NOTE FROM IAIN: The Predictor League for Man U is open HERE. Entries can be submitted until 3.30pm this afternoon.
Of course we would all love to see West Ham play beautiful football whilst winning, but it is quite pleasing to get three victories on the bounce whilst not being anywhere near our best. This weekend West Ham United welcome a Man Utd team on a similar run to the London Stadium for a tea-time kick off on Saturday. Ahead of the game I spoke to lifelong fan and ‘Cockney Red’ Tim Davies to garner his thoughts on the season and the match.
Hi Tim. After a rather indifferent start to the season, it looks like Manchester United have finally started to get their act together, most notably winning away against Southampton: but where do you realistically think Manchester United will finish the season?
Main issue is inconsistency. We can beat anyone, but then lose to Palace, Arsenal etc. Overall team feels more structured than in previous times under say Jose. Forward line is awesome and Cavani a revelation. Bruno is great as is VDB. Defence is concerning. I think we can certainly make top 4. The League is generally wide open – but not saying we’re winning it!
Is Ole Gunnar Solskjær the man to take you forward, or are your board being a bit too indulgent towards one of your ex-players?
OGS has brought an identity and his signings have been overall very good, after variable quality of LVG & Jose. I think he is more tactically astute than some give him credit for. e.g. results against PSG, etc. Having said that too many indifferent displays, e.g. Arse (totally didn’t show up) and some strange decisions e.g. Pogba playing over VDB. On balance more time should be given, despite some of the bollocks written in the press.
With your recent signing of Edison Cavani, who must be well into his 30s, it looks like Manchester Utd are following in the footsteps of West Ham of old: signing one-time-great players towards the end of their careers. Who do you hope to be signing over the next transfer break?
Not necessarily a new thing for us and I would remind you of Van Persie & Zlatan. Both did okay? Our priority needs to be in defence – Maguire & Lindelof doesn’t function well enough as a pairing.
Which Manchester United players are playing consistently well for you, and conversely who have been dreadful?
Bruno awesome, Rashford very good, Fred greatly improved, VDB looking really promising as does Teles. Martial has been disappointing but has had a few knocks and he’s a player who needs a run in the team. Maguire has obviously been a big concern post Mykonos, but I feel he has played better recently.
It must rankle a bit seeing your greatest rivals fighting it out to be top dogs in the League over the past 3 or 4 years. Who at his stage of the season do you think will end up winning the league come next May? And who will fill the next 3 places in the league?
All league struggles are cyclical. Under Fergie we dominated for around 20 years but it cannot last forever. Strangely perhaps as a Red I’ve quite enjoyed watching Liverpool over the last few seasons, dynamic attacking football. But this year it is genuinely wide open. Despite losing 3 games we are not that far behind. Liverpool getting injuries and other teams know better what they do. Retaining the league one of the hardest jobs going. City a little adrift and not quite at the level they were at. Spurs are the most improved side, but can they overcome the usual mental frailty? As a West Ham fan I’m sure you would say and I hope not! Not sure if Bale really there at this moment. Chelsea are also looking quite strong and unlike Spurs they know how to do it.
There is a small group of teams that look like being cast adrift from the rest of the table. Who are your three tips for the drop?
Sadly Fulham, Sheffield United & West Brom.
After a bit of a sabbatical your ex-manager David Moyes has ended up at West Ham – what do you think of the job he is doing for us, and why might he be a better fit at West Ham, than at Manchester United?
He is not a manager that I’m fond of, but I am biased. He is certainly doing better for you , as he did at Everton before. I think at Utd the job was too big for Moyes and he seemed to shrink in the post. Then again many have suffered, who had big reps, even Jose. Perhaps more modest ambitions suit Moyes better?
Presumably you mean Man United! Which West Ham players, if any would you like to see turning out for you?
I like Antonio, very difficult to play against. Fornals is also doing very well and in my Fantasy footy team right now.
How will you line up on Sunday? Players/formation
Diamond or 4231
Cavani might get a start but depends if banned! Or how goes against PSG. I would like to see VDB
It’s not very often that West Ham sit above Manchester United in the table: you must be wary of meeting a team in the top 5 of the table? Which of our two clubs is going to be able to continue their current winning run? Are you confident of victory? Prediction for the score please.
Recently Utd have performed well against top 6. Arguably lower clubs have proved more difficult to break down. This went out of the window against Spuds, but it did include the Lamela theatrics, which had a big impact. Confident? Depends if we turn up. Record against London sides awful this season, but maybe time to buck the trend. Away record is good and normally dodgy away record against Irons is driven by your supporters.
I’m going for a 1-2 win, but tbh any score is possible.
Many thanks to Tim (obviously a man who loves abbreviations!) for his time and considerations. I’m hoping that we can take advantage of Man Utd between 2 important Champions League games, although we will have to ‘up our ante’ compared to our last three performances. I’m going to reverse his prediction and go for a 2 – 1 victory for West Ham. COYI That last one’s for Tim!