Ole does what I dreamed of for so long. Young guys play attacking and interesting football. Rashford plays, Pogba plays, Lingard plays. Guys untied hands. Ahead of Bournemouth, which is now in a terrible game form, it needs to be used. We need one more victory for the year 2018 to end in a positive. And in the new 2019 there will be new victories, new titles. For a long time there was no such Boxing Day.
Manchester United are on a roll with two wins out of two under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but I still think it is going to be very difficult for them to make the top four. United have improved because they have got so much quality in their squad and so many of their players had a point to prove, but how long does that last for? I do think they will beat Bournemouth, who are on a terrible run of eight defeats from their past 10 games, but there are tougher tests to come - such as their trip to Wembley to play Spurs on 13 January. The Cherries' form has fallen away since the start of November, when they conceded a last-gasp winner against United - it has all gone horribly wrong for them since then.
The last time Bournemouth played United back in November, they were in good form having lost just two from ten but since losing to United at home they’ve been on a woeful run with seven losses in nine with the two positive results coming at home and they enter this game off the back of a five goal drubbing away to Spurs. This is the third comfortable game for Solskjaer as he looks to improve things and there will be tougher tests ahead but already you can see the players are enjoying their new freedom and unleashed, they have enough to overcome the Cherries at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has returned the shimmer at Manchester United, and they have managed two straight wins with the former United striker in the dugout. United have seen off Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town in the matches the Norwegian has been in charge and the momentum is still there, clearly. It is thus not a very good time for Bournemouth to be facing United. The Red Devils have scored eight goals in their last two matches but one problem the new manager seems to have inherited is the defensive concern with the team having conceded in both matches he has been in charge, just like they had conceded in the earlier five, but they have also scored in each of the last seven, netting two or more in five of the seven. Bournemouth on the other hand, have failed to score in four of their last five matches and they have lost six of their last eight away matches in the Premier League and have conceded at least twice in each of the last four away league matches. It will definitely be tough touring Old Trafford, where Manchester United have scored 10 goals in the last four matches and have lost just one of their nine league matches this term. Manchester United have gone unbeaten against Bournemouth in the last six meetings, winning five. The two sides have met seven times in history and Bournemouth have managed just one win.
Manchester United Win And Total Over 2.5 Yes • 1.81
Manchester United look like a completely different team under the smiling tutelage of club favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They thrashed Cardiff 5-1 in his first match in charge before beating Huddersfield 3-1 at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, and with this home game against Bournemouth and a trip to Newcastle coming up, they will be hoping for a few more points coming their way soon. They will need a lot more points and at least a hint of luck if they are to challenge for a top 4 position this season though. They are 8 points adrift of Chelsea in 4th place, although if they do manage to clinch Champions League qualification, it would do wonders for Solskjaer’s chances of getting the job on a permanent basis. Bournemouth’s fall from grace during this period means they now sit in 12th position, but with only 2 points between them and Leicester in 7th there is still hope of a top half finish around the Vitality Stadium. I’m expecting an entertaining clash, and with 16 of Man Utd’s 19 league games and 14 of Bournemouth’s 19 seeing at least 3 goals, I think Manchester United to Win and Over 2.5 Goals is a great choice.
Ole does what I dreamed of for so long. Young guys play attacking and interesting football.
Rashford plays, Pogba plays, Lingard plays. Guys untied hands.
Ahead of Bournemouth, which is now in a terrible game form, it needs to be used. We need one more victory for the year 2018 to end in a positive.
And in the new 2019 there will be new victories, new titles.
For a long time there was no such Boxing Day.