3 away games, 3 points & 7 goals conceded.
I say that, you don’t instantly think the form of champions or the form of Manchester United but it’s a sad reality. This season we have dropped points against both Fulham and Everton away from home from strong positions whilst today was a weird game in that Bolton took the lead twice and we had to claw back a draw in a game where very few players can say they played well.
In the previous 3 seasons, the most games we have drawn away from home is 5 in 07/08 and even though we went on to win the league that season it is slightly worrying that we are 3/5s of the way there and it is still September. Be under no illusion Craven Cottage, Goodison Park and the Reebok Stadium are not easy places to travel to but the manner in which we have dropped these points are worrying.
At home we have been imperious taking 9 points, scoring 9 goals are scoring 2 (both of these coming from set pieces against Liverpool) and this is to be expected. Our away form is normally good, finishing in the top 3 in terms of away form for each of the past 3 seasons too so this has come as quite a shock. Obviously it is early on in the season so no need to panic but good away form is essential to any title challenge.
I don’t think it’s a case of saying we have a problem on the road, it is more that we are suffering due to the defensive errors that are happening both home and away and if we can cut those out then we will find ourselves in better stead to challenge Chelsea and regain our title. Our next 3 away games are Stoke, Sunderland and Man City and whilst not impossible it looks like we will face a hard task in improving our away form against three hard teams.
The cliché goes there are no easy games in the league but I beg to differ. Although teams have gotten harder to beat both home and away, the games we have dropped points in are games we have made hard for ourselves. Hopefully with the return to fitness of Rio Ferdinand at the back we can have a solid base from which we can build from and set about a return to winning on the road.
Can’t watch Jonny Evans at tha back anymore.. Someone else needs to be starting there while we await rio’s return. Smalling cant be any worse.. Also Evra seems abit out of sorts these days, strange because he is always so dependable.. AND can we get a start for Rafael at RB please? On another note, I am loving how Nani is playing, but he should not take any corners.. He has not been able to get it over the first defender consistently for awhile now… Ok im done ranting…
Wow, Ryan beat me to most of my points! Evans is obviously disappointing, and what makes it more frustrating is that he does 9 out of 10 things right. But that one thing left is set pieces and there’s no room for error with those. During the regular flow of the game, he does very well and is great at anticipation, covering and not bad at passing. But every United fan is now holding their breath because of him at set plays.
He built up quite a reputation over the last couple years, but it’s quickly erroding and he needs to do something about it (maybe eating more steak?).
Rooney of course is the other one off form, but he’s earned a lot more grace than Evans has.
Got to disagree boys. Yes he was perhaps at fault at the set piece today, but Evra (who looked alot more dodgy) should have been positioned properly on the post and cleared the ball. I thought Jonny helped Vidic out immensely today – consitently covering for Vidic. Yes he made a error to allow Elmander in, but apart from that I thought he played well. Oshea and as I’ve said Evra looked more suspect at the back. @Ryan your stating Nani can’t get it over the first man, but did he not get it pin point for Owen’s goal?
Bolton deserved a point. We need to be more clinical with Fletcher and Giggs spurring golden chances. Think Fletcher is having a bad run at the moment, would be good to see Ando in the middle doing the same job. Remember we are always slow starters, we don’t normally get going until Xmas so lets just wait and see.
Agree with most of your thoughts Jamie, although im more willing to be patient with Fletcher. He has been solid for a few years, especially providing grit in big games. I grant you Nani set up the goal, but shouldn’t we as united fans expect good crosses from time to time? Im a huge supporter of nani, and i contend that leaving him out of the starting 11 last year vs chelsea in that critical loss was fergie’s biggest error of the season (we needed his creativity with no rooney in the lineup last yr.. but i shall digress, it was a long time ago..) the point is — how the hell can you accept all those lacklustre corners all game long? Put Giggs on corners.. But Nani is a must start for me every week… As for rooney?? hehe.. who knows.. Berbatov looked tame today too…I do believe Bolton deserved their point, as did Fulham.. (still unsure how that everton result happened) But I expect us to win every game, and when we dont i bitch.. haha