The Evening News asked ‘what’s wrong with United?‘ yesterday, claiming we weren’t firing on all cylinders. It’s odd because United usually start the season so well…
We of course knew that like most things concerning our football club for the past few years, this season would be all about Cristiano Ronaldo, regardless of the fact we claimed £80 million for him in the summer.
Without the spark of Cristiano Ronaldo and the tenacity of Carlos Tevez, among fans and critics alike there is a sense that the Reds are collectively out-of-sorts.
It’s true, ‘fans’ do seem to be getting edgy, hence the embarrassing boos from around the ground at half time against Sunderland. But anyone who has followed United for longer than a season should actually be happy with what we’ve done so far, as it’s better than any other recent season.
The performances against Wigan, Spurs, Stoke and the second half of City, were really solid displays, creating loads of chances, playing attacking football, and looking entirely on top. Christ, what short memories some fans must have. To have four impressive performances in five games is pretty good going, particularly compared to last season when our impressive defensive dragged us through game after game.
This year we don’t have the impressive defensive record, rather error after error, goal after goal, which shouldn’t be entirely disregarded, but with the players we’ve had available, it’s not the end of the world. First choice goalkeeper, Edwin Van der Sar has been absent all season, Nemanja Vidic missed the start of the season and Rio Ferdinand has missed most of the season. Those three alone were largely responsible for our great defensive record last season so it stands to reason that we’ll concede more goals without them.
Wayne Rooney is the third highest scorer in the league, despite our defensive errors only Villa and Chelsea have conceded fewer goals, and only two players have more assists to their name than Ryan Giggs, both of whom having played considerably more than Giggsy.
What’s wrong with United?
1. We could do with some extra strength in that central midfield
2. It would be nice to have an injury free defence
3. We do want more goals from our strikers
4. Better performances from our wingers
But when have United ever had the perfect team? The perfect start? A perfect season? In 1998-1999 we won just 22 of our 38 matches! Of course I’m aware things have changed, the league has not been won with so few games won since then, but the point is it’s never perfect. When you reflect on a season with red-tinted specs, it’s easy to remember the brilliant goals and the great games, but the less convincing moments are swept aside. We got battered 4-1 by Liverpool then lost 2-0 away to Fulham in our next match last season, but the details of our 3-2 victory over Villa and 5-2 win against Spurs are far more easily recalled.
At the end of this season, we’ll cast the Burnley defeat to back the of our minds and that 4-3 win over City, along with other brilliant days, will stay in the forefront of our memories. Hopefully by then we’ll be Champions again and if possible, have another trophy or two to our name. But winning the league isn’t something we should take for granted and if we are to win it this year we will be doing something no other team in this country has before, being named Champions four seasons in a row.
Still, as starts to the season go for United, this is a bloody good one and anyone booing or worrying too much is wasting their energy.
We’ll never die.
07/08
W5 D2 L1
Total points: 17
Goals scored: 7
Trophies won: 1. Premiership 2. European Cup
08/09
W4 D3 L1
Total points: 15
Goals scored: 13
Trophies won: 1. Premiership 2. League Cup 3. Fifa World Club Cup
09/10
W6 D1 L1
Total points: 19
Goals scored: 19
manunitedchampions2008 – Fair enough but could you answer my and gotta hates question please. How old are you?
King Eric you and Gotta hate City tears sound like the kids to me if you cant take another fans opinion like myn. thats what the forum is about if you cant take a fan like me despite how negitive it is who does not rate the current side than you are the ones acting like kids. and its 23
manutdchampions2008 – Fair enough pal. I can take your opinions and I have to say some of the time I agree with them. Its just every United fan I know thinks the current team is more than capable of winning trophies this season yet no matter what you just actually seem to ENJOY slagging the team. Furthermore a few months ago you hated Berbatov, yet only a week or two ago you said he was only one of the only World class in our team.
King Eric
I did not say berbatov is world class. I said with the lack of match winners rooney or berbatov are possibly the only ones that could but that says a lot of the lack of talent going forward giggs is shocking me. but I still say in the attacking department rooney is our only truly world class player united have, berbatov is in the third tear of players. he is not a great player and he defiantly not world class, but an alright player who lacks the qualitys or the mentality of a truly top class player. he is not in the same league has the best strikers of today like ronaldo henry etoo rooney torres villa aguero, those are the best strikers of today.
Rubbish mate Berbatov IS a GREAT player not just ok. He is one of the most technically gifted players around mate. I don’t class him as an out and out striker, more a play maker.
putting berbatov and great in the same sentance is laughable. it does not matter about how teqnically gifted he is, veron elano aimer are all teqnically gifted player that does not mean they are great player or have been. the great players are the ones who have lit up the world stage really blown teams apart and made a difference to a team. like some of todays top class players who have done it week in week out like messi ronaldo kaka rooney gerrard henry giggs, until berbatov has proven over a 50 game period he has driven united to success scored well over 20 plus goals and proven he can start the big games then to call him great is really putting your berbatov specs on.
Paul Scholes in an interview recently said he hopes united will challenge for all major trophies.
Some people are skeptical about our chances in Europe but think we might win the league. Me included.
Others think the league will be a fight to the death.
Do you guys ever notice there are some people who say remember the bad ol’ days and be grateful. I understand where they are coming from, whether you think the bad days were pre 1993 or even in and about 2005 when we were eliminated a the group stage. A bad time.
But we also have to be greedy and have to demand the best to stay at the top! That’s why anything short of a challenge across the board, is a bit of a damp squib.
If he’s that bad muc08 what’s his International record like? In fact what is his overall record like, goals per games?
You don’t have to answer, it was a rhetorical question.
brett1985 – Yeah I know what you mean, United expect nothing other than success. Like you say it demands it. If peoples “bad” days were 04 – 06 then they are very lucky. They should have been there in the Seventies and Eighties!
King Eric
I don’t remember the years of hurt, but then again my dad does an he supports united too. When he was 13 we won the European Cup in 68 and when I was 13 in 99 we won it too. Spooky eh! The bit between 67 and 93 is best disremembered in terms of the league.
The first game I remember was August 1992 Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United. Lucky for me I didn’t throw my dummy out of the pram and support Sheffield United. Mind you I was 7 at the time and nobody told me we’d hadn’t won it for 26 years.
People should be grateful that I support this club as it has coincided with much success!
brett1985 – Weird!
It wasn’t all bad though when I started supporting them in about 81-82 when I was 7. My first real memory was Ray Wilkins curler against Brighton in the FA Cup Final in 83 . Belter of a goal. It was 2-2 but Brighton very nearly scored a winner in the dyeing seconds but for Gary Bailey. We hammered them in the replay 4-0. Robbo2, Whiteside and Muhren. Then of course one of my favourite all time goals. Scored by Norman Whiteside against Everton to win 1-0 the FA Cup in 85. Superb goal. Fantastic player.