Man Utd v Swansea: Van Gaal to kick off new era with convincing win

LVG is in the house: Back him to oversee an easy win

Louis van Gaal takes charge of Manchester United for the first time in competitive action on Saturday afternoon and Lewis Jones likes what he's seen so far from the Dutchman. He's all over United to win by two or more goals...

Man Utd v Swansea
Saturday, KO 12:45
Live on BT Sport

Oh yes. We're back in the game. This is the time to dream. A new season brings chances for punters and fans alike to hit the big time. Enjoy it. It's purely downhill from here.

Man Utd

Louis van Gaal is in a perfect position. No matter how hard he tries, he simply can't make more of a pig's ear of the Manchester United job as David Moyes did.

The early signs have been very positive as he begins his quest to properly start the rebuilding job following the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Straight talking and forthright with his views on his playing staff, the Dutchman has gained the respect of his squad already as a much improved atmosphere has played a huge part in an unbeaten pre-season.

Wins against Real Madrid (3-1), Roma (3-2) and Liverpool (3-1) will have given the United supporter base huge faith that good times could be around the corner with the new man at the helm.

Van Gaal will be without new signing Luke Shaw this weekend though, who tweaked a hamstring in the week.

With Patrice Evra and Alexander Buttner both moving on over the summer, the loss of Shaw ensures Van Gaal does not have an experienced left-back at the club for the next month or so, although a move for Sporting Lisbon's Marcos Rojo is in the offing.

Youngster Reece James played against Valencia and should start against the Swans. United could also be without central defender Jonny Evans and winger Antonio Valencia.

Swansea

Garry Monk heads into his first full-season in charge of a professional team on the back of an inconsistent pre-season that ended with his side being thumped 3-0 by Villarreal.

Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge will be welcomed back into the squad after missing the Villarreal defeat while 25-goal man Wilfried Bony will start despite being heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in the past week.

Leon Britton, Jay Fulton and forward Marvin Emnes are all missing through injury.

Match Odds

Rule one of pre-season results: pay little or no attention to them when forming a punting plan for opening day fixtures or long-term punting.

I've been stung too many times in the past to get carried away. When my team QPR won the pre-season Copa De Ibiza final (if you ever get the chance, ask Marc Bircham) in 2005, I was confident promotion was assured. They finished the season one place above the drop zone.

And don't remind me about my speculative 66/1 poke on Newcastle to be relegated from the Championship in 2009 after a makeshift and moody side were tonked 6-1 at Leyton Orient in pre-season. They finished that campaign with 101 points, winning the league with consummate ease.

That said it's been hard not to be significantly taken with Van Gaal's pre-season results.

But I'm not basing my positivity towards a home win purely on meaningless friendly scorelines, the strength around United's opening day chances at 1.374/11 centres on the way Van Gaal is changing the mentality at the football club.

He's a born winner, who demands respect and has been working hard to reinstate the fear factor about teams taking on Manchester United, especially at home. The Dutchman is an imposing figure and his teams usually mirror that style on the pitch.

Swansea lost three of their first choice back five over the summer in goalkeeper Michel Vorm, left-back Ben Davies and centre-half Chico Flores, and a trip to an attention-seeking Manchester United isn't the place for a new defensive unit to test their Premier League resolve.

It could be a long afternoon for the travelling Swans faithful.

Their free-flowing and pacey style of play will always cause teams problems but you'd need a big dose of the brave pills to seriously consider putting your hard earned on their chances here at 11.010/1. The draw is a 5.59/2 poke.

Asian Handicap

Tipping up a 1.374/11 shot isn't likely to satisfy the needs of most of you, and rightly so, unfortunately life hasn't been kind enough to most of us to back short price bankers for a living.

Those looking for an alternative United-based bet with a bigger price should be hovering their fingers/mouse for the Red Devils on the -1.5 Asian Handicap option.

In other words, Van Gaal has to oversee a win by two or more goals.

He'll be looking to send a message out early doors to his title rivals and his team will be encouraged to go for Swansea's throat. Goals look on the menu. Get on the 1.9720/21.

Recommended Bets

Back Man Utd to win @ 1.374/11 (5pts)
Back Man Utd (-1.5 Asian Handicap) @ 1.9720/21 (3pts)

Lewis Jones Premier League P/L

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