Tis a strange season this one. As little as three weeks ago I was sure we would peter out around March. Lacking in motivation, goal threat and a Happy Ronaldo we have been far less imperious than you would expect European champions to be. But, whisper it quietly, we may just be getting away with our lack of early-season form.
This is the kind of result that makes you believe. Sunderland’s back four were excellent, all eleven of them played with great tenacity and deserve tremendous credit for equipping themselves so well. United, on the other hand, tried to play football. We have struggled to score at the best of times this season but, (post- Eric 95/96) we all know the value of the 1-0 win and at some point we are going to start seriously hammering people.
Tevez has every right to be miffed at not starting, my proposed solution to our current “too many jedis not enough lightsabres” problem is start Ronaldo on the bench. It was another Saturday when he looked unhappy and behaved in a way it is hard to explain. He is saying the right things to the press but usually with Ferguson sat five yards away, a la the Ballon d’Or presentation this week. He is utterly, utterly wonderful as a player but he is starting to remind me Ruud in 05/06. We all know what happened next.
Keano:
Having spoken to a few of the Mackems, whom I find to be fairly decent fans, there didn’t seem to be that many of them unhappy about his departure. “Tactically naive” was a phrase I heard on several occasions. Perhaps these guys don’t quite appreciate how close they were to a Leeds-esque decline. Not that he would ever come, but I would be extremely happy to see the big man back as part of our coaching set-up.