The feel good factor in Manchester is giving way to a dawn of gloom. The world's most popular teams (one in terms of a fan base, the other in terms of the tabloids space) are reeling from bad form and bad news. We are of course talking about Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.
Today we talk about the Red side of town.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have been poor this season. For the most part. Only Evra, Fletcher, Rooney, Giggs and Owen have been giving performances that are worthy of any mention. And these names have been listed in terms of consistency, grit and delivery on the pitch.
The defense is MIA, there is no sense off a midfield four and it's not like the goals have dried up. The last 10 games have seen United lose to Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Fulham with victories over Bolton, Blackburn, Everton, Portsmouth, West Ham and Wolves. In the defeats - all to teams from the top half - United have not scored. And the victories(all against bottom half opposition) have seen United score 18 goals and concede only 2. Spread that over 10 games, it still is slightly impressive. But sadly, the GA column over the last 10 games is 9. All teams that hadn't won against United in years have broken that record. Only Tottenham remain with an unflattering run against United.
United is turning into a Spurs this season. You just don't know which team is going to turn up on the day. Minus the game against Chelsea, where United were unlucky not to come away with anything having
a. been the better team and
b. conceded a dubious goal, United have been miserable in defeat.
The team has not been able to string any meaningful pass together, and whatever plays they have made have not resulted in a finishing touch in the final third. United got Owen in to finish their moves. But even a Micheal Owen in his prime wouldn't have been able to do naught with the kind of service that was provided at Craven Cottage.
Sir Alex's pre-season belief that his current squad is good enough to win him the title will be definitely be tested in January and there seems to be little doubt that he is going to the transfer market looking for an impact player. But what he really needs is his defense to be up and running asap. Last season's championship was all about United's miserly defense and those people saying United are missing their former talismanic winger can see the proof in the pudding. The last time United had the same back four in consecutive games was against Blackburn and Chelsea. Since then they have won 6 and lost 3 in all competitions conceding 7 goals in the process.
Going into each game this season, United haven't given their supporters the belief that they are dominating proceedings and haven't been able to produce the kind of magical football fans witnessed in their rampant 2007-2008 season when they won the Champions League. Many key members of that squad from the final are missing. Ronaldo and Tevez have gone their different ways, while Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown and Hargreaves are still with the squad, but in the treatment room. Of course Ronaldo was mesmeric that season, But Sir Alex had put together a team that produced football from the heavens.
This year there have been just glimpses of such form. Gabriel Obertan's shimmy before setting up Owen in Germany, Berbagod's sublime overhead kick to set up Valencia and another overhead strike against Blackburn. It's tough to remember many more. And it is disheartening for a fan. United need a breath of fresh air. It might be the return of Owen Hargreaves, it might be a new player in the new year.
One thing is for sure, come May, this team won't be worthy champions on current form. If the title is won on the show of football on the field, this year the Premier League should belong United's title rivals Arsenal. Or even Manchester City who have provided immense entertainment, even off the field. But that shall be discussed in Part II.
Until then, bring in the beers.
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