FIVE TALKING POINTS FOR UNITED V WEST HAM
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12/08/2017 12:00, Report by Mark Froggatt
FIVE TALKING POINTS FOR UNITED V WEST HAM
The Premier League is back and Manchester United's campaign begins with a game against West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ahead of the eagerly-awaited opener, we pose five questions surrounding the start of the 2017/18 season...
How long is it since our last league match?
Only 84 days have passed since United hosted Crystal Palace on 21 May, but it feels like an awful lot longer! The Reds and the Hammers will be the last of the top-flight teams to get going again in the Premier League, which actually kicked off on Friday night with Arsenal's thrilling 4-3 win over Leicester City. But at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the waiting will be over and the fortunate 75,000 or so with tickets will be ready for the sights, the sounds and smells of matchday. It's a day of optimism and hope, as we look forward to the exciting ride ahead.
Only 84 days have passed since United hosted Crystal Palace on 21 May, but it feels like an awful lot longer! The Reds and the Hammers will be the last of the top-flight teams to get going again in the Premier League, which actually kicked off on Friday night with Arsenal's thrilling 4-3 win over Leicester City. But at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the waiting will be over and the fortunate 75,000 or so with tickets will be ready for the sights, the sounds and smells of matchday. It's a day of optimism and hope, as we look forward to the exciting ride ahead.
Will we see three home debuts?
There's a good chance we will, yes. Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic all took their competitive United bows in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday night, and will now be hoping to wear their new red shirts - numbered 2, 9 and 31 respectively - at Old Trafford for the first time. They appear to have settled into the squad seamlessly and now it's the turn of the home supporters to make the trio feel welcome.
There's a good chance we will, yes. Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic all took their competitive United bows in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday night, and will now be hoping to wear their new red shirts - numbered 2, 9 and 31 respectively - at Old Trafford for the first time. They appear to have settled into the squad seamlessly and now it's the turn of the home supporters to make the trio feel welcome.
How will the options at centre-back play out?
One of the most fascinating elements of this summer's pre-season friendly schedule was the frequency with which Jose Mourinho mixed and matched his potential central defensive options, trying out various pairings as well as three at the back on a few occasions. The manager's decision to go with Chris Smalling and Lindelof in the Super Cup versus Real Madrid was made easier by the suspensions to Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, but with those two available for selection again, and Marcos Rojo still to return from injury later this year, it will be intriguing to see whether one pairing can cement their place in the starting XI. Does any other squad in the league have as much quality, experience and strength in depth in defence? In our opinion, no.
One of the most fascinating elements of this summer's pre-season friendly schedule was the frequency with which Jose Mourinho mixed and matched his potential central defensive options, trying out various pairings as well as three at the back on a few occasions. The manager's decision to go with Chris Smalling and Lindelof in the Super Cup versus Real Madrid was made easier by the suspensions to Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, but with those two available for selection again, and Marcos Rojo still to return from injury later this year, it will be intriguing to see whether one pairing can cement their place in the starting XI. Does any other squad in the league have as much quality, experience and strength in depth in defence? In our opinion, no.
Which team will come flying out of the traps?
It's always interesting to see which side sets the pace at the start of the campaign. Don't be surprised to see a promoted side, inspired by their new surroundings, delivering some shock early results, while one of the perennial front-runners will usually come charging out of the blocks. Jose's pre-season plan will have been to get his squad primed for this weekend, while also making it clear it's a marathon, not a sprint. Where we're at in the table on Sunday 13 May 2018 is the critical thing.
It's always interesting to see which side sets the pace at the start of the campaign. Don't be surprised to see a promoted side, inspired by their new surroundings, delivering some shock early results, while one of the perennial front-runners will usually come charging out of the blocks. Jose's pre-season plan will have been to get his squad primed for this weekend, while also making it clear it's a marathon, not a sprint. Where we're at in the table on Sunday 13 May 2018 is the critical thing.
How will the new rules change the game?
New seasons often come with new rules and that's certainly true of 2017/18. The biggest change is the introduction of a retrospective ban for diving, which could see guilty players suspended for two matches. The FA will also be able to rescind a yellow or red card given to the player who was deemed to have committed a foul, while players can be punished for attempting to deceive the referee by feigning injury. Footage will be reviewed each Monday by a three-man panel, consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.
New seasons often come with new rules and that's certainly true of 2017/18. The biggest change is the introduction of a retrospective ban for diving, which could see guilty players suspended for two matches. The FA will also be able to rescind a yellow or red card given to the player who was deemed to have committed a foul, while players can be punished for attempting to deceive the referee by feigning injury. Footage will be reviewed each Monday by a three-man panel, consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.
Follow coverage of United's first Premier League game against West Ham on Sunday in our live match blog on ManUtd.com and on Twitter via @ManUtd.
