As we slowly, but surely, approach the mid-way point for the 2010/11 season, teams appear unable to grab the initiative to take a mass stride in the title race. However, where Chelsea and Arsenal stumble, Manchester United continue their traditional early season stutter before coming good around Christmas and 2010 is no exception. Yes, they may not be playing their best football to date but not playing football to their high potential whilst grinding out victories is what makes champions, champions and Manchester United are the best of the best at doing so.
Following the 2-0 victory over Roberto Martinez's Wigan on the back of a fantastic comeback against Gerard Houllier's Aston Villa, United currently sit in second place behind current title holders Chelsea, both of which hold twenty-eight points after fourteen games this season with fourteen of those points coming in the last six games making them the in-form team at the moment. This is the reason fans and pundits alike never write Sir Alex Ferguson's men off no matter how bad a start they have to a Premiership season. They have an uncanny ability to play badly in any match yet still be able to pick up points when they are needed most.
My prime example of this has to be back in 2009 when Aston Villa travelled to Old Trafford as the title was contested by old rivals Liverpool and Manchester United. On the back of two successive defeats (to Liverpool and Fulham respectively) United were in danger of throwing their title charge away with Liverpool hot on their heels. It appeared as though they were heading for an unlikely third successive defeat at the hands of Villa where goals either side of half-time from Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew had cancelled on Cristiano Ronaldo's 14th minute free-kick. Ronaldo popped up for his second goal of the game in the 80th minute to draw things level but, where only a win will do and with United not playing to their usual high standards, up popped youngster Federico Macheda to score an unlikely, yet equally sublime, 90th minute winner for the defending champions.
Whilst United put in another poor performance that Sunday afternoon, they still managed to grind out the win when it was most needed, a sign of true champions and a trait that the red half of Manchester posses in abundance. Following the 3-2 win over Villa in April 2009, United then went on to win the Premiership whilst losing only two games before the end of the season (4-2 on penalties to Everton in the FA Cup Semi-Final and 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League Final) and only dropping points in the 0-0 draw away to Arsenal.
With the 2010/11 season in full-swing, Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be hoping the ability to play badly but still win will greatly aid them this season as they hope to reclaim their title from Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea and, where consistency appears to be a skill which no team seems to be able to handle at present, consistency is one word SAF and his team know too well and with the fixtures coming thing and fast, both domestically and on the European stage, consistency will be key for Manchester United's hunt for ending the season with more than just the Carling Cup in the trophy cabinet.
Apologies for the lack of articles recently, believe me; I will be trying to write more again should time persist.
Anyway, got to go, I will write again when I can.
Laters,
Macca
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