Defenseless

Did anyone else feel superstitious as the commentators and pundits droned on and on about United’s incredible record against Spurs?

Eventually the odds do even out, as ghosts of the phantom-no-goal get paid in full today as Spurs break their Old Trafford duck circa 1989.

Supporters must be incensed at the Reds right now, with he deficiencies of this club so evident for so long, and papering over them clearly won’t work this campaign – no way, no how – as this trend dates back well before last year’s Champions League exit.

Here’s an issues list in no particular order…

First, it’s a squad heavily reliant upon aging players in key positions, including Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs and Scholes, which becomes vulnerable to pace and gets picked apart.

Second, it’s a squad without a coherent defense, one lacking the tenacity to win the ball back. Ferguson must realize that they cannot rely on two excellent passers – Carrick and Scholes – to lay so deep much of the time and create this giant gap in central midfield. United look fine moving forward, but fall back too far off the ball, giving opponents way too much space and allowing them to come at the Reds with the ball at their feet. Succinctly: United lack a spine.

Third, it’s an indifferent squad for large stretches of matches, whether that’s due to age, poor form, lack of pace, or some evil combination thereof, it takes a goal from Liverpool or Sir Alex’s hairdryer to get them going far too often. The team cries out for an inspirational leader, and thankfully, the most likely candidate, Wayne Rooney, looked sharp in his half of football today. Fingers crossed here.

Of the three dominant issues, what’s most troubling is the over-reliance on a tandem of Carrick and Scholes. What’s most troubling is the exceedingly obvious need for central midfield help.

When Carrick or Scholes push much further forward, this is an entirely different side – one with the verve and venom witnessed in the final 45 minutes today.

But, should United loose possession, they’re extremely susceptible on the counter-attack, as neither player tracks back quickly, defends nor tackles well enough to justify playing together, often flat, as a shield against higher-quality competition. One of the two starters here need to win balls, tackle, and harass anything central – a real “none shall pass” demeanor and demonstration. It’s far too easy to come at United now.

During the last year’s pre-season and early Premiership campaign, United’s midfield looked particularly pedestrian at times – that is until Ferguson employed a combination of Anderson and Cleverly central.

Remember what this squad looked like with these players fit, in-form, and synched together?

That’s exactly what’s required now. So where are they?

Well, you can’t force form and Ferguson’s forgot more about football than any dear reader of this post, assuredly. We need to trust the gaffer.

However, has Sir Alex shown too much confidence in players such as Anderson, Cleverly, and Nani? There’s a growing case being made to justify such questions.

United may be threadbare at the back now and we all know this too shall pass in the next month or so, as players return from injury. The quality across the back four seems fully deserving of every opportunity to continue to grow, under the tutelage of Ferdinand and Vidic.

I don’t feel that way about the central midfield at all.

First, Cleverly looked like he belonged on the Barcelona team sheet for a short stretch last season, yet his build and tendency to turn defenders may make him susceptible and vulnerable to injury in the BPL. It remains to be seen if the Reds can rely on him.

Second, with all due respect, none of us know what we’ll get from Fletcher, given his bowl disorder. We all hope and pray for his return to form. But we can’t bank on it. Which leads to the third and final point.

What’s up with Anderson?

His potential was so blisteringly hot upon arrival to Old Trafford. As a lad, he started in the central midfield at home against Liverpool in 2008 and bossed matters much of the match – a true pit-bull performance extraordinaire, never looking out of place, and a sign of things to come.

Hardly.

Since that first season, you simply wonder who’s taken over that player’s body, as the he’s had some injuries but largely seems to have regressed even when fit. Arguably, United need Ander-son-son-son to realized his potential more than any other player in the first-team not named Fletcher.

How long will we wait for him?

How long can we wait for him?

I hate it when Reds over-react to some temporary problem with the club and demand spending to fill any perceived deficiency. United have justifiably shown great faith in developing players.

But this term, the gaffer can’t hide the growing problems any longer, as key players age and the recipe for beating United is crystal clear as well as more accessible to more clubs now than at any time in recent history – again, we reference the Champions League last term.

United need a specific central midfield quality to challenge for the Premiership title and have any chance of advancing in the Champions League.

Will the Reds fill this void in the January transfer market?

Inactivity will be as defenseless as today’s brutal first-half performance. 

Two Generations Star As United Waste Wigan

“Welcome to Manchester!” in more ways than one for the newcomers to Old Trafford, Alex Büttner and Nick Powell, as Sir Alex employs a line-up without Cleverley, Evra, Kagawa, van Persie, and Valencia, among the noticeable absences.

Büttner, Chicharito, Danny Welbeck, and Ryan Giggs start, with squad rotation in the mind ahead of two huge fixtures this week against Galatasaray in the Champions League and Liverpool at Anfield.

Ferguson’s purchase to cover-and-motivate Evra won over the fans by demonstrating tenaciousness, good pace, and an effective overlap.

He also opened his United account with penetrating – and somewhat fortunate, at one point – mazy run through the box and a short-range missile off Al-Habsi to make it 3-0.

Welcome to United indeed, Mr. Büttner, my co-Man of the Match.

Next, we consider the second-half substitute, Nick Powell, who security did not recognize upon his first day’s training at Carrington, ironically enough, needs no further introduction Old Trafford faithful with a nice touch to space followed by a laser from the top of the box past the helpless keeper to make it 4-0 in his first appearance.

Powell came on for Scholes and seemed to replicate the ginger-haired-assassin’s presence on the pitch, albeit for 18 minutes with United well ahead. Composure, a few penetrating passes forward, followed by a trademark strike capped off a bright start for the man from Crewe Alexandra.

Mr. Powell, you won’t be anonymous at Old Trafford, or Carrington, for that matter, ever again. Consider yourself part of the fold.

Beyond the debutants, this return-to-normal-service match didn’t start that way though, with Chicharito missing a soft penalty awarded to United in the 6th minute, as Al-Habsi pulled out of a challenge with Welbeck.

Maybe, just maybe there’s a bit of contact, but if you can’t tell even on super-slow-motion replay, then decision seems quite harsh.

You wondered if this would be one of those days, with the score tied at nil-nil at half. In a reverse-psychological-way, knowing that Wigan have never beaten United on this ground, as the commentators remind us, as thousands of Red Devils knock on wood across the globe. Squandered opportunities, especially penalties, can backfire on teams even early in matches.

However, United gave up a few semi-decent counter-attacking chances, but largely remained in control of the match moving into the second half.

Then, he scores goals in the 51^st minute, my other co-Man of the Match.

Every single inch-perfect pass, turn, clumsy challenge, and goal is cherished by Red Devils, having already mourned Scholes retiring once.

Everything, absolutely everything he does on the pitch now is pure gravy, including THAT look of pure child-like joy, after scoring, is as infectious as ever. Pure and utter delight, as it should be. Brilliant.

Looking back now, from the larger perspective, the symbolism dripping off the result – Scholes’ 700^th appearance for United, Giggs’ 600^th Premier League match, and Sir Alex’s 500^th home league match – seems entirely fitting for this campaign.

It makes total sense that Scholesy should break the game’s duck and that two debutants should open up their accounts all in the same match. Past glory meets future promise on the pitch, all from the games best alchemist, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Looking into a future, you sense that our beloved gaffer’s meticulously developed the club’s culture for long-term success.

He’s built a world-class organization, one where everyone’s involved, from the tea lady to manger, one where you expect late goals, one where youth is nurtured as well as given opportunity, and one where nobody’s bigger than the club. Nobody.

There is a United way, and for that, we are all immeasurably thankful.

And this match is as symbolic as it gets.

Our South Coast Savior: Robin van Persie

Would United’s historic difficulty with Southampton rear its ugly head or would the Saints look like they’ve been promoted one division too far?

Full credit goes to Nigel Adkins for successive promotions and setting up to attack the Red Devils. Why not? You’re at home. Go for it.

Sir Alex’s set-up involved the 4-2-3-1, with Lindegaard and Rio added to the backline as well as Carrick and Cleverly in front of the back four. Welbeck, Kagawa, and Valencia next, with van Persie allowed a roam across the front and drift as desired. This formation relies heavily on Evra to push forward for width, as Welbeck often pinched central to play off RVP’s movement.

The match started with United dominating and probing the Saints, who did not touch of the ball for the first few minutes. Maybe this is a walk in the park.

On the contrary, Southampton pushed forward and attacked, leaving their right flank exposed, if caught in possession.

But, it was United who gifted the Saints the ball on this flank, getting two midfielders caught pressing forward, as they could only watch helplessly as the ball was pinged wide for a diagonal cross that saw Lambert rise above Rafael to make it 1-0.

United wouldn’t be outdone, however, as it was soon 1-1 from an identical cross from Valencia to van Persie drifting on the far post, who chested it down superbly as the fullback fell and drilled home his trademark left-foot, far-post laser.

At half, pundits wondered aloud if the Saints could keep up with United, as chasing possession and defending becomes tiresome.

Yet, nobody predicted that Southampton would better the Red Devils for important stretches of the second half, creating nearly as many chances as Ferguson’s men.

When a player, who has never scored a home goal, does, you know you’re in serious trouble.

Again, United concede another goal from a cross, as Evra slips, with slapstick, comic affect, and Schneiderlin heads the ball across goal for a 2-1 lead.

Unbelievable.

Soon afterwards, Sir Alex makes needed changes, as Scholes comes for Cleverly as well as Nani replaces Kagawa, with Welbeck moving central and the number seventeen heading wide left. A much more balanced attack now for United to challenge a Southampton side tempted to sit back, defend, and hit on the counter.

Immediately, Scholes’ insertion pays dividends, as he sends an exquisite through ball to RVP, who forces a point blank shot from Davis.

United up the pressure, leaving themselves a little exposed at times, searching for the equalizer. The final ball seemed fleeting for the Reds, with the Saints difficult to breakdown with nine behind the ball, especially with poor crossing and possession cheaply given away.

Would this be another one of those days?

In the 69^th minute, Nani gratefully intercepts Davis’ poor clearance, which he brings wide, pirouettes and plays a cross to RVP’s feet on the spot. Fonte rips down the number twenty from behind during his turn: a stone-cold penalty.

Finally, the breakthrough that United need.

Up steps the lethal van Persie, who decides, unfortunately, to cheekily chip the keeper, plays the ball too low, and Davis reaches back to swat it wide. A major chance wasted.

All signs point to it being exactly one of those furiously frustrating days.

United keep up the pressure, though, which leads to a corner, with only minutes left before stoppage time.

Nani over hits yet another corner, which gets played wide, then back into the box, where a wide open Rio sees his header clang off the inside of the post right to the gleeful van Persie. We’re tied just like that. Escape hatch released.

The stunned Saints can’t believe their luck, conceding another late goal to a Manchester club. Four minutes of injury time remain.

Again, the Red Devils surge forward against a wounded opponent. Another Fonte turnover, then his mishit clearance give United a corner with two minutes to play.

For all the shtick I give Nani for poor corners, the number seventeen got inch-perfect the defining cross of the match.

The Portuguese played the near-post corner perfectly to a darting RVP, who flicks a picture-perfect, glancing header up and over Davis and just under the bar. Stunning is an understatement, as it’s an absolutely brilliant turn for the Red Devils.

We’ve witnessed two goals-of-the-week candidates in successive matches for van Persie, who continues to justify his expensive price tag and Sir Alex’s acumen.

Where would United be without the Dutchman? Shudder the thought.

Now we move on, needing the Rio-Vidic partnership to gain form, the midfield to keep possession and pressure the ball better on the flanks, and up the tempo out wide to break down opponents.

So, would United’s historic difficulty with Southampton rear its ugly head or would the Saints look like a side promoted one division too far?

Little did we know the football Gods would agree with both sides of the supposition.

How fitting it is that the United players should thank their manager with a typical, come-from-behind victory, that a quintessential trait of his clubs: never giving up, believing, and scoring late on for what seems like the thousandth time to secure another improbable and vital victory.

We all adore Sir Alex Ferguson.

And that Robin van Persie chap isn’t so bad himself.