the blog of manchester united

Manchester United will open the 2008/2009 season defending a back-to-back crown with a start at home against the Magpies.

United will be without Cristiano Ronaldo who’s still nursing injury, Hargreaves, Saha, Nani (suspended), and Anderson (with Brazil at the Olympics).  Rooney though is fit just in time to lead United’s attack, and will play a pivotal role with Tevez upfront.

Newcastle will be without all strikers and will look likely to struggle offensively against United’s Ferdinand and Vidic at the back.  New boy Argentinian Colloccini will be avilable after completing his move from Spain.

It’ll be interesting to see who will play right back for United, whether Gary Neville will get his starting berth or Wes Brown will continue to be rewarded for his stellar performance last year.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, R Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Evans, Evra, Silvestre, F Da Silva, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Possebon, Giggs, Martin, Tevez, Rooney, Campbell.

Newcastle United (from): Given, Beye, N’Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Cacapa, Bassong, Edgar, Butt, Geremi, Milner, Duff, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Martins, Smith, Edgar, Harper.

Predictions: MAN UTD 3 - Newcastle 0

As much as Newcastle improve their backline, United at home is just a little too much for anyone even though with not a full first team.  Expect United to have a lot of posession and probably for Frazier Campbell to have a goal towards the end of the game.  Tevez and Rooney for the other two.