Contrarian tactics and team selections from Louis van Gaal saw Manchester United take a 3-1 lead in the first leg of their Champions League fixture against Bruges. Paradoxically, the selection of an attacking, Aquarian, midfield trio won the match for United whilst isolating their lone striker, Wayne Rooney (sun Scorpio). Memphis Depay (sun Aquarius), Juan Mata (mars Aquarius) and Januzaj (sun Aquarius) linked up effectively and made the difference but were never quite on the same wavelength as Rooney.

However, Rooney can take some comfort in that the away leg will likely see a more defensive midfield with Schweinsteiger (mars Scorpio), Fellaini (mars Scorpio) and Schneiderlin (sun Scorpio) starting and, paradoxically, helping Wayne help United make European progress.

Why are Man Utd prepared to pay over £100M for Gareth Bale and around £50M for Spurs' Harry Kane?

:- Louis van Gaal likes them as people - they remind him of himself. He admires their natural talent: their ability to perform on the big stage: he believes, rightly, that they will gel as an attacking partnership: they will also fit in with his key players (current and projected) and, most importantly, United will win the Champions League with them in the team. Money well spent then!?

Let's look at the astrofootball (remember that the sun is a symbol for the authentic Self - the essential character - and Leo gives natural authority, courage and a big-match temperament, mars is a symbol of the 'football brain' - how a player plays):

Van Gaal sun Leo mars Cancer

Bale sun Cancer mars Leo

Kane sun Leo

Schweinsteiger sun Leo Young sun Cancer

Herrera sun Leo Carrick sun Leo mars Cancer

Valencia sun Leo Shaw sun Cancer

Will Louis van Gaal's big name signings - Bastian Schweinsteiger (sun** Leo, mars Scorpio) and Morgan Schneiderlin (sun Scorpio) - pay title dividends? At least with their sun/mars Scorpio connection they are on the same wavelength and will enjoy an immediate, telepathic, understanding. They will also gel with key teammates - Rooney (sun Scorpio) and Fellaini (sun Scorpio). Plus Schweinsteiger could turn out to be the bigger bargain as he becomes the fulcrum of the side linking with Herrera (sun Leo) and Valencia (sun Leo), Carrick (sun Leo) or Daley (moon Leo), and/or Januzaj (mars Leo).

If Liverpool sign Christian Benteke (sun Sagittarius, mars Gemini), and if he can take the necessary actions to steer clear of injury*** especially from mid-September through November, then he will propel them up the table as he provides a natural focus for the midfield creativity of Jordan Henderson (sun Gemini) and Coutinho (sun Gemini) and potentially provide young winger Jordan Ibe (sun Sagittarius) with the kind of target he can hardly miss.

** The sun is a symbol of the authentic self, mars is a symbol of the physical drive to achieve - the warrior. When the sun sign (star sign) of two players is the same, the individuals are likely to be on the same wavelength, they will gel. When two players have the sun and mars in the same zodiac sign (as Schweiny and Schneidy do) research shows that they will have a telepathic connection, they will be able to anticipate what each other will do without looking or thinking.

*** Form and fitness are affected by certain planets as they travel through the sky and interact with the birth chart of a player - Saturn, for instance, has been shown to correspond with periods of lower than expected performance: it reduces energy/stamina levels and tests the mental, emotional and/or physical mettle of a player depending on which aspect of the horoscope is being activated.

It was surely no coincidence that the USA and Japan met in a major soccer final for the 3rd time in 4 years - astrologically they are currently the most complete teams in Women's football. With their more cohesive nucleus, however, the USA went into the final as slight favourites (see blogs below).

Inside 3 minutes a corner from Megan Rapinoe (sun Cancer) was turned in by the on-rushing Carli Lloyd (sun Cancer mars Libra). Inside 5 minutes, with Japan's defence procrastinating, the USA quickly shifted the ball via Lauren Holiday (sun Libra) for Lloyd to put the Americans 2-0 up. As the indecision in the Japan defence infected midfield, Holiday volleyed the third, then on 16 minutes Lloyd surprised everyone, including the Japan keeper, with a looping strike from the half-way line for her hat-trick and to make the scoreline a seemingly disheartening - for Japan - 4-0.

Nevertheless Japan rallied. But just as they were getting into their skilful stride, finding their rhythm, stringing multiple passes together, creating chances and reducing the arrears, the Americans struck the decisive blow: Morgan Brian (sun Pisces mars Cancer), utilising her 360 degree vision, set up Tobin Heath (sun Gemini mars Pisces) for the tricky striker to make the final score 5-2.