If there was ever a time when Manchester United fans should be dead worried about the health of their beloved club, it is now.
The alarm bell rang as they lost to Manchester City in a manner that lacked total team cohesion and spirit, short of Wayne Rooney. The alarm bells now rang again with a more alarming defeat to relatively low West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford of all places!
So, six games into the current campaign Man United are in 12th position on the league table, seven points (three games) behind league leaders Arsenal.
Experts say losing in sports is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact you cannot succeed if you do not lose and learn from your defeat(s).
However, the manner you lose and to whom you lose tells a lot as you go forward. This is one major cause of pessimism for any true Man united fan or football analyst
WHAT IS BEHIND THIS FREE FALL?
If you are a Man united fan, here are some reasons why I feel you should be concerned.
DIFFICULT TRANSITION
In all fairness to David Moyes, it was always going to be an uphill task replacing Sir Alex Ferguson after 27 years of pure, unprecedented success, the likes of which we may never see again.
It is now an undisputed fact: United players are struggling with the transition from the Sir Alex Ferguson Era to the David Moyes one.
Under Ferguson the team lost games but rarely do I remember the players lacking the fighting spirit like we saw at this significant encounter v Man City. Even when they were humiliated 6-1 two years ago by Manchester City, they fought like wounded lions.
I feel sorry for David Moyes. He definitely did not expect it to be this difficult.
COMPLETE MESS UP OF THE TRANSFER MARKET
Unwelcome, unnecessary distractions and squabbles with Rooney during the transfer market period have turned out to be a disaster.
How on earth could Tottenham get their hands on the perfect player for Man United, Christian Eriksen, for just £12 million and United didn’t? They rather went and got Marouane Felaini for £27.5 million. That baffles me!
Rattling Wayne Rooney with threats of no guaranteed starting spot, the chase of Cesc Fabregas that was made public unnecessarily and the eventual purchase of Marouan Felaini for a creative midfield role, where technique, slick movements and passing skills are needed (qualities the fighting and aerial-strong Felaini doesn’t necessarily possess), explains how Man United missed the bus. Creativity is missing at the moment.
TACTICAL DEFICIENCIES
It was evident when they took on Man City that United had no tactical response to what City threw at them. Troubling!
It’s been three top opponents faced by Moyes’ Man United – one draw off a defensive Chelsea side at Old Trafford and two defeats.
ROONEY DEPENDENCE …SOLE WARRIOR
Not only was he the sole warrior as they took on Manchester City, his performance was excellent, enterprising and at 4-0 he was still fighting like a wounded lion. He scored the consoling goal off a world-class free kick that put a cap to his performance. This weekend he once again scored the equaliser that almost salvaged a point.
To think that he was considered a possible surplus to requirements by the manager (Moyes) makes me wonder. Thank God for United fans that he stayed put.
To be dominant, United need not a solid group of warriors, not just Rooney.
DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES DUE TO AGE AND…
Manchester United in the past (and all great teams at that) was equipped with a solid defence line. Sir Alex Ferguson knew this and spent millions acquiring quality players for these roles.
With all due respect to Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, today this is United’s weakest link in my opinion. Age and past injuries seem to be hindering this department and it’s found wanting regularly. They struggle and are always second to the ball.
This sector should have been improved on with a transfer at least.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AT RISK
If this free fall is not halted immediately, the all-important Champions League next season might just elude Manchester United and an early elimination this campaign is not impossible.
The top teams in England are not waiting and, with a seven point deficit not even midway into the season, this is a sure warning sign. No excuse of unfavourable fixtures holds water after the defeat to Albion.
In all it seems likely to be a difficult season ahead. With three months and loads of games to be played before the next transfer window in December, United has to find the solution quickly with the players it has now and stay within touching distance of the top three in the BPL. Otherwise this season might be over by December.
