Weekend Outlook (29 Mar 2008)

Manchester United vs Aston Villa

"...For those who think we can repeat a 7-1 thumping (of AS Roma), I better tell you straight and tell you now. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN...."

- JayWalk, 29 Mar 2008

ManUtd recent erratic form worries me. One day, we struggled to beat Derby, the next we strolled over Liverpool with a 3-0 spanking. This is seriously killing my predictions.

In a way, I was disappointed with Liverpool who collapsed with a girly whimper. What happened? If this is the best Liverpool can come up with, Arsenal would be so happy to play them this coming mid-week in the ECL Quarter-Finals. I lament our luck for not drawing them. Imagine a 3-0 win during the first leg, return leg anyhow kick get draw and we will be in the semi-finals.

Ah but it was not to be. Instead we got AS Roma instead. For those who think we can repeat a 7-1 thumping, I better tell you straight and tell you now. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Liverpool totally did not stand a chance against us for possession was already 61% to 39%. It was almost playing monkey with them during the 90 minutes. 23 shots (8 on-goal) attempted to Liverpool's 8 (4 on-goal). It almost felt like we were playing a team in the relegation zone. These are the reason, we normally associate with the likes of Wigan or Fulham. But Liverpool? WTF?

So anyway, I was taken by surprise to see Chelsea climb up to second. We have been in a two-horse race with Arsenal for the longest time that I didn't expect Chelsea to be a challenger to the title. Then again, Chelsea's pretty boring to watch, now that Jose "The Special One" Mourinho is no longer in charge.

JayWalk The Talk: I would expect key players to rest up ahead of the Roma game on Tuesday. I expect the squad to be rotated as traveling away to Rome is going to be more tricky. Let us also not forget that last mid-week was international mid-week with almost all our players flying all over the world to compete.

Van dar Sar should be ok to start and I would expect Scholes to start alongside with Carrick in the middle. Fletcher is out for 6 weeks after picking up an injury against Croatia but I think Giggs will be featured with Ronaldo while Park should be rested after returning from Shanghai.

Neville and Silvestre are still out which means the back will be held down by Ferdinand and Vidic.

Saha is also out which leaves us with Rooney and Tevez to do the hunting up front and for now, Rooney need to play more games to get his scoring confidence back.

On the Villa side, Melberg returns just in time to replace Gardner who is injured alongside with Davies.

JayWalk The Walk: Here's the thing. Villa has not won ManUtd since 1995. The only point earned was dated as far back as 2002. The last 10 head-to-head for both home and away is a staggering 10-0-0.

No club has lost more to ManUtd in the premiership than Aston Villa (22 losses).

Villa is in an unenviable place right at the time when the team is starting to lose steam and possibly very much a spot in the UEFA Cup tournament too. O'Neil picked the wrong time to face ManUtd who has only 3 home games and 4 away games left towards the end of the season. As such, every home game is a must-win for ManUtd who is hanging on precariously to a 5-point lead.

All looks easily for ManUtd to win this one as bookies make ManUtd give 1.25-ball handicap and a mere 1.85 decimal odds to clear it. Punter's pot is 73% in favour of ManUtd beating the handicap to 27% against.

The only worry is the Roma's game after this one as Fergie may hold the team back to better rest up ahead of the ECL game.

However, it is my opinion that it would still be a win and I think we should just barely make it a 2-goal victory but nothing more.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.