In terms of us as a team, in my view we’re lacking that muscle and drive in the centre of the park to often grip those away games by the scruff of the neck and dominate play. Who do we have with that strength who can pick the team off the floor? Our rivals Chelsea have the likes of Essien and Mikel and we have Fletcher. Yes Fletcher is a hustler and is a ball winner, but he isn’t a powerhouse. We don’t have one.
Against Sunderland in particular I noticed that without Scholes we struggle to create any sort of opportunities for the likes of Berbatov, Owen and Hernandez to convert. You may all be thinking “Scholes played against Sunderland” yes he did, but he might have well not. Sunderland and in particular Lee Cattermole never gave Scholes a minute to breathe. Stop Scholes and you stop United. We miss another creative spark. We have Berbatov who creates but Berbatov isn’t going to be deployed in centre midfield. Anderson? Carrick? I wouldn’t really put these guys in Scholsey’s creative class to be honest. At Old Trafford, we can get away with Anderson and Carrick playing as a creative midfielder, as you get more time on the ball at home. Away from home teams don’t give you that time.
I think losing Antonio Valencia is damaging, along with Nani he offers natural width and pace to counter attack, a tactic Fergie often uses on away trips. Also, the sooner Rooney is back and firing on all cylinders the better. Top teams will always miss their top players.
The fitness of Rio Ferdiand is going to be a key factor into how many goals we will concede. When Rio and Vida are together we look a lot more secure. Keeping a clean sheet against Valencia at the Mestalla and a cleansheet at the weekend against the black cats were positive signs. Vidic and Ferdinand were dubbed the best defensive partnership in the Premier League last season so the more games they play at the heart of United’s defence together the better for United.
Finally, it’s just been a slow start. We are typically slow starters and United don’t seem to kick into gear until Christmas. Ultimately, I think I should judge our away form at the end of the season, but as a lifelong and passionate United fan, I think we can all agree we need to improve on our travels if we are to snatch the title away from Chelsea.
Let’s trust that our winless away streak is just a blip and it’s not a deeper concern. On the plus side, we are one of 2 unbeaten teams in the Premier League, so let’s hope that stat can last!
