Manchester United v Newcastle: Reigning Champions Enjoy Another Goal Rush at Magpies Expense?
So Manchester United started their 2008/09 campaign as they ended their 2007/08 one - with silverware. In a predictable Community Shield - the first in 12 years to feature a team outside the Premier League top four - highlighted why the reigning league champions have been in no rush to buy in new blood during the summer transfer window. Even without the likes of Rooney and some bloke called Ronaldo, United were obvious in their dominance; Tevez looking poised for a lucrative second season and Nani proving there’s definitely more than one potential Portuguese superstar in Manchester.
Newcastle like their opening opponents haven’t been all that active in the markets this summer but it hasn’t been for want of trying. So far the Magpies have only managed to secure the serves of Jonas Gutierrez - the Real Mallorca midfielder who has just 5 goals to his name in 96 matches, former Liverpool’s trainee Danny Guthrie and French-Cameroonian defender Sebastien Bassong.
To make matters worse (as if facing a team that stuck 11 past you last season wasn’t a bad enough way to christen the new season) King Kev is already plagued by injury issues with Owen a doubt (calf) and fellow striker Viduka a definite casualty until September (achilles).
Newcastle may take some solace in the fact that Ronaldo, scorer of six of the 11 United netted at their expense, will not feature in this one, or in fact before the end of September. Rooney too remains doubtful. But even without the presence of these two plus a suspended Nani, don’t expect a Premier 10 or Footy 15 upset in this one; Newcastle will miss their stars a hell of a lot more than United will miss theirs.
Pundits Pick: The Premier League reigning champions start where they left off (home win)
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Tags: Football Predictions, footy 15, Manchester United, Match Previews, Newcastle United, Premier 10, Premier League, Toon
