Why Manchester United are not a one man team

It’s all looking good for the Red Devils with a 7 point lead at the top of the Premier League. A crucial weekend is now done and dusted, with Manchester United and Manchester City both picking up 3 points against difficult opponents. Manchester United dominated Liverpool completely till the Scousers scored. After that, there were signs of the below-par defending that United have had this season. It’s been a strange season for United thus far, considering that they have won many of their trophies in the last few years due to a very strong defence. This season, almost all the teams in the top 10 have conceded fewer goals than United and even Sunderland at 14^th on the table have conceded as many goals as United.

So how are United 7 points clear? Simple. They have scored a bucket load of goals, following the footsteps of the Real Madrid team of the early 2000s, where they had a policy of “You score 3, we will score 4.”

So where are these goals coming from? This summer, United added the prolific goal scorer Robin Van Persie from Arsenal to their ranks. And what a signing he has been – 17 goals and 9 assists so far in the league. These fantastic numbers have fuelled various opinions that United are a one man team, and without RVP, would struggle to get into the top 4! This would be highly unfair to the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Javier Hernandez and many others who have contributed to United’s success this season.

First, let us analyze the performance of Wayne Rooney. Since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford for Real Madrid, Rooney has been United’s talisman. Playing in his preferred central role, he scored many more goals than he had been scoring playing in a makeshift position for the greater good of the team. This season, with the arrival of RVP, he has adopted the playmaker’s role, playing in the hole behind the striker, and with great effect. He is not getting the credit he deserves, considering the goals have been scored by RVP. But he does not have bad numbers either: 7 assists and 7 goals, given the number of matches he missed because of freak injuries.

In fact, he was superb in all the matches against the top teams: Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. He is doing the job of the second striker and the dynamic midfielder that United need – two jobs done with sheer class. An example of his work in midfield can be seen in the number of yellow cards he has been shown this season. He has 4 already, compared to the single yellow he got last season, which is proof of the effort put by him in the midfield to break up play.

Michael Carrick has been the unsung hero for many a season at Manchester United, doing all the dirty work in the centre of midfield and coming up with the brilliant passes at crucial moments in matches. This season he has raised his performance levels and has been Mr. Consistent at the club. In fact, he has started almost all the matches and has been excellent in both creating and breaking up play. His pass to Chicharito in the Newcastle match was just another example of his contribution to United.

This brings us to Chicha! He is the super sub. The new Solksjaer! His timely goals have won United matches against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea, and whenever he plays he gives the opposition defence a torrid time. His late runs are just amazing, and he is the perfect impact player that can be brought on to change the game. Even Welbeck has been sharp and has worked his socks off whenever he has played. Against Liverpool he was the best player in my opinion; never giving the Liverpool defense a moment of peace, chasing down every ball and closing down all players.

There have been many other contributions to the United cause this season, with Scholes and Giggs, in spite of the loss of pace for obvious reasons, coming up with wonder passes that lead to goals. Even the defense has chipped in this season, with Evans and Evra both scoring crucial goals.

Now Vidic is back, and he has shown signs of returning to his best with good performances against West Brom, West Ham and Liverpool. He is winning those aerial duels and the crunching tackles are back. Rafael has also improved a lot this season, and his combination with Valencia has troubled even Cole and Clichy, arguably the two best left backs in the league right now. Rio may have lost pace, but his reading of the game is still second to none, so it looks positive for United.

An exciting line up of matches awaits United, with the Spurs next week and the humdinger against Real Madrid in the Champions League. The Red Devils may have the best player in the league at the moment, but it has been no solo effort. The comebacks this season have been a testament to the sheer belief and attitude of the squad, and as the man himself has said, Manchester United is a ‘champion team’.

This is what the striker said, “This is a special team. Everybody wants to help each other. Everybody’s keen for everyone to score. Defenders are working their socks off for the midfielders, the midfielders are working for the strikers – everybody wants to run and everybody has one target in their mind.”

I don’t disagree.