It is the 10th of November and the basic notions coming from the press are that Liverpool are genuine title challengers and Arsenal’s season is finished. It is the 10th of November. The vast majority of press on the English Premier League originates from the broadcasters and newspapers of the United Kingdom, in particular the BBC, so why are we hearing such absurd things so early on?
Simple.
The press is full of ex-Liverpool players and fans who hanker back to the glory days of the 70s and 80s. Arsenal will never get the credit they deserve because they will never be forgiven for that last minute Michael Thomas winner and if Liverpool haven’t completely ballsed up going for the title by week 10 then they are cast iron certainties to finally bag the trophy. All of this is, of course, complete rubbish.
No matter what flak they get Arsenal’s reserves are still extremely good. Straight from the off in this match it was clear that Sam Nasri was beyond the control of our defence, he went on to score both of their goals. For messers Neville and Van Der Sar the fat lady is clearing her throat. At least we now know the future of the right back position. Rafael’s performance oozed confidence and he was far more assured than the club captain, or even Rio, after he came on.
Why did we lose this game? Arsenal wanted it more. Why did we lose against Liverpool? They wanted it more.
Now we can say that the hardest away matches of the season are already out of the way and we are still vaguely in touch but I am more worried about this. Here is a quick table outlining the influence of the clashes between the top teams and the eventual winner of the League:
2002/03
PREMIER LEAGUE: Man U 83pts, Arsenal 78, Chelsea 67, Liverpool 64
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Man U 14pts, Arsenal 7, Liverpool 5, Chelsea 5
2003/04
PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal 90pts, Chelsea 79, Man U 75, Liverpool 60
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Arsenal 14pts, Chelsea 7, Man U 6, Liverpool 6
2004/05
PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 95pts, Arsenal 83, Man U 77, Liverpool 58
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Chelsea 14pts, Man U 12, Arsenal 5, Liverpool 3
2005/06
PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 91pts, Man U 83, Liverpool 82, Arsenal 67
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Chelsea 15pts, Man U 11, Liverpool 4, Arsenal 4
2006/07
PREMIER LEAGUE: Man U 89pts, Chelsea 83, Liverpool 68, Arsenal 68
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Arsenal 14pts, Man U 11, Liverpool 6, Chelsea 5
2007/08
PREMIER LEAGUE: Man U 87pts, Chelsea 85, Arsenal 83, Liverpool 76
BIG FOUR LEAGUE: Man U 13pts, Chelsea 10, Arsenal 6, Liverpool 4
Do the rest of the maths yourself. We are in trouble.
Taking the glass-half-full view, if we win our home games that will be 10 points from the top teams. But that is currently a rather big if.
My newspaper suggests the problem is Rooney. One game on fire, the next ready to explode with rage and frustration – unsettling the team and losing all grip on the team’s game plan never mind his own contribution. I have already opined on VDS and his ability to unsettle the back four. Add in an aging and slowing Gary Nev and it’s no wonder we are beginning to leak goals.
More problems in the middle of the park. I hear Hargreaves is out for the rest of the season with his dodgy knee, so with Scholes still crocked and beginning to show his age anyway, we might start to look a little thin there once injuries and bans to others kick in.
Up front? Tevez seems to be short of match fitness and can’t buy a goal (OK he scored a pen against QPR tonight but that doesn’t really count). Berbatov hasn’t quite gelled with his team mates yet, but the good news is that he and Ronaldo will do so one day and that will be a joy to watch.
Overall, I think an underlying problem is one you correctly noted – we are being beaten by teams who want it more. And that’s the effect of winning the two trophies which really matter within a week or so back in May, plus an excess of accolades for young Ronnie. Mentally, he wears an Alice band, never a good sign, while Berba really does wear one. You have to say they are a bit girly. I note that Tevez wears one too but he is so ugly he might be doing that just to frighten the opposition, if not their kids watching back home on the box. We need some more backbone in the team and we can’t rely on Rooney to provide it.
I agree with what you said regarding the other teams wanted it more than United. It seems that in the player itself, the hunger is no longer there. The mentality has changed and to add to that, going into the season as the EPL and CL champions are tough. Other teams will always tend to go the extra mile when going against United as they know that if they can beat us, it’ll be one hell of a achievement.
I personally think that VDS and Gary has passed their prime. Of course VDS manage to pull some string in some games, but we need a goalkeeper who is consistent throughout the season. As for Gary, pace and acceleration are so essential in football these days and you can’t just count on experience and to put him with someome like Nasri was one of the biggest mistake SAF have made this season.
Hopefully, as the season goes on, I hope that the team will gel much better especially in attack. Ronnie, Wazza and Berba need to get their acts together and as for Tevez, once he is match fitness, we know what he is capable of doing.
Hi Mark,
I read your article with much laughter and I must laud your insight of a surgeon’s accuracy. It was certainly one of the best football piece I have read in a long long time (soccernet does get a bit too matter of fact at times). Thanks for your thoughts and mine goes to United, who I HOPE pull up their Nike socks, stop leaking goals and start winning matches more consistently!
United need a steely midfield general as u noted. I thought Hargreaves was brought in for that role but he has played in different positions that i’m left wondering…… And now he is out for the season. I fault SAF for starting Park, Anderson and Neville bcos i felt they lacked match fitness and i think it showed. The first two acquitted themselves (I think) but the less said about Neville’s performance the better. And where was Fletcher? Unfashionable he may be but his commitment and consistency cannot be doubted. I think Foster should be No 1 ahead of Kuszak.
Fergie reckons we are playing better than last season, apart from not converting enough opportunities:
“You just have to accept there are some little periods in every season where you just can’t put the ball in,” said Ferguson.
“We have said time and time again, someone will suffer. We just have to concentrate and keep the belief that if we play our football and continue making chances, it will change for us.”
So someone is going to suffer soon. I think he means Stoke. I hope he doesn’t mean us!!
An excellent summary. It is hurtful that we have lost two games against teams who have outfought us. Who ever outfought a team containing Keane or Bruce or Hughesey or Ince or Robbo?
But the line between success and failure is a fine one, and we are only a step or two away from crossing to the right side of it. If the Roonster had taken his chances, and if Gary hadn’t stuck out his let, we’d have gone in one up and their heads would have dropped.
My major worries are two. First is that the team with the best defensive record last season cannot close off a game when we score first. We have failed to win three games when we have scored first. Second is that something is still wrong with Ronaldo’s body language. He is not happy. OK an unhappy Ronaldo is still better than 99% of happy bunnies, but these things can infect a team’s morale.
Stoke suffered, not us, this time. Team Crinkley made the trip, with a Redette in attendance, and much enjoyed the demolition job. But don’t get too excited, Stoke were really poor. The main skill of their forwards was being tall, broad and, er, that’s it. The design of the OT pitch, which slopes away just after the touchline, gave their one weapon, the long throw-in, no chance: he needs a run-up!
Chelsea have now scored 19 goals away from home with just 1 against. We have scored 7 and let 6 in. Boy do we need all 3 points against an improving Villa side. Who will be suffering next Saturday?