The 29th Premier League season kicks off for United tomorrow with a home fixture against Crystal Palace in front of an empty Old Trafford. As much as I am looking forward to actually watching the game, it again will not sit right that we are not there as supporters to watch it.
Which is even more frustrating when you hear that Germany’s top flight Bundesliga returns this weekend and yet they’re allowing a certain amount of fans into the grounds over there. How have we got it so wrong in this country?
Ahead of the game tomorrow, Ole Solskjaer has done his press conference this morning and has obviously been asked about Donny van de Beek, Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, transfers and the targets for the season ahead of course
Ole confirmed we’ll see Donny van de Beek against Palace, but no confirmation on whether he’ll start as he hasn’t let the squad know the team for tomorrow as yet. He also confirmed that Maguire looks focused and professional, but only time will tell on how he is handling the current situation with a lot of focus on him as club captain.
As for the season ahead, Ole believes the team is confident of achieving more than last season and that our confidence should be high with the way they finished last season. Despite the Europa League semi-final knock out. Ole also stated that he is aware that the team needs to continue to develop, but ensured us that there has to be and will be more consistency.
The visitors to Old Trafford tomorrow are Crystal Palace, a team that beat us in our second home league game of last season at the end of August. It was a frustrating display that day from what I can remember being sat in the Stretford End. A draw would have been a fair result in the end too, after we equalised in 89th minute through Daniel James. Manchester United 1 v Crystal Palace 2 podcast
However, minutes later and deep into injury-time as we roared the team on for a winner, Palace broke and Patrick van Aanholt grabbed a 93rd minute winner. Yes, United were dominant with the ball, we had plenty of chances but our shooting was way off that day and in the end we hardly troubled Guaita in their goal. Including Rashford missing from the penalty spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7PQvKXP_dU
It does seem a distance memory now with all that has gone on in the world, but thinking back it was a frustrating time in general watching United at the start of last season. After the 4-0 home win against Chelsea we struggled against the like of Wolves, Palace, Southampton and Leicester as we only picked up one victory. Before two truly awful performances away to West Ham and then Newcastle United.
Excluding the Chelsea game on the opening day, we scored 6 goals in the next 8 Premier League games, with no more than one goal scored per game. It was painful to watch. However, for me, this is where Solskjaer realised what certain players in the squad could and couldn’t do and started to make plans on personnel changes. Enough was enough, certain players had been given enough chances, yet their performances were no where near the grade.
Still, it wasn’t an overnight process, it still took a while, but gradually the performances improved and goals started to come. With 16 goals in the next 8 games and a win away at Manchester City on 7th December.
The start to this season has to be different, there is no time for inconsistency and we have to start the season as we mean to go. The basis and the heart of the team is there now, even though another two signings would be great, but only if they’re the right players. Enjoy the game tomorrow.
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