

United have been absolute fire in our last couple of games (...well, relatively speaking) so why change a good thing? Having said that, you would expect Villa at home to pose a far lesser challenge than the likes of Spurs and a trip to Anfield, so I would suggest easing Di Maris (as I have referred to him as so idiotically in the above formation!) back into the side for the first time since the Arsenal FA Cup game. Rojo get's the nod for me back in CD as well after Jones - for both club and country - has been subject to some below-par performances recently, especially scutinised for his new found love of rugby . Falcao must surely be given a chance given his fine form for Columbia this week . Otherwise I would say the team will take an almost identical form and shape to what we've seen from the far more impressive United of recent weeks.