For the first time since Steven Pienaar made it 4-4 at OT last season, we're top of the league!
Admittedly, Manchester United have fashioned a culture of being come-back kings throughout the season and not neccessarily leading from the off as it can create uneasy tension and pressure that could in the end become our undoing. Some people would like to think that last season for instance, we clawed back City's lead a little too early and gave them enough time to come back and draw level with us on points. I imagine that if in 1999, we still had a handful of games to the end of the season, Arsenal would have probably overtaken us. In the end, I can only speculate.
All that notwithstanding though, if there was a position the league table that any fan would take hands down is the top of the table--unless of course you're Arsenal who turned up at Old Trafford for a sort of tourist day out or something of the sort.
I mean I struggle to recall the last time Arsenal came to United with no intention whatsoever of winning the match, let alone troubling United.
We've got into the habit of beating lesser teams in the EPL in first gear but it was really a jaw dropping affair seeing us virtually stroll away the afternoon on our way to three points without any objection from Wenger's team.
Fascinating!
Anyhow, we'll take the points against them any day and the importance of the win would sink in after the evening late kick-off that confirmed that non of our rivals had won that day, allowing us to open up a lead at the top of the league. A one point lead isn't heaven on earth for us, but hey, after playing 6 of the top 7 teams last season already, its something!
Next up is a tricky Champions League tie away to Braga. A point would guarantee qualification to the knock-out rounds in super quick fashion while a defeat is undesirable at this point as you'd hope that the manager uses the last two games to give games to fringe players now that we're out of the League Cup.
Therefore, the agenda should be; first team out tonight and then use the squad players for the last two fixtures.
Finally congratulations are in order for Sir Alex who won the manager of the month award on his 26th anniversary in charge! October was a brilliant month and if we get the gong this year, we shall have to look back on those unprecedented victories over Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!
Labels: REVIEWS, UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
