Is Strootman a viable option for Manchester United?

It has been a good transfer window for Manchester United, yet there is still a sense of unfinished business. The club perhaps still lacks another central defender, but of more pertinence is the continued whispering that Kevin Strootman will soon become a Red Devil.

Strootman is a superb midfielder who at 24 could become a huge fixture in the Manchester United midfield. The astute summer additions of Ander Herrera and Daley Blind make the need for a new central midfielder lessen however.

If Michael Carrick returns to his form of two seasons ago, and Angel di Maria continues in his world-class vein, then where would Strootman fit in? The Dutchman would be a worthy buy in the long-term, but it would mean there would have to be a reshuffling somewhere. The most likely scenarios are any of the following:
- Carrick moving into a defensive position
- Juan Mata moving on, and one of Herrera and Di Maria taking up more advanced positions
- Daley Blind becoming nothing more than a back-up utility man

Furthermore there would likely be no Manchester United future for Marouane Fellaini, and more predictably Anderson and Tom Cleverley. Darren Fletcher would also have to settle for the role of experienced squad player.

Strength in numbers will be no issue for United in a department that has lacked for many years, especially if they qualify for the Champions League, but something will have to give way in a midfield involving Carrick, Blind, Fletcher, Herrera, Fellaini Di Maria, Mata, Adnan Januzaj and then potentially Strootman.

Has Louis van Gaal been a pre-season disappointment?

In terms of results, the answer to the question in the title seems obvious: no. United's results have been very impressive in pre-season, whilst some of the general play and performances of the team and its best players have been encouraging. Nevertheless in terms of getting ready for the new season Louis van Gaal has perhaps left the Red Devils a little under-prepared.

Van Gaal's new 3-4-1-2 formation seems folly. United have lost three defenders and only recruited one, yet Van Gaal is now requiring his side to play with one more defender than the team is used to. The club are severely low on players in that department and the new Dutch manager is yet to recruit. Injuries to Jonny Evans, Rafael and Luke Shaw have only exacerbated the problem. A diamond formation with four defenders at the back would appear to have been a much better way of utilising United's resources.

Why has it taken so long to buy new players? Van Gaal has said he wanted to take a proper look at the squad before investing, but that doesn't cut the mustard Louis. Anyone could see that new players were necessary, whether you've seen them on tour or not. He has been slow to act and has now stretched United's resources at the back. A top-quality spine to the team mean results may not be initially effected, but it has been a poor effort from Van Gaal in getting his squad ready.

Friendly results have been good, Van Gaal has made wise choices in regard to captain, and the pre-season standards have generally been high. Nevertheless the Dutchman's preparation for the new season has been far from flawless, and that is certainly disappointing.

Van Gaal's new formation may be a masterstroke

Louis van Gaal has revealed that 3-4-1-2 (3-4-3/5-2-3) is likely to be his formation of choice for this season, a decision that may pay off when considering United's attacking options.

The set-up means United can field Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney together in their favoured forward positions. It also means Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa can play in the favoured positions in the hole, a position that Rooney and others could also occupy.

Furthermore this formation does not require two wingers, meaning United's weakness in that area will not be exposed, and it only requires two central midfielders, a position in which United now have five decent options, though could require one more.

Central defence will need strengthening if United are to play with three centre-backs, although Michael's Keane and Carrick may be called upon there by Van Gaal. Right-back is covered by Rafael and Antonio Valencia, but a more experienced left-back than young Reece James may be required to alternate with Luke Shaw.

This formation allows United to fit their best players into the starting eleven in their best positions too, and is a good way to make the most of what Van Gaal has described an 'unbalanced' squad. And should United need to revert to 4-3-3 as Van Gaal has eluded to, Valencia, Nani, Ashley Young and Adnan Januzaj are ready-made options to fill the wide positions. A centre-back, left-back and central midfielder still remains on the wishlist however.

2014 summer transfer dealings

This summer so far has been infinitely better than that of 2013, not least because of Manchester United's activity in the transfer market. Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera are both astute signings who have a real desire to play for the club and have their best years ahead of them.

United certainly need strengthening in other areas, but it is debatable how much of this needs to come from outside the club. Should Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck leave, another striker may become required, but James Wilson could fill this void for example.

The anticipated departure of Ashley Young and/or Nani means United are being linked with lots of wingers. It is important to remember however that Adnan Januzaj, Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Tom Lawrence and Jesse Lingard can all play in those positions. Unless a real top-quality winger becomes available for a good price, there shouldn't be a need to dip into that area of the market.

Central midfield still requires another signing. Michael Carrick probably has more left in him than many appreciate, but Darren Fletcher is not the force he once was, Marouane Fellaini has been a disappointment and unfortunately Tom Cleverley seems set to remain a mere squad filler. With Anderson set to leave, aside from Ander Herrera, United are relying on attacking midfielders to provide top midfield quality and therefore another signing is a necessity.

Defence is the final area United need to strengthen. The Red Devils can afford to leave right-back alone, with Rafael, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia all there to cover. If Louis van Gaal rates Phil Jones and Jonny Evans then promoting Michael Keane as United's fourth centre-back may be a worthwhile possibility. United would still need another left-back however baring in mind Patrice Evra's imminent departure. A versatile left and centre-back, such as Daley Blind or Thomas Vermaelen, appears to be the pragmatic option. If Van Gaal feels United need a new top centre-back however the club could require signing two defensive players.

Manchester United place emphasis on youth, and it is also important the club retains a good British core in its players. That means that promoting youngsters and not buying a plethora of foreign players may be the right strategy for Louis van Gaal to implement. And with no European football to contend with United may be able to trim down an oversized squad and take some risks with youth.

POTENTIAL SUMMER
Signings: Luke Shaw (LB), Ander Herrera (CM), Another (CM), Another (LB/CB)

Departures: Patrice Evra (LB), Alex Buttner (LB), Rio Ferdinand (CB), Nemanja Vidic (CB), Anderson (CM), Ryan Giggs (CM), Nani (RW), Bebe (RW), Ashley Young (LW), Javier Hernandez (ST)

Promotions: Michael Keane (CB), Jesse Lingard (AM), Tom Lawrence (LW), James Wilson (ST)

Other possible breakthroughs: Tom Thorpe (CB), Wilfried Zaha (RW), Nick Powell (AM), Will Keane (ST)

POTENTIAL LINE-UPS
4-3-3: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Evans, Shaw, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Januzaj, Van Persie, Rooney

5-3-2: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Carrick, Evans, Shaw, Herrera, NEW CM, Mata, Van Persie, Rooney

5-2-3: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Evans, Shaw, Herrera, NEW CM, Januzaj, Van Persie, Rooney

Big game tactics

Last season Sir Alex Ferguson got it mostly right at home to Real Madrid: stick Danny Welbeck on Xabi Alonso to prevent him dictating the play. Then, when United get the ball, get it quickly to Robin van Persie who can hold the ball up and then play in Welbeck sprinting past him.

Against Bayern Munich this season David Moyes, as Ferguson did, made Danny Welbeck the cornerstone of his plans, but in a different way. Welbeck was the furthest forward striker, shifting his position across the forward line based on where he could find the most space to surge into and disrupt a shaky Bayern defence. Behind him the ploy was to get the ball into space for Welbeck as quickly as possible, preferably through Wayne Rooney, before half of United's team run forward to join him.

It worked fairly well, but with a few caveats. These caveats however are things that can be rectified for the second leg, giving United a decent chance of progressing. Firstly, Shinji Kagawa simply has to start in Munich. His ball retention is arguably better than any other United player who played on Tuesday, bar perhaps Michael Carrick. This means when United do get the ball, they at least have a chance of building something incisive once Kagawa's involved. He was used to great effect in this regard at the Bernabeu last season.

Secondly, a stronger defence may enable Phil Jones to move into midfield in place of Marouane Fellaini. Despite Jones' sometimes clumsy play, anything and anyone would be an improvement of Fellaini's ball retention in the first leg. Furthermore, Jones is less likely to so weakly lose some the aerial battles that Fellaini did, whilst also arguably offering more determination and better defensive cover. Jones' energy should also enable him to take up some of the advanced positions that Fellaini did too.

The introduction of Patrice Evra at left-back may have no impact on United's defensive display; Buttner was solid on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Evra should be slightly more assured on the ball, giving United a better chance of building attacks.

There were some good signs from the first leg against Bayern and a template was established for getting a result against them. Concentration will have to be yet again as good if not better in the Allianz Arena, but a few simple personnel changes can give United real hope of progressing.

FURTHER POINTS:
4-4-1-1 to 4-5-1
United mostly set-up in a 4-4-1-1 that switched in true Moyes style to a 4-5-1 whilst defending. This worked a treat. In attack Welbeck drifted across the front line, supported by Rooney and Giggs slightly to the left. Fellaini also supported the attack with Valencia wide-right. In defensive transitions however, Carrick and Fellaini remained central with Valencia right, but then United showed some fluidity. Either Giggs would move left and Rooney deep centrally, or Welbeck would move left with Giggs centrally. This enabled decent defensive protection in midfield, but also a flexibility that allowed players to change shape depending on their starting position.

Full-backs
Bayern's full-backs were not given much attention defensively until the final third, but this worked well. It meant United focussed mainly on crowding on the central areas. Bayern meanwhile could switch the ball at will, but to little effect. Without an orthodox striker in the middle, good wide area work was not as dangerous as it may have been. United did well not to charge down the Bayern full-backs and expose themselves in the middle.

Moyes is better than this

2012/2013 season: 29 games played, 48 points, 46 goals scored, 35 goals conceded
2013/2014 season: 29 games played, 48 points, 46 goals scored, 34 goals conceded

Yes, you guessed it. The first line above refers to Everton, the second to Manchester United. The common denominator: David Moyes. What does this remarkable similarity tell us about the Scottish manager though? It tells us he will be better in years to come, should he be given the time.

Why? Its simple. Manchester United have better players than Everton. For United to have the same record as Everton last season requires there to be various extenuating circumstances that have pulled them back. These could be any of:
 - transition (this will inevitably be longer than at most clubs because Alex Ferguson was at the helm for that extraordinary 26 years)
 - disinterested players: the older players are not all on-board. Look at "captain" Nemanja Vidic for one.
 - adaptation: Moyes is still learning and adapting to his role.
 - home form: United's abysmal home form has to be an anomaly.

Once these factors diminish Manchester United will improve. Juan Mata is a better player than Steven Pienaar. Wayne Rooney is a better player than Steven Naismith. David de Gea is a better player than Tim Howard. Michael Carrick is a better player than Darron Gibson. Robin van Persie is a better player than Nikica Jelavic. Marouane Fellaini however may be a worse player than Marouane Fellaini.

The point is clear. United have better players than Everton. They also have better training facilities, a better medical centre, and a bigger transfer budget. On this basis there is no reason for them to performing at the same level as Everton under Moyes. Add in the additional factors that have come with Moyes' first season however, and it makes a bit more sense.

Now none of this means this season has been acceptable under Moyes. It hasn't. It has been atrocious. What it does mean however is that once Moyes has adapted, once the transition is over, once all the players in the squad are fully committed and interested, and once the home form picks up, Manchester United will be better. Moyes may not be the best manager in the world, but he is better than this. And so, if he gets his time, Manchester United will be better than this.

The Chosen One

David Moyes was the 'Chosen One' of Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United board. There is something about leader's choosing successors that requires special handling however, and perhaps it wasn't quite done right at Old Trafford.

Without extensive knowledge, but a small pool of observation and church-related experience, I would suggest Moyes was in the worst category of three to take over at United. This is of course an area that needs far more research; these are merely my musings.

Those three categories of managers that could've taken over at United are: one from within the club (Ryan Giggs, Mike Phelan etc.), one from outside the club that appears from the outside a good contender to continue the work of the previous (David Moyes, and other hard-working Scots who have been at their clubs a long time), and finally something completely different.

Part of the problem of choosing a new manager was the fact that categories one and three weren't filled with sufficient candidates. In category one the managerial experience of Mike Phelan and Rene Meulensteen was not good, whilst the likes of Ryan Giggs had barely completed their coaching badges. Other former Manchester United players are an option for this category, but none of them (Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane) have hardly set the world of management alight.

Category three is the area most United fans will now be wishing the new manager came from. But who was available? Pep Guardiola? No. Jose Mourinho? Probably yes, but it would've been a huge risk for such a potentially destabilising manager to come in for a period of short success (see his history). Carlo Ancelotti went to Madrid, meanwhile the likes of Fabio Capello and Guus Hiddink aren't exactly young. There is certainly reason to think a British manager or at least one with extensive Premier League experience would've been preferred.

Risky, young options such as Roberto Martinez and...well...Roberto Martinez were simply too risky. For a manager to come from category three they would've had to be full of charisma and personality. Not just a little bit, absolutely full.

This is the point; the lingering shadow of Ferguson and the huge influence on the club meant that either his successor had to be absolutely embedded in the club culture and structure, or had to be from completely outside with a huge personality to shrug off some of that shadow and keep the club successful in their own way. David Moyes, as successor, fits into neither of those categories.

David Moyes is the middle-road. He has the experience of the Premier League, is British, and has done relatively well at Everton. He also fits in line with the club culture in terms of everything except connection with the club himself. What United have done by bringing in Moyes is to bring in a lesser version of Ferguson. This is not a slight on Moyes. What it means is Moyes is supposedly an embodiment of Ferguson, with similar traits, except no embeddedment in the United culture itself. He is a stranger.

Of course all the talk of 'Ferguson being in the stands' shouldn't and probably doesn't affect Moyes. But the shadow of Ferguson will affect him in other ways. The players will have been looking for continuity (category one) or if not then strongly-led and charismatic change (category three). Moyes provides them with a limp version of continuity. Also, the fans will have expected instant success (whatever they say about patience), but the lack of history with the club combined with lack of major success elsewhere and personality means Moyes will find little patience with the fans.

David Moyes is a hard-working (as we keep getting told) manager. He will be working hard to put things right, and tactics etc. aside, United will improve under him. Whether they will be the force of recent years remains to be seen, but things will get better. For things to get better however, Moyes will need time. And this isn't just a sentimental thing. He genuinely needs time. Here's why: he will need to rid the spectre of Ferguson. Firstly this must happen among the players; players who are so ingrained in the Ferguson way must show great adaptation, or go. Nemanja Vidic is already going, and Adnan Januzaj and Juan Mata are good ways to rid the Ferguson spectre in the squad. Nevertheless this is a long process. Secondly, fans expectations must not diminish, but must also stop drawing comparison to the Ferguson era. This is a similarly long process.

The idea of a David Moyes-type manager coming in to take over Manchester United's managerial reins, in terms of leader-successor theory, was not a pretty one. Yet, because of a shortage in other areas, Moyes became a tempting option as he brought some kind of limp stability to the club. In order for a manager of his type to overthrow the Ferguson spectre and improve the team, he genuinely needs time. Whether this will ever return United to the best team in the country, never mind the best team on the continent, remains to be seen. But Moyes certainly has the capability to improve, and whether he does so depends on time. But if a different type manager were appointed in the first place, perhaps United would be somewhere else right now.

David Moyes era will have implications for United's culture

I have never seen a worse Manchester United performance in my life than the 2-0 defeat to Olympiakos. Perhaps rivalling it, at least in recent years, in terms of abjectness was the defeat to Athletic Bilbao, but that one didn't 'matter' anywhere near as much. Not for Manchester United's season, not for their players, not for their manager, and not for their culture. The defeat to Olympiakos may well do.

The first three points here are easy to explain. Manchester United's season has just taken one step closer to being a trophyless one (I'm not counting the Community Shield). In terms of the players, this match may have been another helping hand to their inevitable exit from Old Trafford. Step up and walk out: Rio Ferdinand, maybe Antonio Valencia, maybe Robin van Persie. Incidentally, its no good asking Chris Smalling to step up and walk out; perhaps trying to step up, slip over (fifty times) and slide out would be more inappropriate. And then in terms of the manager, David Moyes finds himself under increasing strain, not only to do better in his job but also to survive the 'managerial chop'.

United's culture is possibly the most poignant issue under threat here though. Firstly in terms of their status. A club with the history of United is not simply going to disappear off the map of European football, but already the fear factor has gone. Next up will be the inevitable absence from top-level European competition, for perhaps many years. Slowly the history will become just that: history. United will be a great of years past, no longer the European footballing force they once were, and their status will be diminished.

Secondly United's, what I call 'purity', is under threat. The ever-commercialising machine that is the club is already disliked, to an extent, by many. But this is one thing when the club is successful and winning trophies. Its another thing when they're breaking transfer records, breaking wage records and even breaking 'number of sponsorships one club can have' records, but being successful. The worse United get in footballing terms combined with the better than get in commercial terms is only going to serve to disenfranchise even the most loyal of supporter. United are at risk of losing focus of what makes them special: the football.

Thirdly, the main threat to United's culture is the one most strenuously put forth by Sir Alex Ferguson: time. What if David Moyes is given the chop? A new manager may come in and do quite well for a while. But should they then go through a Ferguson-esque patch of 2003-2006 then who's to say they wouldn't then receive the sack? If Moyes goes now, or even anytime in the next six months, then United's values in terms of giving managers time go completely out the window. Once the club loses its culture of 'time', it lays itself at the mercy of the commercialisation machine it is and puts itself at risk of ever-fluctuating status. It ignores history and becomes the money-driven club looking for instant success, not sticking to values and history.

The Moyes era at Old Trafford so far has been, in many respects, dreadful. The defeat to Olympiakos is the latest and the most potent yet in raising questions about the club's season, players, manager, but also of the culture. If United as a club react in the wrong way to the 'Moyes era' failings, then going with him could be the club culture that so many love. But if Moyes remains, and with him does failure and disappointment, then the club culture may slowly start to ebb too.

Understanding Moyes' tactics

If Manchester United fans were to understand David Moyes' tactics a bit better then, perhaps, just perhaps, the supporters may start enjoying this season a little more.

Of course understanding his tactics is no substitute for a loss, or indeed seventh position in the Premier League. What it may do however is create a sense of understanding with Moyes' desired aims, create a sense of excitement when United are in positions on the pitch that Moyes identifies as danger zones, and most importantly dissolve the sense of despair when United don't play how each individual fan would like them to play.

This article is not intended to suggest that Moyes' particular tactics are good, or for that matter bad. It is simply intended to create a better understanding about where he could be taking Manchester United in the hope that some fans can find it easier to get on board with the Scot's ambitions.

David Moyes loves to create overloading situations in wide areas of the pitch. 2v1s, 3v2s and even 4v3s on the flanks are Moyes' preferred way on his team getting into an attacking position and thenceforth creating a goalscoring opportunity. This may explain why he was pleased his team reached the byline so many times in the recent loss to Stoke. By overloading on each particular flank, Moyes' players find a way into an advanced zone.

United need the right players to achieve this, and perhaps are slightly short at the moment. Aside from the occasional (or not so occasional in Antonio Valencia's case) disappointing final ball from the wingers, they also need energetic full-backs who can be strong defensively and attack with menace at the right times. Patrice Evra, whilst excellent at surging forward, is seemingly struggling to combine the two facets to his game well at the moment, and Moyes could well justify shelling out a hefty amount on a new left-back given this is his preferred footballing philosophy. He also needs good back-up full-backs baring in mind the importance they play in his tactical set-up.

Another area of the field that needs to respond well to this footballing philosophy are the strikers. They need to move into the right areas to give the wide players opportunities to find them when they overload the flanks. This was probably the reason United struggled to score more goals against Chelsea in January; attacking players not being in the right positions to score goals after good work out wide. Danny Welbeck, despite his recent good goalscoring form, often looks slightly off the pace when it comes to reacting instantly to penalty area chances, and this certainly appeared to be the case against Chelsea.

A further important point is getting players, other than just the strikers, into good positions once the wide overload has worked well. United's first goal against Cardiff earlier this season was a good example of this, when after a left-sided overload, Ashley Young crossed into the box where there were already four United players. As well as increasing the odds that Young's cross would find a player, the numbers in the box also meant another player (Van Persie) was on hand to score after the initial rebound.

So not only are wide overloads part of Moyes' philosophy, but also important are the positions of the strikers and other players in converting those overloads into good goalscoring chances. The second goal against Cardiff, whilst a good strike from Ashley Young, highlighted the issues United face sometimes as only Van Persie had got himself into the box after a wide overload.

Another facet of play Moyes tends to employ is a mixture of pressing in the attacking to defending transition. He will often instruct his front four players to press high, whilst his back six regain their positions. This explains why United's front players are often seen sprinting to close down the ball, only to soon be bypassed with no immediate back-up. This is a sign of the importance Moyes places on regaining shape, something Patrice Evra in particular needs to be quicker in doing.

From this brief assessment of Moyes' tactics, we can see that the Scot likes to attack by creating wide overloads, and likes to transition to defending by regaining shape as quickly as possible whilst his forward players initially press the opposition to slow their transition to attack. This all requires a hard-working team, with good knowledge of their roles and responsibilities, and particularly good and clever positioning when attacking.

Who knows whether David Moyes will adapt his approach in the future, but this current style is consistent with this season so far, and in the past at Everton. As a fan, understanding this rather than being frustrated at a perceived misuse of a player or naivety in tactics, may help to see a better future under Moyes. Perhaps once the players adapt fully to this philosophy, including the players Moyes might bring in to fit into the style, the club will go on an upward spiral. Or perhaps it won't. Who knows.

Why he Mata's

The signing of Juan Mata reeks of ingenuity. Assuming he manages to fulfill the expectations that Manchester United will place on such a signing, he should become a very important player, for this season and beyond. Here's why:

Catalyst

In the same way Mezut Ozil was a 'catalyst' signing for Arsenal, Mata could act as the same for United. His 'big name' status will give lift and impetus to all those Old Trafford. It should inspire hope, confidence and belief, three absolute key traits under the Sir Alex Ferguson era that have been missing of late. The actual signing in itself should go some way to bringing back the key ingredients of United's winning ways.

Attack

United have been incredibly unlucky with their injuries to Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. The purchase of a world class attacker in Juan Mata goes some way to easing their loss, and when they return the three could create a formidable attacking triumvirate. Where goals have been a problem this season, the creativity and offensiveness of Mata should go some way to finding a solution.

The Premier League

With Mata comes none of the stigma attached to the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Juan Sebastian Veron, who performed wonderfully across Europe and failed to deliver in England. Mata is a proven player in the Premier League, having won Chelsea's player of the year award two years in a row. There should be no worries about his acclimatisation to United.

Long-term

Mata at £37 million would break United's record transfer fee, but it would not be a waste should he fulfill all of the criteria above. On top of that the Spaniard is a mere 25, fitting in with the recent Manchester United policy of not signing players over 26. He could be a long-term asset to the club, not just a short-term fix.

Caveats

The signing of Mata does not meet the immediate needs of a new full-back and central midfielder. Neverthless, his purchase indicates a willingness to spend big and to go for world class targets, and gives confidence that David Moyes will bring in players in the required positions, if not in January, in the summer. The catalyst and attacking impetus he could bring the team may also serve as a 'stopgap' for United until the summer when they can bring in further targets. He could well inspire the team into the all important top four. At that point, in the summer, more structural rebuilding can begin.

Impact on other players

The signing of Mata will hopefully serve as a role model to the similarly creative Adnan Januzaj, whilst also serving as a new creator for United's forwards. He should also act as a motivator in terms of other players in his position.

In a more 'negative' sense, his signing may well signal the end of their careers at United for any one of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Nani, Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez. It may also prove useful should the unfortunate happen, and Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie leave the club in the near future.

Plans for the blog

After launching my blog for the start of the 2012/2013 season, I maintained it throughout that year with analysis of every Manchester United fixture, as well as some opinion pieces. Having decided at the end of the season I did not have the time to continue blogging as much, I decided to stop updating the site.

Now however, in January 2014, I have decided to start reusing the site to post short and small articles on my Manchester United opinions. I hope my followers on Twitter, if any of them even care, will be pleased that my rants will be no longer filling up their timelines, and will be filling up this website instead.

Season Predictions: End of Season review

The football season is over for another year, but back in August the iThinkUnited season predictions were published on the blog. In January the blog underwent a mid-season revision of those predictions. Now at the end of the season, here is a review of how those predictions matched up to reality:

Cup Winners

COMMUNITY SHIELD:

August prediction: Manchester City

Mid-season prediction: N/A

Reality: Won by Manchester City

City did indeed win the community shield over ten-man Chelsea as a show of intent for the coming season.

CAPITAL ONE CUP:

August prediction: Manchester United

Mid-season prediction: Chelsea

Reality: Won by Swansea City

United unluckily fell to Chelsea in the fourth round, who themselves were knocked out by Swansea in the semi-final, with the Welsh team going on to claim the crown.

FA CUP:

August prediction: Liverpool

Mid-season prediction: Liverpool

Reality: Won by Wigan Athletic

A foolish bet on Liverpool was proved wrong as Wigan Athletic were the surprise winners.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

August prediction: Real Madrid

Mid-season prediction: Real Madrid

Reality: Won by Bayern Munich

Even Jose Mourinho still can’t weave his magic for Madrid in Europe. Madrid were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, who succumbed to the impressive Bayern Munich in the final.

Premier League

CHAMPIONS:

August prediction: Manchester United

Mid-season prediction: Manchester United

Reality: Won by Manchester United

United’s unassailable points lead at the top of the table made this one of the dominant title wins.

TOP FOUR:

August prediction: 2-City, 3-Arsenal, 4-Chelsea

Mid-season prediction: 2-City, 3-Arsenal, 4-Chelsea

Reality: 2-City , 3-Chelsea , 4-Arsenal

Just a couple of points away from reality in the prediction. Nevertheless, the predicted top four did become reality.

RELEGATED:
August prediction: Southampton, Aston Villa, Reading

Mid-season prediction: Southampton, QPR, Reading

Reality: QPR, Reading, Wigan

Wigan almost looked like pulling off the great escape, but in the end were dragged down along with QPR and Reading.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

August prediction: Nani

Mid-season prediction: Gareth Bale

Reality: Gareth Bale

Whilst you can’t doubt Nani had the potential to be player of the season, he couldn’t have been further from the award by May. By far the worst prediction of the lot, Nani has had a torrid season. Gareth Bale’s enormous impact on Tottenham secured him the award ahead of Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata.

TOP SCORER:

August prediction: Wayne Rooney

Mid-season prediction: Robin van Persie

Reality: Robin van Persie

A late suspension for Luis Suarez meant Van Persie could go on with ease to become the season’s top scorer for the second year in a row.

Other Predictions

BEST SIGNING:

August prediction: Eden Hazard

Mid-season prediction: Michu

Reality: Robin van Persie

Hazard, Michu and Van Persie have all been fantastic signings, as have the likes of Moussa Dembele for Tottenham and Santi Cazorla for Arsenal. Van Persie’s impact on United’s title win just edges him to victory in this category however.

SURPRISE TEAM:

August prediction: Fulham

Mid-season prediction: Fulham

Reality: West Ham United

To call Fulham the real surprise team of the year would be wrong. A poor finish to the season leaves some big questions at Craven Cottage. The ‘surprise team’ section was meant in a positive sense, and therefore the impressive final positioning of recently promoted West Ham United just about wins them the award.

FLOP TEAM:

August prediction: Newcastle United

Mid-season prediction: Newcastle United

Reality: Newcastle United

Never looking near their 5^th place finish of last season, Newcastle have certainly flopped, and been lucky to narrowly avoid relegation.

Results

Original Predictions: 3/12

Mid-season review: 4/11 (minus the community shield)

Analysis: West Bromwich Albion 5 Manchester United 5

Premier League, Sunday 19^th May 2013

The last game of the Premier League season for Manchester United ended in an astonishing 5-5 scoreline. Shinji Kagawa, Alex Büttner, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez all scored, whilst United were also gifted an own goal. A mostly commanding performance turned into a leaky shambles late on that meant Sir Alex Ferguson’s last ever game in charge didn’t finish in a victory. Here’s some analysis:

Wing-backs

A means of attacking success, particularly in the first-half, came from United’s wing-backs. Lining up in a 4-1-2-1-2 (diamond) formation, there was a particular reliance on the advancing full-backs to provide width, and Antonio Valencia and Alex Büttner duly obliged. There was tangible evidence of this success through a goal for Büttner and some assists for Valencia. West Brom were preoccupied with the loaded threat United were providing in the centre, and struggled to deal with this extra wide threat.

Defensive shambles

This game was somewhat of a defensive shambles, as United let a 5-2 lead slip in the last 10 minutes. The introduction of the retiring Paul Scholes was a contributing factor, with the Englishmen struggling to keep up with the pace of the game in any defensive capacity. United’s midfield display also slowly deteriorated throughout the game as a whole, providing less protection to the back four. Tom Cleverley and Anderson tired, whilst Michael Carrick’s influence waned after a commanding start. The back four, aside from the impressive Jonny Evans, all had poor defensive games in which they struggled to cope with attacks from the Baggies at times. Should this match had mattered then this defensive shambles would be a worry. As it is, it was less than ideal, but nothing more.

Going Forward

United now face a summer of change as David Moyes takes over as manager, something that will have an unsettling effect on pre-season for the first time in 26 years. The likes of David de Gea, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Robin van Persie and others can be pleased with their season, whilst the likes of Antonio Valencia and Anders Lindegaard will need to improve for next year. United’s next competitive game will be on 11^th August in the Community Shield.

Ratings

[4-1-2-1-2]: Lindegaard-5, Valencia-6, Jones-5, Evans-7, Büttner-6, Carrick-7, Anderson-6, Cleverley-6, Kagawa-7, Hernandez-7, Van Persie-7

*Man of the match

(Giggs-6, Scholes-5, Ferdinand-6)

End of Season Review

Manchester United’s season has undoubtedly been a success in that the Premier League trophy was reclaimed. There were disappointments in the cup competitions, but this was not to overshadow the achievement of United’s 20^th league title.

The first half of the season consisted of a series of thrilling comebacks. United secured themselves defensively from thereon as they went on to win the title. The season ended with sadness as Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes retired, but there is plenty to look forward to in the future.

Below are the iThinkUnited end of season awards:

Players

These awards are based on the iThinkUnited player ratings system (see below).

BEST PLAYER:

Rio Ferdinand

A model of consistency and excellence, Rio Ferdinand wins the player of the season award. David de Gea, Rafael, Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans and Robin van Persie all follow him very closely.

WORST PLAYER:

Alex Büttner

Appears harsh on the surface, but mainly average performances combined with a small amount of appearances mean Büttner’s average rating is the worst of any United player with over 10 appearances. Antonio Valencia and Nani are very close behind.

BEST TEAM:

De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Welbeck, Rooney, van Persie, Hernandez

Matches

BEST MATCH:

Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3

There were some extraordinary matches over the course of the season, but this Manchester derby win clinched in the final minute has to go as the most dramatic and fantastic match of the season. Had United beaten Real Madrid then perhaps that would’ve topped it for sheer atmosphere and occasion. Oh what could’ve been.

WORST MATCH:

Manchester United 0 CFR Cluj 1

In the context of the season, United have performed worse than this game, but if you had to miss one United game this year, it would be this. A dead-rubber as far as United were concerned, they never got going, and eventually lost to the Romanians. As boring as they come.

Goals

BEST GOAL SCORED:

Robin van Persie v Aston Villa

This goal was truly magnificent. On a night that United sealed the Premier League title, Robin van Persie’s hat-trick felt almost like he intended to remind the Reds who they had to thank for the title win. A sumptuous lofted pass from Wayne Rooney was hit first time by Van Persie’s left-foot, and into the back of the net. Wonderful.

WORST GOAL CONCEDED:

Adam le Fondre for Reading

There are unfortunately many contenders for this award, but after weeks of lessons not learnt, calamitous defending at the Madejski stadium was hard to believe. Lost at a set-piece, Le Fondre will rarely score an easier goal.

Moments

MOST ENTHRALLING MOMENT:

Ferguson’s crowd rouser

Old Trafford was rocking on March 5^th. United were heading for the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of European heavyweights Real Madrid. It was a truly special night. Until Nani was then sent off. We all know what happened next, but the moment of exhilaration experienced when Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to rouse the crowd in order to lift the team was an extraordinary moment. Old Trafford has never been louder. Possibly.

MOST DISAPPOINTING MOMENT:

Nani’s red card

With every high comes a low. United were set to beat Real Madrid and everything felt like it was meant to be; it was one of those special nights. It was probably all down to Nani’s red card that the script wasn’t obeyed that night. A heart-breaker for any United fan, and a final lost chance for Ferguson in Europe.

TOP MISCALLENOUS MOMENT:

Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement

Hardly a ‘best’ moment for anyone, but this has to be top in terms of pure magnitude and reaction to an event. Tears were privately shed by many as Ferguson announced his retirement. The country reacted and applauded to a magnificent man and manager, the likes of which will never be seen again.

iThinkUnited Player Ratings 2012/2013

This table is calculated using the average ratings for each Manchester United player this season. The ratings were given after each match.

Players to have achieved less than ten appearances have been left out in order  to provide more accurate ratings for the season (i.e. Federico Macheda’s average of 5.6 is irrelevant considering he only made three substitute appearances this season.) It is also important to remember that players with many substitute appearances will often have had less time on the pitch to make a mark, and therefore will be nearer to the average ‘6’ rating.

PLAYERS:

Name                   Position    Appearances                                     Average rating

                                             (Including as substitute. Substitute in brackets)

Rio Ferdinand                 DEF                35 (3)                                                                   6.914…

David de Gea                 GK                  41                                                                         6.902…

Rafael da Silva               DEF                40 (2)                                                                   6.85

Jonny Evans                 DEF                29 (2)                                                                    6.793…

Michael Carrick             MID                46 (4)                                                                     6.783…

Robin van Persie          ATT                48 (8)                                                                    6.771…

Nemanja Vidic               DEF                23 (1)                                                                     6.739…

Phil Jones                     DEF                 24 (4)                                                                    6.667…

Javier Hernandez         ATT                36 (13)                                                                   6.639…

Patrice Evra                 DEF                 42                                                                           6.595…

Tom Cleverley              MID                32 (4)                                                                      6.594…

Wayne Rooney            ATT                37 (6)                                                                     6.568…

Chris Smalling              DEF                22 (5)                                                                      6.5

Anderson                     MID               26 (9)                                                                      6.5

Shinji Kagawa              ATT               26 (4)                                                                      6.5

Danny Welbeck           ATT               40 (17)                                                                    6.5

Darren Fletcher           MID                10 (3)                                                                       6.4

Ryan Giggs                  MID                32 (13)                                                                     6.281…

Ashley Young              MID                23 (5)                                                                       6.261…

Paul Scholes                 MID                20 (11)                                                                    6.2                

Anders Lindegaard     GK                  13                                                                          6.154…

Nani                             MID                 21 (5)                                                                      6.048…

Antonio Valencia         MID                40 (11)                                                                     6.025

Alex Büttner                DEF                13 (1)                                                                       6

Analysis: Manchester United 2 Swansea City 1

Premier League, Sunday 12^th May 2013

This match was a truly special occasion, but not just for the football. Manchester United were presented with the Premier League trophy as Sir Alex Ferguson presided over his final game at Old Trafford. Javier Hernandez gave United the lead, before Rio Ferdinand scored a late winner after Swansea had equalised. Here’s some thoughts from the day:

 The Ginger Prince

Sir Alex Ferguson is not the only one retiring this summer-Paul Scholes is also, at his second attempt. The English midfielder played for the first time since January against Swansea in what his likely to be his last game. Evidence of his forward bursts from yesteryear, and his accomplished passing, were both on show. There were also a few typical, but fair crunching tackles from the ‘Ginger Prince’. Scholes also showed why it is probably his time to retire though with a lacklustre display physically. Conserving his energy, Scholes was of little use defensively and often let Swansea players run past him with ease. Scholes is, and also will remain, a legend. The time has come for this great servant to say goodbye, but Manchester United fans will never forget the memories he has left behind.

Fergie Psychology

Even on the day of his official farewell, Ferguson still managed to demonstrate how his psychology has helped United win so many titles. In his speech, the Scot reminded the players of the expectations placed upon them, and how they must not let themselves down. This was a great motivator and reminder, and perhaps gave a glimpse into his pre-match and half-time team talks. After the game Ferguson also hinted to the disillusioned Wayne Rooney that if he was playing at his best he would’ve been more involved at times this season-another great example of a way to remind a player how good he can be, and a way to spur him on. United will certainly miss the wisdom and encouragement of Sir Alex.

Going Forward

Going forward Manchester United approach a new era, with the exits of Ferguson and Scholes and who knows who else. It was fitting that United should beat Swansea with a decent team display. Patrice Evra in particular had a marvellous game up and down the left side. United now go away to West Brom for their final game of the season; Ferguson’s last hurrah and the end of an era.

Ratings

[4-4-1-1]: De Gea-7, Jones-7, Ferdinand-7, Vidic-7, Evra-8*, Kagawa-7, Carrick-7, Scholes-6, Welbeck-6, Van Persie-7, Hernandez-7

*Man of the match

(Anderson-7, Valencia-6, Giggs-6)

Even his retirement was the best

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement a few days ago, it was hard to escape the emotion and drama of the occasion. The greatest manager of all time was to call it a day. But even in his retirement, this unrivalled icon of the footballing world looks to have displayed one of his famous attributes.

The man who managed a club famous for their comebacks, famous for their relentless pursuit of victory in the face of a ticking clock, had got it spot on with his timing again. Fergie’s time was his right time.

Escaping the cynical, and quite frankly disturbing thought, that the great Scot was pushed out of his managerial seat by Manchester United’s reviled owners, Ferguson’s retirement schedule appears almost impeccable. The only sense in which his retirement wouldn’t be perfect is if he were to stay on another season and win the treble. But ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ about the future are no good in this game. Only the reality matters. And Ferguson seems to have got another mammoth decision spot on.

It is hard to entertain the thought that retirement prior to this summer would’ve been sensible. Anything pre-2000 would’ve been rash. Ferguson had brought the club up from the ashes and transformed them into a league-dominating and then treble-winning phenomenon. Only after that particular summit could it be said that perhaps the Scot have achieved all he could.

And so his retirement plan came in 2002. But what a relief he didn’t call it a day. The club had reached a peak and was on a (small) downward spiral. The treble-winning side was dismantling without any clear youthful era breaking through. Yes Ferguson had achieved great things, but to go then may have destabilised the club for many years.

His eventual, and remarkable, rebuilding of the squad into another European-conquering force could’ve signalled another retirement window for Ferguson. 2008 was a stellar year. But what if Ferguson had gone? Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez were soon to depart, Wayne Rooney was soon to voice concerns, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were beginning to suffer long-term injuries, and several older players were on the brink of retirement. Ferguson’s exit could’ve coincided with the utter dismantling of a great squad. To retire then could’ve been destroying.

What about since? It is fair to say that no year post-2008 has been vintage. But United have very slowly and steadily rebuilt into what is now a thriving squad. Over time youth has been bought and promoted. The likes of Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Rafael, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and David de Gea could be instrumental in the coming years. Meanwhile the core of Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, and now Robin van Persie are the backbone of this evolving squad.

Even to leave last summer would’ve left a young team with little winning experience and a long road ahead of them. But the season of 2012/2013 has seen an immense progression from Manchester United. Ferguson leaves a team of established champions, with all the ingredients and youthful zest to go on and dominate.

To those who classify Ferguson’s great teams, I would say there are four. The title-winning side of the early sides characterised by Cantona, the treble-winning side, the 2008-conquerors, and now a fourth team; a fourth team he has moulded and tutored, but will now have the potential to reach their ultimate pinnacle in a new era.

A hip operation and more family-time await Sir Alex, but the state he has left Manchester United in could not be more perfect. A culture of family, youth, stability, winners, and a squad bursting with potential and ability remains in place despite his parting. A better time for the Scot to bow out there never was, and probably never would’ve been. Even in retirement, he has proved the master.

Analysis: Manchester United 0 Chelsea 1

Premier League, Sunday 5^th May 2013

Manchester United suffered a frustrating loss to Chelsea in a dull game at Old Trafford on Sunday. Juan Mata scored the only goal late on before Rafael was sent off for a kick on the infuriating David Luiz. This game will not live long in the memory of many Manchester United fans, and showcased an edgeless team performance. Here’s some analysis:

Positional confusion

There was some notable confusion between Jonny Evans and Phil Jones at times during the match. Phil Jones was playing in the defensive midfielder position, aiming to halt Chelsea counter-attacks and break up their play. It is a position Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher have already operated in against the Blues this season. The frequent, visible in-game debates between Evans and Jones however showed some positional error between the two of them. Jones would often leave the high ball for Evans behind him to deal with, whilst Evans would be looking to sweep up the play after Jones had dealt with the ball. Reasons for this could have simply been miscommunication, but also the fact that Evans was playing on the right side of defence which is different to his usual left side. Jones was also probably confused after having played central defence and central midfield in recent weeks; he never seemed to comfortably adapt to playing in between the two against Chelsea.

On the fringe

After limited opportunities this side of Christmas, Anders Lindegaard, Tom Cleverley, and Anderson all featured in the starting line-up, with neither particularly impressing. Anderson was at times his usual driving presence, but again showed his liabilities by not getting ball-side when Chelsea counter-attacked. The Brazilian also failed to complete 90 minutes, something he has only down an incredible 18 times in his six seasons at United. Tom Cleverley was often tidy, but largely ineffective. He is a good energetic foil for Michael Carrick, and usually offers dynamism in possession, but he was largely off the pace against Chelsea, something that could have been expected after limited opportunities recently. Anders Lindegaard showed his inferiority in terms of distribution to David de Gea, and an overall decent performance was perhaps marred by conceding late on to a goal that some better goalkeepers would have saved.

Going Forward

This result meant United’s poor record against Chelsea continues, now having only won one from five against them this season. None of United’s fringe players coming into the team particularly excelled in an understandably drab encounter. The Reds will now be looking to give a good account of themselves as champions in their final two games.

Ratings

[4-1-4-1]: Lindegaard-6, Rafael-7*, Evans-6, Vidic-6, Evra-6, Jones-6, Anderson-6, Cleverley-6, Valencia-4, Giggs-6, Van Persie-6

*Man of the match

(Rooney-6, Büttner-6, Hernandez-6)

Analysis: Arsenal 1 Manchester United 1

Premier League, Sunday 28^th April 2013

Arsenal formed a guard of honour to recognise Manchester United’s new champions status prior to kick-off on Sunday, but were expectedly competitive on the pitch. The Gunners took the lead after two minutes with an offside goal, but Robin van Persie equalised with a penalty. United probably had the better chances to win it, but a poor final ball often let them down. Here’s some analysis:

The finest collection of centre-backs…

Do Manchester United have the finest collection of centre-backs in the Premier League? Almost certainly. Chris Smalling, England’s first choice, is only fifth choice at United. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic hold the key to experience, if lacking in some pace. Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are the increasingly commanding youths. Three of these five started against Arsenal. Phil Jones played in midfield, and offered some important defensive work in halting the Arsenal midfield advances. Evans and Ferdinand were authoritative and calm at the back, sniffing out numerous chances. Evans form in his last two games has been exceptional considering his time out injured. Ferdinand’s performance reeked of class, best demonstrated by the numerous times he tricked an Arsenal player in order to bring the ball out of defence. A worthy inclusion in PFA team of the year.

Wing concerns continue

United’s wingers did nothing to improve their current form against Arsenal. Nani was given a rare start, and performed ok, but nothing more. There was some occasional misguided decision-making, although the Portugese player did have the air of a constant threat. His likely departure in the summer will be a disappointment. He was not brilliant versus Arsenal, but still the better of the two wide players.

United’s other winger, Antonio Valencia, continued his season-long downward spiral against Arsenal. Some recent good performances (namely versus Aston Villa) have provided hope that he may be back on the upward track. However he was extremely disappointing against Arsenal in terms of his final ball. Perhaps his positioning and movement was good, but his crossing was well off par and gave the United players looking to get onto the end no chance. United’s wingers will require these last few games of the season in order to start reversing perceptions about their poor form.

Going Forward

This draw against Arsenal ended United’s hopes of reaching a record points total this season. There was some understandably complacent play, but overall this was a decent showing from the newly-crowned champions. United now play Chelsea in a pivotal game for the Blues, hence another strong Reds line-up can be expected.

 Ratings

[4-4-2]: De Gea-7, Rafael-6, Ferdinand-7*, Evans-7, Evra-7, Valencia-5, Carrick-7, Jones-6, Nani-6, Rooney-6, Van Persie-6

*Man of the match

(Giggs-6, Anderson-6, Hernandez-6)

Analysis: Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 0

Premier League, Monday 22^nd April 2013

Champions. Manchester United blew away Aston Villa three nil to reclaim the Premier League title on Monday evening. Robin van Persie scored the three goals in a stunning first-half hat-trick that was complemented by several other good performances, before a sedate (in terms of football, rather than atmosphere) second-half. Here’s some analysis on the game:

High line helps United

Aston Villa’s high defensive line appears to have been a suicidal tactic. United started the game with energy and purpose with the intent of claiming the title, and Villa suffered. Van Persie’s movement exposed the Villa high line, and the likes of Shinji Kagawa also thrived with several good through balls. United’s wide players were also given the space and opportunity to run at players, no doubt helped by Villa’s high line.

Young generation

In light of the title triumph, Sir Alex Ferguson highlighted the young crop of players he has at his exposal who will no doubt be the backbone of United for years to come. Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley are three of those players not to start against Villa, but several others did, showing their potential. Phil Jones was masterful at centre-back, one rash challenge on Benteke aside, he demonstrated calmness and an excellent reading of the game. Jonny Evans was authoritative and helped sniff out numerous Villa opportunities. Shinji Kagawa displayed his appreciation for space, something that will be invaluable if he can affect the game in the final third more. And Rafael and David de Gea, whilst having reasonably quiet games, were solid throughout as they begin to wind down from excellent ‘coming of age’ seasons.

Going Forward

Manchester United’s 20^th league title is a sweet, sweet triumph, and the manner of victory against Aston Villa was a demonstration of the hope and potential for many more years to come. United now have four games before the end of season, with which they can accumulate a record points total.

Ratings

[4-4-1-1]: De Gea-7, Rafael-7, Jones-9, Evans-7, Evra-7, Valencia-7, Carrick-7, Rooney-7, Giggs-7, Kagawa-7, Van Persie-9*

(Welbeck-6)

*Man of the match

Analysis: West Ham United 2 Manchester United 2

Premier League, Wednesday 17^th August 2013

Manchester United drew 2-2 at Upton Park in a hard-fought game on Wednesday evening. Antonio Valencia and Robin van Persie scored the goals as United came from behind twice. Shinji Kagawa also deserves a significant mention for two good assists. Here’s the analysis:

Players didn’t settle in the system

United lined-up in a 4-1-4-1 shape, with Michael Carrick in front of the defence, Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones in front of him, Kagawa and Valencia wide, and Van Persie up top. The two most disappointing players on the pitch were arguably Rooney and Jones, quite possibly as a consequence of the formation. Jones, a defender by nature, looked largely uncomfortable in a forward midfield position, and offered little in attacking terms. Rooney, who one may expect to be more adept in the position than Jones, was equally if not more disappointing.

There were arguably three reasons for Rooney’s poor performance. Firstly, there is no escaping he simply wasn’t at his best. Despite brief glimpses of his quality, Rooney’s touch and movement was sloppy, and he wasn’t performing to his highest level. Secondly, Kagawa trod on Rooney’s toes, metaphorically speaking. The Japanese player has a tendency to cut inside a lot when playing on the left, and therefore often took up the space Rooney may have taken up in midfield, on what is a compact Upton Park pitch. The final reason for Rooney’s poor performance may have been a lack of directive. When playing in midfield this season he has either thrived in a free role with plenty of space (like against Stoke) or with specific instructions in a tighter game (like to combine with Valencia against Chelsea.) Rooney appeared to be lacking in specific instructions against West Ham, and was therefore unsettled on a crowded pitch.

Deep defence

There is certainly reason to suggest United defended too deep at Upton Park, thus inviting pressure. If any two players in the United squad can soak up pressure it’s certainly Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Both were however duly unsettled at times, and perhaps a more authoritative approach would’ve gained United more control. There is of course justification for a deep defence. Ferdinand and Vidic are certainly not the quickest duo around meaning a high line is risky, whilst the compact nature of the Upton Park pitch means press too high, and your midfielders get squeezed with no room to work.

Michael Carrick was assigned to work in between the lines of United’s central defenders and the rest of the team, which he did relatively well, but the abject performances of Rooney and Jones in front of him meant his work was often fruitless. Had United pressed higher up the pitch then they firstly they may have relieved some of the pressure off their defence, and secondly may have been able to resort to a two man midfield allowing for greater attacking presence and release on Wayne Rooney. Who knows whether it would’ve worked, but there was certainly room for improvement.

Going Forward

United worked hard for a point at Upton Park, and despite an average display, the draw was a decent result considering the fired-up nature of West Ham's performance. Shinji Kagawa showed some of his superb potential and technical quality with two assists, but gave another reminder of some of the wide potency United lose when he comes in field (arguably all too often.) David de Gea had a commanding game, whilst Valencia put in a long overdue good performance. If results go United’s way, they can win the title on Monday evening. The Reds will certainly be looking to return to winning ways at least when Aston Villa come to town.

Ratings

[4-1-4-1]: De Gea-7*, Rafael-6, Ferdinand-5, Vidic-6, Evra-7, Valencia-7, Carrick-7, Jones-5, Rooney-5, Kagawa-7, Van Persie-6

(Giggs-6, Hernandez-7)

*Man of the match