- Jan 13, 2015
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- Leicester, Vixens
It is the big curtain raiser of English Football, the Premier League winner takes on the FA Cup winner. To some, it's a glorified friendly (you can have 6 subs in this game), to others, it's an early chance for some historic silverware.
We do have an unusual team in the form of Leicester, but contrary to belief, they enter as the Premier League Champion, United the FA Cup winner.
Believe it or not, Leicester has won the Shield once in 1971, back when Arsenal (who won both league and cup) were contracted to a pre-season tour, so the FA decided to take both the Cup Runner Up and the 2nd Division Winner (yeah, I don't get that either) to contest the shield. United of course has won this 20 times, just like something else they've won 20 times.
Leicester's form:
W 19 July Oxford United 1–2
W 23 July Celtic 1–1 (5–6 p)
L 30 July Paris Saint-Germain 4–0
L 3 August Barcelona 4–2
United's form:
W 16 July Wigan Athletic 2–0
L 22 July Borussia Dortmund 1–4
W 30 July Galatasaray 5–2
D 3 August Everton H 0–0
United's form is better, but Leicester's was against tougher opposition (and it is their first time travelling longer distances, something they will need to get used to.) I think this match will be a dress rehearsal for what is to come in their first games, at least for at least 45. Which means Huth is likely to get 45 as a sub, and we might for the first time see what could be the PL's deadliest striker pairing of Vardy and Musa, who is fresh off a brace against Barcelona, and gave a first class demonstration exactly what he will do to PL defences if given the chance. United fans will of course get to see their new signings in action as their first XI takes shape for their big match against the PL's smallest side.
Leicester had called the old Wembley a 2nd home ground of sorts in its dying days, can they do the same yet again in this new age? The leaky defence is back (though a lot looks like its pre-season jitters), but the offence still looks very dangerous. They do look quite different without Kante in the middle though.
Mou is still getting his United team to become HIS United team as he has set out the structure and pecking order as he aims to reverse the stagnation that has gone on since Fergie left and take on the role as the next true successor of United. Zlatan will be looking to establish himself in the final challenge on the domestic front and is looking to continue his long streak of league trophies. There is no CL, but what does it matter if he can terrorise England at the tender young age of 35?
Both sides will use this match as a means to quell any doubts that may linger over their heads (though in United's case, Moyes won the Shield, we know how that went.) Who would have the more pressure to win? Possibly Mou if you go by the hype that United seem to be generating. While it has to be admitted that immediate success isn't expected, he would want to ensure that his team start off on the right foot in regards to winning, and well, to settle an old score.
Have at it!
