Yesterday at Fulham, United failed to materialise. We gave a fairly useful but mediocre mid table team an easy and well received Xmas present of 3 points, losing 0-3. Some of the players, often lauded for their seasons contributions, failed to even put on half a decent performance and now, we even have Fergie admittedly that a fourth successive retention of the Premier title is going to be very hard to manage. OK we have injuries but ….
We have around a dozen injured, no sign of when they will make up a team again. Chelski are scraping results but the cracks are showing. Every year Liverpool go on about this ‘being their year’ and again they collapse dismally, lucky if they hold onto their famous four slot.
United? Too many injuries all at the same time, not short term either, may result in us losing too much ground to catch up. We will finish top 4, but its going to be hard. I am also slightly suspicious about the number of injuries considering the time of year, the travel, hotels, cold etc. I recall talk a while back, unsure where, about players who deliberately get red carded in order to be ‘suspended’ during holiday seasons such as Xmas. It makes me wonder if some of our injuries are ‘oh no, it still hurts’ I better go home’ injuries. Call it what you will, but, todays ballet dancing footballers seem to get ‘injured’ oh so easily. Too often they talk the talk but fail in the walk. Nani will spend Xmas in sunny Portugal for example as his injury is allegedly long term. Berbatov is supposedly carrying an injury because United cannot afford to release him for hospital treatment which will mean he too will be sidelined.
Other players lauded this season for their example and performances went missing yesterday. Scholes made some terrible errors, Owen went missing the whole game. I can only go by what was on the TV and mentioned in forums, admittedly, as I was working 12 hours yesterday from noon, so missed it all.
No, only those with rose tinted glasses and bottles of optimism can still confidently state that we will retain the title, yes – we could, we might – but with this injury list, Fergie might just be opening the transfer window next Month, look inside and get players like Sol Campbell, another three or four Henrik Larssons, a couple of Peter Schmeichels and Rudolph the red nose reindeer, because we will bloody need them!! He may also consider recalling players from loan, we may just need them.