After the 6-1, would we really have taken this?

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19Apr

After the 6-1, would we really have taken this?

by Alistair Walker

“After the 6-1 we’d have taken this” has been a recurring refrain from United fans since last week’s hideously inept defeat at Wigan. During the autumn, as City demolished United and appeared to be inexorably steamrolling their way to a first league title since 1968, had we been offered a five-point lead with four games to go then surely, yes, we would have taken that.

However, it is impossible to escape the feeling that the utter embarrassment suffered in losing 6-1 at home to City and the equally humiliating runarounds distributed by Athletic Bilbao, home and away, will be the eternal memories of this season even if the 20^th league title is secured on 13 May. That is an abhorrent scenario that surely no United fan would ever accept.

Even throughout an exceptional run of victories during the spring, it is difficult to pick out any timeless team performances; rather, there has been a grinding soullessness about their play. Where has the early season effervescence and exuberance gone? Manchester United as a football club has always been about more than cold, clinical ruthlessness. Shock and awe, seek and destroy – these are the principles that define the institution, yet they have been gradually swamped by a tide of turgid functionality.

There have undoubtedly been positive aspects to take from the league campaign – chief among them, David De Gea’s rapidly growing assurance in goals, Jonny Evans’ remarkable composure in defence and Antonio Valencia’s devastating surges down the right wing. The latter two players were scandalously overlooked in the PFA awards nominations.

Unfortunately, the negative aspects of United’s season have been numerous. While certainly a marvellous story, the total reliance in central midfield on the previously retired Paul Scholes is a huge worry, and the regular tepid play from Wayne Rooney another hindrance towards flowing football. Add in Javier Hernandez’ surprising loss of form, Danny Welbeck’s inconsistency and Dimitar Berbatov’s perpetual exclusion from the starting 11, and a bleak picture is painted of United’s centrally creative options.

United must learn from their mistakes this season and finally fill the vacuum that has existed in the attacking midfield area at Old Trafford since Scholes assumed a deeper midfield role in 2006. This is an absolute necessity in order to rediscover that panache and verve the club are famed for. Tom Cleverley may yet prove the answer in this role, but an addition like Athletic’s magical Oscar De Marcos should be imperative.

Sir Alex Ferguson simply has to fill this pivotal void, regardless of expense, to enable Manchester United’s repentance from the footballing banality so grimly evident at Old Trafford since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2009. United fans have always expected, nay, demanded, lavish footballing decadence from their team, yet this inherent requirement has sadly been subdued by a tedious need to accumulate trophies.

A season defined by Ashley Young’s contemptible cheating, a 37-year-old retiree and three seminal defeats – would we really have taken all that?

Posted by Manchester United fan Ali Walker

Follow Alistair on Twitter @AliWalker24

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Ridgers

bollocks
Gay

yes we would u cunt
Hfhfh

Horrible article
Sparkz

1) This is a team in transition. By rights, we shouldn’t even be competing for the title. When the Double winners of 2008 were in transition from 03-06, were they even in a title race?! No. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also currently in transition; are they in a title race? No. So for us to be in this situation with a developing team speaks volumes.
Europe is a different matter, but the Ronaldo team had to go through these same harsh lessons 7/8 years ago. Likewise the likes of Scholes, Giggs and Beckham in the mid 90′s.

Midfield is an issue, yes. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. Why do supporters want everything perfect here and now? Some people have no patience, its called team building.

2) As you said yourself – the football at the start of the season was terrific. Injuries and disrupted team selection have put paid to this. But even so – from January to March some of our performances were excellent. Think of the victories against Arsenal and Liverpool, plus the 3-3 with Chelsea, where we dominated. Some of our best displays of the season. Granted, we’ve been relatively poor since the West Brom match, (although hopefully the Villa game sees the start of a good end of season run in), but you go through periods of the season where you need to grind results out.

3) The football this season has been no worse than Ronaldo’s last season. In fact I’d argue that its probably been better. But because there’s no Ballon D’Or nominee, fans can’t see this. Its as if you need a superstar in your side to be a good team.
196819992008

This article could have been abbreivated to;

‘waa waa waa United don’t win every game it’s not fair’
JeezyPeezy26

No. This season will be remembered for a terrific fightback for the Premier League title against the noisy neighbours, the 8-2 victory at OT against Arsenal, the 3-2 victory at The Etihad in the FA cup (not to mention the community shield win against City as well), the return of Paul Scholes and the beginning of an exciting era in Manchester United history.
Yes, we don’t have a team made up entirely of superstars, Ballon D’Or nominee’s etc or an apparent ‘world-class’ team that teams such as Real Madrid/Barcelona/City possess, but as other people have commented, we are in transition!
City in comparison, have the unlimited resources, the world class talent in every position and the unbelievable amount of depth, and yet however, have endured the same fate as ourselves. They, for all the hype, for all the calls that ‘the season had been decided way back in November’, have failed to win the community shield, failed to progress in not only the Carling and FA cups, but also crashed and burned in the Champions league, another competition that many, assumed City would progress far into. They’ve since crashed out of the Europa league, and are lying in 2nd place 5 points short of us, a margin formerly of 8.
Taking the limelight off of City, other teams in the league cannot argue that they have done any better. Despite still being in the Champions League (and FA cup), lying 6th in the league is simply not good enough for a team that should be (and usually is) challenging for the title.
This season is ultimately another stepping stone for the club. What were you expecting with the departures of world class talent in Ronaldo, Tevez? Thats the difference between United and City – City and its resources, buying up players, doesn’t mean its a team. United, bit by bit, step by step, build teams, instead of the ‘instant gratification’ our neighbours buy into and expect.
Guest

No Yaya Toure not being nominated for PFA Player of the Year could be construed as scandalous, Jonny Evans being nominated would have been laughable.
Stevedore

re This season is ultimately another stepping stone for the club. What were you expecting with the departures of world class talent in Ronaldo, Tevez?Surely Ronaldo left 2 Seasons ago . you are typical red you wont admit that you have been over reliant this season on refs and luck, you were dumped out of europe in C/Land also Europa League by teams playing better football. I am sorry but even if you win title your overall football this season has been poor and you really need agood shake up of personnell
TotalMillwall.co.uk

Man Utd play boring football. They play over rated footballers and without any doubt, get the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing decisions.
Carrick has 1% of the passion & ability of Keane, Evra & Rio are a liability and their wingers are too pansy.

Wrong transfers, wrong tactics, wrong team
KeeperUSA

Unmentioned is the loss of the best defender in the Premmie and the impact of THAT on the team last season. Kagawa will add talent & speed up front. Vidic and a more experienced DeGea will anchor the back. Yeah, a Modric would be nice…but this year WILL be better than last.

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