As I sat in the executive box in my leather seat, at Old Trafford last Saturday I knew there was something just not right. Something that told me this wasn’t the Manchester United I had always followed and watched with a positive attitude and the confidence of winning 99 times out of a 100.
However it started brightly. After only a few minutes of the game we were 1 – 0 up, Hernandez with a poacher’s goal. By half time we were 2 – 0 up as the ever improving Nani combined with Berbatov to double the lead. On that point, I must say, you don’t realise the sheer class of Dimitar Berbatov until you watch him in the flesh. The ball is like a magnet at his feet and I don’t think I saw him lose possession once. Come half-time I was sat drinking my free cup of tea with a smile on my face. Despite our recent knack of throwing away leads, I was sure, that at home to West Brom and the fact we were so comfortable, we would win emphatically or at least see out the win. Oh how wrong I was!
Just before the end of the first half, Giggs went off with a hamstring problem and from then on we went downhill, it was like watching a different team.
We started playing negative football – an attitude we seem to have gathered over the last few years. A couple of years ago, leading 2 – 0 at half time we would ‘attack, attack, attack’ and score 4, 5, even 6 goals. Nowadays we seem to be happy with a 1, 2 goal win and quite frankly, it’s come back to haunt us on numerous occasions this season! You don’t see Chelsea or Arsenal sitting back, they aren’t allowed to. I think we need to take a leaf out of their book and get back to our old ways.
Back to the game, and the width had gone. Nani, who I can see doing great things in the not so distant future was our only source of width. It’s been massively evident that we have sorely missed Antonio Valencia since his shocking leg break. We have the likes of Obertan, and Bebe who Sir Alex has bought playing in the reserves, but not one out and out winger was on the bench on Saturday afternoon. We have always had quality wingers from Konchelskis to Ronaldo and we have three in Giggs, Nani and Valencia, but to not have one on the bench was a mistake in my view.
The sudden flair that we used to possess when the likes of Ronaldo and Tevez were at the club and even when Giggs plays all seems to have been lost. There was no magic with too many average players in our midfield (by average I’m referring to Carrick and Gibson in particular.)
However, it wasn’t just our attacking play that was suffering, our defence started to look more and more shaky. Mainly down to the fact we were inviting pressure by not going forward. I noticed Evra would bomb forward to try and supply width to our game on the left hand side, but once we or indeed he lost possession he would just amble back, as if it wasn’t his fault. He in fact gave the ball away on the edge of the United area for the Baggies gift-wrapped equaliser in which Van Der Sar, under no apparent pressure, dropped the ball – even more of a suggestion we were shaky!
It was 2 – 2 and we needed a goal, but we didn’t even look like scoring. Sir Alex had brought on Darren Gibson as Giggsy’ replacement. Now I’m sorry, but the lad is awful. He’s no pace, can’t pass and is lazy. His shot is his only strength. Not only was it frustrating to see Gibson take to the field, it was more of a shock considering we had a veteran warming the bench who loves unlocking defences and simply makes us tick – Paul Scholes. By the way, I won’t mention how Wayne Rooney did when he came on, because it wasn’t pretty.
You all know it finished 2 – 2 and we had squandered another 2 goal lead to drop more points. Scott Carson hardly touched the ball in the second half and this was a team who had come up from the Championship and would only dream of getting a point at Old Trafford.
I know it sounds all doom and gloom, but apart from the first half an hour, we were awful. That second 45 minutes of football was one of the most painful things I have ever had to endure.
Then days later, we then hear that Wayne Rooney wants to leave the club. It just gets better! Playing like we did in that second half on Saturday, I can see Rooney’s point about our lack of ambition, future success and the ability to attract World class players. Playing the way we did, we won’t.
However, City fans in particular, I wouldn’t count your chicken’s before they hatch – when Rooney sorts his head out, I firmly , no matter what the reports say, he will see sense and stay at the club, Even though the majority of the fans will be remorseful towards the lad. After all a team with an on form Wayne Rooney will be better than most World class players we need to sign.
So come January 31st, lets hope we see a slight change in both players and performance!
The amount of money he is going to be paid is just sickening.