With 22 points from 15 games Manchester United languish at the 9th spot, 13 points adrift Premier league leaders Arsenal . It is evident from this season's performance that David Moyes has found it difficult to get going as United's manager . But all is not lost as of yet for the Ex- Everton boss.
Manchester United face Stoke City on Wednesday in their Capital One cup Quarter final . In the most recent meeting, they beat Stoke 3-2 at Old Trafford after twice coming back from behind . If they win it will put them through to the Semi final's . The red devils desperately need revival of some sorts to get their premier league season back on track . This match could be what David Moyes requires. A win here will give him a shot at putting some silverware in United's trophy cabinet as his first season in charge .
The League Cup is not a particularly important or even prestigious trophy. If Manchester United are aiming for the League Cup you could say that this is a sign of just how far they have fallen. But something is always better than nothing.
Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson understood this very thing. Atkinson's first trophy in-charge of United was a FA cup trophy in 1982-83 . Sir Alex Ferguson won the FA cup in 2004 , which was Cristiano Ronaldo's first trophy as a United player. That was the basis for the Rooney / Ronaldo striking partnership which went on the wreak havoc in the years to follow .
More on that 2004 FA cup victory against Millwall below :
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/24/match.manchesterunited
On the other hand United have drawn Swansea City as their 3rd round FA cup opponents. This match is to be played in the 1st week of January. The FA cup is a far more prestigious trophy and hence a much more difficult one to win , but i guess Wigan and Roberto Martinez would beg to differ .
It's been ages since the red devils last won the FA cup ( 2004 ). Yes there are more pressing issues at hand right now but Moyes needs to keep the FA cup on his radar as he might need another route into Europe for next season. The normal one is proving more difficult to navigate than usual.
As far as the champions league goes , Manchester United have done quite well grabbing 14 points and topping group A , their best group stage performance since 2007-08 when they ended up winning the UCL . The round of 16 is up next and possible opponents are Galatasaray , Olympiakos , Schalke , Zenit and AC milan . It is too early to comment on what lies ahead in the UCL for the red devils but they have their work cut out in the other three competitons.
Manchested United's UCL opponents and more below :
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2013/Dec/manchester-united-potential-last-16-champions-league-opponents.aspx
David Moyes urges Manchester United to raise game in last 16
http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/218154-uefa-champions-league-david-moyes-urges-manchester-united-to-raise-game-in-last-16
With successive home defeats for the first time since 2002 , the sluggish United side need to regain their lost form and that too very quickly. They face Aston Villa away from home on sunday desperately needing the 3 points to get back to winning ways in the EPL. What United have which other struggling sides in the Premier League do not - is quality and experience of getting out of difficult situations. They will need to rely on all of this and a whole lot more if they want to dig themselves out of the hole they currently find themselves in.
The League Cup is not a particularly important or even prestigious trophy. If Manchester United are aiming for the League Cup you could say that this is a sign of just how far they have fallen. But something is always better than nothing.
Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson understood this very thing. Atkinson's first trophy in-charge of United was a FA cup trophy in 1982-83 . Sir Alex Ferguson won the FA cup in 2004 , which was Cristiano Ronaldo's first trophy as a United player. That was the basis for the Rooney / Ronaldo striking partnership which went on the wreak havoc in the years to follow . More on that 2004 FA cup victory against Millwall below :
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/24/match.manchesterunited
On the other hand United have drawn Swansea City as their 3rd round FA cup opponents. This match is to be played in the 1st week of January. The FA cup is a far more prestigious trophy and hence a much more difficult one to win , but i guess Wigan and Roberto Martinez would beg to differ .
It's been ages since the red devils last won the FA cup ( 2004 ). Yes there are more pressing issues at hand right now but Moyes needs to keep the FA cup on his radar as he might need another route into Europe for next season. The normal one is proving more difficult to navigate than usual.
As far as the champions league goes , Manchester United have done quite well grabbing 14 points and topping group A , their best group stage performance since 2007-08 when they ended up winning the UCL . The round of 16 is up next and possible opponents are Galatasaray , Olympiakos , Schalke , Zenit and AC milan . It is too early to comment on what lies ahead in the UCL for the red devils but they have their work cut out in the other three competitons.
Manchested United's UCL opponents and more below :
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2013/Dec/manchester-united-potential-last-16-champions-league-opponents.aspx
David Moyes urges Manchester United to raise game in last 16
http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/218154-uefa-champions-league-david-moyes-urges-manchester-united-to-raise-game-in-last-16
With successive home defeats for the first time since 2002 , the sluggish United side need to regain their lost form and that too very quickly. They face Aston Villa away from home on sunday desperately needing the 3 points to get back to winning ways in the EPL. What United have which other struggling sides in the Premier League do not - is quality and experience of getting out of difficult situations. They will need to rely on all of this and a whole lot more if they want to dig themselves out of the hole they currently find themselves in.
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