ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester United

Posted by Mark Payne on 09/27/2011

This article could start with the words; “At the moment, our treatment room must resemble the beach landing in Normandy – players' arms flailing around and field medics frantically trying to issue the right medication to each of them. This ain’t great because on Tuesday we play in the Champion’s League.”

However, that is the opening paragraph from the report of our match against West Ham in December 2009. I make this point to illustrate that this is not the first time Manchester United have had injuries stacking up, and it won’t be the last. Indeed, we even set a clean sheets record in recent years without the first choice defence fit.

Picking the first team at the moment must be a difficult task, my personal assertion is that David De Gea should always be in goal and there are a raft of stats around at the moment showing he is the league’s best keeper so far.

However, it would be hard to argue that Rooney and Hernandez should not be starting, both are currently crocked. The week in front of us doesn’t hold the hardest games in the club's history, but there are certainly potential pitfalls to be wary of.

Norwich will be buoyed by two wins on the trot and few of us can forget the atrocious result we recorded in East Anglia in 2005. But we should smash them with or without Rooney this time. If we don’t, then the first question marks will start appearing over this buccaneering young team.

Basel are hardly setting the league alight in Switzerland either, so it is the question of team selection that is again the most intriguing. This is where is comes in handy to have a few players with something to prove. Topping that list will be European Cup Final evictee Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgar is a seriously good player and if he can channel even one iota of his talent he should score on Tuesday night.

Michael Owen has had his chance and taken it already this season. The interview he gave to the Guardian at the weekend was not entirely as I expected. Although there was the predictable blather about his scoring stats and England career, the thing that stood out most for me was the determination of the man. His second goal against Leeds certainly looked like the strike of a man who means business.

Disappointing as the result in the Potteries was, it is hardly the end of the world. Many other teams will drop points at the Britannia stadium this season. The club is still in a tremendous position. This week, we’ll find out what the rest of the squad is capable of too.

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Comments

Posted by Aegean on 09/27/2011

It's as if our midfield and strike force disappears when Rooney is not playing.

Posted by Kapil on 09/27/2011

Norwich will be a tough game but again it should be an open game. Norwich play good football and i don't think they'll sit back and defend, which will help the likes of Berbatov and welback. Basel should be a piece of cake...even our reserve team would kill them off.

Posted by theJepit on 09/27/2011

Fortunately we didnt sign Sneijder at the last window, otherwise he'll also be on the crock list..

Posted by David Smith on 09/27/2011

Thank goodness Peter Crouch is an absolute donkey or else we'd certainly have lost on Saturday. This clown only managed to score when left alone from 5 yards out. I thought our second half performance was dreadful. Where was the urgency? Where was the belief we were going to go on and grab a late winner? Where was the confidence our pre-season and wonderful start to the season has warranted? Berbatov was awful, as he was at Elland Road. Owen was no better at Stoke, but at least he scored at Leeds and put himself about at the Brittania. Nani had a wonderful first half but faded in the second, when we needed him most. Giggs could easily have won it at the death, but as so often goes with the Welsh Wizard, his finishing let him down. I thought David De Gea made some world class saves, but remaining firmly on your line on every corner and free kick is simply asking for trouble. Stoke don't have the ability to punish. Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea away certainly do and we will be.

Posted by AARON MARK HENDRIX on 09/27/2011

Well it's easy to panic after that kinda performance but in all honesty, we didnt play that bad. Stoke played well too and (maybe) should have been a goal up before we even bothered to score.It seems that this season we rely heavily on attacks from the flanks,as opposed to building from the middle.Possesion football as we knew it in the scholesy era has vanished.Nowdays it's punp the ball out wide to Nani/Young and hope they do somethin brilliant with it.That was sorely lacking against Stoke.We lacked someone who could dictate the game.Anderson and Fletch are like minded players.Strange,funny even,but for someone who only just came into the team,and only played a few games at that,we're missing Cleverly.Provides some creativity and aint afraid of getting forward too.A draw is not good,but it aint a BAD result.When you think that Chelski drew there too & the Scouse boys got beat,we did reasonably well.If Giggsy had rifled his effort into the top corner,we'd be talkin bout somethin else

Posted by Tapiwa Mubonderi on 09/27/2011

It is better that players get injured now and recover when the title stretch begins. Man Shitty are going to give a run for the title and if Chelski maintain its going to be diffucult. Stoke were due a positive result against considering the drubbings they have received from us. Lets hope we make another run of successive wins.

Posted by joseph ndowa on 09/27/2011

David de Gea did pull up some classic saves and Nani came up with a masterpiece of a goal but still there are some missing pieces in our midfield puzzle.hope Cleverly will be back soon with those pin point passes ,Ando and Fletcher seem to lack that .whilst we are having these set backs as a result of injuries to our players ,this year we seem to have better solutions as compared to last year.Stoke city playing in their backyard they can be a stubborn side to beat and we were luck to get a point from that match

Posted by valentine on 09/27/2011

Interesting Hargreaves remarks coincided with this week aint it? Was looking at the injury list and of all 8 of our defenders, only 1 has not suffered an injury this season and that is phil jones! its DEEPLY concerning especially as some of those injuries (Rio, Da Silva brothers) have been years recurring.

That said, i think the biggest blow we've had this year is Cleverly. While upfront and at the back we have solid cover... the role of central midfield has been our weakest yet. Time for Fletcher/ Carrick to find some form.

PSInteresting blog... too short though.

Posted by Raizzen on 09/27/2011

I still think we need another midfield. We were overran by Stoke in the middle of the park - otherwise I think we were better and SHOULD win regardless of the 11.

Posted by Jeremy on 09/27/2011

Thought Stoke played well so give em credit for that. Sorry but for me Owen is dreadful, he has no pace and no height but at least his runs are rubbish. Berba was crap in that game as well but in fairness he needs an effective partner playing off of him. I'd have rather have seen Macheda come into that game (I assume Fergie felt Welbeck not ready for a full 90). First game I felt Vidic was sorely missed as he would have bossed Crouch with no effort at all. Still at least we didn't have to suffer watching Carrick giving the ball away all day like he did against Benefica. Cleverly get well soon.

Posted by David Smith on 09/28/2011

Fergie said the 3-3 at home last night was United's "wake up call". Sleepwalk through the next match against Norwich City, who are proving no pushovers, and the knives will really come out. Another dreadful second half display, summed up perfectly by Rio's inability to hoof it into the Swiss penalty box in the dying seconds. His lack of awareness and focus during games truly is amazing. Hats off to Basel, who were well on their way to victory until Nani's brilliant cross found Ashley Young. Citeh getting stuffed in Germany made the night a bit more tolerable and news of the dwarf's refusal to play was icing on the cake. Can't the Noisy Neighbours just buy our ex-troll a bit of happiness? A home league match at the weekend will no doubt be welcomed by Sir Alex, as will the return of Rooney, Chicharito, Vidic, Smalling and Cleverly. Interesting that Anderson was subbed yet again, with Carrick preferred to hold the ship together for the full 90 minutes. Back on track against the Canaries!

Posted by Kapil on 09/28/2011

Whats up with Berba?? He isn't doing himself any favour by playing the way he is right now. Dreadful.

Posted by Ronatic on 09/28/2011

"Basel should be a piece of cake...even our reserve team would kill them off" I just can't laugh on this delusional piece from a delirious fan.Last time i checked, it was MAN U 3 - BASEL 3 and in case u forget, it was at oldtrafford.so wake up misus,this is no dreamland

Posted by Kapil on 09/29/2011

@ronatic...there is a big difference between what should've happened and what actually happened...you are talking as if you predicted this result...united did not play well...i don't think anybody expected such a result...

Posted by Tapiwa Mubonderi on 09/30/2011

What the drawn matches this season have shown is that our defensive play is not up to scratch. We need a firm defensive act, but the last time we did it was the period before Loserpool won 4-1 at OT. Playing like this will not win the cup with big ears, the attacking verve is now there but SAF has to drive the team to set records on various fronts this season. Can't wait to visit Unfield.

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