Well, how things have changed since my last post – the 3-1 surreal victory over Chelsea.
United draw with Stoke away, cough up a 2-0 lead to Basel at home for another draw, and appear sub-par, especially on the final ball and across the backline, in today’s victory over an unlucky Norwich City side.
Here are five things we’ve learned this past week.
First, we realize again that form is fleeting, as it comes and goes despite everyone’s best effort – much like the weather.
Sure, form requires dedication, preparation, and effort, all within your control, but it also relies on health and the opportunity to work together, as a unit, to gain that understanding and edge required at the highest level of football – all factors beyond anyone’s control. Form requires both hard work and good fortune.
Which leads to the second point: the revolving injury door hath finally shown some of United’s weaknesses, especially across the backline.
You can look at all the stats you want, whether it’s United conceding the most shots on goal in the Premiership or a decrease in passing accuracy. All of these point directly to the trend, no doubt about it.
But, alas, the sheer number of high-quality chances conceded this term pinpoint the naïveté and lack of cohesion across the backline, with costly turnovers and poor positional play becoming more and more self-evident. The remarkable goal tally hid this fact, early, but now we face it clearly in a tight 2-0 victory.
My third point turns this troublesome-but-understandable trend on it’s ear, as we’ve forgotten how much inexperience is currently playing for United, a real testament to the strong play of the young backline.
Take Phil Jones, for example, who started the year superbly, appearing as a self-assured and strong as any mid-career center half.
However, against Basel, he came back to earth, as he learnt several lessons from a side that attacked with more cunning and creative off-the-ball movement forward from the midfield than your typical EPL side. He looked, at times, befuddled by the movement around him and found himself out of position more than in previous matches. Continental footy requires different positioning, as the education of Mr. Jones continues.
Contrast that midweek adventure against Norwich today, where he learned lessons about positioning himself against high, long-balls to an incredibly strong, well-positioned striker. At times, Jones was brilliant, especially when cutting out crosses when covering for United being outnumbered. At times, he was second-best to Route One balls to exceptionally strong positional play. Despite his fifty-odd top tier matches, he’s still only nineteen years old and learning on the fly.
United’s best backline still includes the names Ferdinand and Vidic first and foremost on the team sheet, which is a testament to the youngsters promise that some of us may have forgotten this simple but undeniable fact.
Fourth, I assert, Sir Alex’s midfield misses Tom Cleverley’s touch in keeping the attack flowing forward. The youngster’s a knack for turning his mark and making short and simple passes that create space for others cannot be underestimated. I’d love to see Anderson’s personal stats with and without Cleverley, as the Brazilian appears at his best with young Tom as a partner cutting through oppositions. When you combine this space with the youngster’s energy, United look different moving forward. It’s great news that he’s not far off from returning from injury.
Last and most important, despite the dip in form, United get points out of all three of the matches this past week. Never ever underestimate this fact. The trademark mastery of getting points when not playing well serves the Red Devils well, as United remain top of the table despite everything thus far, which is more than anyone else can say at this precise moment.
Which leads us to look forward at the difficult fixtures facing United in the month ahead, including Liverpool (a), Otelul Galat (a), City (h), and Everton (a). Three matches away, including some extra Champions League travel prior to the Manchester derby.
Form and health must improve across the squad to remain top of the league and on-course in the Champions League, as we can’t wait for the match on the 15th at Anfield.
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Back at you after the Pool match. Cheers to you.
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