Can New Faces Spark Life Into United`s Season?

Playing at home will be no advantage to Louis Van Gaal`s Manchester United with a jaded crowd still waiting to see their team pick up their first win of the season. Queen`s Park Rangers travel to Old Trafford taking confidence from the performance of fellow new boys Burnley who held the thirteen-time Premier League champions to a goalless draw.

Perhaps sensing a turning of the tide and in spite of their stuttering start to the campaign, a litany of bookmakers are going 3/10 on United turning over Harry Redknapp`s side. The bookies` odds-on optimism can most likely be attributed to the club`s ballsy transfer approach, with four new faces potentially making their debuts against the R`s.

Of course, the old footballing adage goes that teams take time to blend. For those of you anticipating a disjointed post-transfer window outing, bet365 and Betvictor are offering 21/4 on the Red Devils drawing with yet another newly promoted side whilst a number of other turf accountants have QPR as 12/1 victors. The first and perhaps most likely debutante for the Reds is Marcus Rojo. The Argentinean is set to take his place in Louis Van Gaal`s much maligned back three as a replacement for England international Phil Jones.

Centre back Jones faces a month on the physio`s table after suffering a torn hamstring during his country`s 2-0 victory in their European Championship Qualifier against Switzerland.

His injury leaves his domestic team`s defence void of any real Premier League experience. Former Sporting man Rojo likely to team up with Academy graduate Tyler Blackett and bit part player Jonny Evans. This is in stark contrast to Rangers` centre back pairing with ex-Red and England legend Rio Ferdinand expected to line-up alongside veteran Richard Dunne.

Experience, however, doesn`t count for much in the eyes of the bookmakers with Betvictor offering a massive 25/1 on a QPR win to nil. Conversely, a to nil win for Van Gaal`s men can be backed at 21/20 at betway with a second successive 0-0 for United best priced at 16/1 (betfair).

Both Dutchman Daley Blind and former Southampton man Luke Shaw are vying for their first place in the United side. The left backs signed to provide much needed width up the left flank. Shaw, the world`s most expensive teenager, has returned to fitness after picking up an identical injury to Phil Jones in the Red Devils` pre-season friendly against Valencia.

Yesterday, Van Gaal told the media that whilst Shaw was `fit enough` to take part in the game, he would not play the full 90 minutes as a matter of precaution. Such a statement suggesting that both he and Blind will take to the turf of the Theatre of Dreams.

Of all United`s summer signings, however, perhaps the one arriving with the most fanfare is AS Monaco loan acquisition Radamel Falcao. Having scored 104 goals in 139 European league games, the 28-year-old is hotly tipped to improve upon the lacklustre two goals already netted by the North West side.

The Colombian is 10/3 favourite (Betvictor) to break the deadlock on his debut and is also 16/19 (888sport) favourite to slide one past Robert Green at any time.

There`s expected to be two changes for last season`s Championship play-off winners. New signings and long-time Redknapp cohorts Sandro and Niko Kranjcar are likely to start as the White City team look to register back-to-back wins following on from their Charlie Austin-inspired 1-0 triumph over Sunderland. Defensively minded Brazilian Sandro may replace Hoops` captain Joey Barton who faces a late fitness test. Controversial Barton risks watching his teammates from the sidelines after also falling victim to a pesky hamstring strain.

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13/09/2014     © Frixo 2024