It has been the longest of international breaks, not least because David Moyes’ players return to domestic football having lost, somewhat ignominiously, to Liverpool a fortnight ago. With many of Manchester United’s squad involved in World Cup qualifiers, Moyes’ players have gathered for only a few days ahead of the weekend’s match with Crystal Palace, but there can be little doubt that the Scot is under pressure to deliver a result. After all Palace, newly promoted under Ian Holloway’s flambouyant stewardship, is only a point behind the Reds.
Still, Moyes will be able to call on £27.5 million signing Marouanne Fellaini for the Eagles’ visit, even if Wayne Rooney is likely to be sidelined with a nasty cut to his forehead. The Belgian could start alongside Michael Carrick in central midfield as Moyes attempts to bolster an area of United’s team that failed so conspicuously at Anfield.
Not that Moyes will always deploy his new recruit in midfield; the player was often used in more forward roles last season, scoring 11 times in the Premier League from a position just off Everton’s principle striker. Evidence, some suggest, that Moyes is likely to instill a more direct style of play at Old Trafford in the coming months.
The jury remains out on that theory for the moment although, with a packed schedule in the coming weeks, Fellaini will have little time to bed into whatever role Moyes chooses. The 25-year-old Belgian must adapt quickly if he is to repay some of United’s lavish investment in matches with Palace, Bayer Levekusen, Manchester City and Liverpool before September is out.
“He can play different positions, score goals and is effective in different areas of the field. So I’m hoping that if he can continue to improve we could have a really top player on our hands.
“He was someone who we pencilled in for a position here at Manchester United right from the start. We felt we could do with adding numbers. We had to try and get another central midfield player. But with Marouane being able to play a bit further on as well, it can give us different alternatives if required.
“He’s someone who can play in several roles. We got a lot of games coming up, a busy schedule, and I want to be able to play in different ways in different games so he helps me to do that.”
Rooney will again be absent though, having missed United’s 1-0 defeat in Liverpool and two England matches over the past fortnight. The player’s severely gashed head required 12 stitches and the Scouser is unlikely to feature until the risk of the wound reopening has completely dissipated.
“He’s in great physical shape but obviously he’s got the cut right in the middle of his forehead which could split where the skin is very thin,” said Moyes.
“He’s had the stitches out and it’s knitted well. We’ve just got to see where the level of risk is with his head injury.”
Zaha, meanwhile, is unlikely to feature against his old team, with Moyes in no mood to make a sentimental selection for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
“He’s been quite bright over the few days since he’s been back. He got a couple of games for the England Under-21s and is one of the most promising players on the way up. The fact that it’s his old club in this game won’t change my views in any way but he’s someone who we hope he can continue to develop and, when we think he’s ready, we’ll get him towards the team.”
Moyes will make a late call on Jones’ fitness, who will play at right-back should he recover from an ankle injury sustained against Liverpool. Jones limped out of the Reds’ defeat after 37 minutes and could be replaced by Antonio Valencia or Chris Smalling if the youngster fails to regain fitness.
Whatever the final line-up United can do little worse than the club’s last meeting with Palace – a 2-1 Carling Cup victory for the south Londoners at Old Trafford in November 2011. Darren Ambrose struck from long range and winger Glenn Murray scored in extra time to seal Palace’s unlikely win.
The much-changed outfit signed 15 players over the summer, although not all have found a happy home at Selhurst Park. New signings Florian Marange and Owen Garvan were left out of Holloway’s 25-man Premier League squad altogether amid increasingly acrimonious fall-out.
The Frenchman claimed that he was “disgusted” with the decision after joining from Bordeaux just weeks ago. “We needed pace,” said Holloway, “he hasn’t got it.”
Rant wonders whether Holloway is a fully paid-up subscriber to the Bébé school of football scouting.
Still, Holloway will call on former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, who joined Palace on a one-year deal in the summer. The Moroccan scored in Palace’s defeat at Stoke City earlier this season, although the Eagles come off a fine 3-1 victory at Sunderland two week’s ago. That victory elevated Palace to 14th in the nascent Premier League table.
“They’ve brought in a lot of new players in the window and Ian Holloway will be keen to get them integrated quickly. They’re coming off the back of a good result last time as well,” added Moyes on Friday.
Still, the Scot should count on his first home win of the season following United’s disappointing draw with Chelsea. And with it a huge sense of relief after a tedious fortnight away from the domestic game.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Premier League, Old Trafford, 12.45pm 14 September 2013
Teams
United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Valencia, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Fellaini, Young; Welbeck; van Persie. Subs from: Lindegaard, Buttner, F da Silva, Smalling, Giggs, Cleverley, Anderson, Zaha, Kagawa, Hernández, Rooney
Palace (4-4-1-1): Speroni; Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey; Puncheon, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Campana; Gayle; Chamakh. Subs from: Alexander, Ramage, O’Keefe, Jo Williams, Phillips, Dobbie, Wilbraham, Jerome, Mariappa, Bannan, Kebe, Grandin.
Head-to-Head
United 26 – Draw 9 – Palace 7
Officials
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: A Halliday, D England
Fourth Official: C Foy
Prediction
3-1
Rant Forum
Matchday thread
wellbz on the left kagawa off the striker …
I Moyes consider Zaha not ready to face his old team in which he was their best player, i wonder when he be considered ready.
I Moyes consider Zaha not ready to face his old team in which he was their best player, i wonder when he will be considered ready.
The answer to that question is obvious: when he is as old as Ryan Giggs.
I thought I’d never find as big an arsehole as Steve McManaman… Neil Warnock ladies and gentlemen!
Moyes not playing a creative player through the middle. No Kagawa so we are doing the same shit, playing the ball to the wingers, wingers just crossing the balls up front hoping VanPersie can get his foot to the ball and score. You see what was happening when Young cut in through the middle, he caused all kinds of problems and got a penalty. If Moyes is not going to play Kagawa, he needs to use Nani or Zaha through the middle until he can wake up and realize we need a playmaker.