SO WHO WILL FEATURE FOR THE RED DEVILS AT HUISH PARK ?

With no European football on their agenda for this season, Manchester United will see the FA Cup as an opportunity to win some silverware when they begin their Cup campaign against Yeovil Town.

Manager Louis Van Gaal, who will be embarking on his first tie in the world’s oldest knock-out competition, will no doubt want to avoid a repeat of the Red Devils’ elimination by another League One side, MK Dons, in the Capital One Cup. Therefore, it is highly likely that he will be looking to select a reasonably strong line-up.

In goal, Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea has been in fine form this season – underlining his credentials as the heir apparent to Iker Casillas at international level - but it is possible that Van Gaal may look to rest him for their meeting with the Glovers.

One alternative to the Spaniard is Danish custodian Anders Lindegaard – who has warmed the bench on several occasions in the Premiership this season.

Young defenders Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair may feature in the centre of defence. Both players have progressed through the club’s youth ranks into the Red Devils’ first team this season; Blackett has received international recognition with Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21’s, whilst McNair was called up into the Northern Ireland senior squad for their most recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania.

It is possible that Van Gaal could be looking for an experienced figure to play alongside one of them. Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans, who is now the club’s longest serving central defender – following the summer departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – certainly fits that bill. The same could also be said of England duo Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

Should Van Gaal opt to play a 4-4-2 formation – the Dutchman has spent much of the current campaign deploying the 3-5-2 system he used with Holland at the World Cup in Brazil last summer - Brazilian right-back Rafael could feature on the right hand side of the defence, or Jones may be deployed as a makeshift full-back.

Luke Shaw, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury and is set to return to action on Boxing Day, would be seen as an ideal candidate to fill the left-back role if Van Gaal decides on a four-man defence.

In midfield, Belgian international Adnan Januzaj and Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia could feature on the wings. Januzaj was handed his debut last season by David Moyes, but hasn’t featured as often in the current campaign following the arrival of club record signing Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid.

Vice-captain Michael Carrick and third-captain Darren Fletcher are leading candidates to lead the Red Devils out at Huish Park, should club captain Wayne Rooney not feature. They could be joined in the centre of midfield by Belgian international Marouane Fellaini or academy graduate and England Under-21 international Jesse Lingard. Another option for the Red Devils in midfield is Spanish international Juan Mata who received an FA Cup winners’ medal with Chelsea in 2012.

Van Gaal may see the cup tie as an ideal opportunity to rest his fellow Dutchman Robin Van Persie. If that is the case then Rooney or Colombian loan signing Radamel Falcao are the leading candidates to the lead the Red Devils’ attack.

The tie could also provide the United boss with a chance to give a run out to rookie striker James Wilson. After coming through the club’s youth ranks, Wilson has impressed since he was handed his debut during Ryan Giggs’ spell in charge as caretaker manager, following the dismissal of Moyes, and might feature at Huish Park.

Regardless of the outcome of the tie, it will surely be remembered as another of the great FA Cup matches in Yeovil Town’s history.

Probable line-up: (3-4-1-2) Lindegaard; McNair, Evans, Blackett; Januzaj, Fletcher, Lingard, Shaw; Mata; Rooney, Wilson

An abridged version of this article appeared in the Sunday Independent on December 28th 2014.

 

PIRATES TRIUMPH ON MANSELL'S RETURN

Lee Mansell’s return to the Launa Windows Stadium proved to be the mere side-show it probably deserved to be as Bristol Rovers defeated Torquay United on Boxing Day. 

The former Gulls’ skipper, who now wears the captain’s armband for the Pirates, was part of the Rovers’ supporting cast as the football on offer took centre stage. 

A Matty Taylor strike from 18-yards after eight minutes and a header from Neale Trotman on the half hour mark set them on their way and ultimately proved to be decisive.

Duane Ofori-Acheampong pulled a goal back for the Gulls three minutes later, with an effort that deflected off his heel after the Rovers keeper Fabian Speiss flapped at a Courtney Cameron cross; 

United were denied a late equaliser through substitute Elliot Benyon that was ruled out for a dubious offside.However, if the goal had stood then it would have been a point gained from a Gulls perspective, as the Pirates had dominated the proceedings in terms of chances created. 

The stand-out performers for the Gulls included skipper Luke Young, who outshone his predecessor Mansell and nearly found an equaliser on 26 minutes with a long-range effort that cleared the cross bar; right-back Durrell Berry, who produced a solid display on his recall to the side, and teenage left-back Levi Ives.

BOXING DAY RETURNS FOR MANSE AND BUCKS

Boxing Day 2014 will see Bristol Rovers midfielder Lee Mansell return to Plainmoor (the Launa Windows Stadium) and Paul Buckle face one of his former clubs Exeter City as manager of Cheltenham Town.

Mansell, 32, joined the Pirates in the summer after spending eight years with the Gulls, in which he made 389 appearances, many of them were as captain of the side.

Boxing Day's fixture will also see him face United manager - and his former team-mate - Chris Hargreaves for the first time; the pair were also colleagues at Oxford United before Mansell's move to the Gulls in 2006.

In addition to this, Mansell will also be lining up against his successor as Gulls' captain Luke Young.

Meanwhile, at St James Park, Paul Buckle will be leading his Cheltenham Town side to face Exeter City, a club which he served twice as a player and also as assistant manager to Paul Tisdale.

Buckle, who managed Torquay, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town before heading to America where he worked as Technical Director of the New Yorks Mets Academy, is seeking his first win as manager of the Robins since he was appointed as successor to the long serving Mark Yates.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO: TORQUAY UNITED'S 2013-14 LOANEES

With the end of 2014 nearly upon us, we will now take a look at the fortunes of the players that appeared for Torquay United on loan during the 2013-14 season.


Callum Ball:


The striker who joined the Gulls on the eve of the campaign on loan from Derby County, Ball played nine times for Torquay and scored twice and is currently playing in the Scottish Premier League for St Mirren after he was released by the Rams at the end of last season.

Ade Azeez:

Young forward Azeez, who arrived at Plainmoor on loan from Charlton Athletic, became the Gulls’ 1,000^th player when he appeared in the Gulls away fixture against Newport County in September 2013. He was released by the Addicks at the end of last season and signed for AFC Wimbledon.

Paul McCallum:

After scoring three goals in six appearances for the Gulls in all competitions, McCallum returned to his parent club West Ham United. Shortly after returning to Upton Park, he was loaned again by the Hammers – this time to Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian, where he played six times before returning to East London through injury. He is still with the Hammers.

Anthony O’Connor:

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 central defender joined the Gulls from Blackburn Rovers and remained at Plainmoor on loan for the remainder of the campaign; even after Chris Hargreaves had replaced Alan Knill as manager. He is currently plying his trade in Devon once again this season with Plymouth Argyle.

Jak McCourt:

Liverpool-born central midfielder McCourt, who was signed by Alan Knill from Leicester City, agreed an extension to his contract with the Foxes during the close season but is yet to make an appearance for Nigel Pearson’s side.

John Marquis:

The Millwall striker Marquis proved to be one of Knill’s most astute loan signings, scoring three goals in a five-match loan stint. During this spell, the Gulls won twice, drew twice and lost once; this was one of their best runs of form in a largely disappointing campaign. He is once again out on loan in League Two, this time with Cheltenham Town.

Shamir Goodwin:

Following a change of name to Fenelon, Shamir has been loaned out again by his parent club Brighton and Hove Albion, firstly to Rochdale – a spell which he was recalled from after failing to break into their first team- and then to Tranmere Rovers.

Conor Wilkinson:

Wilkinson’s loan spell at Plainmoor proved to be a brief one, but he has since been loaned out to Oldham Athletic. On his return to the Trotters, he made his debut for Neil Lennon’s side in a goalless draw with Reading earlier this month.

Aiden O’Brien:

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker, who is good friends with Gulls’ striker Duane Ofori-Acheampong, only appeared three times for Torquay last season but made his league debut for the Lions this season against Birmingham City. 


Jayden Stockley: 


Stockley enjoyed two spells on loan at Plainmoor last season; one under Alan Knill and another under Chris Hargreaves. He was also on target against AFC Wimbledon in Hargreaves' first game in charge. This season, he is out on loan again in League Two with Cambridge United. 


Enoch Showumni:


The former Nigerian striker, who can count Luton Town, Bristol City, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday amongst his former clubs, arrived on loan from Notts County before returning to Meadow Lane and then joined Plymouth Argyle on loan. In the summer, after he was released by the Magpies, he signed for Conference South side Wealdstone. He is currently on loan at Isthmian Premier Division side Canvey Island.

Baily Cargill:

Left-back Cargill made his debut for his parent club AFC Bournemouth against Exeter City in the Capital One Cup first round and also featured in their Quarter Final tie with Liverpool, alongside another two former Gulls: Eunan O’Kane and Adam Smith.  He has also appeared for the England Under-20 side.

Shaquile Coulthirst:

Spurs starlet Coulthirst scored twice in five games for Chris Hargreaves’ side - with goals against Bristol Rovers and Exeter City - as the Gulls fell short of avoiding the drop at the end of the campaign. He is once again out on loan in League Two, this time with Phil Brown’s Southend United.

GLOVERS DREAMING OF UNITED TIE

Yeovil Town will host Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup after they finally defeated Accrington Stanley at Huish Park.

Late goals from Simon Gillett and Kieffer Moore secured the Glovers' passage through to the next stage of the competition, and ensures that Yeovil will be facing the Red Devils for the first time since their famous FA Cup fifth round meeting at Maine Road - Old Trafford was out of action due to Second World War bomb damage - in 1949.

It will also be the first ever FA Cup tie that United manager Louis Van Gaal has ever been involved in. The Dutchman has managed in its Dutch, Spanish and German equivalents over the years, but this will be his first as a manager in the world's oldest club knock out competition.

GLOVERS AIMING TO SET UP UNITED TIE

After drawing with Accrington Stanley in the second round of the FA Cup, Yeovil Town have the carrot of a third round tie at home to Manchester United dangling in front of them ahead of Tuesday night's replay.

The Glovers drew the original fixture between the two sides 1-1 at the Crown Ground, and have sold 3,000 tickets as a bumper crowd looks set to witness the replay at Huish Park.

Should Yeovil overcome Stanley at the second time of asking, it will be the first time that the Glovers have played the Red Devils since their famous FA Cup fifth round tie of 1949, a run which saw them beat Sunderland en route.

However, the minds of Gary Johnson's side were firmly on the 'bread and butter' of their League One campaign, as they defeated Oldham Athletic 4-0 at Boundary Park, in a match that pitied Johnson against his son, Lee, the former Glovers midfield maestro.

A similar result on Tuesday night would bring further smiles to the Johnson household.

THE GULLS ROCKIER ROAD TO WEMBLEY

It may not have the prestige of the FA Cup, but the FA Trophy could yet turn out to be an important competition for Torquay United as they produced a five-star display to defeat Bishops Stortford.

A first half brace from Ryan Bowman set the Gulls on their way before Luke Young, Duane Ofori Acheampong and substitute Jordan Chapell - with his first goal for the Gulls since he scored the fastest goal in the club's history last October against Portsmouth - completed the scoring.

For their exploits, United have boosted their coffers to the tune of £5,000 and they are now four games away from the final at Wembley - barring the requirement of any replays.

Winning the competition in the past has proved to be a springboard to further success for many clubs, including Wycombe Wanderers, Macclesfield Town, Cheltenham Town, Yeovil Town and Stevenage who all won the Trophy before subsequently winning promotion into the Football League.

In the case of Yeovil, it was the first trophy that they won under the guidance of Gary Johnson back in 2002.

This, in turn, provided a foundation for further success which included eventually winning promotion to the Championship.

A good run in the competition for Chris Hargreaves's Gulls in 2014-15 would send out a message that they mean business regarding the matter of eventually winning promotion back to the Football League.