Sound of Silence

What’s there to say after such an abject loss?

Not much, as evidenced by United failing to speak with the media after the comprehensive thumping.

A Red Devils rant in the media would only register an amber-level on the former Terror Alert scale. But nothing: that’s Spinal Tap “eleven” territory.

Certainly nobody circles the wagons better than Sir Alex. Yet today it feels different.

Could it be that Fergie holds some doubts about his own club’s ability to push on this year?

Or, could it be this is simply the bitterest of losses to a hated rival on the cusp of the beloved Number Nineteen?

Regardless, something feels slightly awry here.

Much whining will be focused on Carrick’s tracking or Nani’s inexplicable header across his own goal, but collectively, United were poor – very poor – and nothing can hide the nakedness of this performance.

Or, as Rio tweeted from the comforts of home "Bad result today no excuses.”

True, oh so very true.

As this season unfolds, it becomes clearer and clearer to me that what United lack are a creative, pull-the-strings playmaker not named Scholes or Giggs and a world-class, none-shall-pass holding midfielder that covers a large tracks of land and calms those around him.

Fergie thought he answered the holding midfielder role with the purchase of Owen Hargreaves, but we all know how that panned out.

Another midfield candidate, Anderson, too has been plagued with injuries and has had some question his approach to the game, with events away from the pitch, as you could argue that he’s regressed from his impressive first year in the EPL.

Michael Carrick doesn’t provide enough bite, cover or confidence passing and moving forward anymore. (BTW, what happened to the Carrick of 2008-2009?)

While the only really creative player to emerge from the current squad thus far is Nani, but his style relies too heavily on dribbling and pace to place all your creativity needs in his basket. Teammates around the gifted Portuguese player never really know when he’ll pass them the ball, unlike the evergreen twosome, and this can lead to a disjointed attack.

United need someone else to pull the strings from the center of the park and let Nani be Nani on the wing, assuming he can come back soon from the ghastly gash on his leg, as the pictures circling the internet look horrible.

After all is said and done, today’s loss in and of itself still leaves United on top of the table even if Arsenal win their match in-hand, albeit if only on goal differential.

We’re still in pole position.

But, today’s sounds of silence speak louder than words and that doesn’t feel right at the moment.

Let’s just hope it’s only the sting of a horrible loss at Anfield and not something deeper.

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Back at you after the sixth round FA Cup match with Arsenal. Cheers.