If you wanted to sum up how low Manchester United have sunk over the past weekend, you needn't look further than the fact that we're now conceeding goals via nipples of all parts. Such was the ignomity of the second goal scored by MK Dons on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup.
That we shall play 9 games over the next three months is further testament to the irrelevance United have rendered themselves over the past 12 months.
According to the manager, the state of the club is such that we are rebuilding and essentially that he is bestowing upon the club a philosophy that will hold us in good stead for the long term future. That has necessitated a restructuring of the playing staff to the extent that the likes of Tom Cleverley, Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez are likely to have already played their last games for the club. By the time Monday kicks in, there is every chance that United shall be past phase 1 of the promised rebuilding process.
In tune with the same process, the club expect to bring in a couple of players before Monday's deadline to join Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw Marcos Rojo and latest arrival Angel Di Maria.
The rebuilding will be done, and everything that goes in with it. The now however is that the league season is underway and United have dropped 5 points from the opening 2 games. It's all nice and perfect that it takes time to get accustomed to the new system that the manager has so far employed but the fixture list knows no waiting.
Burnley await the visit of United tomorrow lunchtime in what is a must win big fixture for the Reds. At the moment, the title is now looking like a dream for us but we cannot allow ourselves to fall so far back by October like we did last season that Champions League becomes a target even before Christmas. We still have a good run of fixtures to make do with but the current injury crisis coupled with the form of the current crop has meant that every fixture is now as nervy as the last game of the season in a title challenging campaign.
A lot has been said about how United have played so far this season, but I wonder whether the famous writing pad of the manager has contributed to nerves and a play it safe approach that the players have so far exhibited. It is no secret that LVG loves even the odd detail....such as a misplaced pass, and he does take note of the little things that we may not be able to remember post match. However, I wonder if that has caused a fear upon the side so much so that they are afraid to give a wrong pass or to make a decision with the ball. The result has been a lack of cutting edge because playing with such fear and nervousness ironically leads you to make the same mistakes you were afraid to make.
As a result the team has taken less risks in the couple of games played so far which invariably results in dumb squib performances and results. The best players in the world, heck, the best teams in the world take the most risks. It's always the difference between scoring a goal and not. Merely taking the ball out of your half is a risk in football. Is it any wonder that no player in the world loses more balls than Lionel Messi? The answer is in the simple reality that the little Argentine attempts more risks in a match than any other player. It also goes without saying that the best goals scored are those taken with the highest risk.....such as a risk of looking silly if you score from the halfway line like David Beckham.
I'd like to see us take more risks on the pitch. Tear into the opposition, but not look to play the safe pass back to Tyler Blackett.
Maybe United are not cut out for the title this season, but fixtures such as Saturday's are the kind we are expected to win even with 10 injured players.
Again, I thought the same on Tuesday.
Labels: PREVIEWS
