No one likes rolling over and having their tummies tickled quite like Steve Bruce. Ever since the United legend took over at Hull, any fixture against the Tigers has always gone down as a free three points. A Brucey bonus.
Realistically, United managers could have played Hellen Keller in net, with a back four made up of the Different Strokes cast, including Gary Coleman and still come away with a decent result.
Like the rising mortality rate under a Tory government or the rapid decline of Harry Redknapp’s jowls a win against Hull is inevitable. Some might argue that things could be different this time around with relegation at stake. And they could be. But they won’t.
If this season has been anything, it’s been weird. Last weekend’s draw with Arsenal was the best metaphor for the season. Moments of brilliance, moments of madness and the underlining feeling that things aren’t quite there.
Like a runny hard-boiled egg, it’s just not quite ready. That’s what United are, a runny hard-boiled egg. With bread instead of toast, an orange instead of juice and a grenade instead of a plate.
You don’t eat it, you just wonder what will kill you quickest. It’s always the grenade.
Progress is there, everyone who’s been following the club week in week out can see that. It’s why the atmosphere away from home – and at Old Trafford at times – has been so electric: there is hope and with hope comes passion.
Last weekend fans sung a rendition of Spirit in the sky dedicated to George Best for the best part of an hour. Scenes that were enough to draw blood from a stone and make the hairs on your balls stand up.
Everyone knows United are nearly there and it won’t be long until the club will lay down a marker yet again but, in the meantime, the question is: do we roll over in the hope of sending Newcastle down and get rid of those awful Barclays ads or do we put Hull to the sword?
Manchester United team news
United will be able to deploy a striker this weekend rather than a bag of cement, as Wayne Rooney has recovered from his dead leg in time to lead the line against Hull.
Luke Shaw and Jonny Evans will miss out through injury and are expected to have an appointment with the curator of the National glass museum.
David De Gea is a doubt because of a hamstring injury, so Victor Valdes might be given his first start, which could be a sign of things to come next come.
Hull City Tigers team news
The only player who misses out for Hull will be Jake Livermore through a drugs suspension.
Key men
With the star signings made in the summer few expected a young Basque midfielder to be the best piece of transfer business United did, but Ander Herrera has proven to be the best midfielder to join the club in years – although, admittedly, the list isn’t very long.
Herrera has been the complete package this season, showing very few signs of struggling to adapt to the Premier League. His tackling, running and passing has been phenomenal. Not to mention that some of his goals have been truly spectacular.
Tomorrow will be an excellent opportunity for the young lad to cap his season off in style, by dominating the midfield as he did against Arsenal. This boy is the future for United and the epitome of what the club stands for.
Predicted starting XI
William Dawson
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