Season Review: Manchester United - Part I

When Sergio Aguero scored his second goal of the match and the winner for Manchester City back in May 2012 against QPR, it ensured that Manchester United finish as the second best team in the Premier League behind their city rivals. With the ‘Blue Moon Rising’, it was imperative for United to find an immediate solution to this problem and wrest the title back the following season. Sir Alex Ferguson had lived long enough to thwart challenges from Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool over the last couple of decades to remain the de facto champions of England. In hindsight, the 2011-12 season could have been Fergie’s last had the cataclysmic rise of City to the perch been delayed a year further. It was all scripted; Sir Alex had to conquer back the lost crown before retirement.

The arrival of Shinji Kagawa from the then reigning champions of Bundesliga and Robin Van Persie from Arsenal were greeted with much excitement by the fans worldwide. The mere idea of the various possibilities that the attacking duo of Rooney and Van Persie would provide to the side was orgasmic. With the Dutchman’s move taking centre stage, an unhappy Bulgarian quietly left Old Trafford through the back door for Fulham. While some didn’t notice, some thanked him for his selfless service to the club and the rest were happy that they would once again watch him play, albeit in different colours. Although the signings were reassuring with the myriad of attacking talent, the midfield concerns remained unaddressed.

United kicked off the new season with a disappointing defeat at the hands of their long standing nemesis, Everton. With new signing Kagawa starting the match and Van Persie on the bench, United collapsed to a 1-0 loss courtesy a Marouane Fellaini header. Not the ideal start to the season for the Red Devils but with a makeshift defence of Carrick and Valencia, it was always going to be tough to overcome a physical Everton side at Goodison Park. However, the following game, United registered their first win of the season with both the newcomers Van Persie and Kagawa getting their names on the scoresheet, the former with a spectacular volley much to the delight of the fans. The Stretford End had a new hero to sing for now.

Robin Van Persie continued his form for extended periods through the season and secured his second consecutive Golden Boot in as many seasons as well guiding his new team to their 20th league title. Although Manchester City did mount some pressure for the title, United kept picking up points week in and out, putting some clear daylight between them and the rest. By the time City geared up to face Fergie’s men in April for the return fixture, the fate of the title was sealed. But despite a convincing and thoroughly professional performance throughout the season, not everything has gone according to plan at the Theatre of Dreams over the last ten months. Be it through the red tinted glasses of a fan or through the perspective of a critic, there have been plenty of disappointments as there have been successes.

THE PLUSES – a quick glimpse

The biggest positive that anyone could make out from the last season for United has to be Robin Van Persie. The Dutch frontman was bought as an instantaneous remedy to strengthen the scoring department and it was not surprising how fast he adjusted to the new surroundings. It was his prolific goalscoring as well as overall contribution to the goals being scored that saw United fast reaching the table top and develop a healthy lead by the turn of the new year.

Former United captain and present England assistant coach Gary Neville recently stated that the future of United depends on the English quartet of Welbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling. While the former Fulham defender had a forgettable season, Jones improved in leaps and bounds, showing why exactly he is touted as a replacement for Rio Ferdinand at the club. His biggest assignment of the season was Cristiano Ronaldo and he did marvellously well over the course of two legs to stick close to the former United number seven. Danny Welbeck, well, the lad has a bright future ahead of him but sadly, despite impressing most of the time when he has been handed a start by Sir Alex, he would still find himself low down the pecking order. With the United wingers being nothing short of abysmal this season, Welbeck had to fill in rather than playing down the middle like he prefers to.

Sir Alex had in an interview back in March, stating that United would under no cost suffer a slump identical to the 2011-12 season and surrender the title to City. The players showed more professionalism as they avoided any major slip up during the course of the season, seeing off the mid-table sides with minimum fuss. They completed a league double over Liverpool and collected 10 out of a maximum 18 points against the top four sides.

With Sir Alex adopting the rotation policy between senior defenders Rio Ferdinand and club captain Nemanja Vidic, it ensured they stayed fit for the big games as well as guarantee the rest more playing time. And what it also ensured was the team doesn’t face with a defensive crisis like they did in the beginning of the season. Rio, perhaps, had the best season for United for a long time, being riddled with injuries over the last few and he rounded it off by scoring the winning goal in Sir Alex’s final match in charge at Old Trafford. Jonny Evans, who rose to prominence before putting up a fail show last season, rediscovered his form and became a mainstay in the United defence.

Rafael Da Silva, being rewarded with number two shirt, showed maturity this season unlike his rash and erratic self – remember his tug at Ribery, leading to his sending off back in 2010? The Brazilian has come a long way since then, being defensively far more responsible and solid.

The reason why United are the champions with a midfield as ordinary and inept as the one they have, is just Michael Carrick. Neither does he have the coolest hairdo in the team nor does he have the flashiest tricks up his sleeve. Did United win the league title because of him? No. Could we have won without him? Never. Carrick is almost like Mozart, both being classical composers.

The Disappointments

The biggest disappointment for United this season without a second thought would be Antonio Valencia. After such a fruitful last season, the Ecuadorian winger almost disappeared this season, thereby further complicating problems in the midfield for United and Fergie. The Gaffer continued to chop and change between Valencia, Young and Nani but to the sheer embarrassment of the three, the best wide midfielder this season was a 39-year-old Welshman.

When Juergen Klopp says he feels like crying when he sees the way Shinji Kagawa is utilised here at Old Trafford, I can understand what he says. With United employing a typical 4-4-1-1, Kagawa would always be a terrific choice to play behind the main striker. But with attacking riches like van Persie, Rooney and Chicharito, you can’t blame Sir Alex if he starts with two from among those three. But why buy Kagawa if you would buy Van Persie? He had been ineffective playing out wide for Japan, so the United management must surely have been aware of that. Kagawa’s buy wasn’t manufactured to boost shirt sales in Asia, but the way he is being utilised, he would end up going the Berbatov way sooner than later. Can Moyes accommodate Van Persie, Rooney (if he does indeed stay) and Kagawa in the same team? I wonder.

Much have been written and talked about Rooney’s alleged transfer request and how fans seem to be calling for his transfer now. Rooney, who was the top scorer for the club in the 2011-12 season, ending with a total of 34 in all competitions, ended up on the bench at Fulham as Sir Alex preferred new signing Robin Van Persie to him after the former’s rather lacklustre display in the season opener against Everton. He came on later but a gash to his leg sidelined him for a further four weeks, adding injury to insult. By the time he returned, United were playing around Van Persie just like they did around him a season back.

Wayne Rooney is still one of the finest strikers in the planet and he has proved that time and again he has been asked to score. But being a selfless lad he is, he has been asked to play somebody else’s role far too often. His versatility has been his curse. People have been talking about how Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure is going to affect the club and nothing is going to be the same. Well, it might as well be if they hold on to the lad who goes by the name of Wayne Rooney.

In the next edition, we will have a look at the outstanding performers and breakthrough players for United this season.