Manchester United’s capacity for drama is certainly not on the wane. Not every heavily hyped contest lives up to the billing, but this Manchester derby was quite possibly the game that had everything. Even in victory over our bitter rivals, even just three points off the top of the league, United are still yet to convince.
Rarely has the rest of the league been so obliging in making up for our shortfalls. Despite our disgraceful performance at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve it would appear that we are not the only club in the division whose players may have enjoyed a few too many mulled wines over the last week.
It’s that time of year again, the silly season when the January transfer window opens and clubs wait until the last five minutes of the final hour before deciding that they need to sign a crucial player who is either stuck somewhere on the M1 or reportedly just landed at a regional airport.
The spirit of generosity is alive and well this Christmas time and the presents under United’s tree have been particularly lovely this holidays. If it hasn’t been our rivals dropping points, it has been a kind fixture list or a card happy ref. Truly ’tis the season to be jolly.
There are many fond memories for me at Loftus Road. I was fortunate enough to be there for wonder goals from both Cantona and Giggs and once sat in front of George Best at the ground. This weekend, Michael Carrick of all people added his name to an illustrious list.
I know, I know, on the surface it seems an odd question. Richards isn’t City’s best player, that would be David Silva, or the most influential, no guesses for Nigel de Jong, but a recent reader question got me thinking about City’s tactics in breaking down defenses.
You have to laugh at the gutter press. Defeat to Chelsea and City have failed their big test and will now struggle to win the Premier League.
We are all in the business of writing our own destinies and this last week saw Manchester United’s young team pen a mixed and rather painful chapter. Our club is not defined by the crowing of jealous opposing fans, nor by the excellence of our expensively assembled opponents, but by how we overcome hardship and turn setbacks into experience. The week has ended on a high note, and I for one choose to take that as a cue for optimism.
Manchester United welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford at 3pm on Saturday as both teams will look for three points, with very contrasting reasons.
While the visitors linger dangerously only a few points above the relegation zone, the hosts badly need the three points to keep up the pace with Manchester City, who are running away at the top of the Premier League table and are the bookies’ favourites with the best football odds to win the title.
The result will be even more important to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as they will respond appropriately after humiliating bowing out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage phase. Four wins in their last five league outings suggest it is not time to panic just yet though for the Red Devils.
United’s blistering start to the season has been long forgotten as complacency has seemingly seeped its way into the players in recent weeks. Indeed this school of thought can be bolstered by the fact that the champions have won just one of their last five games, with two of those games being losses. Wednesday night’s defeat to Basel meant that it was also the second competition in the space of seven days that the Old Trafford outfit have been eliminated in by a scoreline of 2-1.
Despite their cup troubles, last season’s Champions League finalists have won four of their last five league matches, the sole blemish being the controversial draw at home to Newcastle United. These results have come on the back of United’s self-destruction in the Manchester derby and things seemed to be looking up after that. However their most recent results, in all competitions, gives reason to worry for the majority of the 76,000 crowd at Old Trafford as the rarity of United struggling will mean an air of apprehension hangs over the red side of Manchester until after the Wolves game.
The 19-time league champions can put their troubles partially down to their injury-strewn squad which only got worse against Basel. Nemanja Vidic’s 4 month absence means he is the 8th first team player to be injured at the moment. However that burden could be lightended slightly if Dimitar Berbatov and the da Silva twins can shake off their knocks.
Tom Cleverley is unlikely to return before Christmas while his midfielder partner, Anderson, is ruled out until the spring at least. Javier Hernandez and Michael Owen won’t be back until the New Year as the 69-year-old manager tinkers with his line-up to ensure his best 11 available are out on the pitch.
Wolves, on the other hand, are extremely fortuitous with their injuries as Jody Craddock and Kevin Foley are their only absentees for their visit to Old Trafford. Mick McCarthy will be fielding his strongest team against as he hopes to build on last weekend’s win over Sunderland. Last season’s corresponding fixture was a very tense affair as a solo strike from Ji-Sung Park in the 93rd minute stole all three points for the hosts in a 2-1 victory. However the last time these two sides locked horns, it was Wolves who won 2-1 with Kevin Doyle grabbing the winners for his team.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly what is governing our emotional responses. All I can tell you at the moment is that I am not overjoyed with what I am seeing from United. Whether this is because the current side is poor, is playing poorly or simply a wider malaise in society is at work I am not sure. Either way, things ain’t right.
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