Written by billythekid
After previous close encounters against Liverpool at Anfield, on Saturday we suffered our biggest defeat against them. Our next game is on Wednesday night at Dean Court against second-placed Manchester United.
Their manager, Jose Mourinho, seems a completely different character to Jurgen Klopp of the side we have just played. Mourinho often seems moody these days and you don’t often see him smiling. After he left Chelsea in the December of 2015 they were 1 point off a relegation place in 16th place in the table on 15 points. It wasn’t a good start to the season for Mourinho, there was the well-documented incident with the Chelsea Doctor after she went on the pitch to treat a Chelsea player. Guus Hiddink took over for the rest of the season and Chelsea finished in 10th place on 50 points.
When Jose Mourinho took over at Manchester United it seemed he had a hard task on his hands. But his first season in charge United finished in 6th spot. Chelsea the side he left in the previous season finished as Champions. This season they look like finishing as the ‘bridesmaid’ to their rivals Manchester City, who have just been confirmed Champions after United’s surprising home defeat to bottom club West Brom. It will be Manchester United’s highest finish (if they hold onto 2nd spot), since 2012-13, when in his last season in charge, Alex Ferguson won the title with arch-rivals City finishing in 2nd place.
In the January transfer window, United signed Alex Sanchez from Arsenal in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Away from home so far this year, in January, Manchester United beat Everton 0-2 and Burnley 0-1, but lost 2-0 against Spurs. February they lost 1-0 at Newcastle. In March they beat Crystal Palace 2-3. So far this month they met their neighbour’s City and from being 2-0 down at half-time, United came back in the second half and won 2-3. At home in January, they beat Stoke City 3-0. February United beat Huddersfield 2-0 and Chelsea 2-1. In March beat Liverpool 2-1 and Swansea 2-0. So far in April, they lost 0-1 to bottom club West Brom.
Listening to the interview after the game with West Brom, Mourinho basically said his team were complicated, meaning they tried too many tricks, too many flicks, one more touch and were slow in their build-up and thinking. After that defeat and performance against West Brom, I think the Manchester United manager will have his side up for our game and we need to be at our best on Wednesday night, we could be in for another tough game. Mourinho knows he can’t win the league now, but will want to finish as runners-up. He will also have his eye on the FA Cup semi-final three days later against Spurs, where he has a chance to add some more silverware to the collection already at Old Trafford, if his team can win their next two cup games. United have a tough task, the semi-final is normally played on a neutral ground (Wembley), but this season Wembley has been the home ground of Spurs, so you could argue Spurs will have ‘home’ advantage.
The Cherries home games against Manchester United have resulted in a win and defeat. Our first season in the PL 2015-16, AFCB won 2-1, lost at Old Trafford 3-1. 2016-17 lost at Dean Court 1-3, drew 1-1 at Old Trafford. This season we lost 1-0 in the away game. In all competitions, AFCB have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 8.
AFCB Team News
No new news re injuries following the Liverpool game.
AFCB Player To Watch
This is becoming difficult, but after being dropped to the bench, Eddie might bring back Callum Wilson and hopefully he will put in a performance and get back on the scoresheet again after a barren spell.
Manchester United Team News
Mourinho has hinted at changes for Wednesday night’s game, he has a strong squad to pick from. Will he drop Pogba?
Manchester United Player To Watch
They have a few to choose from, amongst them, Paul Pogba had a good game against Manchester City but was substituted early in the second half against West Brom. Alex Sanchez who gave our team problems when playing for Arsenal. But my player to watch is the player who seems to have a habit of scoring against the Cherries, Romelu Lukaku, scored in the earlier game this season and 4 in one game when playing for Everton. United’s leading scorer with 15 goals and 7 assists, only player in the United team to have more assists, is Paul Pogba with 9.
Referee: Graham Scott.
Had him at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Also at Dean Court for Leicester and more recently West Brom.
