This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Well, that was a quick turnaround wasn’t it? Having opened the campaign in miserable fashion, including a truly shocking 2-0 defeat at Newcastle, Manchester United appear to have turned the proverbial corner.
The Red Devils’ sharp revival got kick-started with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool, before securing three consecutive away wins against Partizan Belgrade, Norwich and Chelsea, in impressive fashion. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are once again on their travels when they take on Bournemouth on Saturday, and judging by the form book, this looks like another banker for a victory.
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Whilst the Manchester side have bounced back in fine fettle, their opposition have floundered in recent weeks. Since beating rivals Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s, Eddie Howe’s men have suffered a sharp drop in form – and quite significantly, goals. They have failed to hit the back of the net in four out of their last five games, including going scoreless in their previous three.
That despite them boasting the likes of Callum Wilson, Josh King and Dominic Solanke as their forward options. So when United take to the field on Saturday afternoon, they will no doubt be licking their lips of claiming another priceless win in the league. And that is exactly the kind of frame of mind Solskjaer has to absolutely ensure doesn’t creep in.
Confidence is a great thing in small, measured doses. But if it spills over into arrogance, then you’ve got a huge problem. For all their recent run of form, it has only been four games. And that too, only over the space of a week or so. The sense of excitement could quickly be shattered if they fail to maintain their composure and work ethic when they take on Bournemouth.
Make no mistake about it, however bad things get at United, they will always remain a prized scalp for the opposition. And if they get overly complacent against the Cherries on Saturday simply because of both sides’ recent form, then they will get brought back down to Earth with a heavy thud.