Can the Cherries take advantage if Utd rest some players?

I get the firm impression hat Jose Mourinho has got his team playing reasonably well, but not as good as he wants at the moment. The win against Southampton in the League Cup final was something he can put on his mantelpiece, but he is really driving his players on to get into the top four and that is a big problem for Howe's players on Saturday.

Man Utd at the opening game of the season.

If we had any doubts over whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic was top-class or not, we surly have seen the evidence this season. He has mastered the English game and is enhancing his reputation all the time. United look half the side without him but luckily for them he hasn't missed many games. I also will be not liking the prospect of Juan Mata's name being on the team sheet as the hard working midfielder always pops up with goals and is excellent at timing his runs to tear apart defences. It should of course be Paul Pogba that sends shudders down AFCBs' players spine and yet he has found it harder to live up to his potential, although I am sure he is getting closer to what Mourinho ants from him.

I can go on looking at the possible scorers and yet I have my fingers crossed that Mourinho spares AFCB all of the first team squad at Old Trafford with important games coming up for the Red Devils against FC Rostov and Chelsea. Eddie Howe is probably looking at who didn't play against Southampton for Man Utd in the Cup final last weekend and one name kind of stands out - Wayne Rooney. Yes, he may have been disappointed not to play in that game, even if he did get to lift the cup as club captain and he probably wants to show Mourinho that he's still got it! AFCB are lucky to have a Wayne Rooney coming towards the end of his career potentially lining up against them though than a young terrier who used to gobble up any mistake a team made at the back.

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Add in players like Michael Carrick, Mario Fellani and Daley Blind who also did not start the cup match and just perhaps there is a possibility that Mourinho will take a bit of a gamble in this next game against the Cherries, leaving some of his big hitters on the bench. It may seem little relief to AFCB as they get ready for this match, but it is going to stop any Man Utd team playing at Old Trafford the week after they have won the first domestic cup competition of the season.

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