Following a string of unconvincing displays Manchester United host West Ham tonight and will be desperate to regain some of their early season momentum.
The chorus of discontent continues to grow with each dull and largely forgettable 90 minute effort from Louis van Gaal’s men. In six games throughout November, United managed just six goals. their six games in October also produced the same number. An average of one goal a game over the past two months is not going to be good enough to deliver long term results.
With their title hopes and progression in the Champions League now firmly hanging in the balance, van Gaal and his men will be desperate for a result against an underrated West Ham side, who are solidly progressing under the guidance of Slaven Bilic.
Key Battle – Anthony Martial vs Winston Reid
It is hard to remember a time when a player so young was so important to such a large club’s fortunes. Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has been nothing short of sensational for United this season, cannot be expected to shoulder the goalscoring burden as he has done in United’s past two Premier League fixtures. More help is surely required.
Anthony Martial will be given the responsibility and opportunity to lead United’s attack and they will need the young Frenchman to fire if they are going to open up the Hammers defence. It will be up to the experienced Winston Reid to keep the explosive French star under wraps.
The Red Devils will dominate the midfield and possession battle as they have all season, the challenge will be to stop that domination from transforming into scoring chances.
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Team News
United’s forward woes will not be made any easier as both Wayne Rooney and the lively Ander Herrera are expected to miss, with foot and hamstring injuries respectively. Van Gaal will also be without defenders Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, opening the way for perennial favourite Paddy McNair to take his place in the starting lineup next to Chris Smalling.
In Rooney’s absence Martial will be called upon to lead the line. An ability to beat defenders one-on-one has clearly been United’s most exciting avenue to goal and his presence in a central position gives them a far more direct threat than on the wing.
Memphis Depay marked his return to the starting lineup with a goal against Watford, but has since struggled to exert a meaningful impact. The absence of Herrera and Rooney will probably give Memphis a starting berth on one of the flanks, with the other to be occupied by Juan Mata.
With United short on options for genuine playmakers, Marouane Fellaini may be called upon to start in the N0.10 role, in a throwback to the heavily criticized but remarkably effective ‘long ball’ tactics of van Gaal’s first season in Manchester.
For the visitors, Slaven Bilic will be presented with few such difficult questions. West Ham’s form on the road this season has been very good and with United struggling to score, he should fancy his men for a draw.
The have already secured away wins at City, Liverpool and Arsenal this season, adding United to that list would cap of a remarkable feat.
Bilic will be forced to make at least one change from the side that drew 1-1 with West Brom last weekend, with striker Diafra Sakho being ruled out for three months with a thigh issue. The injury should open the door for Andy Carroll to return to the starting lineup. It is an intriguing match up for Carroll against a United defence that has been seen as vulnerable under aerial attack.
Head-to-head
Manchester United have met West Ham 130 times before, with the Red Devils claiming the honours on 61 occasions and the Hammers on 41, with 27 draws.
Previous Meeting
Daley Blind snatched an injury-time equaliser as United escaped from London with a 1-1 draw after Cheikhou Kouyate’s go ahead goal.
Prediction
United appear to be going through another one of those protracted form slumps that has characterised the van Gaal era. This may well be the game when United break free of their two month funk. What is more likely though is that a disciplined West Ham fight hard and secure another crucial point on the road, as United’s under-strength attack fails to create or convert enough chances.
Manchester United 1 West Ham 1
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