The Match
Manchester United - well...what can you say? Anyone who isn't aware of the events which have unfolded at Old Trafford this week must be living in a cave, as news of Ferguson's retirement has been given top-billing by every media outlet, as well as no doubt being discussed up and down the land. Ferguson will be succeeded by David Moyes, who to me seems a fair facsimile of Alex Ferguson circa 1986, but news of Ferguson's departure will almost certainly provoke a positive reaction from his team on Sunday, especially with a home crowd intent on voicing their appreciation for the Scot's legendary tenure.
Since bowing out of the Champions League against Real Madrid, United have suffered some indifferent results - but with winning the league a formality for some time now it's possible the players took their foot off the gas somewhat. Losses at home to rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, away to Chelsea in the FA Cup as well as draws at West Ham and Arsenal are far from the form displayed by the Red Devils earlier in the season, but in a game like this form will go out of the window.
In other news, United striker Wayne Rooney has again handed in a transfer request. Last time, he performed an about turn (no doubt aided by the size of the contract on offer) and signed back on, and this time it seems history may repeat itself, given new stories breaking about "Rooney being open to staying at Man Utd if he's given assurances about his place in the squad". Moyes doesn't seem to me the type to stroke an ego, but he probably fancies working with Rooney again after seeing him depart Merseyside some eleven years ago. I don't know about anyone else, but that makes me feel very old...
Last time out
Swansea 1 - 1 Manchester United
The Swans held on for a point in the end against a Manchester United team that took around 70 minutes to get going. Patrice Evra nodded in from a corner before Michu tapped in after De Gea parried a De Guzman shot, and for large swathes of the match Swansea produced problems for their more esteemed visitors. They rode their luck late on as Van Persie and Carrick both struck the woodwork however a draw was a fair result - and was also Swansea's first Premier League point against Man Utd.
Prior Form (most recent at top)
Premier League Man Utd 0 - 1 Chelsea
Premier League Arsenal 1 - 1 Man Utd
Premier League Man Utd 3 - 0 Aston Villa
Premier League Arsenal 1 - 1 Man Utd
Premier League Man Utd 3 - 0 Aston Villa
Premier League West Ham 2 - 2 Man Utd
Premier League Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd
Premier League Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd
Premier League Wigan 2 - 3 Swansea
Premier League Swansea 0 - 0 Man City
Premier League Chelsea 2 - 0 Swansea
Premier League Swansea 0 - 0 Southampton
Premier League Norwich 2 - 2 Swansea
Team News
Manchester United look set to have Danny Welbeck (knee) and Chris Smalling (bruising) available for selection, but will be without Rafael after he was sent off (very harsly in my opinion) for a "kick" on David Luiz, whose grin whilst lying on the ground indicated he was very much playacting in an effort to get his Brazilian team-mate sent off. Definitely missing the match are Ashley Young (knee injury) and Darren Fletcher, who's still sadly suffering from a chronic bowel condition.
Swansea could be missing a clutch of first-team players, depending who passes late fitness tests. Chico (calf) and Ki (dead leg) could well feature, but Angel Rangel (calf), Roland Lamah (hamstring) and Michel Vorm (concussion) all look likely to miss out. Top scorer Michu seems set to return to the squad remarkably quickly if media reports are believed, after suffering a hamstring injury against Man City.
Trivia (courtesy of various other sites);
- Swansea ended their longest barren PL run by beating Wigan, after previously going seven games without victory.
- Before losing 1-0 at home to Chelsea, Manchester United had scored in 66 consecutive home games - a Premier League record.
- Manchester United have scored more own-goals this season than any other side (5)
- With two games left, Swansea are only one point shy of last season's total (47), while victory will would guarantee a top-half finish.
- Robin Van Persie has six goals in his last five appearances.
- All four of Manchester United's Premier League goals against the Swans have been netted in the first half.
- Manchester United have lost two of their last three home league games in the Premier League.
- Swansea have conceded at least two goals in their last five away games.
- Swansea have scored 12 goals in the last five minutes of games this season (in all competitions).
- Swansea have drawn 6 games 0-0 this season, more than any other side.
Completely guessed lineups
Straight from the "horse's mouth";
After media reports linking him with the now-vacant Everton hotseat, Michael Laudrup has moved to distance himself from any speculation:
"I've said many times that my intention is to be here next season.
"It is pure speculation once more. I don't have dreams; I like to live in the present."He thinks there's a possibility that the pomp and ceremony surrounding Ferguson's last home game will go a long way in determining how the match goes:
“You can look at it from angles. One is that they will be distracted, the other is his players will want to give him the best goodbye present at Old Trafford. I don't hope so because that will be very bad for us, but I hope they are thinking more about trophy, Sir Alex and the crowd – and less about us and the ball.
“We will try and do our best but every team at Old Trafford -especially smaller teams – have everything to win and very little to lose.
“We are very close to staying in top half after beating Wigan and even if we don't get something out of it we have good possibility getting in top half. So we can be relaxed, with no pressure, and try and get something from the game.”
Ashley Williams remembers Fergie overreacting somewhat last time these two sides met, but doesn't think there'll be any comeuppance:
"I laughed about the incident at the time. Most of us thought it was a ridiculous comment. I haven't thought too much about it and I've got on with it. I don't think I'll get a hot reception on Sunday. They have more things to think about. If I do I'll be surprised.
"They have stuff to celebrate. I don't think people will remember or bother about me."
Analysis
In the time it took me to write this, it seems Michu recovered from his hamstring injury (what that says about my rate of output I don't know...) - WalesOnline, the Guardian and other media sources are now stating Laudrup will have the languid Spaniard available for selection so it's more than possible he'll lead the line for the Swans. This game will have a similar atmosphere to a cup final, what with the Premier League trophy being presented and all, and if I'm honest I can't see anything other than a 100mph Man Utd performance. Keeping possession in midfield will be a tough task and hopefully Ki is fit enough to start - he does the little things that no-one picks up on very well and keeps the team ticking over.
Chico too is another who Laudrup will hopefully have available. The Spaniard has enjoyed a remarkably consistent debut season, and is still in the Whoscored.com XI of the year based on god knows how much statistical data. For me he's been as much of a bargain as Michu, and he's got the added bonus' of a) having good hair and b) fitting the bill of "traditional crazy foreign centre-back" perfectly. Everyone loves a hairy nutter pulling off outrageous flicks... well, maybe not always when it's your centre-back, but more often than not it comes off in Chico's defence. Hopefully he'll keep that kind of thing to a minimum tomorrow.
Between him and Ashley Williams they'll have to find a way of stopping Robin Van Persie from finding the net. The Dutchman has 25 league goals so far this season and is the most likely player to score this weekend according to bookmakers (7/4), although how much of that is down to Swansea's leaky away defence you can't say. At least two goals conceded in the last five away matches isn't a nice stat when you're about to face the Champions in a game of this magnitude, so Laudrup is likely to call on the team to defend solidly and put in shift in the hope of coming away with a clean sheet, however before Chelsea turned over United 1-0 at Old Trafford recently Fergie's men had scored in 66 consecutive home games, so it's unlikely we'll keep Man Utd out for the whole game.
If United get a goal early, I will fear for the Swans. We need to take the sting out of the game and remind the crowd that despite the circumstances, this is an end of season game with nothing massive riding on it (except, for Swansea, the increased income which comes with every Premier League position gained come the end of the season). There is that stat about all Man Utd's goals against us coming in the first half, too, so it seems if we get to half time at 0-0 we may be alright. That being said, I don't see us keeping a clean sheet here, as with Van Persie and Rooney available for selection you're always odds-on to concede at least once. Goals, goals goals then? I'm able to quote Laudrup directly when I say "we don't want to have to score three goals to win the game", but it does make for a very exciting match...
Iechyd Da.