Manchester United: The Tale Of a Shaky Defence and a Superb Strikeforce

Going a goal down in the first twenty minutes and then coming back from behind to secure the match seems to be Manchester United’s story this season. The strike force making up for the defence’s frailties is what United fans are coming to expect these days. But then, can they keep this up against the big guns? The Chelseas and the Barcelonas are not going to be a walk in the park. Going a goal down against them and then coming back with a bang to win the match is never going to be easy against the better teams.

Alex Ferguson would have noticed this against Tottenham this season. Though a Scholes-inspired Manchester rallied tirelessly for all of the second half, the goal that would have at least secured them a draw never came. If this was the case against a decent team like Tottenham, then what would be the case when better teams like Chelsea and Manchester City come up against them?

Let’s face the truth, Manchester United just cannot let in early goals in every match and then come from behind to win the match all the time.

Rooney, Van Persie, Chicharito, Welbeck, Kagawa – These names would be the dream of any manager to have in his strike force. But then an aging Ferdinand and Evra, an always injured Vidic – these facts would not salivate the mouths of any manager. You might say an improving Rafael, Jones and Smalling are all on their way back into the team. You would be right, but aren’t these defenders the ones for the future?

The once unstoppable Manchester United defence of Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra is now a thing of the past. Vidic just can’t seem to shake of his injuries, Evra and Ferdinand are not able to find any consistency whatsoever. Buttner looked promising on his debut, but then he has also been shaky as seen in the Braga match. So where does the United defence go from here?

Mr. Ferguson, while you are at the mall shopping for more attack minded players, why don’t you look at the defence section? Reports of Lewandowski being linked to United are everywhere. But then every United fan would agree that a Hummels or an Ogbonna would be the best thing that could happen to the United lineup. Throw in a defensive midfielder, maybe a Wanyama or a Gundogan and the defensive outlook would be much better. Looking at how the things are going at present, every United fan would be eagerly waiting for any defensive signing in the January transfer window.

Come this weekend, Chelsea are not going to have any sympathy on the shaky, inconsistent and ageing Manchester defence. As a huge Manchester United fan myself, I hope the Hazards and the Oscars would not run riot and that the once brilliant Manchester defence would rise from the ashes. There were signs of it during the Newcastle clash. If they don’t, Ferguson has to spend some money strengthening their defence. Or else come May, Manchester United will again find themselves heartbroken and trophy less.