THE DECEMBER TESTS MANCHESTER UNITED MUST PASS

Van Gaal

Luis Van Gaal recently voiced out his discontentment about the hectic December fixtures of the premier league. But he must be aware that, most times this period is where titles are won or lost, and this hectic schedule could also to an extent determine where a team finishes on the table at the end of the season, because at the end of December/mid January, every team would have played a little above half of its total league matches.

It is a story Sir Alex Ferguson can write a textbook about, as on a number of title winning seasons, his team may not have a brilliant start, by Manchester United’s standard, but usually pick up around the December – January period, and maintain that momentum to the end of the season.

It is a period of the season, where a team without European commitment, play three games in a week, and fatigue sets in.

For United the first element of luck - which is possible is for the team to have a full squad, with little or no injuries. Considering the number of injuries United have suffered this season, this period of the season is a time not have new injury casualty, and get the injured players back.  Fortunately Wayne Rooney should be fit for the visit to Southampton; Di Maria should be back soon, Johnny Evans, Jones and Raphael are back in training close to return to first team duties. So it should be a close to full squad for United except for notably Luke Shaw who should be back after the new year.

United have got a series of interesting matches coming up this December, the next two to be precise will be a stern test for the team, but these are tests the team must pass, matches that must be won for the team to ease the realization of the top four dream.

SOUTHAMPTON VS MANCHESTER UNITED:   Two or three seasons ago, pundits would have predicted a straight United win, even at the beginning of this season, fans and pundits would still have opted for a United win, considering the mass exodus of key players from the Southampton team. But Van Gaal’s ‘national brother’ Ronald Koeman and his team have performed well and surpassed every expectation.  For Koeman, from the choice of the right players to buy, to the quick blending of the squad, his team have performed so well, that they’ve found themselves above Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool Spurs and Everton currently on the table. But the team’s doggedness and top four credentials have been put to test in their last two fixtures. Matches against Man City and Arsenal in a space of three  days have put the team under the sword. They lost both matches,  but the manner of they lost to City was a little disheartening,  conceding two goals in nine minutes after City had been reduced to ten men,  shows the fragility of the team. Against Arsenal, they played much better, but didn’t test the Arsenal goalkeeper enough with only one shot on target, in a match they narrowly  lost to an 89^th minute goal by  Sánchez.

The game against United has a lot of spice, first it is the clash of two Dutch coaches, and not ordinary coaches but Dutch masters in England. Secondly United are on a high, with four straight wins, their best record under Van Gaal so far, while Southampton have lost their last two matches, their worse so far under Ronald Koeman. Thirdly the Saints are third on the table with twenty-six points directly above Manchester united in fourth with twenty-five points.

For United this is probably the best time to face the Saints, as a win will see them leapfrog Southampton to third on the table. For Southampton, this is not the best of time to face a high flying and confident United side, as they would be missing several key players like Jack Cork, and Morgan Schneiderlin. James Ward-Prowse and Toby Alderweireld are also doubtful,

VERDICT: the game remains a vital test to both teams ambition, more importantly to United though, with all respect to Southampton.  A United win will further strengthen their bid for a top four finish.

Winnable game for United, great task ahead of Southampton, and a great game for the neutrals.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL: Any clash between these two sides is always a great match irrespective of either team’s position on the table.  Last season Liverpool did the double over united under David Moyes in a season that could be themed as ‘United’s season of trials’. This season however, things have changes and the reverse seems to be the case, as Liverpool seems to be facing their own their own trying times.  After the sales of controversial talisman Luis Suarez, the team spent over 100 million pounds on new players. Notable among the new signings was another controversial figure in Mario Balotelli, who should have filled the boots left by Suarez, but unfortunately have not been able to find his scoring rhythm. Liverpool have also been undone by multiple injuries to another potent goal scorer in Daniel Sturridge. The team have therefore struggled for goals this season, and thus find themselves ninth on the table. Their manager who was about this time last year awarded the manager of the season is now one of the favourites to get sacked. Oh how time changes!

VERDICT: This should also be one of the best times for Manchester United to face Liverpool, but as usual, matches between both teams are highly unpredictable, and could always go either way, but as things stand now United have a slight edge based on current form.