Manchester United entertains Sunderland this weekend and it should be a contrasting tactical approach from the last time they visited Old Trafford.
During last season’s visit at OT, Sunderland was going through a managerial change following the controversial departure of Roy Keane, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s old right-hand man, Ricky Sbragia, took over as caretaker manager.
He had the daunting task of facing United on his debut, and he knew by putting all of his 11 players behind the ball, that he would force United to put in a very clinical, determined and persistent performance if they were to breakdown their stubborn resistance.
Finally in stoppage time defender, Nemanja Vidic, who was deployed as a center forward by Sir Alex, grabbed the well-deserved winner in stoppage time.
United come into the match having won eight consecutive matches and a recent 2-1 come-from-behind victory over VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League.
Sunderland is on a fine run of form as well, and they come to Old Trafford winning their last three matches in impressive form. During this stretch, they have scored 12 goals, and have only conceded four.
Almighty
Sunderland appointed former United captain, Steve Bruce, as their manager as they look to take the club forward, instead of teetering back-and-forth with relegation.
In his short managerial career, Bruce has shown that he has the wherewithal to not only stay, but succeed in the management.
He entered the coaching carousel 1998, and he has gone on to manage six different clubs, including Wigan Athletic twice.
He brought Wigan from the depths of the second division and has had a lot to do with the success that they are having now. Another club he brought success to was Birmingham City, and he managed them for the best part of six seasons.
He then returned to Wigan following worries over his future at Brum, and led them to their highest-ever finish in English football.
After two seasons with the Lactics, he decided on a move to a bigger and Sunderland was the destination! He has done a fantastic job so far and they currently sit in 8th place in the table.
He is one of the many managers to be linked with a move to Old Trafford was Sir Alex calls it a day.
Who
The new partnership of Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent has everyone peeking and taking notice, because these two quick and powerful forwards can be a handful for any central defensive partnership.
The two strikers have combined for 10 goals already this season, and they are already being compared to United’s outstanding strike force of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke (what is more strange is that Cole & Bent are from England, and Yorke & Jones are from Trinidad & Tobago).
Bent became Sunderland's biggest-ever signing when he signed in the summer for £10m from Spurs.
Along with Bent, Bruce has brought in Michael Turner (Hull City), John Mensah (Lyon), Lee Cattermole (Wigan), Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Lorik Cana (Marseille) and Paulo Da Silva (Toluca). Cana was made team captain.
Danny Collins & Dean Whitehead (Stoke City), Carlos Edwards (Ipswich Town), Grant Leadbitter (Ipswich Town), Teemu Tainio (Birmingham City), Paul McShane (Hull City), Anthony Stokes (Hibernian), Michael Chopra (Cardiff City) and Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) were all seen as surplus for Bruce's new look side.
Treatment
Out: E. van der Sar, Rafael, G. Obertan, O. Hargreaves; Doubtful: J.S. Park
Projected
B. Foster; J. O’Shea, R. Ferdinand, N. Vidic, P. Evra; Nani, P. Scholes, D. Fletcher, J.S. Park; W. Rooney, D. Berbatov
Prediction
Manchester United 2, Sunderland 1
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