Last night United clawed their way through to a 2-3 win at Villa Park against Aston Villa. Not one of their best nights at the Birmingham club but it showed once again that the devils are not dead even if tey have no pulse, and that they finally have a replacement for Solskjaer.
It was the 8th time United have comeback this season and it is a clear indication that the fighting spirit in the heart of the club still lives. The same fighting spirit that, 13 years ago, dragged United to a first treble, the second ever in European History. United were Champions then after doing pretty much what the present team is doing with the only and noteworthy exception being, back in 1999 Unirted were a better unit at the defensive side of the game. It is not a coincidence that sees United have defensive problems at the time where the rest of the league has forgotten to defend. Attck has become the best form of defense and, as more teams continue to impolement it, you can be assured that the comebacks will pour in. They have just played 11 games and they already hold the record for the most comebacks in the Premier League era. It is crazy stuff.
Back in 1999, the United defense was lead by a big man. He was debatably the best keeper to wear the United colours. Peter Schmiechel, the Great Dane, was no match for the best strikers in the world. 6ft 4in tall he was the immovable object in front of goal. And then there was Jap Stam. Superlatives are not enough to describel the dutchman's defensive contribution to the reds. His sale to Lazio was, as Sir Alex admitted, his worst ever sale. The current defensive contingent has not matured enough to match these greats. The ones who have , Ferdinand and Evra, look past their prime and you can see the shedding of pace and judgemnt affecting United's results. United have to improve at the back and they have to learn that relying on the team to get the goals back at the front is simply to risky. It is at the present still a castle of cards at United.
Talking of goals, a figure has risen at Old Trafford. True, he has already been there for two season, but Haernandez 2 goals and 1 assist (to an own goal) yesterday showed United that they do really have a super-sub in their hands. And so rarely has there been a super-sub of such instinct and talent who, among other things, doesn't mind being called a super sub and is extremely pleased with his position in the club's structure. The last one that springs to memory was the little Norwegian goal-poacher, Ole Gunnar Soskjaer. And while comparing Herenandez and Solskjaer, simillarities are not hard to come by. Apart from the thirst for goals and the lethality in the penalty area, they have one more thing in common, the instantly likabl;e baby faces. United might just have found a replacement fo the man who won them the treble 13 years ago with a winner in the European Cup Final and then one against Liverpool in the F.A cup. Chicarito is the man for the job.
It was the 8th time United have comeback this season and it is a clear indication that the fighting spirit in the heart of the club still lives. The same fighting spirit that, 13 years ago, dragged United to a first treble, the second ever in European History. United were Champions then after doing pretty much what the present team is doing with the only and noteworthy exception being, back in 1999 Unirted were a better unit at the defensive side of the game. It is not a coincidence that sees United have defensive problems at the time where the rest of the league has forgotten to defend. Attck has become the best form of defense and, as more teams continue to impolement it, you can be assured that the comebacks will pour in. They have just played 11 games and they already hold the record for the most comebacks in the Premier League era. It is crazy stuff.
Back in 1999, the United defense was lead by a big man. He was debatably the best keeper to wear the United colours. Peter Schmiechel, the Great Dane, was no match for the best strikers in the world. 6ft 4in tall he was the immovable object in front of goal. And then there was Jap Stam. Superlatives are not enough to describel the dutchman's defensive contribution to the reds. His sale to Lazio was, as Sir Alex admitted, his worst ever sale. The current defensive contingent has not matured enough to match these greats. The ones who have , Ferdinand and Evra, look past their prime and you can see the shedding of pace and judgemnt affecting United's results. United have to improve at the back and they have to learn that relying on the team to get the goals back at the front is simply to risky. It is at the present still a castle of cards at United.
Talking of goals, a figure has risen at Old Trafford. True, he has already been there for two season, but Haernandez 2 goals and 1 assist (to an own goal) yesterday showed United that they do really have a super-sub in their hands. And so rarely has there been a super-sub of such instinct and talent who, among other things, doesn't mind being called a super sub and is extremely pleased with his position in the club's structure. The last one that springs to memory was the little Norwegian goal-poacher, Ole Gunnar Soskjaer. And while comparing Herenandez and Solskjaer, simillarities are not hard to come by. Apart from the thirst for goals and the lethality in the penalty area, they have one more thing in common, the instantly likabl;e baby faces. United might just have found a replacement fo the man who won them the treble 13 years ago with a winner in the European Cup Final and then one against Liverpool in the F.A cup. Chicarito is the man for the job.
No comments:
Post a Comment