The United Devils

Manchester United met Everton at Wembley for one of the most interesting semi finals of the FA cup, after taking an early lead, Manchester United's hopes for reaching the final were at an all time high but the second half seemed to change things as Everton put their foot on the gas, David De Gea saved a penalty but Chris Smalling was responsible for an own goal. It was 1-1 at 90 minutes and both managers felt that the match would carry on to Extra Time if not to penalties, (like it did the last time they met) but then came the moment of magic as Manchester United's Anthony Martial struck for goal in the iconic Fergie Time to seal their 5th consecutive win.
Analysis Manchester United were at the top of their game during the first half, making quick attacks, passing the ball around well and having that thirst for an early goal that several fans wanted to see, the second half, however, wasn't all that good for them as they crumbled under the pressure (credit given to Everton as…

As both managers go into the match under the cosh, this won't be a friendly tie in a must win game to potentially keep them in the hot seat for another season. Van Gaal faces up to the task ahead, with top four and the FA cup to be delivered to the trophy cabinet to create any justification for seeing out his contract instead of succumbing to the sack many are already calling for. However bad things look for Manchester United, the blue side of Liverpool seem to have to done one better, Martinez struggling to cope with the ever going pressure at Goodison.

In what is a contrasting week for United fans, seeing their team record 10 shots on target against Crystal Palace in their 2-0 win they play against a weakened Everton side without two key defenders, Jagielka due to injury has now returned to the starting 11, though medically should not be playing, and Funes Mori suspended. Although part of a defence who conceded four at Anfield and took 13 shots on Howard's goal failing to rec…

Manchester United go into Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Everton as favorites. They enter this game in solid form, winning 4 of their last 5 games, while Everton is quite the opposite in poor form, losing 3 of their last 5 games.  Manchester United have lost the last two FA Cup semi-finals to Everton in 1966 and in 2009. They have also been knocked out in the last two semifinals overall. Both teams have met at a FA Cup final where Everton were the victors in 1995. Manchester United enter this crucial game with no fresh injuries while same can't be said for Everton who have to do without Phil Jaglieka, John Stones and Seamus Coleman. Gareth Barry has to undergo a late fitness test and Ramiro Funes Mori is suspended following his red card against Liverpool in the premier league.
Now we get all those important statistics out of the way, let's get down to the game. Both teams have managers just holding on for their life to their respective jobs. Manchester United fans h…

Manchester United move one step closer to moving into the top 4 after a win against Crystal Palace at home. It was an easy win and Palace didn't seem to try at all, but it seemed like a repetition of the game against Aston Villa earlier this week, boring. The matches lack lustre and perhaps that is why the fans are bored to the extent that for the first time in a long time, Old Trafford was empty. This is not what this club is about. I guess its safe to say that Louis Van Gaal's philosophy has ruined the club and while they are winning, its just not fun anymore.



AnalysisManchester United seemed just fine, balanced rather, with the good and the bad. De Gea wasn't called into action a lot, in fact, the ball boys held the ball more than the goalie, which isn't all that bad to be frank. Defensively, United were very strong with Smalling suppressing any attacks by Adebayor, who was perhaps the only Palace player in their half for the majority of the match and Blind did well t…

It is rather typical of modern football that there are fans who would rather finish 4th in the Premier League than win the FA Cup. Yes, finishing 4th is one heck of thrill, especially for Arsenal but the FA Cup is special. A day out at Wembley for the fans with all the build up the big final entails. Seeing the managers lead out the teams onto that pitch with all the traditional ceremonial customs that follow that. Regardless of the importance of finishing 4th in the league the FA Cup remains the biggest day in English football. Nothing compares to lifting that famous trophy not even the glory of that 4th place finish.

Manchester United have not won a major trophy since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. It s starting to way heavy on the club. A club that is used to constantly winning trophies. This is a new group of players who have won trophies at other clubs but not at Manchester United, winning trophies is a habit who knows what winning the FA Cup could start. Especially with th…

Last week I presented to you my first betting preview. Well as it goes it wasn't as hopeless as I first thought it might be. Included in my tips was an astonishing 5/1 winner, United to win 1-0 against the defensively terrible Aston Villa, which actually came in! At odds of 3/4 United to win to nil was probably the most realistic option, also winning. The final winner of my preview was Marcus Rashford at 4/6 anytime scorer, and the star certainly delivered.

Now I have thrown all the boring background information your way, we can move on to the preview for tonight's game. Lets get down to business. Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United face Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a tie which could be repeated in the FA Cup final. For both teams tonight it will be another rotation scheme, due to the semi final FA cup fixtures they have on the weekend. Manchester United will have to push for the win after City dropped points against Newcastle last night.

In the last 5 meet ups b…

Bottom of the table Aston Villa, a club in turmoil, players who have no desire to play for the club, an embarrassment of a team. Surely a chance for Manchester United to show us what they can do and entertain the fans for once? Nope, it was the complete opposite of that with the usual snooze fest served up by Louis van Gaal's team with the usual 60% possession and 3 shots on target. It was a performance that was more damning of the Louis van Gaal era than the 3-0 hammering at White Heart Lane the week before.

Aston Villa are a team with the worst defense in the league who have been beaten 6-0 at home by Liverpool and 5-0 at home by Chelsea. Both teams are below Manchester United in the league so you would expect United to put in a similar performance especially at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal's team selection screamed negative with the usual 2 defensive midfielders deployed one of which was Marouane Fellaini who passes the ball at the pace of a snail putting United at an immed…

Old Trafford has had its considerable share of dark days since Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call time upon his role as manager of Manchester United, but there’s been one shining light throughout and that light is none other than David De Gea. The goalkeeper who is affectionately known as ‘Spanish Dave’ by some Red Devil fans has consistently been producing top class performances week in week out, De Gea has been metronomic in reliability. 
Every Manchester United fan will dread to think of how much worse it may have been these past few years had De Gea not been around. The Spaniard has won the ‘Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year’ award for two consecutive years (this award is decided by Manchester United fans), the last player to achieve this feat was a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. De Gea has every chance of winning the award again this season, if he were to win it the Spaniard would be the first ever Manchester United player to win the fan-voted award for three consecutive years since it…

Manchester United, still 4 points off their rivals Manchester City, keep their hopes of a top four place alive. The gap is four points and with City’s involvement in the Champions League, an unlikely accomplishment of finishing fourth remains on after putting Aston Villa to the relegation zone with a 1-0 (32 ‘) win

Huge ovation for our young Rash who has given the Red Devils the lead in 32 minutes, at the end of a half in which they largely dominated. Rashford has now become the first player to score four goals for United in the Premier League before his 19th birthday.

From the first minute of the game, Valencia stands a cross up to the far post getting Memphis ready to swipe a volley towards goal but Bacuna takes the ball off his foot and here goes the series of corners. United spreading it wide in a nice way with Mata and Memphis combining well down the left. Rooney not involved in a great deal just yet, but United are well on top. The Villas just about to cope with United’s counte…

The Theatre of Dreams hosts Aston Villa in a 3pm kick off that has an atmosphere of struggle around the fixture, whether it be to find a late surge of form for Manchester United, or a must win situation for the villains if they have any hope of completing a five game win streak to keep them in the Premier League.

The game presents a chance to close in on the sought after top four spot for the devils, after they self-imploded late in their last game against Spurs, they have the opportunity to bounce back against a weak side who have only found the net twice in their last seven league games.

The situation strikes most punters on a knife edge, a lot like most of the games seen at Old Trafford this season surprise is always on the cards. Having won none of their last 12 Barclays meetings, odds of 1/4 will definitely be included in our accumulators for a United win.

In terms of final score and surrounding bets, four of the last five premier league games have ended in 1-0, with three of t…

Throughout his incredible career there has always been one criticism constantly hurled at the tactical mastermind, the fact he never gives youth a chance. The majority of the criticism has come during his two spells in England with Chelsea. It is totally unfair to throw all of the criticism at Jose Mourinho for the youth record at Chelsea with next to none young players getting a chance under managers such as Andre Villas Boas, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo. So why throw all the criticism at Mourinho ? Is it because it's the only minor flaw anyone can find on his glittering CV? I think so. It has been  exaggerated to a ridiculous level in recent months as the speculation has grown that Jose Mourinho will be the next Manchester United manger and Louis van Gaal has fallen on some real talent in Marcus Rashford and Tim Fosu-Mensah due to injuries and the poor performances of the big money first team players. This cannot count against Jose Mourinho.

At Manchester United the re…