To say it’s been a turbulent week for Manchester United would be an understatement. After only nine months in charge at the club, David Moyes was sacked on Tuesday brining to an end a short but dramatic reign. Now that qualification for the Champions League is impossible for next season, the United board acted swiftly as they attempt to prepare for next season. The outright favourite for the job is Louis Van Gaal but it will be Ryan Giggs who takes over between now and the end of the season. With four games to go, the highest that they can finish would be sixth and qualifying for the Europa League but that would be scant consolation for a side who easily won the Championship last season. Giggs – still signed as a player – has been tasked with ending the season on a high and that starts by attempting to beat Norwich at Old Trafford this Saturday evening.
It was a case of so near yet so far for Norwich last weekend when they hosted Liverpool. Although they conceded two early goals, the Canaries rallied and go back to 2-1 only to lose another goal. The match eventually finished 3-2 and in terms of the bigger picture it leaves them with a lot to do if they are to survive another season in the Premier League. With their last four games against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, it was always going to be a case of getting as many points on the board as quickly as possible. They have a two point cushion over Cardiff and Fulham having played the same number of games but they are now within catching distance of Sunderland who are a further point behind but with a game in hand. Considering this is Neil Adams first taste of senior football management, you have to worry for Norwich.
There will be many looking to see how the United squad react after this week’s events. For a long time now, there’s been an accusation of them not playing for their previous manager levelled at them. Whether or not that is the case remains to be seen but there’s no doubt, for whatever reason, this title winning squad has struggled to get anywhere near the standard’s they have previously set. It’s now up to Giggs and his coaching staff to find improvement in the last few weeks of this campaign.
A trip to Old Trafford may not carry as much fear in visiting team’s as it has done in previous seasons but Norwich’s away form is that bad that a trip anywhere is met with trepidation. They have lost their last seven away Premier League games, failing to score in four of them, and have not won in the league since beating West Brom 2-0 at the beginning of December. They also have the second worst away defensive record having conceded 40 goals, only Fulham are worse off.
There’s a lot to be taken on trust in this type of match considering what has went before. Two recent manager changes means it’s hard to determine how either team will approach this. My view is that there will be a sense of relief around Old Trafford and that could see them capitalise on what is a very fragile Norwich defence, especially away from home.
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