United the big danger to Chelsea

I am still away on holiday in Canada and, although it has been possible to keep a weather eye on the racing, I shall wait until we return next Friday before making any firm football selections. All I would say is that, hard-earned though their victory over Tottenham may have been, Manchester United still got there in the end  and the results at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates will have encouraged them to think they can set up an early lead.

I believe this will happen. Louis van Gaal bought well in the simmer  –  Morgan Schneiderlin, I can promise you from seeing the vast majority of games he has played, is an excellent purchase  –  and it may soon become apparent that the Red Devils are a major threat to their near-neighbours and the boys in blue in south-west London. They have an excellent record against Aston Villa and will probably account for them this weekend. Villa’s limitations were ruthlessly exposed by Southampton and Arsenal at the end of last season and the encouraging win at Bournemouth will not mean all that much in the context of this supreme test.

The big problem, of course, is that bookmakers make the away team odds-on these days at the drop of a hat and I’ve never been keen on that, though I think United will prove too strong for a squad seriously weakened by the summer departure of Christian Benteke, in particular. I’d even be tempted by the handicap, with United giving Villa a goal, something I’ve never suggested before where the away team is concerned.
Anyway, more next week.