As the destiny of the Premier League title looks set to be on its way to Stanford Bridge come Sunday tea time, we have to ask ourselves if this season been a step forward in the right direction?
With the loss of two crucial match winners – Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, people doubted we would even be able to challenge for the title, but Wayne Rooney and the rest of the United team have stepped up to the plate and proved those doubters wrong.
Yes, we have won the Carling Cup, but let’s be honest; it’s not the greatest prize in the world! We were unluckily beaten in the Champions League Quarter finals by Arjen Robben’s wonder strike which sent Bayern Munich through and are now consequently in a final showdown with Inter Milan…Oh what could have been!
Not to forget, we were dumped out of the FA Cup by League one and old rivals Leeds United after Jermain Beckford scored the only goal in a 1 – 0 win at Old Trafford. Quite an achievement for a club that has seen its self demise the way Leeds United has!
With the Carling Cup looking like the only trophy to be sat in United’s usually so vastly figured trophy cabinet I have to say this season hasn’t been our best, or should I say we just haven’t had that stroke of luck a successful club always needs. A win here or there (i.e against Blackburn away) would have seen us in a far stronger position going into the final game of the season on Sunday and instead of it being in Chelsea’s bare hands it could, like it so often has been, in United’s.
Likewise in the Champions League, if young Rafael hadn’t been so cynical and been sent off I may have been sitting here today talking to you about our hopes against Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League. However, let’s face the facts. They are all “If only” moments, when really we should be talking about “What” has happened.
I would have to say, the loss of nearly all our defensive line came at a crucial part of the season. The 3 – 0 loss to Fulham, the 1 – 0 home defeat to Aston Villa, the two unlucky defeats to Chelsea in which I have to say the officials cost us, must have had a strain on the team and obviously did not help where we stand in the Premier League today. In fact, I’m sure opposition fans must have to admit we have done tremendously well to be where we are in the league with such a troublesome injury hit defence for a quarter of the season.
However, whilst the Premier League is still not full decided, we must believe that Wigan can do us a huge favour. They have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea before this season, so who says they can’t snatch at least a point at Stamford Bridge. If they can keep Chelsea out for a period of time, the Londoners will no doubt feel the pressure in the fact that they are expected to clinch the title on Sunday. From a United perspective, all we can do is beat Stoke City at Old Trafford and hope that Roberto Martinez’s men can help us win a record breaking fourth consecutive title which really would present a successful season and put the shine back in United’s trophy cabinet.
In my opinion the worst hits were:
-the defence injury crisis early in the season and
-the two games against Chelsea, which were influenced by referee decisions that left much to be desired.
The squad needs strengthening, on the other hand there is not much to buy. Look at Inter Milan, I feel that their performance this season is a flash in the pan. All the players are in their mid thirties with their youngest ones, Santon & Bolotelli, who cannot make way into the squad. Mou is simply good at making hay as the sun shines.
I think that Man U should go for Milan’s current coach Leonardo as SAF assistant. He is a young and bright guy who has been involved in top level club management with Milan for a number of years.
It has been an encouraging season in my opinon. Of course if a miracle happens on Sunday I’ll be through the roof, but I’m proud of our boys regardless.
It’s true about luck though, apart from the debatable extra minute in the 1st derby, little has gone our way. That being said, we earned every point we got and the emergence of Rooney, Fletcher, Nani and Valencia should have us very excited for next year.
I think we should part ways with Carrick though, and though I’ve fought for him so long, it won’t work anymore with Berba – even if most of the blame is undeserved. Personally, I don’t think we need many additions, and certainly not on the wings. Even in central midfield, it is worth giving Anderson more time and I felt his performance noticably improved until his injury. If Nani taught us anything, it is worth giving someone with that much potential more than a few performances to prove themself.
Really, the only areas I’d add are for GK (Lloris) and CF with Dzeko being a natural choice seeing as we lack a tall, physical strker.
nice thoughts guys..I persoanlly think we need a nother match winner/creative midfielder with Silva the perfect man. I also reckon that a striker that can score goals 🙂