Chris Hatherall
ALEX Ferguson’s Man Utd have won the Premier League trophy 11 times since the it was rebranded and, despite yesterday’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, they remain on course to do it again (still odds-on to be champions according to most bookmakers who have them as short as 8-11) in a season when no-one else seems to want to lift it.
But on the evidence of Sunday’s performance at Anfield and last Tuesday's defeat at Chelsea – not to mention a miserable reverse at Wolves and countless draws all over the country - this is far from a classic United vintage.
For every Rooney overhead kick or Berbatov hat-trick there has been a defensive error or an insipid 45-minute spell to counteract the moment of brilliance and, unusually, there appears to be a real lack of leadership on the field and even a lack of belief in some games.
The measure of just how average United have become is that their away record is so bad even Blackpool have won more matches on their travels this season – Ian Holloway’s side having won five times to United’s four.
And you could see exactly how that statistic has become reality at Anfield where Ferguson chose to go for an attacking line-up but saw his team bossed in midfield by Meireles and Gerrard (just as they had been by Lampard and Essien last week) and let down by their attacking talent.
Once again Rooney was quiet, just when we thought his stunning goal against Manchester City would re-ignite his season; and United’s players instead of dominating the match became petty and aggressive, behaving as if the world was against them – a point reflected by the fact nobody from the club was prepared to talk to the media afterwards.
Their display had eery echoes of the petulant way Arsenal’s invincible reacted when their 49-match unbeaten run was ended by United in 2004, almost as if they had forgotten how to lose, and it should be a worrying sight for supporters at Old Trafford.
This is not the time for Feguson’s team to become irritable and frustrated because despite their poor form and shaky confidence the title is still theirs for the taking – as Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish agreed when asked if United were on the wane. “As far as I know they are still top, aren’t they? There’s nobody in the league who wouldn’t want to be in United’s position,” he said.
You only have to look at Arsenal’s psychological weaknesses, highlighted by a goalless draw against Sunderland on Saturday as well as their Carling Cup Final defeat to Birmingham, to know United remain in poll position; but even so there are alarming signs for Fergie who may well have lost his most creative influence in winger Nani, who went off injured at Anfield.
Ryan Giggs, as has been shown in recent seasons, is not the same player in the second half of the campaign as he is in the first; and nor is Paul Scholes still capable of dominating a match from start to finish, especially when paired with Michael Carrick who is too similar in style and too lightweight to provide an adequate foil for his experienced teammate.
Add in Rooney’s malaise, Berbatov’s inconsistency, Rio Ferdinand’s fragility, a lacklustre midfield and Rafael’s worrying tendency to lose his head under pressure and you have a concoction not usually suited to winning titles.
Fortunately for United this is not a normal season and their watered-down side may still be good enough to buck the trend; but it’s little wonder some Sunday newspapers ran stories of Sir Alex lining up £100m worth of transfers in the summer.
It’s a sign that even the United manager, who knows a good vintage when he sees one, realises his current crop are by no means a match for those that have gone before.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea – and, yes, even Liverpool – should be kicking themselves for an opportunity missed.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/q9qopsiMJLs/post.aspx
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