Defensive Headache

6 goals conceded in the last two premiership games with a lost against Blackburn who scored 4 against us and the rest came from the win against Fulham. After splashing out almost £12 million in the January transfer market on two defenders, we were expecting it would have made our defense a more solid and stronger unit but so far we have yet to see any improvement. It was unthinkable before to see United conceding 4 goals in any game but this season, we have conceded four goals in two premiership games with the other one coming from the trashing we got from Boro in early November last year.


I honestly believe if not for Van der Sar, we could have lost more games. He can save 10 certain goals in a match but without the support and also the reliability that any team needed from the defenders to cover the goalkeeper, we can still loose the games just because of the lack of concentration or misjudgments by the defenders that can lead to a goal.


In the last two matches, the lack of communication among the defenders was clearly shown. They were getting into each other ways to head or clearing the ball and also the positioning in the box when handling crosses were frustrating for us fans. I would understand Vidic having trouble understanding French or English but when Evra and Silvestre were getting in each other ways (both Frenchman) more than one occasion during the course of the match and might have caused an embarrassing goal, you do feel unsettle and nervous while watching the game. It was frustrating to see the mix up between Rio and Van der Sar that caused the goal against Blackburn, I don’t think the fans were ready to endure another such moments.


Our defending against Fulham’s set pieces and crosses were pathetic and it was clear that Fulham realized it and were trying to expose the weakness. Both goals came from crosses from both flanks and headed by players who are not the tallest in the field and I do think both Brown and Silvestre must be over 6” tall but no one of them were challenging for the ball or anywhere near. Considering McBride and Helguson are obviously the strikers for Fulham, I am still trying to figure out why were our centre backs not the one defending them and leaving the responsibilities to actually challenging the strikers on both occasions to the left and right back?


Don’t get me wrong, Brown is a good defender but he just lacks the authority and command at the back. He reminds me of Pallister, a strong but silent defender. I don’t think I ever see Brown barking any orders to his fellow defenders or midfielders on the field. He just goes into the field and make sure the tackles are strong and making sure his presence is notice on the field. I think because of that and also with his injury problems, he had been over looked by Sven for the England call-up. I don’t know if he will be in the final squad for the World Cup come this June with Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell and King are all ahead of him.


United have scored 49 goals so far. This is only 3 goals less than Chelski but the awful truth is Chelski have only let in 13 goals while United have let in 26 goals, exactly double than Chelski and an average of just over 1 goal per game. It is clear that to really challenge Chelski and also being on top of the league again, United must compliment the superb attacking flair with a strong defence. The current defensive unit has not been impressive and do need a lot of improvement to be at par with the best. It is too early to actually comment on the new addition to the squad in the form of Vidic and Evra but we do hope they will blend in fast with the team. It does seems that the league championship is out of reach for United in the current season but the automatic 2nd spot for the Champions League is still to play for with Liverpool the only strong challenger right now with Arsenal fading away.



All United fans still remembered the time when scoring a goal against United is a privilege but last week Bentley has become the only player to have scored a hatrick against United since I don’t know when. Even Shearer and Henry do not have the right to say that they did the same thing. In doing so, Bentley had also help Blackburn to a double in the league over United for almost 73 years. I hope for another 100 years more, no team can do a double on United again.



Can we catch Chelski and maybe become the champion? I do want to believe that but a 2nd place finish and also less goals going into the back of United net would be enough for me now and almost all United fan.