September 25, 2010

Bolton Wanderers vs. Manchester United - Preview

Manchester United Alex Ferguson will be looking to ring the changes again as the Premier League title-chasing Reds on Sunday. After winning a Carling Cup fixture Scunthorpe, United will be looking to their winning ways continue. Standing between their goal of a victory Bolton Wanderers.

The Wanderers have a decent start to the season and will go stiff, especially with Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium. This Bolton side is very different than those played at the Reebok over the years. Ridiculed for their boring, functional and direct style of football under the guidance of Sam Allardyce, they have a long way to improve their style. The main reason for this change is the installation of Owen Coyle as their boss. The former Burnley manager has instilled a confidence to the ball along the ground and please triangles to create opposition to circumvent rather than just hoof the ball to Kevin Davies. The style is not the night come and even now it is a work in progress. Coyle's insistence in playing a certain style applause and his successes on the field too.

It is because of this change in style that players like the lucrative Swede Johan Elmander have the form at the club improved. Martin Petrov, the Bulgarian high-flying also joined the club in the summer in what could prove the bargain of the season.

Coyle is expected to be available again after an accident strongest side in the Carling Cup in midweek, where they slumped to a defeat. Their defeat, ironically, came into the hands of the former club Coyle, Burnley, which he in this bitter fashion. The key question for this contest will be whether Coyle recalls after the Finn Jussi Jaaskelainen returns from suspension. In his absence, stand-keeper, Adam Bogdan is in very impressive form, but it will probably not surprise as the outstanding Finn takes his place back in the side. Kevin Davies is another side to the return after suspension to spearhead an attack that will be expected to score the goals against a wobbly United Defense offer.

United Ferguson himself will be ringing in the changes and it will not surprise if only Rio Ferdinand takes his place in the side against the Trotters. United have four points behind leaders Chelsea beaten hollow those ominous when power of their opponents so far in the season. However, with the defending champions play against Manchester City, United will have the opportunity to make ground, as the London side slip up. In fact, this is one of the few times that Ferguson would actually support his city rivals in every match.

It is for these reasons that big guns like Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and in-form striker Dimitar Berbatov is expected to return to the side. Despite excellent reputation for United against Bolton could be a potential banana skin in which Alex Ferguson will be looking to avoid. Ferguson will hope that the United defense is stronger this time after the spectacular collapse late in the game against Everton and Liverpool in the mid-game. Ferguson is smart enough to portray their comeback against Liverpool after a defensive lapse as a turning point in the vicinity of a corner.

If United is to keep a clean sheet, they are likely to prevail at the Reebok Stadium. And with important Champions League matches on the horizon, a victory against the Trotters the perfect tonic to keep the momentum going.