Manchester United Vs Barnsley Match Preview

Barnsley take on a united side who are riding high in the premier league after an excellent start to the season. And a victory for the reds will put them ever closer to maintaining the carling cup. After another top fight performance against wolves in the third round, Fergusons men are looking very strong this season and on paper this is fixture is set to only go only one way But as Southend proved to United's cost in 2006, anything can happen in the carling cup...

Form

The tykes had a good start to the season with wins against West Brom, Doncaster and Lincoln but with two shock defeats at Nottingham forest and Bristol city, Robin’s side have recently had goalkeeping errors which has caused them to concede twenty eight goals. Despite goalkeeping errors Barnsley’s recent cup form is impressive with victories over Liverpool and Chelsea in the 2008 Fa cup. The tykes claimed a win over another premier league team this season Burnley in the third round of carling cup. In all thirty seven league and cup games that the tykes and reds have met, united have an impressing twenty one wins, eleven draws and the tykes have won five. The last time these two sides met was in 1988 when the sir alexs men travelled to Oakwell and won 2-0 with goals from Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham.

Team News

The only doubt for Robin’s side was Daniel Bogdanovic, but as he came on as a substitution against Bristol city at the weekend suggests he is fit for the game. Whereas, united are look to make a wholesale of different changes from the defeat at anfield and as usual Ferguson is expected to field a manifest of young new players such as the four newly registered players: Joshua King, Magnus Eikrem, Matt James and Joe Dudgeon who could all play a part tonight. In addition to the newly registered players, Ferguson is expected to play his recent French U21 signing from Bordeaux, Gabriel Obertan. Obertan has appeared 3 times in the united reserves and with a very impressive performance against Oldham athletic Ferguson is keen to recognize his performance with the first team. Likewise First team regular Darren Fletcher is likely to appear having recovered from a groin injury which kept him out of uniteds clash with Liverpool and Rafael De Silva could also make and appearance after recovering from a shoulder injury earlier in the year.

Star Man

Daniel Bogdanovic is the Tykes' joint-top scorer this season with four, including one goal in the Carling Cup. He has had 26 caps for Malta, and his most profitable season came when playing for Marsaxlokk a Maltese side, where he scored 31 times in 31 matches.

Officials

Chris Foy is the referee taking charge of the game, having not taking control of a game with Barnsley since their victory over Birmingham city in 2008. However, Foy has refereed united several times recently including uniteds carling cup final victory against Tottenham and a recent defeat to Chelsea in the Fa community shield which he made controversial decisions over the consistent fouls between Patrice Evra and Michael Black.

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Is 2010 The Gunners Season

With Arsene Wenger Celebrating his 60th Birthday earlier this month he insisted that his young side can bring an end their four successive season run without any silverware! Whether it is a minor trophy or major trophy Wenger will target it, but without doubt he’ll have his eye on the big one the primer league. Having Wenger only winning the league three times out of a possible thirteen that will be Wengers main priority.

In Addition to dreaming of league triumph, Arsenal have so far this season made their league dream come to life by winning their first six out of nine league matches putting them in third in the premier league table above Tottenham due to goal difference and a game in hand.

Regardless of Arsenals form there are three big teams standing in the gunners and Wengers way: Manchester United, The winners for the last three seasons running but without departured Cristiano Ronaldo, United are looking weak in midfield and have regular defence errors; Chelsea, with new manager Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea are looking strong but with their recently inflicted transfer ban, the blues can’t buy any players until the January transfer window 2011. Which means that their ever older squad will become weaker within the next few years and the weakness is already showing with their defending from set plays becoming ever more flaccid; Liverpool, despite the fact that Liverpool were very strong contenders last season since the departure of Xabi Alonso in the summer, the reds form has been in very poor form this season with shock defeats at white hart lane and the stadium of life. Incredibly along with three defeats away from home Liverpool additionally suffered an embarrassing 3-1 defeat at anfield against Aston Villa. Likewise, the gunners we also be keeping an eye on Tottenham and Aston Villa who are trying to break into the top four after a very successful season start.

Regardless of Arsenal having a brilliant start to the season they’ve had regular goalkeeping errors this season with keeping only two clean sheets and conceding 13 goals. After only four games the gunners number one Manuel Almunia obtained a chest infection which made newly appointed, inexperienced deputy Vito Mannone step up to the spot but keeping two clean sheets against Fulham and Wigan out of a possible five of Vito has had a better season start than Wengers number one Almunia.

Despite, arsenal having the occasional goalkeeping blumper Wengers’ men are the top scorers in the premier league with twenty nine goals and have only lost two games against the two Manchester sides with not all of their players at full fitness. In addition, the gunners have many players who have came back from injuries such as Walcott, Diaby and Fabregas who will bring back the excellence of which there once was at the emirates.

By Oliver McGrath 13

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