We all know the Community Shield is generally regarded as little more
than a training game with little relevance for the forthcoming season,
but there was undoubtedly a sense of satisfaction amongst United fans
not only at the win (albeit narrow) over Chelsea , but at the hope that
the win was this time a genuine indication that United could hold the
upper hand in another close race this year.
A month on , and slowly but surely United are creeping back up the table
after the worst start in recent memory. A five point gap even at this
stage would have been a tough task , but two points keeps Chelsea and
Liverpool to look over their shoulder with unease. The displays in the
five games so far have offered little in the way of optimism , but the
confidence of a revival comes from the faith that the grinding out of
results in the manner of Spurs and Sunderland can continue, added to by
the return of Ronaldo after the international break and Rooney at the
end of the month.
Rooney's role in the side has been much talked about but it is no
coincidence that the goals have dried up since he hobbled off against
Reading on the opening day. Left without any recognised striker up front
(John O'Shea may be many things but he is not a goalscorer!!) United
looked a changed side without Rooney's runs and his ability to create
chances for others. An extensive injury to Rooney is the most difficult
test to face the side; not forgetting that the season when he joined the
club, recovering from his injury in Euro 2004, United started badly and
were never able to peg Chelsea back.
It is difficult to admit how heavily each team relies on a few players -
Arsenal were criticised for it with Henry - but United are clearly
devoid of ideas in attack without the two R's. Ronaldo has at least been
playing for Portugal during his suspension which have seen him keep
somewhere near match fit but with Rooney it could take another number of
weeks before he is firing again.
There was tangible disappointment with Reading because the expectations
of a good start were sky high. Everyone expected United to have enough
to break down Reading, and then Portsmouth.... and so it went on. The
new signings are under pressure to start well because the arrival of
well established players like Tevez and Hargreaves was with a view to
them being able to slot in straight away. Yet they are getting used to a
new and arguably makeshift system caused by the absence of Rooney and
Ronaldo. Three up front has not worked well for United in the past and
Tevez is not suited to playing up front on his own with two wingers ..
Rooney is able to play that role to greater effect than Tevez, but both
suit a strike partner up front, a question posing even more problems for
Ferguson. Ferguson was reportedly unhappy with Saha's decision to pull
out of the game against Spurs as more question marks were raised over
Saha's desire to play through the pain barrier. This was an almost
carbon copy of what happened at the end of May when Saha played as a sub
against Milan in the San Siro and then declared himself injured for the
crucial Manchester derby three days later. Saha has played just one full
game in 2007 without a full clarification of what his injury actually
is. A talented player Saha undoubtedly is - and he played a key role in
the good start to last season - but he simply cannot be counted on as a
regular starter in the side. Ferguson has to draw the line somewhere and
this season has surely got to be it. It is a make or break season for
Saha. He has to prove his fitness once and for all or else Ferguson has
to bite the bullet and make the tough decision over whether he can be
included in his long term plans. The current crop of just three strikers
, including Saha, must make Ferguson with hindsight regret the decision
to sell both Alan Smith and Guiseppe Rossi. Smith had shown the hunger
to come back from his dreadful leg break at Anfield to try and fight his
way back into the side but despite his efforts, Ferguson decided it was
time for him to move on with the net result that he is struggling to
find an available forward to play bar Tevez, and few genuinely believe
either Saha or Rooney can stay available for a full season .. Ferguson
has stated his wish not to panic buy but come January a fourth striker
may become a matter of necessity rather than one of choice.
Comings and goings over the summer also saw Roy Keane have a rush of
blood to the head and sign Kieran Richardson for a jaw-dropping, as a
collective sigh of relief emanated from United fans everywhere. Less
encouraging was the departure of Gabriel Heinze, who had been fighting
for his place with Evra and who brought some much needed quality and
experience to the back line in addition to being a better defender than
Evra. The Frenchman has demonstrated his early season desire to be
considered more as a winger with his tricks and flicks in the opening
games, although I doubt Giggs will be contemplating retirement on that
basis alone. In spite of his undoubted quality, the image of Heinze, the
committed full back, who was as intense as anyone in a red shirt, jarred
somewhat with his public courting of Liverpool. Once that saga had
begun, it was the beginning of the end for the Argentine .. Real Madrid
is a much more preferable and sensible option (he might win a few
trophies there) than Rafa's Spanish love-in, and whilst we wish Heinze
well in pastures new, the whole episode left a sour taste in the mouth.
That is of course if you measure Heinze to the benchmark that has been
Ole Solskjaer over the past decade. His retirement was less of a shock
and more of a sad reality after years of knee problems. The Treble
season is often identified as Ole's golden year , and although that
incredible period brought his finest moments in a United shirt , fans
will also remember his loyalty to the cause and his refusal to move on
or even publicly criticise Ferguson on the many occasions he was left to
face yet another frustrating afternoon on the bench. Here's hoping he
gets the testimonial he deserves and United fans get the opportunity to
say a proper thank you to a true Red unique in a footballing era
blighted by fickle egos.
The current crisis in the striking department, exacerbated by
Solskjaer's retirement, comes after a summer of strengthening in the
midfield department and both Nani and Hargreaves in particular have
shown their quality early on. Hargreaves has slotted in comfortably to
his role of breaking attacks down and allowing others the space to roam
forward , although there is still a debate over whether he, Carrick and
Scholes can co-exist , although on the evidence so far Carrick has had
the poorest start of the three .. Carrick was noticeably sloppy against
Spurs and was deservedly dropped for the Sunderland game the following
week.
Despite those victories over Spurs and Sunderland which have
kick-started our season, there was cause for concern in both games with
the careless defending in parts. Both Vidic and Ferdinand gave
possession away too cheaply on occasions - Vidic's misplaced pass almost
costing a goal against Spurs - and they have rode their luck more than
once already this season. After the abject disappointment of the first
three games, much rested on the Spurs game and a win even at that early
stage was imperative. Nani's deflected goal was indicative of the good
fortune United will need in doses if they keep playing like this. Spurs
were worthy of a point at least, but brilliant defensive recoveries from
both Brown and Ferdinand ensured United were to at last make progress up
the table.
Sunderland turned into another similar afternoon of frustration with
chances sparse for United and, until Louis Saha popped off the bench, an
opportunity to take advantage of Chelsea's Sunday kick-off (and
subsequent slip up) lost. It's a points industry though, and with three
in the bag, few cared that the cracks have simply been papered over for
another fortnight. A trip to Goodison and the visit of Chelsea to Old
Trafford make September a critical month in the title race and with the
Champions League starting this month with a tough away tie against
Ronaldo's old side, Sporting Lisbon, it has to be hoped that both the
Portuguese master of tricks and Louis Saha are both available, and, more
importantly , inspiring United to end the goal drought. The expectation
for United to start well has been understandably high, and whilst there
is no divine right for United to win games, fans have a right to express
frustration that the team is not performing to its' capabilities because
the quality is undoubtedly there. Last season many questioned the lack
of options available in the attack, and now many of those questions are
being tackled head on with less than positive answers. Not that Ferguson
will mind being written off - last season United were dismissed as
challengers even after a good start. Ferguson has walked the walk before
and it is what he does best - prove people wrong. Here's hoping.
Keep the red flag flying high,
John Monaghan |