As we saw Joe Cole run onto the pitch for Chelsea, and with Ronaldo and
Saha both signalling to come off, no wonder I was slightly despondent.
No only were United not going to win this game (although that had been
all too apparent since early in the second half), but the more
overriding concern, as I looked at Darren Fletcher, was asking is this
the best and most attacking option we have in reserve?
Jose Mourinho disagrees, reminding everyone who will listen that Park-Ji
Sung and Ole Solskjaer are still to return. True. Yet can we be
confident that they will both slot back into the team with immediate
impact when they do get fit again? Solskjaer had played tremendously
since his return in August, but this most recent bout of bad luck makes
me believe that, sadly, we will not see him in a red shirt too much
longer .. \par} \pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs32\kerning28
It is this which has caused the most debate since Chelsea came to
Manchester and grabbed a point, whether United can sustain a challenge
over the winter months with such little leverage for any injuries or
suspensions. It remains to be seen, but Ferguson 's hand is surely
forced into buying the midfielder and striker, preferably Torres and
Hargreaves, although Defoe has also come into the frame, and any would
be welcome , that are so badly needed if things are to go to the wire
this season. The only reason for no such buys would be glaringly obvious
- let's give you a clue, he' s American and apparently he has a few
debts to pay.....
November had started so well, with wins ground out at first Blackburn
and then Sheffield United to ensure that it was United who headed into
the crunch Old Trafford clash on top and on form. Two consecutive away
wins? We really were beginning to get some consistency into our play
again, for about all of three days...until we visited Celtic.
Celtic had battled at Old Trafford and had done themselves proud with
their performance on that occasion, but surely United in this form
should have no major worries getting the points needed to ensure
qualification for the next stage. Or so we believed, and certainly did
so throughout the first half, when United embarassed the Scottish
champions at times. Completely dominant in chances and possession, it
appeared as only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.
Ronaldo, recovering from a horrendous miss the previous Saturday against
Sheffield United, was firing and was the main attacking threat, with
Giggs and Rooney both less than effective after switching position.
Result - Rooney ended up frustrated on the left wing and resorted to
shots from distance.
Ronaldo seemed to be the only man in red capable of maintaining that
form after the interval, as Celtic gradually gained in confidence having
survived the first half onslaught .. As Celtic went ahead with under ten
minutes left, that feeling sank in again. Here we were, one down and
like in Copenhagen, the confidence that United could fight back simply
wasn't there. But fight back they did, except that when Saha was called
upon to finish under pressure, he couldn't, taking a lifetime to look
across the line before realising he was onside. This drained the
confidence out of the Frenchman and clearly impacted upon his penalty
miss. His position, his run up, were echoed in Gary Neville's comments
revealed after the game,''He's lost it.''
Saha has been in great form this year, but there is no doubt that he is
a different player to Van Nistelrooy, and simply when it comes to
poaching in the box, or penalties , as against Celtic, the Dutchman's
presence is missed.
However to emphasise those different qualities, a few days later Saha
produced something never seen by Van Nistelrooy, a goal from outside the
box. What a game to choose to do it in, against Chelsea, a sublime
effort squeezing into the narrowest of gaps. It culminated what had been
a great opening half hour or so for United, totally on top in terms of
possession and chances, and indeed Saha himself, and soon after Giggs,
had opportunities to really put the game beyond Chelsea. Failure to do
so , and just as Celtic had done, Chelsea pounced to steal what on
reflection was an undeserved point when held up against their far
inferior number of clear-cut chances .. But they worked and toiled in
the second half, as is the Chelsea way under Mourinho , gaining
possession in midfield and in turn gaining a foothold in the game. And
as I have alluded to earlier, took the initiative to United after
bringing on Robben and Essien, making tactical switches which forced us
onto the back foot for most of the second half. Ronaldo, meanwhile,
again our most potent attacking threat, was largely neutralised by a
Ballack and Cole sandwhich and disappointingly, Ronaldo 's lack of
desire to do his share of defensive work meant that Chelsea had it a lot
easier down their left hand side than should have been the case.
Whilst Saha and Rooney also drifted out of the game, due largely to a
lack of service as Carrick and Scholes found it increasingly hard to
avoid snapping heels around them, it was Giggs, also needed to provide
some inspiration, who seemed to have lost interest in the second half as
United lost out in the key areas.
It wasn't simply his sloppy pass which gave away possession in the build
up to the equaliser , it was his whole demeanour, lacking urgency,
lacking spark. Is it too much to ask an experienced professional of
fifteen years to show urgency in the most important game of the season
to date?
Despite the disappointment of a missed opportunity, Ferguson is right to
point to the fact that United dominated Chelsea at periods and from this
we can take a great deal of confidence, that when it comes down to it,
we can play the champions off the pitch. Whether we have the work ethic
and squad depth to fight them off come May are slightly more difficult
questions to answer.
A comfortable 3-0 win over Everton has maintained that three point lead,
but a win over Chelsea , both in terms of points and on a physcological
level, would have been a massive boost and really put United in pole
position heading into December. Chelsea will not drop many more points
this season, it's up to Ferguson and United to ensure that the slip-ups
against the lower sides, so prominent last season, are no longer a
feature of this year's campaign as we look to push Chelsea all the way.
It is going to be an interesting December to say the least. Six critical
games domestically , plus the make or break Benfica tie at Old Trafford
(the fact United are at home this time round gives me added confidence),
will go a long way to deciding the destiny of United's entire season.
Let's hope that rather than a fresh start in the New Year, United are
simply carrying the momentum from 2006 and giving us all something to
look forward to.
Have a good Christmas,
Keep the red flag flying high,
John Monaghan |