Manchester United moved three points clear of Premier League rivals with victory over Stoke City at Old Trafford last night – and with the team unbeaten this season Sir Alex Ferguson’s outfit is now favourite to take the title in May. Yet, in managing 20 Premier League games without defeat United has only sporadically impressed.
Eight draws, seven of them away from home, tells a tale of a side some what short of earlier vintages. Indeed, with a squad that has perhaps two or three ‘world class’ stars Ferguson’s side is arguably less talented than at any time in the past five years.
Others point to the depth of young talent coming through the ranks, who will eventually replace Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar.
Where do you think the current side ranks?
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its pretty bad and if the other sides had been a bit better the season wouldnt be looking so rosie.
also as much a i trust fergie the fact he seems reluctant to dip into the transfer market is a tad worrying, especially when other midfield is like swiss cheese.
Clearly we are not playing well at the moment but the current side cannot be compared favourably to previous United trophy winning sides.
It says it all when you list our current midfield and try to see how many would get into sides of the past that had the likes of Robson, Ince, Keane, Butt, Beckham, Kanchelskis etc.
Giggs and Scholes obviously overlap both generations and it might prove something when they are still at the front of the queue for a place even as they get towards the end of their career.
its average according to me..we still have so many star players and some impressive young talent..its just that we lack a super star player like cristiano ronaldo..
It’s only has to lie yourself, if you think this team is better than the past.
Yes, we are top of the league and still unbeaten, but, how many games we played terrificly???
At home we are good, if not great, but we’ve got to accept the fact that we are very poor away from home.
There is NO top class midfield to control the game. Who is the REAL STAR to show today?? Rooney? Nani?
Compare to the past while we have top class players like Keano, Cantona, Ronaldo , etc., and while players like Giggs and Scholes are still young, IT’S UNCOMPARABLE REALLY!!!
ive never seen a utd midfield this bad going back before fergie took over
I remember watching us win the league with Phillis and Fortune as the CM for several matches because Keano et al were all out. Are we seriously saying that our 1st choice CM pairing isn’t even as good as good as Quinton Fortune and Phil Neville circa 2003? It seems that way :o(
And that includes wins against the dippers and (I think) Arsenal.
Against the Arse we played Pip Nev and Nicky Butt in central midfield with Ollie on the right (Becks was beginning to feel Sir Alex’ wrath).
Thank you to United Rant for adding Better than people credit.
It’s easy to decry this team compared to 2008, 1999 or even 1994 (for me the best team we’ve had under Fergie) because there isn’t a couple of players who stand out from the rest. To go unbeaten for over half the season shouldn’t be underestimated. The Premiership is very competitive, in previous seasons we have dropped points at stupid places like Burnley, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday and by dropping points i meant lost not drawn. This team hasn’t done that. Okay there isn’t a huge individual star or two but this team knows how to play together. Knows how to get the job done. For the next few years we will see a different Manchester United as older players leaves and younger ones are either bought or more likely brought through from the reserves. The like of Eikrem and Morrison.
It’s also easy to forget that apart from 5 minutes against Liverpool is was a fantastic performace and a 3-0 socreline would have actually reflected the game. This team also went through the CL group only conceding 1 goal. Not an easy thing for any team to do regardless of who they are.
If we had held on to the victories we have thrown away I think many people would feel differently about the 2010/2011 United side.
Considering that we are unbeaten and on top of the league I don’t think we are that bad at all.
Even though we haven’t performed as ruthlessly as we have done in the past,the fact is we are still grinding out positive results.
Even though our away form is pretty disappointing…..had we not conceded goals against the likes of Everton and Fulham,we would have been in a more advantageous position.
In theory this side looks short of quality but the fact is Fergie had made extraordinary use of such an ordinary team and that is reflected by the results we’ve obtained so far.
It’s a few of those: worst in the last 5 years, but better than average and better than most, that’s why we’re top
I still think we need one more creative player in centre midfield; if we get the right one then he will link up play and everyone’s performance level will improve. At the moment we look worse than we are because we are short of that one creative player who can make a difference!
in fairness fortune is no different to anderson, probably puts himself about better
The most bloody frustrating thing is that this is a nearly team. The back five is as good as the best in Europe; Raphael -defensively- is coming on a ton & Smalling looks a real player. Don’t think I can remember us having a … much … stronger back five. At the moment, Rooney, Nani & Bebatov -he is fitter than at any time with us- & even Hernadez are nearly top players; but would you put your mortgage on any of them to perform -& score- against a really top team? The midfield is dross; I am excluding Valencia. Which of them would be tempting for Real, Barca, Inter, Bayern, even that lot from across the road? But again we are nearly there. If Valencia comes back as good as new, if Fletcher recovers his zest & if Anderson stops playing cameos, then we are not too far away. Too many”ifs”.
Parker – Bruce – Pallister – Irwin
Neville – Stam – Johnson – Irwin
Hrm. You’re right. Fabio has come on amazingly. Bulked up by the looks of it, better concentration. He’s NEARLY a top defender, nearly. I think you’re right. Evra ain’t up to his usual best, but still…
Fabio Da Silva – Rio – Vidic – Evra
Pretty fucking good.
So why so many away fuck ups?
Oh yeah…
MIDFIELD.
Sort it out Fergie.
I grew up watching the likes of Robbo, Keano, Ince, etc. Then Butt, Becks, Giggs, etc etc.
Current MF is an insult to their glorious memories.
Meant Rafael there obviously, but they’ve both come along in leaps since last season.
I really can’t understand why people keep saying this united squad is poor! Does anyone remember the dark days of Eagles, Richardson, Fortune, Djemba Djemba, Kleberson… I could go on.
People go on about us not having enough up front. Berbatov, Rooney, Owen Chicharito are a pretty good 4 to choose from!! While we also have young Wellbeck and Diouf scoring goals on loan in the Premier League, plus the hugely gifted Macheda about to do the same in Italy. We also have some very talented strikers coming through the ranks with a flurry of goals: Josh King, William Keane and John Cofie all looking exceptional.
Even if you disregard the injured Hargreaves (who if fully fit could be the best centre midfielder in the league) we still have strength in depth that would be the envy of anyone in the league. Off the top of my head we could have 3 quality midfield quartets..
1st choice:
Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Nani
2nd choice?
Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs
3rd Choice?
Bebe, Cleverly, Gibson, Obertan
(or swap Wellbeck for either winger)
Most of that dozen could start regularly for most clubs in the league.
On top of that, we have some great young midfielders coming through like Matty James and, in my opinion the greatest prospect since Scholes, Magnus Eikrem. This kid has got it all.
You’re on crack.
Or Herbie Simms in disguise.
Hmmm. Yeah you make a very well-thought and convincing argument there PSM.
But I guess you were probably one of the many so-called United fans who agreed with Alan Hansen rather than Sir Alex, when he let Ince, Hughes and Kanchelskis go. Has it occurred to you that the manager may actually think this is a strong squad? Hence his claim that he won’t sign anyone in January.
It still amazes me that armchair experts like yourself seem to believe that you know more about this team than the greatest manager of all time who works with these players every day!
I was critiquing your idiotic suggestion that we “have strength in depth that would be the envy of anyone in the league”.
Armchair? For the past two seasons, aye. Prior to that, far from it.
Fergie is usually god like in genius, but he’s not above criticism. Blind faith is moronic.
tbf, that’s nearly a good post…you make sense
look, our midfield is holding us back….we are 3 quality players short of a comparable squad that we had in other seasons
four, keeper
five, partner for rooney
The others are wank as well, more so even.
6 manager
LKHF
When you got this secret god-like player called ‘Lady Luck’
as the 26th player, you can be crap and still be top of the league.
Just take a look at last-night results 🙂
Btw, it’s Rafa, not Fabio.
No other team (maybe Arsenal) can boast the young talent we have coming through: Nani, Ando, Hernandez, Smalling, Rafael, Cleverley, Welbeck. All top performers this year and still young. With the FFP rules rapidly approaching that puts United in a very strong position.
I agree the new GK and new central midfield options are key signings this year. But the foundation is very healthy.
I think the current state of the squad is comparable to 2005-2006. We had a big transition in the summer of 2007 and I think we’re due that kind of dramatic change again with biggish signings, retirements and sales on the way.
I wonder if Ferguson ever looks at Joey Barton and wonders… if only that cunt could keep his head.
When he’s not picking fights, and acting like an asshole, he’s a decent player… been great for the Geordies this year.
7… let’s get a new mascot as well.
How about a bit of reality.
Assuming Fergie has any money at all to spend… 1 player… a true, top quality midfielder.
We’ve just bought a new keeper… whether he’s good enough or not… he’s going to get a season to find out.
I know you don’t like Berbatov, but he’s been bangin in the goals, and his overall play with Rooney has been very good, and Chico has earned a deserved reputation as an impact sub when we need a goal.
Fletcher isn’t going anywhere and niether is Anderson… and Cleverly is another who deserves a chance.
Forget about what we want for a fantasy team… what we need… what we really need is a true midfield titan… and that’s it.
Problem is… they’re the hardest players to find, nevermind sign.
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PLatting fog i reckon Cap’n. Must be quiet on the Cafe tonight.
Bebe, Cleverly, Gibson, Obertan.
Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs
Hmmm? Good second choice midfields, and not one decent midfielder in there.
I’ be suprised if this Bebe fella gets 10 games for United. Who is this guy?
class
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Nobbles is on the money. It is fucking dreadful. The likes of Carrick, Fletcher, Park and Anderson would’nt get a sniff of a game among the rest of europes elite. They’ve attained medals on the back of Ronaldo and Rooney. Park has been subbed more than any other player, and is just to headless chicken like and falls over a lot. Carricks contibutions, including giving the ball away very cheaply, persistant negative sideways passes, lack of ability or desire to win a ball and absolutely awful goals to games ratio makes him Uniteds least productive midfielder in possibly 20 years. Fletcher for all his endeavour seriously lacks pace which will always be his downfall, but i think i’d keep him most of all. Anderson has flattered to decieve and some would say he’s had plenty of chances and not really taken them, but purely because of his age i’d probably give him the benefit of the doubt for another season.
I certainly expect this season to be the last for Giggs and Scholes. Really, it should be the end for Carrick and Park too. We’ve been too long in the waiting now for a midfield that teams fear. We may just about be getting away with it domestically, but some of the european big hitters will go through our midfield with a coach and horses.
Yep… but having said that… the rest is good.
What would we have, with just two proper midfielders and a top keeper?
Actually… just one top class midfielder… and for Anderson or Cleverly to come good.