Manc Yank's Red Journal--issue 1

by Jgiuffra

It has been a great month so far for the reigning Premier League Champions. Four goals in each of United’s last three matches has seen the Reds put to rest the ignominious moniker of one goal wonders. 7 wins on the bounce have got us within striking distance of the top of the table with the goal difference between us and Arsenal coming down each week. Life is good for United fans…but will it last? I think the chances of it lasting are very good.  Here are some of the reasons why:

The Squad

Considering the injuries that Sir Alex has had to put up with, their latest run is nothing short of miraculous. Throughout the side there are notable players missing. Starting with the defence—who are rated top in the prem having only conceded 3 goals all season in the league:

We have been without the services of long-serving captain Gary Neville. He may be a bit over-enthusiastic sometimes, but he is an important talisman at Old Trafford. There is a feeling that captain Red may not return at all this season. We shall find out together in due course.

Standout stand-in utility back Mikel Silvestre will play no further part in the season after he injured his knee in United’s 1-0 victory over Everton back in September. Although his time in Manchester is drawing to a close, the Frenchman still had a part to play in United’s attempt to retain the Premiership trophy.

More recently both Patrice Evra (calf) and Nemanja Vidic (knee) have fallen to injuries in training which has left Fergie with some difficult decisions to make. Vidic returned to the side that played in Kiev in a back line that featured four centre backs but was missing from the drubbing meted out at Villa Park. Gerrard Pique--who featured in United’s loss to Coventry in the Carling Cup--filled in for Vidic against the Claret and Blue Brummies to good affect; so far so good. When Wes Brown plays on the right he has been providing some deadly crosses to the forwards—who knew he had it in him? Sir Alex.

  Hopefully, Brown and O’Shea will stay healthy and provide Sir Alex with the utility backs he needs in those all too frequent times in this season of attrition. (It’s at times like this when I wish we still had Phil Neville, but that’s another story.)

The midfield positions have been hit hard by injuries as well.  The injury list includes Ji-Sung Park (cruciate)—may be back in January, Owen Hargreaves (tendonitis)—it was just reported that Hargreaves will play this weekend against Middlesbrough after having a pain injection, Paul Scholes (knee) and Michael Carrick (fractured elbow). Thankfully summer signings have started to prove their worth. To be fair, Tevez was good from the start; he just had a little trouble finding the net at first. Recently the young Brazilian upstart Anderson has been bossing the midfield in the absence of Carrick and Scholes. The little guy has the engine of a giant and can see the game develop as if he was 10 feet tall—I wouldn’t want to be Darren Fletcher right now. All signs point to his continued improvement a la Ronaldo. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do for us in the future.

The strikers have found the end product Red Mancunians have been begging for. Wayne Rooney is in the midst of his most productive spell in his short career. Has the man-child finally started to silence his critics? If he continues like this he will! He has scored 7 goals in his last 6 matches for club and country. This is by far his longest goal scoring run. Hopefully his injury prone feet will stay healthy for the rest of the campaign. Tevez and Ronaldo have been chipping in with some scoring of their own as well as providing some scintillating passing moves week in and week out with their Scouse partner. When Saha is fit he is an excellent replacement for Tevez or Rooney if either of them needs a rest. We still lack the classic English centre forward (see Andy Cole or Alan Shearer) but the speed and skill of the attack we have is beginning to pay dividends.

Edwin Van der Sar is back in form too after an indifferent pre-season. Tomasz Kuszcak has done well when filling in for the Dutch number 1, his only hiccup coming in the defeat to Coventry. Ben Foster is still young, but he looks like he could get the England call up in upcoming years.

  The Man

Everything good that comes to United has it’s origins in Fergie’s decision making prowess. There were times when even the most ardent United fan has muttered to themselves, “What the hell has Alex done now?”  I think the first time I did it was when he sold off Yorke and Cole in the same season. I felt that way this Summer when he sold Alan Smith and Guiseppe Rossi without picking up a true striker to replace them. That shows how much I know! Some people felt that way when he gave Beckham the boot…literally! The fact is that Fergie is to United as Wenger is to Arsenal and Morinho was to Chelsea—indispensible.

Long live the Highland hair-dryer.

I will be writing game summaries and Red related rants as well as injury and transfer rumours and updates.