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The 1988-89 season I remember being a particularly chastening one as a fan. We'd finished strongly in the previous campaign and, after a terrific 3-1 over Liverpool and advancement to the 6th round of the FA Cup, there was talk of a United league and cup double for a while. We had never won one at the time and it was a big deal with genuine excitement attached to it. In fairness, it was only the truly optimistic who thought we could do it, but considering I was ten years old at the time I was one of those optimists.
Then Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest dumped is limply out of the cup and the goals started to come slowly in the league. The season finished with a bit of a whimper. Mark Hughes’ volleys were the best thing about us at that time. A couple of years ago a similarly cheery thought ran through fans’ minds when it looked like we would win the ‘Quintuple’.
At the moment, and especially after we have been dubbed ‘the Crap Invincibles’, there are those who believe United can finish the league season unbeaten. This is extremely unlikely to happen and we are going to lose a game at some point. The mighty Lawro has predicted that we will come a cropper against Spurs this weekend and he may be right.
It is, of course, against the grain to agree with the one-eyed, moronic Anfield veteran, but I do feel it is wise to brace ourselves for the reality of defeat sooner rather than later. The key to those moments, when they come, is to bounce back as quickly as possible.
It has all been peaches and cream of late but it is doubtful that a team managed by Fergie will be psychologically broken by a solitary loss. There is every chance that the club will still win that all-important 19th title, but a few decades of watching Manchester United teaches me that it is unlikely to be an uneventful canter to the finishing line.
The match against Spurs will be defined by three key battles on the pitch. The first of which is Gareth Bale against Rafael. The young Brazilian contained him brilliantly earlier in the year and if he can repeat that we’ll be fine.
The other contests I am very unsure about. Whether Rooney and Berbatov can provide the finesse up front to score us a winner is far from a forgone conclusion. Rooney is well over due a performance, let’s hope it is this weekend.
At the other end of the pitch much rests on the abilities of Rio and Vidic to contain Mr. Van der Vaart. Quite apart from it being very painful to watch a brilliant player who we should have signed playing for the opposition, the fella can play a bit too.
After the stunningly poor performances of our title rivals the league championship is now in our hands. Let’s hope it is still there in a few weeks time.
Follow Mark on twitter.com/markjpayne
Comments
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Posted by gilbert on 01/15/2011
hindsight, so if we have sign van der vaart then rooney would be drop to the bench ? since they are both playing in the same position, i personnally would never swap rooney for anyone in the world
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Posted by Shanud on 01/15/2011
I would swap him for the 16-year old Rooney
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Posted by David Smith on 01/15/2011
Ah, yes, 1988/89. Finishing below Wimbledon and level on points with Millwall, oh and barely 23,000 for the second-to-last home match against the Dons. Amazing. There was some quality in that United side, but we were doing our best Citeh-in-disguise impression back then. Fortunately, Fergie figured it out a bit better the next season and well, the rest, as they say, is history. I'm not bothered about losing that first, second or third match, just as long as we lift that 19th come May. Not to do so this season would be a real kick in the teeth. Looks like Rooney and Vidic will be back in the first team on Sunday; hopefully VDS will be back as well. I'll settle for a draw at the Lane - I can see it ending 2-2.
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Posted by tuhin on 01/15/2011
You are bang on target there, Mark when you say one loss will not cause the United wagon to derail. Sir Alex is an old hand at motivating players after a loss. United's seasons have not petered out for a long time and I see no reason why it may happen this time.
Spurs have been turned around remarkably by Redknapp and the Lane is a risk to our unbeaten record. I know we won't go unbeaten as there will be significant tradeoffs to be made when the CL begins and if we progress there as well.
I hope that we can go unbeaten for as long as possible before we lose. I have a feeling that if we can keep this record for another 4-5 games, we will win the league unless we have significant injuries.
It is pleasing to see that the last defender to have held of Bale was Phil Neville. He did a great job that night keeping the Welshman quiet. I hope Rafael repeats his superb performance from the previous leg.
I hope it's a cracker to end a relatively morose week at work
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Posted by Red on 01/15/2011
I don't think MU will lose to Spurs, although they only win 2 times away from home. I think MU will still win this match and clear the top of the table with MC, Arsenal. I agreed with Rafael by keeping Bale quiet at the wing when they meet at Old Trafford. Van Der Vaart can also be a threat for MU, so if we just can keep them quiet again, I can't find a reason for Mu to lose. Although Sir Alex saied he will not buy anybody at this transfer window, but if he didn't not sign anybody, I don't think Rooney can stay.
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Posted by oz on 01/15/2011
Gilbert
Van der vaart is capable of playing a number of midfield or attacking roles. Spurs normally choose to use him more up front because they only play with 1 out and out striker.
For instance he could be played as the creative midfield role (we need desperately at united)sitting behind the strikers. He can also play a more central position as he is not lazy and will do his fair share of defensive duties.
Basically he is similar to scholes when he was in his prime (who we still need to replace)
Im still hoping that Anderson will keep developing
into the creative midfielder needed and be scholes successor, or we buy someone like Snieder
we dont need strikers, we need creative players behind the strikers
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Posted by bryan on 01/15/2011
personally i felt that can der vaart was signed, berbatov would be discarded without much thought
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Posted by johanzul on 01/15/2011
Agreed with you Mark, especially on yr comments concerning Rooney and Berba. Berba great ball control and Rooney wonderful aiding open play with his terrific passes but basic thingy, striker strikes goal in which both of 'em can't do consistently, that's a major prob. MU needs a striker who can at least provide a goal in 1-2 matches consistently rather than fired up 5-6 goals in a match and then come quite for numerous matches after that. Lets Chelsea collect goals in few matches, looses or draw after that as we want to collect 3 points by scoring 1 or 2 goals, defended well, counter attacks and win, period. Hernandez, well, can't expect much from him as for now. Midfields, can't see anyone yet replacing Scholes, it's been a major prob too. Back-4, no prob for me, Vidic and Rio with Evans and Smalling plus Evra and Rafael still can provide solid brick walls. Still waiting for MU to win more in Champion League actually not BPL as we are on our way for no 19th already.
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Posted by David Smith on 01/17/2011
I'm not sure why Harry Redknapp keeps insisting United won't go unbeaten this season. As long as we win our 19th in May, I could care less. Even if we do, we've drawn far too many away matches for it to mean much anyways. I thought we were poor at the Lane. Very poor. Fletcher, Berbatov, Nani and even Giggs were dreadful. Fletcher and Nani should of been hauled off at halftime. Vidic and Rio were immense though and as a result, VDS was hardly troubled at all. Rafael had his usual bright moments and the red card was another Mike Dean travesty, but the boy has got to grow up. Some of his challenges after the yellow were rash and hindsight being 20/20, should have been replaced at halftime. Down to 10 men, I thought the boys did well and might of sneaked a goal with a bit more ambition. The pending introduction of Scholes may have just seen United get their goal, but that prat Mike Dean had other ideas. The final whistle felt more like a point gained than two lost and we're still top.
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Posted by Raizzen on 01/17/2011
Berba dropped in VDV's stead, I think that's quite funny considering they both play at slightly different roles than each other. I mean, how could the provider be dropped for the receiver ?
That kinda escapes me mate.
Raizzen
KL
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Posted by oz on 01/17/2011
that second yellow card was was not warranted!!!!!
Im sick and tired of refs ruining games with needless red cards
I thought Rafael was one of our best until he got his marching orders- he looked dangerous going forward at least
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Posted by scott wakerley on 01/17/2011
David,Harry Redknapp also keeps insisting that spurs are an outside title chance despite the fact they cant beat a below par United in front of a stadium full of home fans with an extra player so......
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Posted by Abdul nelly abubakar on 01/18/2011
Saf is an imperative peerless with a complete respect coming from the fans nd players.thus, gives united the best of magic needed for miraculous victory. Pls sir, we need a very good winger at the moment as it shows united are not always good without wingers just as we saw against spurs. Park is away.valencia, not yet back. We need winges pls.
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Posted by rahul on 01/26/2011
i thought about this write up when we were 2-0 down at bloomsfield, thought it might come true, very happy it didn't :)
wheeeeew
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Posted by JONAS MENSAH on 02/11/2011
I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC BERBAGOAL IS GOING TO GRAB THE WINNER FOR US IN OUR DERBY TOMORROW.THEY ARE IN THE ''CITY'' WITH US BUT WE ARE ''UNITED''.WITH THIS UNITY WE SHALL SURELY CONQUER EVERY OBSTACLE WITHIN THE ''CITY''.MANCHESTER IS OUR SIMILARITY BUT UNITED THEY ARE NOT.UNITED FOREVER...........
Posted by Ekine on 03/23/2011
I read an article from Dave Whelan, that referees are affraid of punishing UNITED on the field.What can this man say of Carragher of Liverpool who made about five different cuts on NANI of United? The ref did not exermine the accident but what he does was pick up a yellow card against him and Carragher happy, knowing what he has done.What about the Chelsea match and the hit on Rooney by Luiz the Brazilian, do you think if it is not hatched plan any ref. can accomodate such an unsportsman attitude in the pitch and get away with it?
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About
Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
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