- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s been an anticlimactic start for the new regime at Old Trafford, and back to the drawing board for Manchester United after suffering an opening round defeat at the hand of Swansea.
Positives? There was great initiative shown by van Gaal to try his two rookies in Blackett and Lingard, and the former can hardly be blamed for either Swansea goal.
There was definite desire, but there was plenty tentative forward movements to suggest van Gaal has plenty of work to do to restore confidence to the joint.
For the victors, Swansea City were not terrific, but they were determined as hell to ensure they did not give Manchester United any clear ascendency in this match.
Besides a 20 minute spell from the 50th minute until Sigurdsson’s winner, Swansea City were the better team, and deserve the three points.
FINAL SCORE:
Manchester United 1
Swansea City 2
We are all set for another season of dramatic and frenetic excitement as the 2014/15 English Premier League season kicks off at Old Trafford, whenManchester United face Swansea City. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 9:30pm (AEST).
Having won against the same opponents on away territory in their opening game last season, Manchester United will want to begin in a similar vein.
That though is where the parallels will hopefully end, as the Red Devils begin their first Premier League campaign without Champions League football. Louis van Gaal stepped into the Carrington training ground fresh from his World Cup exploits with the Netherlands, and has immediately posed the authoritative and forthright figure that David Moyes never was.
In a season aimed at rebuilding, the changes have rung thick and fast at Manchester United. Gone are former captains and club legends Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. In their efforts to replace such wise heads, van Gaal has not shown any of the fear that paralysed Moyes last year into an ill-advised purchase of Marouane Fellaini.
United finally got their year-long midfield target Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, and splashed out £30 million on former Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. Questions over whether a midfielder and left back are enough to replace such a wealth of experience and winning pedigree remains, especially if the defence is left to the likes of Jones, Evans and Smalling.
That said, good times look on the horizon for Manchester United. Having secured the International Champions Cup over fierce rivals Liverpool, van Gaal has a confident squad at his disposal ready to amend for last season’s foibles. Given their stated perceived defensive frailties, the Dutchman is likely to set up his team to attack from the outset, with new captain Wayne Rooney and his World Cup skipper Robin van Persie up front, while the peerless Juan Mata employed in his favoured number 10 role.
New signing Herrera will likely be partnered with former Ferguson favourite Darren Fletcher in central midfield, with a back four likely to be van Gaal’s first mode of defensive formation.
If Swansea City are feeling left out, it only is on the basis of such attention on the new Old Trafford revolution underway. Having confirmed his playing retirement late last season, Garry Monk now wears the Swans’ suit permanently in a bid to improve the Welsh club’s 12th place finish in May.
Like their opponents, Swansea City have displayed minimal but meaningful activity in the transfer market. The loss of Michel Vorm to Tottenham is countered by the arrival of long-standing Arsenal understudy Lukasz Fabianski in goal. Gylfi Sigurdsson also is a new face, seeking more playing time than he encountered at Spurs.
In the wings though is what could be Monk’s most important capture in the free signing of Bafétimbi Gomis. The French international arrives from Lyon with quality that could make his combination with Wilfried Bony (should the Ivorian remain at the Liberty Stadium) one of this season’s more heralded and unnoticed partnerships, especially as Michu is not available having been loaned to Napoli.
Monk will likely start both men as a front two to exploit any United defensive weakness. Yet the key for Swansea to leave Old Trafford with any success lies thwarting Rooney and van Persie. For this, captain Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor are required to be at their peak from the get-go, as most eyes care not for what Swansea City can manufacture this season, but whether a fallen giant in world football is ready to rise again.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the opening match of the 2014/15 English Premier League season from 9:30pm (AEST).
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.