Latics Speyk to Manchester United

Wigan Athletic take the short trip down the East Lancashire Road to Old Trafford this Saturday to face the posh neighbours in the big house, Manchester United, so I thought I`d grab a word on the game, players and the season ahead with Vital United editor and massive Man U fan Danny Green, aka redboy.


worbo - Hi Danny, hope all is well, good start to the season for the United, well and truly in touch at the top of the table and according to the experts, not hit top form yet, just what you expected?

Danny - Not really to be honest, we may have accumulated a thirteen game unbeaten start but there have been far too many away draws and although things seem to have tightened up in recent weeks, our defending at times has been almost comical, teams have been coming back from positions when they should have been dead and buried. But I guess I shouldn`t moan too much we could be like that clue-less lot across the city who can`t score for love or money at home!


worbo - Cant go any further without speaking about Wayne Rooney, what an outburst a few weeks ago, no ambition? Anyway, three questions:

1 How will the fans respond if he plays on Saturday?
2 Long term deal? Is it just a Fergie ploy to stick him on a fat contract so he`ll bring in a fat fee when he joins Real Madrid in the summer, or is that just the cynic in me?
3 Was he really injured or did Fergie send him off to the US to take the heat off him for a couple of weeks?

Danny - Rumour has it that Rooney will be on the bench, perhaps they`re trying to introduce him back into things slowly. If he does come on I`ve not a clue what sort of reaction he`ll get, I`d suspect polite applause rather than raucous cheering! As for the contract I definitely wouldn`t call you an old-cynic, you may very well have touched a raw nerve there. And as for point three, toss a coin, heads you`re right tails you`re wrong!


worbo - Our favourite Ecuadorian suffered a terrible injury earlier in the season, how is Antonio Valencia`s rehabilitation going and have you missed him, great player, hope he comes back as good as he was before.

Danny - He took a while to settle into things but was coming good; after all he had huge boots to fill. His recovery is, I believe, on schedule but he`s still a long way off of a return.


worbo - Javier Hernández, is he as good as he seems, obviously I haven`t had the privilege of seeing him live so it`s hard to make any proper judgement off a few minutes on Match of the Day but he does look the real deal.

Danny - He`s more work in progress although the progress he`s made so far has been exceptional. He`s one of these types of players that has an eye for a goal and although he`s quite small he`s strong on the ball and hard to shake off of it. I`m sure Sir Alex will bring him along at the right speed and I reckon next season he could well be a regular starter.


worbo - Alex Ferguson, has been a fantastic manager for Manchester United, possibly the best ever? I`d say so, even better than Matt Busby`s achievements. How long do you see him carrying on for, who would you like to see replace him and is he your best ever manager?

Danny - I`ll fall short of naming our best ever manager, sitting on the fence, different era`s make it a hard call. But as for Sir Alex retiring, I can`t see it for a couple of years yet and even then I have a feeling he`ll move upstairs rather than walk away from the club. As for a replacement, it really is hard to see who could fill those famous shoes, Jose Mourinho perhaps!


worbo - OK, you are up at the top end of the table as per usual, but with Liverpool struggling there is room for another gate crasher this season, it looks too much for Spurs with their Champions League commitments, will that allow City in? Down at the bottom its as tight as ever but West Ham are in danger of getting cut a drift. Who do you see in the top four and bottom three come the end of the season Danny?

Danny - An interesting question, naturally Arsenal, Chelsea and United will be in contention for the title and the fourth side to qualify for the Champions League will not be City, I`m going for Spurs to stage a recovery and climb into that cherished fourth spot. Down the bottom, I`ll go for West Ham, Wolves and Blackpool to go down! A little controversial but Blackpool will get found out, believe you me!


worbo - I do believe you Danny, they`re still my tip. Right prediction time, I feel that we may just surprise you this season, we aren`t a soft touch and we`re starting to play some really good football and I know Old Trafford hasn`t seen the best of United this season and we play much better away from home, so with that in mind I think it will finish 1-1

Danny - A bold forecast considering you`ve yet to take a point of off us in fourteen previous meetings. But I guess that run has to come to an end one day, but not tomorrow - a United win, a comfortable United win - sorry!

worbo - Well we will see if we can`t get our first point then, good to talk Danny and good luck for the season, after tomorrow of course, oh almost forgot, can we keep Tom Cleverley please, he is a fantastic player but would be more suited to staying with us ;).


















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