Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his side that losing points at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday must not be an option. He wants the Champions to forget about the impressive pre season results because the real stuff will not begin until then. “They all knew last week was the Community Shield. It was not the real stuff. That starts on Sunday” he said “Wembley was an occasion, there was rivalry and everyone was motivated. We have to show that in every game because it’s going to be tough. It will be a hard campaign, it always is.”
With Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverly all trying break through into the United first team and nail down a starting spot, many eyes will be on the side that Fergusonpicks for their opening fixture. He is hoping that Patrice Evra can shake off a knee injury ahead of the clash at The Hawthorns.
If Evra fails to make it then either Fabio or Jonny Evans will likely step in, while Darren Fletcher and Antonio Valencia are still missing but have been pencilled in for reserve team appearances against Arsenal on Monday. Striker Javier Hernandez is also ruled out for another two weeks due to the concussion he suffered during the tour of theUnited States.
“We’ve got a doubt with Evra” Sir Alex admitted on the club’s website. “He got an injury last Sunday and missed theFrancegame. We’ll give him until tomorrow but he is doubtful. “Fletcher’s training very well and he’ll play in the reserves on Monday, so will Valencia.
Chicharito is still maybe ten days away from taking part in any football training” he revealed “it’s not a concern, it’s just a precaution given the fact he had concussion a couple of years back. They’re the only injuries we’ve got really. We’ve got a strong squad at the moment, a big squad and I’ll be taking 22 players down to West Brom.”
West Brom (from): Foster, Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Shorey, Mulumbu, Scharner, Brunt, Morrison, Thomas, Long, Odemwingie, Cox, Fulop, Jones, Cech, Tchoyi, Ibanez, Dorrans, Jara, Fortune.
Manchester United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Rafael, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Evra, Evans, Fabio, Nani, Park, Cleverley, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Berbatov, Welbeck, Diouf, Owen, Macheda.
Go and play with yourselves.
You were lucky to draw with us at Old Trafford (when Morrison should have buried you in the last minute), and your scum defender should have been sent off at The Hawthorns.
You pillocks who write this rubbish don’t even remember 1978 when we saw you off good and proper.
Hopefully a team with true history will win the league this year – and that won’t be you lot who needed our true Captain (Bryan Robson) to lead you to your first trophy in a generation.