The start of the season for Southampton and Manchester
United have been similar yet contrasting. Both United and the Saints had to
make managerial changes for different reasons, with Moyes being sacked before the
end of last season and Mauricio Pochettino leaving for Tottenham in hopes of
European football. Both the clubs have had several changes in the squad, again
for opposing reasons, with United bringing in world-class players with their
bags of gold and Southampton losing all their emerging talent to the bigger
clubs. Although, the start that we expected from the Premier League competitors
was even more conflicting. On one hand United kept dropping points, both home
and away, and on the other hand the Saints kept scoring for fun and keeping up
a good defensive record in the process.
The way the tables have turned in the favour of Manchester
United is indeed a story to tell. With players still succumbing to injuries
almost every match, United and van Gaal have kept their pride intact and are in
a position to lock in the third position in the table very soon. United have
found some sort of temporary stability in the back with Chris Smalling and
Marcos Rojo complementing each other. Although, in the absence of Rafael and
former Southampton star Luke Shaw, United could be tested from the wings. They
won’t have too many worries in the front as van Persie has shown decent
displays in the previous two fixtures along with Rooney who has been in
excellent form for both club and country.
Southampton have a mountain to climb at this moment with two
back to back defeats against Manchester City and Arsenal. After the blistering
start to their season, they have finally let their guard down in their last two
fixtures, desperately needing a shift in the declining momentum. There are
definitely gaps in the United defence that fullbacks Bertrand and Clyne could
exploit with no recognized fullbacks in the opposition side at the moment.
Roanld Koeman has to make sue the likes of Jose Fonte and Alderweireld to stand
up tall in front of the Forster to keep the goal machines quite.
Goals are a surety with creativity on both sides of the
pitch. Southampton will have a 12th man in the crowd with soaring
high volumes encouraging a young and fearless team. My prediction would be a
2-1 win to United who will carry on their winning streak to a total of five
games. However, anything can happen in the Premier League, the league of possibilities,
surprises and miracles.
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