The Old Trafford crowd went chicken oriental last night as a salute to their heros, who have brought home the title for the 20th time. Manchester United have won the league with 4 games to spare in what has been an utterly efficient season in the title chase.
Sir Alex and his troops should not underestimate their achievement. Despite talk of other teams under-performing this year you would search in vain to find any league in the world with as many good teams as The Premier League. Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton can all beat anyone on their day and their presence in this competition means that the league winner will always be a worthy champion.
A team found wanting
But the term that keeps popping up in relation to Manchester United is ‘vintage’. This isn’t a vintage United incarnation according to many. And despite that league win, the team has been found wanting in every other competition this season. 2-0 up and cruising at Old Trafford against Chelsea in the cup, Manchester United went limp and couldn’t close out the game. United failed at the hands of the same team in The Capital One Cup as a moment of Nani madness threw it all away with the finishing line in site.
Europe
And against Real that same player changed the course of the game with a high boot. Some may simply record this season as one of bad luck for Manchester United. But that would overlook the deficiencies in this current squad. Because, this Manchester United has been asked many questions that it couldn’t answer. Almost half of their league wins have been by a single goal margin, which illustrates that they have been doing just enough each time to win. It’s been a while since United truly outclassed the opposition in a game. Here is what we think needs to change for next season, if Manchester United are to achieve their ultimate goal of European dominance.
Intensity
Manchester United have been great in spurts but seem to have lacked intensity for long periods of games. Their traditional talisman, Wayne Rooney has been a little off the boil at times and, without his top form, the team loses its way. They need his leadership next season. Longer periods of intensity are required if this Manchester United is to become a ‘vintage’.
Midfield
Perhaps a big reason for the lack of intensity is the continued question mark over the Manchester United engine room. Some have, rather cruelly, likened this team to a polo – well-rounded at the edges but hollow in the middle. Mainstay Micheal Carrick has just had his best season at the club while others, such as Cleverley and Giggs, have flitted in and around him. But United still need a long-term solution in there – not so much a box to box midfielder as a craftsman who can impress his personality on a game and control the midfield with skill. Manchester United essentially need a replacement for Paul Scholes. After some more sublime passing last night, Wayne Rooney seems ever more like the answer and may follow in the footsteps of the Ginger Prince by moving from attack to midfield in his late 20s, as his pace recedes. Fans will just hope that their main man stays at United beyond this season. Rooney needs to improve his awareness in the engine room but has all the qualities to be as good a midfielder as you will find.
Wingers
This season, United’s wingers have been the worst in memory. In our opinion, Ashley Young isn’t good enough for United. He’s the most cautious winger I have ever seen. Far more likely to play a simple backwards pass than beat a man. Nani has had 6 years and ample opportunity to show consistency but, despite flashes of brilliance, he has failed miserably. Antonio Valencia has just completed his worst season at the club, manifesting a complete loss of confidence. Manchester United need wingers if they are to continue with a 4-4-2 . Wilfried Zaha will come in and, if they are serious about winning The Champions League, Manchester United should spend their entire summer trying to land Gareth Bale from Tottenham.
Shape
4-4-2 has always been the way under Fergie but perhaps their average form in Europe suggests that he may have to eventually relent to the 4-3-3. He seems to employ that formation more in the big games in Europe but it seems a bit crazy changing it sporadically and expecting the players to understand. Players need to feel their way into new formations over time, to understand their positions and movement. Thus, Fergie needs to go with one or the other. We still feel that a 4-4-2 with a front 6 of Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa, RvP and Rooney would have fared much better in the Champions League 2nd leg against Real than the strange selections and formations that he opted for. Nani had been out for months but somehow found himself ahead of Rooney in the pecking order. His selection arguably lost United the tie. It’s a brave man that disagrees with the old master but we feel he definitely got it wrong that night, showing Madrid far to much respect.
Attack
RvP will continue to be prominent up front but, if Rooney does drop back into the midfield the Dutchman may well find himself with a new strike partner. For all his qualities, Chicharito remains a bit lightweight and has a questionable first touch. Danny Welbeck is improving but needs to score a lot more to become an integral member of the team. Both of these youngsters are still struggling then to be deemed more than just squad players. RvP may well play number 10 next season behind a new striker. There is talk of Robert Lewandowski arriving but he does seem quite similar in style to the Dutchman. Falcao would be a sensation at Manchester United but might prove too costly. So too would our personal choice, Neymar. Either way, Manchester United may well solve their midfield problem by putting Rooney in there. If so, expect another top striker at Old Trafford.
Let’s hear your thoughts on how United move forward. Meantime let’s enjoy that magical goal which put the icing on the cake of a 20th title last night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImVEfsHMruo
Follow us on Twitter @soccersweep10
