The Devil In Me

There is nothing like a run of a few victories to put you in a good mood.

United finished last season terribly and playing some fairly dour football.  After all of the huffing and puffing about a decent summers rest and a proper pre-season for Rooney at last I suppose the continuation of that poor form into this year was not something that we expected. 

Yet continue it did and then of course Wayne and Christiano ruled themselves out from the off.  I am right in saying, however, that we have created more scoring opportunities than anybody else so far this season and even though we haven’t been putting them away yet class will tell eventually.

The last three games have seen us win one nil from headed goals, not the most complicated way to do things but its nice to know we can get the basics right too.Liverpool and Chelsea have both already faltered a touch and it could well be Christmas before we can decide who the genuine contenders are this season.  I am confident that we will be one of them. 

It is also telling that Rooney is back, incredibly, already, and I for one hadn’t even noticed that he had gone. 

Predictions are dangerous things. I confidently said that last season would be Fergie’s last and that we would struggle to finish fifth. I also grumbled loudly about the sale of Van Nistelrooy, ‘where are the goals going to come from?’, and the purchase of Michael ‘the crab’ Carrick for £18m. I did in fact think that if he was worth that much then perhaps I myself might be worth a couple of grand and that I should probably go for a trial.

I am happy to be proved wrong by Mr. Ferguson but admit that I am yet to be completely convinced about Carrick’s contribution to the team.

So what is going to happen this season? Despite the money we have already spent I think it is actually going to be more difficult. We have not looked all powerful against Arsenal Chelsea or Liverpool for a while and the importance of the games against those three will be even more massive than usual.

I feel that we have a responsibility to the sport to beat Chelsea and Liverpool, in particular, to the trophies and I expect them to both provide strong challenges this time out. It is, probably still, a year too early for Arsenal but Wenger should never be underestimated. If Chelsea can win the league and Liverpool the European Cup playing the game they play then entire game is in serious trouble.

I expect Liverpool to be strong this year and Chelsea will be like a wounded beast in the league. It is important that somebody, preferably us, beats them at Stamford Bridge soon. Liverpool, as we know, are desperate for the championship. It is critical, critical, critical that they do not get there. We cannot allow the smuggest fans in the world to become an smugger. So there we have it, it is our duty to win the league for the good of the sport in general, the thought of either of those two winning leaves a sickening feeling in my stomach.