Manchester United kick-off their 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season against Newcastle United at Old Trafford, which marks the Tyneside club's return to the top flight.
United, who won the FA Community Shield last weekend, begin their attempt to return the Premier League title back to it's rightful place - Old Trafford - as they get reacquainted with one of their former title rivals.
The battle of the Lancashire and Tynside Uniteds lost touch when Newcastle plummeted to the Championship division after being relegated from the Premier League following the 2009/10 season.
During the 2008/09 season, United outclassed and dismantled Newcastle in both matches and outscoring them 11-1 (6-0 at home & 5-1 away) - the match at Old Trafford was the only hat-trick of Cristiano Ronaldo's career.
To some relief for Newcastle, three of the goal scorers from those two games - Ronaldo, Louis Saha and Carlos Tevez - have since left Old Trafford, but they still have to contend with one of their long-term nemeses - and former transfer target - Wayne Rooney.
Rooney finished second in the Premier League with 34 goals last season, but he will be looking to make amends for his poor performance for England at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
To rub salt in their wounds, Michael Owen left Newcastle on a free transfer to join United following their dip to the second tier of English football.
About
Chris Houghton, the 14th manager for Newcastle since Ferguson became boss of United, was appointed in October of last year following a successful spell as caretaker manager.
In just their first season in the Championship, Houghton led Newcastle straight back to the Premier League by winning the title in convincing, comfortable fashion.
The Toon's 102 point total made them the only the third team to break the 100-point barrier since the turn of the century - Reading, 106 in 2005/06, Fulham 101 - 2000/01.
Who
Newcastle's leading scorer last season was Andy Carroll, who was not suspended for breaking his fellow teammate Steven Taylor's jaw during a skirmish over a woman.
The tall 21-year old center forward scored 17 goals in 39 appearances in the Championship last season, but he will find out very quickly, as he did in the previous campaign, that scoring against Premier League teams is not as easy.
Newcastle have a couple of former United players in their ranks - Danny Simpson and Alan Smith - but Nicky Butt has called curtains on his professional footballing career. The former combative midfielder left Old Trafford for St. James' Park prior to the start of the 2004/05 season, but he only won a single medal during his time with Newcastle - last season's Championship winners' medal.
Following a successful loan spell with Newcastle, Simpson, who only made three first team appearances in his four year senior career with United, joined Newcastle in a permanent this past January. The young right-back found competition for places tough with four players ahead of him, but he found in Houghton's starting XI.
Like Simpson, Smith was a fan favorite during his time at Old Trafford for his tenacious approach, but decided to join Newcastle after he found his first-team opportunities limited.
Smith, who controversially signed from one of United's most-hated rivals, Leeds United, has found success hard to come by and has yet to score for Newcastle in the a league match.
News
A lot of the news surrounding United over the past couple days have been about the surprise capture of Bébé who is an unknown, unproven center forward. The former Portuguese Homeless World Cup star will complete a medical, and be a signed a place in the current squad.
Speaking of the squad, the numbers have been assigned, and the only changes from last season is the assignment of the No. 12 and 14 shirts to Chris Smalling and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, respectively.
Manchester United will look to start the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League off on the right foot as they push for three points against Newcastle United, but its good to see the renewal of this old rivalry.
The match can be seen live Monday, August 16th starting at 2.30pm EST on ESPN2HD.
Treatment
Out: R. Ferdinand (knee), Anderson (knee), O. Hargreaves (knee), G. Obertan (ankle); Doubtful: G. Neville (groin)
Projected
E. van der Sar; J. O'Shea, N. Vidic, J. Evans, P. Evra; A. Valencia, P. Scholes, D. Fletcher, Nani; W. Rooney, J. Hernandez
Prediction
Manchester United 2, Newcastle United 1
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
No comments:
Post a Comment