As our build up the the FA Cup continues on TEB this week, we had a chat with United fan and radio DJ Ben Eltham to find out his thoughts going into this season’s showpiece.
Q. How would you rate your season with just the FA Cup Final still to play?
Despite accepting that Manchester United are a club in a rebuilding period, it has been a disappointing season. Last year we finished fourth, and this season we have finished fifth. I do not think you can look any further than that. We have had injuries, and I am sure the season would have been different without them, but you have to deal with things that come your way, and around the Christmas period we did not do that. You also have to analyse player recruitment. The likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay have not worked, and despite the emergence of Marcus Rashford, we have lacked goals from all areas of the team. Apart from Martial, a lot of money was spent on players, and they just have not performed. It will be really interesting to see how the club goes about their business in the summer.
Q. Is this game as important for the future of Louis van Gaal (LVG) at Old Trafford as many are suggesting?
I think it is. Whether it will be enough to keep him in a job we will have to wait and see. But if he were to lose on Saturday, then I cannot see any way that he would be able to stay on as manager. There is already a lot pressure from the fans for the club to make a change, and losing in a cup final will only increase that.
Q. Regardless of whether United win the cup or not, do you think LVG should remain in charge? If not, who would be your choice to take over?
Despite a disappointing season, I have grown to like LVG, and I think he is a very good manager. My biggest problem is that he has already said he is going to step down after next season. If he was going to be around for the next three or four years then I would be happy to continue to build under him. Having said that, I would like to see Ronald Koeman as the next United manager, and he has a year left on his Southampton contract, so perhaps it will all work out perfectly.
Q. The club spent a lot of money on players last summer and failed to mount a title challenge. Do you think United are far away from enjoying domestic success again?
Not at all. This has been a very poor season, but we finished on the same points as Manchester City, and we could end up with the FA Cup too. You cannot make excuses, but we have had a lot of injuries, and they did all come during November and December, our poorest run of form. We have not scored enough goals, and had we bought a striker or creative midfielder in either windows this season, I have no doubt that we would have finished in the top four, and probably challenged for the title. I said earlier that I thought it has been a poor season, but we are not far away. Two big players would make all the difference to this side. If we can buy a goalscorer and a creative winger and/or midfielder I think we will be challenging for the title next season.
Q. Which player has impressed you most this season for United?
David De Gea won the fans player of the season award, and has once again had an incredible year. Everybody knows about the emergence of Marcus Rashford, a real talent and I am sure he will go on to do great things but for me you cannot look any further than Anthony Martial. He cost big money, but his performances since Christmas have been worth every penny. He is a match winner and scares defences with his pace and direct running. He was tipped to be the next Thierry Henry when he arrived, and you can see why. I must just mention Daley Blind though. For me, the most underrated player in the league. He could play centre back for any team in the world. Calm, composed, and an ever present this season.
Q. Do United fans fondly remember the 1990 cup final win over Palace that seemed to kick start the Ferguson dynasty at Old Trafford?
For me this final has extra significance as 1990 was the first game I remember watching as kid. I was in junior school at the time and I had played football, but the first game I remember being excited about was the cup final that year. I choose to support United because my mum was supporting Crystal Palace, and it went on from there! It will of course always be remembered for the game that kept Alex Ferguson in a job. There was a lot of pressure from United fans at the time to make a change, and that cup win was the catalyst for an incredible twenty years.
Q. There are so many comparisons between this final and 1990 but are United fans confident of repeating the victory twenty-six years on?
Despite a season of ups and downs I think you have to be confident. United are massive favourites and rightly so. Apart from the odd games at Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, the form since Christmas has been good. Palace have struggled since the turn of the year and I think it is there for United to win.
Q. What are your thoughts on Palace this season?
They had such a great start to the season, and I remember them being up with Southampton chasing a European place. Like a few clubs they have had a poor second half and they never really got themselves out of the downward spiral. It is a big summer for Palace. They need to strengthen in the right areas and build on the success of last season when they finished tenth.
Q. Name one player from each side that the opposition will be concerned about.
For Palace, I think Yannick Bolasie will be the danger man. Palace struggled when he was out of the team, and it is easy to see why. His pace and directness will give any defender problems. The Wembley pitch suits fast wingers as there is plenty of space, so United will have to watch him. For United, I think Wayne Rooney is the one to worry about. Now playing in centre midfield, he really can influence games. His passing range and ability to play killer balls is something special. He also dictates the pace of a game sitting in front of the back four, and that is something Palace will have to combat.
Q. Put yourself in the shoes of van Gaal and tell us your starting line-up for the game?
With everyone fit, my team for the game would be;
- David De Gea (Spain)
- Antonio Valencia (Ecuador)
- Chris Smalling (England)
- Daley Blind (Netherlands)
- Marcos Rojo (Argentina)
- Wayne Rooney (England)
- Morgan Schneiderlin (France)
- Jesse Lingard (England)
- Juan Mata (Spain)
- Anthony Martial (France)
- Marcus Rashford (England)
Q. Your prediction?
I am expecting a really big performance from United on Saturday. Our form been really good since Christmas, and if November and December was not quite so bad, I am sure this season would have been a lot different. I think we have too much quality going forward and one of the best defences in the league. I am going for 4-0 to United.
Q. Please tell us a little about what you do and share anything that you are currently working on.
I work in radio and the big project at the moment is Back of The Net, a football show that broadcasts on a Monday evening on SUSY Radio. I produce and present the show, it is a lot of hard work, but also great fun. We follow local teams across Sussex and Surrey, but also discuss talking points from across the football world. The show is expanding, and we are almost a year old, so I am really looking forward to next season. Crystal Palace are one of our local teams, so make sure you listen in from 7pm every Monday!
