Man Utd away

Last updated : 09 November 2007 By Dan Clough
You've recovered from a 'dodgy' start to the season. Are you going to win the title again?
 
If we don't win it, we'll be there or thereabouts. I believe we have a much stronger squad than last season, and the experience of last year could be the difference between us and a young Arsenal side. I'm not discounting Chelsea either. Though Liverpool seem to lack what it takes again.
 
One spanner in the works could be the Champions League. Sir Alex seems pretty determined to win it this year to cement his legacy. Should we go beyond last year's run to the semi-final, it could get exhausting for the players, better squad depth or not.
 
Eye-brows were raised over the Carlos Tevez saga in the Summer, are you happy with what you've seen so far?
 
Absolutely. I've always been an admirer of Tevez -- an admiration that grows each time I see him perform in a United shirt. He's undoubtedly a World Class player without any of the usual trappings of ego that most players nowadays possess. Like Rooney, I believe playing football is akin to breathing for him and I just love his work rate. He's usually all over the pitch looking for the ball -- and when he gets it, something special can often happen. I only wish he'd start taking the free-kicks instead of Cristiano "this ball is guaranteed to hit the wall" Ronaldo.
 
Tevez and Rooney, ugliest strike partnership in the world?
 
Without a shadow of a doubt! Yet both are producing moments of sublime beauty on the field.
 
Who's your best player?
 
Others usually gets the plaudits, but for me, Patrice Evra's defensive and offensive contributions often help us get the job done. He may not be the best, but I reckon he's the most unheralded.
 
Who do you most fear in Rovers' team?
 
Obviously you're dangerous in all areas of the pitch, but Benny McCarthy is the one that sticks out for me. I can easily see you guys nicking an early goal -- and with McCarthy no stranger to the occasional moment of individual brilliance, both Vidic and Ferdinand will have to keep their concentration for the entire match. One mistake could see McCarthy pounce.
 
A player I'm happy isn't playing is Robbie Savage. I'm positive United's midfield selections will be too.
 
Oh, and Brad Friedel tends to always play a blinder at Old Trafford.
 
Are you worried about the game after our unbeaten run?
 
Not exactly worried, as we're at home, but definitely wary of the threat posed by Blackburn. Mark Hughes (absolute legend) is doing a stellar job for you guys, and I'm not surprised at all he's mentioned as a candidate to replace Sir Alex in the future. I'm curious to see if you'll come to play football, or to merely try to stop us from playing.
 
Score prediction?
 
I'll play it safe and go with two nil to us. We just look like scoring from all angles these days, and hopefully the defense will be tighter after the blip at Arsenal.