On Friday, United travel to Cambridge for the 4th round of the FA Cup, a competition the reds have failed to win since 2004. After beating Yeovil Town in the 3rd round, United now face another potential banana skin, with the League 2 minnows hoping to show the ‘magic of the cup’ by adding another name to the growing list of cup shocks over the years.
The game will prove to be another stern test, with Manchester United coming to town the home side and their fans will be bang up for it, with the tie undoubtedly being the biggest game in their 103 year history. Last year, Cambridge were promoted to League 2 after a 9 year absence. 25 games into this season, they sit 12th in the table, winning their last match 4-0 at home to Newport, leaving them a relatively healthy 9 points above the drop zone. Maintaining their league status will be the main objective, but I’m sure if you asked any of their fans, they’d take a cup win over United any day of the week. United struggled to a 2-0 win at Huish Park in the last round, with only the intervention of a bit of class from Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria being the difference in a lacklustre display.
Cambridge themselves sneaked through into the 4th round, with a tight 2-1 win over Luton. The reds will hopefully this time know what to expect from their opponents, who will no doubt want to make it a very physical and tough game. There will be no excuses if United are to fail to overcome this hurdle and make it through to the 5th round and give themselves a real shot at a good cup run. Louis Van Gaal is likely to make changes once again, but the big question is whether he will stick with the 3-5-2 formation, or switch to a 4-4-2 diamond. On Saturday after the match against QPR, Van Gaal said that he needs to get the balance right, with the diamond meaning we create more chances but are also more open. There shouldn’t really be any worry about the attack of Cambridge, so it is the hope that Van Gaal will play with the diamond from the start.
There are a few players who may get a look in for Friday’s game, one being Victor Valdes. Valdes is likely to make his first United appearance in goal, with his counterpart David De Gea, who has played every single game for the reds this season, being given a rest. Hopefully it should be a comfortable 90 minutes for Valdes, which would see him make the step into the team nicely, no doubt the papers will make something of it anyway if De Gea is to be rested. Also looking to get a chance will be James Wilson, who bagged his first goal of the season at Loftus Road. He started at Yeovil and also changed the game when he came on against QPR with his pace, not to mention he could have had a couple of assists to his name if his crosses into Falcao were slightly more accurate.
Falcao himself is expected to make another start, with another game under his belt he can only get better, and was one of the players who really played well at the weekend, and on another day, could have had a hat trick, he may partner Wilson up top. In midfield, Darren Fletcher who in the past couple of days has been linked with a move away, may come in to add some experience, but I would like to certainly see Ander Herrera in there, who has done almost everything he can to show he should start for United regularly. Adnan Januzaj will desperate for some first team action, he may get a chance after not having started a game since the 8th November.
There is also Andreas Pereira, who is yet to get a real shot, amidst reports of him refusing a new contract, and Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, who are likely to be given another opportunity at the back.Jonny Evans is a doubt after limping off at QPR, while Luke Shaw missed the trip to London all together. Robin Van Persie may return to the substitute’s bench but there will be no Ashley Young, who is still suffering from a hamstring injury.
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