Don’t write Manchester United off yet!
Following their defeat to Chelsea, I read a couple of articles writing off Manchester United’s title hopes. This feels absurdly early to me, so ahead of this weekend’s Premiership matches here are 4 reasons why I reckon Manchester United will be lifting the Premier League title in May 2010.
They’re not playing that well… yet
Odd as it may seem to start with this point, we have to remember that Manchester United are winning matches playing, by their standards, poorly. United’s form contrasts with Chelsea and Arsenal however neither has been able to shake off United who are still holding onto their coat-tails at the top of the league.
There is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow still looms large over Old Trafford; the arrogant, controversial and brilliant Portuguese provided United with a regular source of goals but as this season progresses United will learn to win convincingly without him. Rio Ferdinand’s struggle for fitness and therefore form is also a concern and United will need to get him playing regularly as soon as they can.
Either way the next 3 months will be crucial for all the title hopefuls, The Champions League group stage is coming to an end and the teams focus solely on The Premier League. In the past this is where United hit their most consistent form of the season and reduce the gap between themselves and the league leaders.
The importance of squad men
When the season moves into the final couple of months the title challengers strength in depth is always tested as injuries and loss of form due to tiredness hit squads in earnest. Manchester United have the biggest depth of experienced players in their squad and this will be vital when juggling Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup Matches. Players such as Michael Owen Park Ji-Sung, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, Wes Brown and Gary Neville provide United with experienced back up options, which none of the other top four squads have in such abundance.
Arsenal, to their credit, rely on youth but will need all their key players to stay fit if they are to sustain their title challenge. Liverpool’s inexperienced squad has already been called upon this season, as injuries decimated their first XI, and has not been up to the required standard. Chelsea’s strength in depth is mainly in midfield and the full back positions and they may be found wanting if they get injuries to centre backs or centre forwards.
The manager
Whatever you think about Sir Alex Ferguson, his desire to win, ability to get the most out of his players and the effect he has on opposition teams is proven. Ferguson is symbolic of Manchester United – his arrogance and passion is taken onto the pitch by his players. The confidence and belief he inspires in his players are going to be crucial as United face the biggest battle to hold onto the title for three years.
Ferguson will relish taking on Ancelotti and a rejuvenated Arsene Wenger, both on the pitch and in the press, as the season progresses. Ferguson’s drive will be, if possible, even greater this year as he aims to complete what he initially set out to do when taking over at United in 1986. His aim was always to make United the dominant force in English football and overtake Liverpool as the most successful domestic club. With both teams on 18 League titles and Liverpool effectively out of the title race Ferguson will push his players to achieve even greater heights this season.
The January transfer window
Arsenal probably won’t strengthen their squad in January, Liverpool probably can’t strengthen due to their finances, Chelsea will strengthen but will likely sign players in January who will join in June. Manchester United, on the other hand, have already have strengthened their squad. The young Serbian attacking midfielder Adam Ljajic joins in January and though he is an exciting talent it is unlikely he will get much game time this season.
What is of more immediate importance is that Ferguson has seemingly run out of patience with Nani. The erratic winger starts rarely for United and when he does is often substituted early in the second half. United have lacked a decent left sided midfielder since Ryan Giggs moved to a more central role and, if they allow Nani to leave, will strengthen this position.
David Silva has been linked with United on more than one occasion and would be an immediate addition to Ferguson’s first team options. Silva, when fit, is a regular in the Spanish national side, is two-footed and can play out wide or up front. He would link up well with Rooney and Berbatov and give United greater attacking impetus.
They go into this weekend’s matches five points off the pace, recently beaten by both Chelsea and Liverpool, without their best centre half and still struggling to compensate for the loss of Ronaldo but Manchester United are best when facing adversity and I believe, come May, the Premier League trophy will be staying at Old Trafford.
Topics: Alex Ferguson, English Premier League, Manchester United
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chelsea cant buy players because of their transfer ban. good article, i agree on most counts
November 20th, 2009 @ 14:05The key to Utd’s season is this: Play Carrick, Fletcher and Anderson every time, when fit, with 1 other (Valencia/Giggs) and they’ll dominate in midfield (Chelsea?) If Hargreaves gets back to full fitness, even better. Play it narrow and forget 2 wingers for now.
Persist with Nani and Scholes…and they won’t.
It’s that simple. They have the quality but if Fergie persists in continuing with the endless rotation of the ‘middle’ 4, instead of playing his best players, then the game is up.
No need for any spending in January.
November 20th, 2009 @ 14:45chelsea can buy players!!! Their transfer ban lifted!!!
November 20th, 2009 @ 16:52@kaza chelsea’s transfer ban has been suspended until next summer so, with it being Chelsea’s final transfer spell for a while (unless UEFA gets soft) expect plenty of rumours and possible transfers. I agree with Simon that they need another centre forward (or 2) with Kalou and Drogba going to the ACON.
@BD Condell, you’re having a laugh, Manchester United will never dominate the midfield with Carrick and Andersen. Unless Hargreaves gets fit and back to his best form quickly, the midfield will continue to be rubbish, and a hole will be left here for sides like Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea, who have good central midfielders to exploit. Thinks back to the 2-0 loss to Liverpool. The midfielders got outplayed by Lucas Leiva!
November 20th, 2009 @ 21:22@alexblackcap: Exactly my point! Against Liverpool Ferguson started with Scholes, Giggs, Carrick and Valentia in midfield. Scholes and Giggs should never be on the pitch together for a high tempo midfield battle. Utd lost the midfield because of a totally inept team selection.
In the Chelsea game with Carrick, Fletcher and Anderson playing Utd gave better than they got and were very unfortunate to lose the game.
Carrick is NOT a defensive midfielder and is at his best when he has Fletcher and Anderson doing the leg work so he can get his foot on the ball and pick his passes.
I’ve analysed all of Utd’s games this season and the midfield selection is crucial.
Against Sunderland, just to give you another example, Scholes and Carrick in the middle with Nani and Welbeck out wide. A hard working Sunderland midfield easily won the CM battle in the first half. Scholes off for Anderson in the 2nd and Utd were far better and salvaged something from the game.
As I said, Fergie needs to pick his best midfield players consistently….and you need to analyse things a bit better before jumping to conclusions!
November 21st, 2009 @ 04:27I think United would be strong even with the current squad.
November 23rd, 2009 @ 06:00