ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester United

Posted by Mark Payne on 12/11/2011

We are all in the business of writing our own destinies and this last week saw Manchester United’s young team pen a mixed and rather painful chapter. Our club is not defined by the crowing of jealous opposing fans, nor by the excellence of our expensively assembled opponents, but by how we overcome hardship and turn setbacks into experience. The week has ended on a high note, and I for one choose to take that as a cue for optimism.

It seems absurd to talk about optimism in a week when Basel have put us out of the European Cup. However, it would be equally ridiculous not to look at things objectively either. No one thing is either the end of the world or the solution to all of our problems. This is why, although it would be nice to sign Wesley Sneijder, no single player will turn us into world beaters.

There are three things that will improve the current team. Time, patience and confidence. Fergie knows this and sticking four goals past Wolverhapmton Wanderers was exactly the best way to start. The crowd were terrific at OT on Saturday and the whole afternoon served as a reminder that this, more than usual, is a time to support the team rather than to complain.

We got exactly what we deserved on Wednesday and frankly, after watching the Clasico this weekend, avoiding the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona this year is probably no bad thing. Although nobody seems excited by it right now I also think it’s rather nice that Fergie will get a crack at the one trophy he hasn’t won as well. There is also the enormous consolation in City crashing out of the Champions’ League along with us. It is enough to turn me religious.

The footballing gods have us facing three teams in the bottom half of the table as we head towards Christmas and without the distraction of the League Cup. That sounds good, but they have also crocked our captain for the rest of the season.

The loss of Vidic has made a bad week dreadful. The captain is an immense presence but in Smalling and Jones I honestly feel that we have players who are capable of doing the job. It is up to them now to prove they can do so consistently.

Putting together a few victories with goals in them will heal all wounds as far as I am concerned. Fergie got it exactly right when he said; “A win like this puts us in fine fettle.” Dwelling on what might have been serves no purpose. United march on.

Follow Mark on twitter.com/markjpayne

Comments

Posted by Onyibo on 12/11/2011

Well written, Mark. Personally I didn't think we would have gone beyond the second round of the Champions League anyway, and given our preset form the Europa League trophy is a more realistic target for us.

Posted by Curtis on 12/12/2011

I couldn't agree more Mark. It was one of the worst moments of being a United fan in the last decade to see us knocked out of the Champions League, especially from a relativly easy group. Playing in the Europa League is embarrassing for us. However, there are positives as you pointed out. It is a European competition we should try to win. And the players picked themselves up, and came back with the first performance I have been impressed with in the last while. Rooney and Nani were back to form; lets hope the goals keep coming from those two, especially with are striker injury problem at the moment. Jones was brilliant in midfield. It was almost like having Roy Keane back. Carrik was also impressive in his usually style of working behind the scenes. I think this is our best midfield partnership we have right now. Vidic being out is a massive blow, and I can't realistically see us winning the title without him. Signings would be nice, but Sir Alex always knows best. March on Man United!

Posted by Ralph on 12/12/2011

Mark,
As long as we play well, the results will start going our way. We didn't play well in Basel and got the result we deserved. I still think we are recovering from the defeat at OT by City. Here's to maximum points in December and beating City to get to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Posted by Ben on 12/12/2011

Spot on like always.
One point to add-it is unlikely that City will take 6 points over the next 6 days.
That can be the missing piece to your "always look at the bright side of life" theme. The idea of playing the FA Cup game with the teams 1/2/3 points apart looks good to me. Win that one (or tie it to bring the replay home) and with the kind of fixture list City have in January and 2012 could be Twenty league titles and Twelve FA Cup titles. One aside---the Europa league is Euro Carling Cup-Fryers,Mame,Kiko and Amos can have it.

Posted by kardajo on 12/12/2011

"Our club is not defined by the crowing of jealous opposing fans, nor by the excellence of our expensively assembled opponents, but by how we overcome hardship and turn setbacks into experience."

This in my opinion is the best sentence you've crafted since I've been reading your column...(and there have been many candidates). I love and hate our team right now. Love that we have so many young talented players. Hate that we have so many injuries. Love that we have the option of wining Europa. Hate that we don't have the option of wining the Champions league. The result against wolves definitely demonstrated a return to form. Yes Wolves aren't Barca or Real or Chelsea or Arsenal or even City, but the fact that we scored more than 1 indicated that whatever our deal with not scoring was, it's in the past. Hope we continue to improve.

Posted by David Smith on 12/12/2011

No complaints at all about going out of the Champions' League. The two main reasons were overall poor form and taking for granted, especially at home, the two teams that went through. The way we've been playing and the injuries we've had, we would of been absolutely battered by the likes of Barca, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. At least we've been spared that. Citeh going out though was fuckin' brilliant; no doubt they'll be spending another billion in January. Vidic lost for the rest of the season is a massive blow; only time will tell if Evans, Smalling and Jones are to be the heros come May. You certainly can't blame Nani and Evans for what happened in Basel. Both played fairly well and continued that against Wolves. Not sold on "how we overcome hardship and turn setbacks into experience". That bollocks is for European minnows like Citeh. We're Manchester United. We've been around the block a few times. We've been shit for a few months, deserved to go out of the CL, now on to QPR.

Posted by the bruce on 12/12/2011

Personally, I could care less about the Europa Cup. Fulham got to that final. Enough said. The loss of Vidic is a much greater woe than being knocked out of the CL. WIth Ferdinand's injury history, it almost guarantees having to rely on Evans in an important match. For his highlight reel, go youtube the 6-1 drubbing by City. In the last two years, United have played wingers as defenders, defenders as wingers and defenders as midfielders. Is that a strength? Or does it point to an imbalance? The team desperately needs someone in the middle pulling the strings. Cleverly may be that player. But if he isn't, there are players other than Schneider who would fit the bill.

Posted by dubs on 12/12/2011

Good to have looked so hungry this weekend. Nani in particular impressed me. A brace? - fantastic. But he moved the ball to teammates very quickly - sometimes catching them off guard with the exacting, effortless and brilliantly weighted passes & flicks into attacking areas. Full marks.
Carrick/Jones in the middle of the park suits me. We are past days of having a Keano patrolling midfielder. We need two to do the job and with Jones' ability to push forward and get back to tidy things up Carrick need only worry about pulling the strings. Carrick does get back to defend himself but Jones in there with him is the security blanket he's always needed playing beside him.
Wazza never looked satisfied with his own goals. His volley off the skip was master class and he celebrated as though he was just on the training pitch. He's gonna cause fits to opponents the next few weekends which means back to business as usual with him. I agree the worst is behind us. I'll miss Vida in the back though.

Posted by Paul G on 12/12/2011

Hi Mark,

long time reader. Liked what you siad. I am gutted we got dumped out of the CL, especially from such an easy group (basel are mince, didn't impress me at all and they got lucky) - still gutted we didn't win the CL last year and especially the year before that (convinced if we had kept battering the cheating bayerns, we would have drubbed Inter in the final). But I feel that we played ok against basel and it was one of the games where nothing goes right, just bad luck. But we had bad luck (and defensive collapses) all group stage long - especially Benfica's equaliser and without that, we wouldn't have been in the situation we faced on wednesday. The Wolves game was a return to the swaggering, free-passing game we know this team can play! Let's keep it going and in fact, I would love winning the League, FA and Europa treble! Glory, Glory!!

Posted by Kehinde Kosh on 12/12/2011

Lovely write-up. I love the spirit of every Man fan. It's cool we drop out. It gives us more time to restrategise. My dream is to see Man takes Barca out of the picture. We are definitely not ready for that yet. Fergie must realise Man U stil have a long way to go if we really want our generation to smell CL trophy again!

Posted by aussiered on 12/12/2011

Good realistic and pointed Mark.
Whats even better no remarks yet about sacking SAF shit player this and that. Just knowledgeable and more importantly experienced United fans. We have been here before we come here again but its what we do in between those horror stories that defines the club. I still think the acidtest version 2 is to come again in early Jan. But by building on the last game played we will start to generate a pressure on Shitty that they will struggle to cope with (and after tonights loss its already started). In the unlikely event that they do cope then we will have to reluctantly accept it.
The players arent shit they are short in self belief luck and anything else that stops cross field pass turning into a row Z pie spiller.
Roll on the weekend and keep believing in united.

Posted by RYAN on 12/13/2011

Utd need to rebuild the steel defence they had when they won the Chamions League in 2008. I think Utd has got good and adequate players to do that.

I dont think buying expensive players will solve this problem. Its their tactic which went wrong.

Thats not the first time. Many times Utd have been knocked out from Europe due to their poor defense.

In Europe its different to a premier league game.
Its difficult to score many goals. But when you score to have to defend very well.

Utd should have won more Champions League by now. I think Fergie should have a very good tactician next to him for european game.

Concerning the league there is plenty of time left and I am sure Utd will get much more better for the following months

Posted by Benard Mulwa on 12/13/2011

The paid of not seeing Man United play in Champions league was too much for us international fans. It is great that the team is now moving to consolidate its position on Barclays premier. Consistency will see the team overcome and take lead. Despite all difficulties, we anticipate the team to be on top beginning new year so we urge all players,management team and fans to keep the faith and keep praying things go right.

Posted by Nisteroy on 12/13/2011

Agree with Mark comments on CL exit this year but
Do you think UTD need to sign a midfield ( at least Someone which showing potential to be very good)?

1.After watching Clasico this weekend 2 barca new signing (76m) score for them .It show that they have become stronger since they beat man utd in last cl final.The 2 new signing is very young player. if not this year when we can beat them by looking at current utd midfield?
Fabregas 24 clerverly 22
xavi 31 carrick 30
iniesta 27 fletcher 27
busquest 23 anderson 23
thiago 20 P.jones 19

Utd ultimate aim is to beat barca

2.Rooney have been use in midfield for some matches? Did Ronaldo, messi or VPS do that?

3.fletcher force to take break.

4.Giggs although 38 but still play better compare to other utd CM.

5. Utd CM is not doing well in any Stat or FF website

GGMU

Posted by Daniel on 12/13/2011

Well pointed Mark, that is exactly the ManU fan feelings, well said; anyway there is a concern if SAF decides not to sign anyone in January; he probably should consider again this theme if analyze how many injuries we have in the team. Real tragedy lose Vidic and Fletcher!!!!

Posted by David Smith on 12/13/2011

Get well, Fletch. Here's hoping the time off will allow for a full remission and your eventual return. Godspeed.

Posted by jacob on 12/13/2011

All I want to see now is United beat City in FA cup.I seriously doubt winning the league though. Europa ... hmmm.. feels out of reach with the number of injuries.

Posted by James on 12/14/2011

Hi Mark,

Wonderful piece by you. But I think we should all face facts. We all love United and would love to bask in glory all the time. Take or leave it, United needs to boost the central mid-field and free Jones to do what he does best. We should also be mindful of the fact that having young players especially in the teens and early twenties gives great life and hope for a bright future. But they are more prone to injuries. Many of them can not play up to 3 matches in a row. Check the likes of Welbeck, Fabio, Da Silva, Cleverly and of late Chicarito. So SAF has to consider having a good balance by reiforcing the mid fieled with a more seasoned but robust player in January if we are to have any celebration this season.

Posted by Ose on 12/14/2011

Hi Mark,

Nice comments, really great to read as an ardent United Fan.

But I must point out that staying in the europa league is my greatest fear...with the injury scare we have to face at present...we don't need that distraction.

i love the average fan's optimism. All of a sudden, we now see ourselves as reclaiming the EPL title and even winning the FA cup.

Let's ask ourselves this question? You want to win all these hard fought trophies without a cohesive midfield?

Over stretching Jones to midfield (signed on as a defender) and Rooney (supposedly a striker) to midfield is not the best.

MAN U has to deep their hands in their pocket and give us a befitting midfielder and probably defender.

same season Ronaldo was sold, Tevez let go, and no reinforcements? Do we see the likes of Barca, inspite of their robust soccer academy?

Posted by divnci on 12/14/2011

I think our biggest problem this year has been the center of midfield. When you look at the treble season, we had a rock solid mid with the likes of the real captain fantastic who took no prisoners,becks and Gigsy and an even more potent attack which defenders dreaded 2face. With Rooney playing in the mid it takes away our attacking power as he is a major threat judging by his performance against Wolves. Jones can play mid but that is not really his niche so we need to get him back to defending. I say we get a brilliant midfielder that is available right now to get us through to May and there is only one name that comes to mind,Ronaldinho. His form had dipped when at Milan but back in his homeland, he is enjoying life like a piglet playing in shit. If SAF can find a way to bring him in, then UNTD will be in the best position to take the FA and Premier cups. With him stringing along those no look passes to Rooney,chichar and baba, there will be only one Manchester team standing come May

Posted by Franco on 12/14/2011

Hi Mark

Really good insight. I think we are just not ready for the likes of Barca and Real. Given the lack of form we've been having lately and the timely bounce-back from out City hiding, It's better to focus on the League. I must admit a great sense of enjoyment seeing City fall out as well, but it would have been better for us if they went through. I think Fergie will put in a second string team in the EUROPA for fear of fatigue and injuries.

We can win the league with the team as is and although seeing Wesley running on with a MU jersey would be nice, I doubt "Big" names coming over in January.
I think Fergie has a big surprise for all of us. He always pulls it of in the end and that't what matters.

UNITED FOREVER!!!

Posted by johanzul on 12/14/2011

Well written Mark and understood being a good fans must accept the outcome of the results, of course most of the fans feel disappointed but most of the fans had knew from last few seasons, we are not up for it to win CL, even with high hopes but logically as proven, we are not good enough.

The thing is, just take a good look at MU current squad of young players, who has recently joint and who has been in the club for more than one season. Is either not enough play time or they simple do not excel up till now.

As for Europa League, EL is not MU standard as stats had shown we had gone into CL finals for quite sometime now. MU had not won EL because MU is consider as world top class football club, meaning that is not our level to compete in to begin with. Positively, this is an opportunity to give more exposure to the so called young ones for them to play in EL.

Agreed with "Nisteroy" and "Ose" as the remaining question will be "When?" since as of now, MU is degrading not upgrading.

Posted by Ramesh on 12/14/2011

Nice commentary Mark, and I agree with most of what you've said - however, once we are done consoling ourselves, please let's not forget we're United - the richest sports franchise in the world (albeit no thanks to the Glazer's, up to our eyeballs in debt)and probably the most successful sports team in recent history if not the world, then at least in Europe. How then is playing in the Europa league now suddenly acceptable or worse, not finishing in top spot in the Premier League(if it comes to that). Let's not sell ourselves short boys - if we want to be serious contenders and compete with the big boys like Barca and Real,we need to start investing in the right players at the top of their game in a given season to help rech that goal. Don't get me wrong, I am all for developing the young lads but let's be honest here, Cleverley is not the answer to our central midfield woes, at least not for another couple of seasons. Let's start acting like Champs and not all philosophical.

Posted by Genevieve on 12/15/2011

I'm out of laeuge here. Too much brain power on display!

Posted by Jigga on 12/15/2011

Great piece, Mark. It's a bummer we crashed out of the UCL... Thoughts of it still make my ass itch. And to all dreamers on here, you've got to be mathematically illiterate to even begin to think about a treble with our current squad (you'd better step away from the champagne before someone gets hurt). Sorry to tell y'all, but the last half of the season will suck more than a pornstar if some Glazer paper isn't in play by January... Count on it.

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