Manchester United vs Valencia
Remember when I said I am always reminded of 3 things whenever West Ham comes to mind? Well, after the 4-0 drubbing, make that 4 from now on. @#$%$%@!
Still, there is no need to push the panic button yet as it was a make-shift squad of 10 changes. Fergie wasn't too concerned about the loss. We never thought much of the League Cup to begin with anyway.
And West Ham paid for the price thereafter slumping to a 0-1 defeat to Sunderland to remain rooted to the bottom of the table. How smart was that?
Grant, in my opinion, is not a smart manager. Perhaps that's why he did not last long at Chelsea either. I am not saying that by giving up on the League Cup game against ManUtd, a win against Sunderland would be guaranteed but at the very least with the players better rested (Grant made only 2 changes), they would at least stood a better chance?
It was a narrow win for Sunderland which translate to a narrow loss for West Ham, I am sure fixture fatigue was quite a big factor contributing to this defeat.
Speaking of rest, ManUtd will indeed be well rested after the game against Blackpool was postponed due to frozen pitch. Granted Arsenal has taken over us in the table, we do however have a game in hand which we may not even need to cash out should we defeat the Gunners come the following Monday.
Oh did I mention that we are playing Chelsea the Sunday after that?
Rest! Dammit!! The squad needs rest!!
If we can pull off both wins, I think we can start dreaming about the title even before Christmas. Oh how the tides has change where just a couple of months ago, I was lamenting how our season was over with a spate of draws here, there and everywhere.
Looking at today's game. We may have already qualified to the next round but a defeat today is unthinkable as it would allowed Valencia to top out the group. The implication would be that we will be meeting the winners of the other groups in the next group. There are no surprises this season as powerhouses like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all expected to finish their respective groups on top.
The only worry is the prospect of encountering Inter Milan. Still, that may not happen as Inter Milan is only in second place because of goal difference. This final game of the round may just turn the tables in favour of Inter Milan.
In any case, finishing at the top of the table would be the wiser decision to make for this year.
Still, the mentality of Valencia coming into this game plays a large part also. They are not doing very well of late, slumping to a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, chalking only 4 wins in their last 10 games.
Do they want to go easy on tonight's game and just settle for second, thus allowing them to prepare for the next game hosting Osasuna or will they be gunning for the top spot?
ManUtd will have it easier today as they have home ground advantage and needing only a draw to secure pole position.
Valencia receives a 0.75-ball handicap from ManUtd and bookies feel that the advantage is in favour of the visitors and thus giving Valencia a 1.90 decimal odds to win the handicap.
Punters, on the contrary, are putting 82% of the total wagers on the home side as Valencia has not won away in their last 4 consecutive games.
Although ManUtd almost always win their final game in Round 1, I am not so confident this time with Arsenal looming over our shoulders at the weekend.
I think ManUtd probably will settle for a draw and qualify as group winner.
JayWalk's 2010/2011 Track Record to-date (06 Dec 2010) : P79-W40-L39
- Voxeros
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