Manchester United v Burnley: Fergie’s set to teach Brian the Laws of top flight football
It has been a poor start to 2010 for the champions Manchester United. They were dumped out of the FA Cup by bitter rivals Leeds United at home and are still searching for their first win of the year. However, the revelations about the Glazers possibly selling Old Trafford and Carrington training ground could signal that things are about to get a whole lot worse for the biggest club in the world.
It’s certainly a worrying time for United fans but the most important thing for them this weekend is to get three points on the board and keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea. And with Burnley the hosts, who seem to forget they are footballers when they leave Turf Moor, you’d like to think that United should easily dispose of the Clarets, particularly with it being Brian Laws’s first game in charge.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss could not have asked for a toughest start at Burnley but Laws also knows he is not expected to beat the champions on their own patch so he can go there and give it a right old go. However, on their current defensive displays that may not be the greatest game plan of all time. Burnley have conceded an astonishing 31 goals in 10 away games this season – the equivalent of three a game – which is only matched by Wigan Athletic and that’s only because of their horror show at White Hart Lane.
Burnley made their intentions clear for this season when they beat the champions at Turf Moor in August thanks to a cracking volley from Robbie Blake and are on course to complete their first double over United in 50 years. Unfortunately for Burnley fans, it’s been 48 years since they last triumphed at the theatre of dreams, but what a way for Laws, whose appointment has hardly inspired the fans, to endear himself to the fans.
Manchester United are nowhere near the side that won the league last season and are miles away from hitting top form with a host of star names out with injuries. However, the worrying part for the rest of the Premier League is that they are still second in the table and traditionally find their feet when it matters most just after Christmas.
Only Aston Villa have left Old Trafford with maximum points this season but could Burnley continue the theme of teams in claret and blue turning over the champions at home? It’s highly unlikely.
