2010/11 SEASON PREVIEW

 

OK, the World Cup is over and I think most English fans want to forget about it and move on. Some cynics say we shouldn't just return to our club loyalties as if nothing happened but what else are we going to do - give up being football fans? As an MUFC fan last season was certainly less than ideal, the only silverware we came away with was the Carling Cup. Still, that was last season, this time around who knows what'll happen.

First up, the preliminaries of European competition. There was no British interest in the Champions League first qualifying round and only two ties at that stage. Maltese side Birkikara beat Andorran bunch Santa Coloma 7-3 on aggregate with the first leg at the Estadio Communal partly thanks to the Andorran pitch being unfit for the occasion, forcing Coloma to forfeit the 1st leg. Montenegrin side Rudar beat San Marinese bunch Tre Fior 7-1 on aggregate with the first leg at the Olimpico Serravalle. As usual, I doubt many people outside the countries involved were paying much attention to those ties and the winners were sure to get buried in the next round.

The second qualifying round saw the first British involvement in the competition. WPL side TNS beat Irish Premier Division team Bohemians 4-1 on aggregate with the first leg at Dalymont Park. The Irish side won the 1st side but TNS had a smooth ride on Welsh soil. Northern Irish Premiership side Linfield didn't do so well though. They got beaten 2-0 on aggregate by Rosenberg with the first leg at Windsor Park, not a complete disgrace but still, an early end to that adventure. Overall though the fact that even one of these two minnows survived a European tie is pretty impressive, though bigger guns lay in wait for them in the next round.

The third qualifying round provided the first SPL interest in the competition in the form of Celtic. However the Greens were found wanting when they ran into Braga, the Portuguese Superliga side beating them 4-2 on aggregate with the first leg at the Municipal Stadium. TNS's Champions League adventure also came to a dead end at this point, Anderlecht delivering a reality check by beating them 6-1 on aggregate with the first leg at the Racecourse Ground. So, not only was the WPL interest in the Champions League over but so was the initial SPL interest. A bummer but so be it, the SPL still has another card to play and the Premiership has yet to show it's hand in the competition.

Next up are the playoffs and that's where the Premiership will start showing it's hand. Spurs make their debut in the competition by facing Young Boys of Berne with the 1st leg at the Stade de Suisse. Harry Redknapp should certainly not be overawed by this tie. Young Boys finished 2nd in the Swiss Super league and the title race was a close one. However the fact that they include an English defender called Scott Sutter that I haven't even heard of despite the fact that the Three Lions are in need of an overhaul tells you the limit of their abilities. Spurs should be able to make the group stage with the sort of players they have at their disposal.

Going down a level, the Europa League saw British interest from the start in the first qualifying round of the competition. The WPL was represented by Llanelli who were beaten 5-4 by Lithuanian side Taurus with the first leg at Stebonheath Park. Port Talbot also tried their hand but were seen off 7-1 on aggregate by Finnish bunch Turku with the first leg at Turku Stadium. The NIP was also represented, but Glentoran were seen off by 5-2 on aggregate by Icelandic bunch KR with the first leg at the KR-vollur Stadium. Portadown did better though, beating Skonto Riga 2-1 on aggregate with the first leg at Shamrock Park. So,the initial WPL interest in that competition ended early doors.

In the 2nd qualifying round, the SPL joined the party with Motherwell beating Icelandic league side Breidabilik 2-0 on aggregate with the 1st leg at Fir Park. A pretty straightforward tie for Craig Brown's side to give the SPL an extra team in the next round. The WPL in the meantime threw another team into the competition with Bangor City beating Finnish side Honka 3-1 on aggregate with the first leg at the ISS. The NIP bolstered their represenation and Cliftonville beat Croatian bunch Cibalia 1-0 on aggregate with the first leg at Windsor Park. Portadown though were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Azerbaijani side Qarabeg with the 1st leg at Shamrock Park.

In the 3rd qualifying round, the Premiership started showing their hand with Liverpool beating Macedonian bunch Rabotnicki 4-0 on aggregate with the first leg at the National Arena Filip II. The SPL bolstered their representation but Hibs were beaten 6-2 on aggregate by Slovenia side Maribor with the 1st leg at the Ljudski vrt. However Motherwell beat Norwegian bunch Aaelsund 4-1 on aggregate with the 1st leg at Aaelsund Stadion. The WPL was still in the picture thanks to Bangor City's efforts but they were given a reality check by Portuguese Superliga side Maritimo, beaten 10-3 on aggregate with the 1st leg at the Estadio Maderia. The NIP also still had cards to play but Cliftondown were seen off 5-1 on aggregate by CSKA Sofia with the 1st leg at the Levski Stadium.

The draw for the Europa League playoffs has also been made. The Premiership bolsters its representation with Man City facing Timisoara with the first leg at the Dan Paltinisanu Stadium(City safe bets to win). Villa also throw their hats into the ring and face Rapid Vienna with the first leg at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium(it'll be tight but let's be optimistic, Villa to win). Liverpool face Trapzonspor with the first leg at Anfield(Scousers to win that one). The SPL has also bolstered it's represenation. Celtic face Utrecht with the first leg at Celtic Park(Celts to win). Dundee United face AEK Athens with the 1st leg at Tannadice Park(Tangerines may be in trouble), Motherwell face Odense with the 1st leg at the Odense Stadion(not sure I fancy Well's chances). The WPL is also having one last go at this competition, with TNS facing CSKA Sofia with the 1st leg at the Levski Stadium(TNS to get whacked).

Switching to domestic affairs and the Carling Cup 1st round draw has already been made. The only lower league team I keep much of an eye on nowadays is Exeter City and they face Championship QPR at St James Park. Well provided the pitch there is ready in time, this could be interesting. QPR are midtable in the second tier and on paper should be able to see off the Grecians. Yet City have proven to be a stubborn bunch over the years and I'll be surprised if their opponents have it all their own way. Yet the smart thing to do is look at this fixture and say "better luck next time City". A bad draw means that this particular Cup run will be short.

So what have United been up to. Well Fergie hasn't been wasting his time in the transfer market. Central defender Chris Smalling has arrived from Fulham for £10 million and Mexican assasin Javier Hernandez has arrived at Old Trafford from Chivas for £7 million having had a pretty good World Cup. The main names that are now history as far as MUFC are concerned are Ben Foster, off to Birmingham for £6 million(probably for the best if he's to have a chance of an international career) and Zroan Tosic, gone to CSKA Moscow for £8 million(couldn't break into the team, end of story. Overall, not a bad bit of business done.

As for preseason, well, the Reds spent most of it on the other side of the Atlantic. First we beat Celtic 3-1 at the Rogers Centre then we set about taking on MLS opponents. We beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 at the Lincoln Financial Field only to be beaten 2-1 by the Kansas City Wizards at the Arrowhead Stadium thanks to one of the dodgiest referees I've seen for some time. Then MUFC had the honour of being the opponents in the MLS Allstar Game and beat the MLS Allstars 5-2 at the Reliant Stadium. The team them headed to Mexico to face Chivas at the Stadio Omnilife only to lose 3-2. Finally they returned to the British Isles to beat an Airtricity League XI 7-1 at the Aviva Stadium.

North of the border, well despite a disasterous first season in charge at Pittodrie, Mark McGhee is still Aberdeen gaffer. He's certainly been busy in the transfer window, signing amongst others, English goalie Mark Howard from St Mirren, Northern Ireland international defender Rory McArdle, Paul Hartley from Bristol City(who had been one of the Championship's better players so that's not a bad blag) and striker Scott Vernon from Colchester. On their way out are Stuart Nelson(Notts County), Stuart Duff and Charlie Mulgrew(Celtic - bummer for the Dons to lose Mulgrew) Mark Kerr(heading to Greek Super League side Asteras Tripolis) and Davide Grassi(Italian lower league side Sorrento Calcio).

So, let's see what happens.

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