Manchester United fans have been accused of sour grapes when mentioning the injuries we’ve had this season. Whilst injuries hit every club every season, it is how your injuries compare with your rivals that make the difference. Have a read and a decide the difference for yourself….

Chelsea’s defence
Petr Cech – 34/38 (89%)
Jose Bosingwa – 8/38 (21%)
John Terry – 37/38 (97%)
Ricardo Carvalho – 22/38 (58%)
Ashley Cole – 27/38 (71%)

United’s defence
Edwin Van der Sar – 21/38 (55%)
Gary Neville – 17/38 (45%)
Rio Ferdinand – 13/38 (34%)
Nemanja Vidic – 24/38 (63%)
Patrice Evra – 38/38 (100%)

Other notable comparative injuries
Didier Drogba – 32/38
Wayne Rooney – 32/38
Michael Essien – 14/38
Owen Hargreaves – 1/38

Michael Owen’s season ended – Feb 2010
Anderson’s season ended – Feb 2010
Wes Brown’s season ended – March 3rd 2010
John O’Shea – missing from November 2009-April 2010

Games
1st: Foster, Fabio, O’Shea, Evans, Evra (1/5)
2nd: Foster, O’Shea, Brown, Evans, Evra (1/5)
3rd: Foster, Neville, Evans, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
4th: Foster, O’Shea, Brown, Evans, Evra (1/5)
5th: Foster, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
6th: Foster, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
7th: Foster, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
8th: Foster, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra (2/5)
9th: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra (4/5)
10th: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (4/5)
11th: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Brown, Evans, Evra (2/5)
12th: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Brown, Evans, Evra (2/5)
13th: Van der Sar, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
14th: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
15th: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Neville (replaced by Carrick after 1/2hr), Brown, Evra (1.5/5)
16th: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Brown, Vidic, Evra (2/5)
17th: Kuszczak, De Laet, Carrick, Vidic (replaced by Fletch after 1hr), Evra (2/5)
18th: Kuszczak, De Laet, Fletcher, Carrick, Evra (1/5)
19th: Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evra (2/5)
20th: Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, Vidic (replaced by Fletch after 1hr), Evra (2/5)
21st: Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, Evans, Evra (1/5)
22nd: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Evans, Evra (3/5)
23rd: Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra (3/5)
24th: Van der Sar, Rafael, Brown, Evans, Evra (2/5)
25th: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Evans Evra (3/5)
26th: Van der Sar, Rafael, Brown, Evans, Evra (2/5)
27th: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Evans, Evra (3/5)
28th: Foster, Neville, Brown, Evans, Evra (3/5)
29th: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (4/5)
30th: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (5/5)
31st: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (5/5)
32nd: Van der Sar, Neville, Evans, Vidic, Evra (4/5)
33rd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (5/5)
34th: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea (4/5)
35th: Van der Sar, Neville, Evans, Vidic, O’Shea (4/5)
36th: Van der Sar, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
37th: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra (3/5)
38th: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (5/5)

Conclusions
– United played their first choice defence in 4 out of 38 games this season (11%)
– United played just 1 of their first choice defence in 6 out of 38 games this season (16%)
– United didn’t have their first choice defence all fully fit until 30 games in to the season, March 14th.
– Cech played in over 1/3 more games than Van der Sar
– Chelsea’s first choice central defenders played an average of 77% of all games this season. United’s first choice central defenders played an average of 49% of all games.

If Chelsea can only finish one point above us this season (not taking in to consideration the match defining decisions that went in their way against Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge this season) when we’ve suffered so many injuries, we certainly should be hopeful for what a fitter United will achieve next season.

Roll on 2010-2011!