Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United side have not lost in any of their last 9 Premier League matches with the last 4 of those in the form of successive victories. It’s a measure of how difficult this league is that United still find themselves in 6th place even after such an impressive run of form.
In those 9 games there have arguably been too many draws and not enough wins with 4 of those 9 matches ending up with the points having to be shared. November bought around a frustrating period for United but right now they seem to be finding their stride.
Wins over Tottenham, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Sunderland have seen them now close the gap to just three points to Spurs in 5th and just an additional point to Arsenal in 4th. The title may well elude them this season but Champions League football next season is still a distinct possibility.
Boxing Day saw them brush past Sunderland and the return of former manager David Moyes with ease as they ran out 3-1 winners and Today they once again play host to North East opposition in the form of Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough.
‘Boro come here lying 15th in the table and off the back of a Boxing Day defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor. That result will probably come as no real surprise as Burnley have turned Turf Moor into an absolute fortress this season with ‘Boro just the latest scalp to the list.
It was a game of few goals but that has been their problem all season. Another tight encounter which ended up going against them. They’ve only scored 16 times this campaign which is less than 1 per game on average, if that form continued in the second half of the season you would have to wonder if 32-34 goals would be enough to keep them up.
Big Summer signing Alvaro Negredo has only chipped in with 4 while Jordan Rhodes cannot seem to get anywhere near the starting eleven. Do not be surprised if Rhodes is shipped out on loan in the January transfer window to a Championship outift.
The sub-plot of today’s game will be the friendship between Jose Mourinho and Aitor Karanka but there won’t be any favours given out by Mourinho this Afternoon. Mourinho knows that his side needs to keep winning to apply more pressure on the clubs above them.
It’s almost a given that the clubs in the Top 6 will finish there it’s now just a case of whether or not United can end their Champions League exile and return to Europe’s top club competition next season. Right now all they can do is continue the winning streak of their own and hope the teams above them drop points.
Once again look out for Bobby Charlton in the crowd what with Wayne Rooney still not equalling the club goal scoring record. For as long as that record stays then we are going to see Charlton’s face during the game, could Today finally be the day?
It might not be the day for Rooney but I certainly think that United will have enough to brush past Middlesbrough and make 5 wins out of 5 and extend their unbeaten run to 10 Premier League matches. I can’t see anything other than a home win this Afternoon.
