Tuesday, January 12, 2010

21 games down, 17 to defend the Title?

For many of the United fans in this end of the spectrum, the form displayed by the team this season and over the past few games has got us chewing our nails off in disappointment (read as disapproval). After all the New Year is the time when United are on Top of the Table and kick on to consolidate the position. However, don’t fret, it isn’t that bad after all. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Manchester United have been playing a majority of their games with a ‘handicapped-defence’, if I may say so.


What that has effectively done is made Fletcher and Carrick double up as defenders? Now bear in mind they are very much attack minded players (that’s the United way). How do you expect them to fair? Well they are giving their best. But the other teams in the league are mindful of the fact that if they can get to United’s defence they can score, and jolly well, that precisely what’s happening. What right has Aston Villa have to come to Old Trafford and win 1-0? For Fulham to score 3 and we don’t even respond? United have lost 5 this season, that’s 1 more that they did in 2008-09 and with barely 21 games played.

Everyone has been saying, this is the most open season of all and that any one of the Top 4 can win it (its looks a herculean task for Liverpool!). That gives Chelsea and Arsenal a real chance, but hey, United are at No. 2, a few points away from the current league leaders (Chelsea). This is the most important aspect which Sir Alex has always kept in mind. We are in touching distance of the leaders and we shouldn’t drift away. The fans and supporters alike should not go ballistic but sit back and enjoy the pressures that the game brings. After all, that is the magic of football. I have been pained to read some forums where the fans have gone berserk! Guys, it’s a season of 38 games and there are 17 more to go. It’s anybody’s game now and come end of January we should be on top of the perch.
Special praise should be kept aside for Valencia – my man of the Season already, closely followed by Rooney & Ryan Giggs. The Ecuadorian has really done well in barely 5 months of joining United. The unsung hero has been Patrice Evra, who has gone about his job without breaking a sweat in the absence of 2 stalwarts – Rio and Vidic and not to forget O’Shea!

Be patient fellow Red’s…and keep your faith in the Master tactician, the Godfather of English football. After all, Sir Alex Ferguson is the most decorated of EPL manager of all time, now; there must be something about him….right?

Julien Menezes

6 comments:

VanTheMan said...

Great WRite !
ID feel Evra has been our player of the season so far. Valencia has really given as much as he can and if he gets like 10 goals this season, it can be termed as a success....
it is scary to see us lose 5 already, but then again, we are not far fof the top. Its the most open and wierd season ever ive witnessed in the premier league so far ..so games on !!!cmon united!!!!

MUFCM said...

Yeah. Im totally impressed by Evra, he has grown in stature season after season without much hue and cry. Thats what I like about a player. I went for Valencia solely based on him getting into the grove in quick time.

NEELWARRIOR said...

Berbatov probably needs a Knee Surjury,He will be out for around 3 Months now.We have Ronney and Owen as senior Strikers , But we can't rely on Owen to play every game alongside ron, moreover we already know the huge amount of pressure on Rooney to score , In these circumstances I guess SAF would/should go for a Striker or an Attacking Mid-fielder who can also play as a support striker behind Rooney .At the moment only David Silva and Van Der Vaart fit the bill..........Any points Dropped after the Birmingham game would prove costly we have to act fast ............

julienmenezes said...

Its surprising to note that barely a year back, we had selection headache where everyone was vying for 1st team action.

Now we have a headache while selection.

Srikanth said...

Good read. God is Evra.

Unknown said...

we showed those city bastards good! Anyone knows a good place to catch the game this weekend Arsenal vs ManU!