United preview

Whilst watching Man United destroy Spurs (5-1 victors over Charlton earlier this season incidentally), one word kept coming into my head to describe United, and that was balanced, (and then two words:'oh sh*t').

(above) Bryan Hughes looks on aghast as he realises
he's not very good.

Although the idea that Man United didn't spend much money in the summer is a bit wide of the mark (they spent more on Michael Carrick than we did in total), they clearly lagged Chelsea's wild spending yet have achieved the above balance, whilst poor Jose Mourinho wonders what to do with Michael Ballack. It explains why they're six points clear.

By balance I mean a classic 4-4-2 with genuine dangerous pacy wingers (Ronaldo, Giggs), a rock-solid core (Ferdinand, Vidic, Scholes, Carrick), excellent full-backs (Neville, Evra) and now thanks to Larsson's arrival, a genuine goalscorer to play alongside the mercurial Rooney. It really is a terrifying thought that we go there on Saturday with dire injury problems which are now compounded by Hreidarsson's problem. And with 33 goals scored and just 8 conceded in their 13 home games, if we can leave Old Trafford with our pride somewhat intact and hopefully with no further injuries, it will feel like a victory of sorts.

At least Hreidarsson's injury probably implies a debut for 'Magic' Bougherra whose cavalier approach to defending should make him a popular player for us, even if we occasionally have our hearts in our mouths. Pards has also understandably hinted that he might belt out 'A Song' (enough Song puns already - Ed.) which would seem sensible, preferably in place of the ineffectual Hughes. Hopefully he will stick with Rommedahl and Thomas whose pace represents perhaps our only realistic chance of creating something on the break.

Derek 'Killer' Hales (KillerWatch© -£621) in his usual cryptic fashion fancies 'more than 3.5 goals' which in Killer-speak means we are likely to get a right hammering. With goal difference important to us, but not so important to them, it's possible they will go easy on us after a couple of goals but I'll be watching on TV over here in a state of mind that might only be described as 'terrified'. NY Addick predicts Man Utd 6 (Rooney 2, Larsson 2, Ronaldo, Scholes), Charlton 0. Attendance: 75,876.