The RedCafe.net Podcast Episode 6

On episode six of the RedCafe.net podcast, Steve, Dan and Dov take a look at the two contrasting victories over Tottenham and Besiktas.

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The lads will specifically look at Wayne Rooney’s temperament, Paul Scholes from zero to hero and Anderson’s somewhat disappointing goal celebration!

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There’s also the regular features of the week, a brief chat about the new home-grown ruling plus a look ahead to the crucial Manchester derby on Sunday.

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You can subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes.

Do make sure you keep an eye out for regular Twitter updates and get yourself signed up to the RedCafe.net Podcast Facebook group too! You can also email us at podcast@redcafe.net.

Thanks very much for all your support and enjoy the show!

Besiktas vs Manchester United: Preview

Memories of that dismal night in Rome some four months ago undoubtedly still linger among United fans, players, coaching staff…well anyone even remotely connected with the club. Surely the perfect tonic to banish those memories would be to repeat that feat and have another bash at a third consecutive Champions League final. Madrid awaits if we dare to dream and it all starts here.

A trip to Turkey probably wouldn’t have been right up there amongst Sir Alex Ferguson’s most ideal destinations for the opening group game of the European campaign. That said, with Barcelona taking on Inter Milan and Bordeaux facing Juventus over the next couple of days, it could have certainly been a whole lot worse. In all fairness, Besiktas, on paper, looks a somewhat straightforward hurdle to negotiate.

Looking at how the side may shape up, Fergie will surely have one eye firmly on the Manchester derby coming up on Sunday so it would seem likely that he will ring the changes, especially in midfield.

Ben Foster will continue to fill in for Edwin van der Sar but it really is a difficult proposition predicting the rest of the starting line-up. Patrice Evra has played every competitive game thus far and was involved in both of France’s fixtures during the international break. That may see young Fabio deployed at left-back or alternatively John O’Shea could move over from the right allowing one of Wes Brown or Gary Neville to step in.

At centre-back, Nemanja Vidic should partner Rio Ferdinand unless the England man feels any discomfort in the calf area over the next 24 hours which would see him drop to the bench.

Despite the highly impressive victory over top four hopefuls Tottenham on Saturday, the midfield will certainly change from the four that featured at White Hart Lane. Expect Park Ji-Sung to be given the nod on the right (unless Ferguson sees him playing a major role at Old Trafford on the weekend) and one of Nani or Antonio Valencia to start on the other wing.

Darren Fletcher could be given a rest with City in mind so take your pick from Scholes, Giggs, Anderson and Carrick and perhaps Darron Gibson will be given an opportunity to further showcase his abilities.

In an ideal world I’m sure Sir Alex would love to give Wayne Rooney the night off but the England international’s desire to simply play the game of football knows no boundaries and it would be a bold decision to leave him out. Michael Owen will be desperate to get some playing time and this could be the perfect opportunity for him to be utilised.

One thing for sure is that, with wholesale changes or not, Ferguson will send out a side that he believes and expects to be capable of beating Besiktas. With all due respect to the Turkish outfit, any team that the Scot opts to select should be capable of doing a job judging by the squad that have travelled (see below).

In the build-up to the game, Fergie has admitted that United will just have to deal with the intimidating atmosphere that will greet them in Istanbul on Tuesday evening.

“There’s a lot to be admired in that, their fanaticism,” he told the Daily Star.

“You expect that. The stadium is full at 12 o’clock on the day. It’s amazing how they make that noise but you just have to deal with it.

“The Champions League is the priority. It’s a great tournament, with all the best players and teams. So there’s always the two challenges for us - the Premier League and the European Cup.”

Besiktas’ goalkeeper Rustu Recber (remember him) has also provided his two pennies worth regarding the antagonising nature of the home support.

“The level of hostility at the Inonu is unique,” Recber is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

“United have been to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but the Besiktas fans are in a league of their own.

“They are the noisiest, the most passionate, and they stay with the team for 90 minutes. The noise is incredible. It will be a new experience even for those United players who think they have seen everything. Our fans can really make it hell.”

The Inonu Stadium will be a cauldron of noise no doubt but when you look at Besiktas’ start to the season (one win from five including a 3-0 defeat in their own derby against Galatasaray), anything but victory will surely go down as a disappointing result. Nihat Kahveci, who you may remember from his days with Villarreal, will spearhead the opposition’s attack but he shouldn’t cause too many problems for Vidic and co.

Prediction: 3-0

Squad in full: Ben Foster, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Amos, Wes Brown, Gary Neville, John O’Shea, Fabio, Patrice Evra, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Park Ji-Sung, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov.

Photo credit: EPA

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Tottenham vs Manchester United: Preview

Tottenham away has never been a stroll in the park. Saying that, our last eight Premier League visits to White Hart Lane have yielded six wins and two draws. Easy pickings then, or so one may be led to believe. Well if you’re that naive then I’d advise you to stop reading here as Saturday’s trip to the capital will certainly be a massive test for a United side that have hardly stormed out of the blocks so far this season.

Last week I was quick to announce that the meeting with Arsenal would prove our first real test of the season. Well if that was the first, a trip to Spurs is certainly the second and arguably the more difficult at that.

I’m sure you won’t need me to tell you this but Tottenham are flying at the moment and have recorded their best start to a league season since 1960 with four wins on the trot. Jermain Defoe is in a rich vein of goalscoring form and Aaron Lennon is steadily staking his claim as the most feared winger in England at present. Although enough about the opposition, let’s talk United shall we?

From a team news perspective, Rio Ferdinand could be in line for a return to the side having been sidelined with a thigh injury since August. Fantastic news as that would not only reunite the formidable Ferdinand – Vidic partnership but it would also allow Jonny Evans a much-needed rest.

Edwin van der Sar looks no closer to a return so Ben Foster will undoubtedly continue to deputise following a sturdy, if not spectacular run in the first team to date. With John O’Shea a doubt, depending on Ferdinand’s fitness, Wes Brown may be handed a start at right-back although Fabio and Gary Neville are plausible alternative options. Patrice Evra will need to have his wits about him at left-back as he faces up to an in-form and frighteningly quick Aaron Lennon but pace isn’t exactly something that the Frenchman is lacking himself.

It’s become an almost unenviable task to predict a Sir Alex midfield but I’m expecting Park to get the nod with one of Antonio Valencia or Nani, probably the latter, on the opposite flank. Darren Fletcher should certainly vacate one of the central midfield berths with my bet being Anderson to come in alongside him following a decent showing for the reserves. Wayne Rooney will continue to provide our most potent attacking threat up-top and I would be extremely suprised if Dimitar Berbatov didn’t return against his former employers.

Our opposition will be without influential Croatian playmaker Luka Modric while central defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Matt Dawson are also missing and Sebastien Bassong remains a doubt. Skipper Ledley King does look as though he will be fit enough to play and Niko Kranjcar should be handed his debut in place of his international compatriot Modric.

As well as confirming that both Ferdinand and Neville are in contention, Sir Alex admitted in his pre-match press conference that Tottenham are going to prove a tricky proposition and that they have every chance of breaking into the top four this term.

“I watched a couple of videos yesterday and they’ll be a handful for us,” said Ferguson.

“But that’s the nature of the Premier League. Hopefully I can pick the right team and get a good result.

“I think Tottenham can break into the top four. Harry’s [Redknapp] brought in a few of his own types of players, players he’s familiar with like Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.”

Following our victory over the Gunners, dressing room confidence should be high on Saturday and our record against Spurs does bode well too. Saying that, I’m sure Tottenham will be keen to show that they are serious about an invasion on the top four this season and I expect we’ll have to be at our very best to ensure we get a result.

After a somewhat unconvincing start to the current campaign, I predict the lads will step it up a gear from now on, starting at White Hart Lane where I see us snatching all three points in a tough and testing encounter.

Prediction: 2-0 United
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The RedCafe.net Podcast Episode 5

On the fifth episode of the RedCafe.net podcast Steve, Dan and Dov take a look at the United players involved on the International scene. Look out for special mentions to Berbatov, Fletcher and the magnificent John O'Shea.

With recent controversies regarding the transfer of young players to various clubs, the lads look at the Chelsea vs Lens argument and investigate the repercussions this will have on United's recent transfer activity.

Reserves Review is back with two games to report on and the lads ask...Where is Zoran Tosic?

You can subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes.Do make sure you keep an eye out for regular Twitter updates and get yourself signed up to the RedCafe.net Podcast Facebook group too! You can also email us at podcast@redcafe.net.

Thanks very much for all your support and enjoy the show!

Soccerlens Podcast: The Beckham Debate and Soccer Consumption in the USA

On episode 18 of the Soccerlens Podcast, Stephen Darwin is joined by Pitch Invasion’s Tom Dunmore and Jason Davis from MatchFitUSA to discuss US soccer consumption.

The show will be looking specifically at how soccer fans in the States receive their domestic and European/Worldwide soccer fix and there’s also a discussion on whether David Beckham really is on a different galaxy with his desire to play in Europe.

The RedCafe.net Podcast Episode 4

On the fourth episode of the RedCafe.net podcast the lads review the 2-1 victory over the Arsenal and run the rule over the individual performances of Giggs and Fletcher, while also debating the Gaffer’s tactical decisions.

The regular features, including player of the week and reserves review, will play a part and Steve, Dan and Dov take a look at some of the goings on from the RedCafe.net forums amongst much, much more!

Do make sure you keep an eye out for regular Twitter updates and get yourself signed up to the RedCafe.net Podcast Facebook group too! You can also email us at podcast@redcafe.net.

Thanks very much for all your support and enjoy the show!

Manchester United vs Fabregas-less Arsenal

So here we are then. With just three competitive (if you prefer not to count the Community Shield as meaningful) games of the season played, we face our first big test in the shape of Arsenal.

While last season’s meeting at Old Trafford in the Premier League was hardly of massive significance, tomorrow’s encounter will certainly provide a decent benchmark to how we are shaping up in terms of our title credentials this campaign.

The big news? Cesc Fabregas will NOT be playing for the Gunners. Now while I don’t like to single out opposition individuals on the impact they can have on a game, Fabregas has looked pretty darn impressive in the opening couple of games this season. Given our own injury worries too, his absence should certainly provide a welcome boost.

I doubt you’ll need reminding but Rio Ferdinand continues to miss out for us with a thigh injury although a return against Spurs on September 12th has been pencilled in as a realistic comeback date. Despite Jonny Evans’ concerns over his own fitness, it would appear that he will continue to play through the pain barrier to line-up alongside Nemanja Vidic at the heart of the defence.

Ben Foster will undoubtedly continue to deputise for Edwin van der Sar between the sticks while I expect Patrice Evra and John O’Shea to vacate the two full-back berths. In central midfield we (well Sir Alex really) is faced with something of a conundrum. After Anderson’s well documented paddy, will Fergie continue to leave him out despite the Brazilian’s eagerness to brush the incident under the carpet. Michael Carrick was another to miss out against Wigan but with Darren Fletcher pretty much a nailed on starter, I predict it will be one of Carrick or Anderson to come in ahead of Scholes.

Following a decent, if not inspirational, performance from Antonio Valencia against his former club last weekend, he should start on the wing with Nani continuing on the opposite flank. That said, Park has always seemed to perform well against Arsenal so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he does make the starting eleven. That leaves the inevitable strikeforce of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov as I can’t see Owen getting the nod in a game of such significance.

In his pre-match press conference Sir Alex has called for our results to improve against the so-called big four (where we only won one out of six last term) but he has played down the significance of tomorrow’s clash with the Gunners.

“With 35 games left, you can’t say that this game will be decisive,” he said.

“But what means a lot to us is that last season against the top teams we dropped six points to Liverpool, five to Arsenal and two to Chelsea. We really need to address that and do better in these games. One opportunity comes along on Saturday and I hope we take it.”

In an ultimately similar fashion (gone are the days of a Wenger-Ferguson feud I’m afraid), Wenger has admitted that he is desperate for Arsenal to prove they can pick up victories away from home against the club’s fighting for the title. Prior to beating Chelsea in November last year, the North Londoners hadn’t beaten a top four club away from home since 2006.

“We want to show that we can win the big games away from home,” he said.

“This is a good opportunity to do it. We know we go to Old Trafford with a good belief and that is very important before a big game like that.”

Whether Arsenal will be more up for the game considering we outclassed them over two legs in last season’s Champions League semi-final remains to be seen but in terms of our recent record against them, we’re certainly on top, especially at Old Trafford.

Arsenal have clearly come flying out of the blocks this season and I believe it’s going to be just as much a test of our credentials as it will be for Wenger and his side. Freshness may be a factor later on in the game with Arsenal having played against Celtic in midweek although at this early stage of the season I can’t see it being too much of a hindrance to them.

Despite the loss of Fabregas, the likes of Arshavin, van Persie and Eduardo all have the ability to cause us problems which is why I’m tentatively predicting a draw as the outcome.

Prediction: 1-1

Photo credit: Getty Images

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