Below
are another extract conversations between The Writer and his close pal,
Mr. A regarding his beloved Manchester United. There is no more
suitable person to give the hindsight of United’s current progress than
this true hardcore United fan who adores legends such as Ryan Giggs and
Patrice Evra...
The Writer:
So,
first win of the season against QPR. How do you feel before the match
and after it? I’m sure all you United fans were excited to see new
United signings especially Radamel Falcao to play. I’m excited too,
honestly. Although United didn’t really need him as they already have
two world class strikers in Robin and Wayne, his presence will certainly
lift the mood and confidence of the rest of United’s
players.
Mr. A:
Like
all ManUtd fans, I was excited and very eager to watch that game. We
knew that game would set the tempo for the rest of the season. Boy
we nailed it. The feel good factor was there again at Old Trafford. It
is the feeling we were missing for the past few months. From the back,
Tyler Blackett and Jonny Evans were impressive. They did not have a lot
to do during the game but they look comfortable
at each other’s company. De Gea was mostly a spectator during the game.
The return of Rafael at right back was superb. Marcos Rojo looks decent
at leftback for a debutant. The midfielders were solid with Juan Mata
and Ander Herrera running the game while Daley
Blind tidy up and set the tempo from the back. Angel Di Maria, as usual
was pure fantastic. If he continues this form, he will definitely worth
every penny United paid for him. I think United fans are already in
love with him. Wayne Rooney showed his class
with a goal while RVP still looks rusty. The arrival of Radamel Falcao
into the team should worry RVP. Thus I predict, RVP will be back at his
best to retain his position as the main goalscorer for United. Falcao
did make a cameo. He is still adapting to the
game and we will need time to see what he can do.
But
personally, I was so impressed with Blind. It is rarely difficult to
find players who can straight away adapt and play in a new team. But
Blind played like he was a United player for years. He was very solid.
Neutrals might say United won because they played QPR, a newly promoted
team. However, after spending millions in the transfer window, QPR was
also committed to kick off their season at
old Trafford. Nonetheless, from that game, QPR was poor. Simply as
that. It was a good opportunity for United to lift their confidence and
spirits. I am sure they will carry on this form into the coming games. I
think judging from United’s performance, LVG
might stick to this 4-4-2 diamond formation in the coming games. I am
looking forward to see United’s next game and hope they can replicate
the same form.
The Writer:
Yes
I agree with you on Blind, Di Maria, Robin and the 4-4-2 diamond
formation. Blind gave a smooth and composed display in the stopper
position.
But we are yet to see Blind holding the midfield against a more
aggressive team. I wonder if Joey Barton had play in that match, what
type of play will Blind give? He is certainly not a hard tackler or an
anchorman but more to a Xabi Alonso type of defensive
midfielder with a less long range of passing. If Blind survives the
test against more aggressive teams like Mancity (Fernando/Fernandinho),
Liverpool (Steven Gerrard), and even Sunderland (Lee Catermole), he can
the best in that position for United. Di Maria
on the other hand gave a wonderful all round game. I’ve never saw him
taking a proper free-kick before this honestly. But boy what an
excellent kick which confused the wall and the goalkeeper. I’ve also
rarely saw him playing on the left but more central.
The Di Maria that I knew is a pacy and tireless wideman who is always
interested in crossing the ball, penetrating, and dribbling from the
left. But his display in this narrower diamond formation saw his
creativity was used to the fullest. He looked a real
deal in that iconic no 7 jersey. Then about Robin, he really looked a
tired player. Maybe it was from his low fitness level and his recent
injury problem. But he also looked a player ready to retire. There is
less passion seen in his play nowadays. There is
no spark and no urgency, maybe he gave too much effort and emotion in
the last World Cup. Lastly about the new formation. I’m also pleased to
see United changed their formation. A 3-5-2 formation against a team who
also used the 3-5-2 formation will be a disaster.
QPR also used 3 at the back in Ferdinand, Caulker, and Hill. But
United’ central defense is a big problem and four at the back brought
more stability. However this formation left United’s favorite son,
Darren Fletcher on the bench, and I fear for his career
moving forward. More so if United manage to get Arturo Vidal from
Juventus this January transfer window.
Rio
Ferdinand said in his new autobiography that David Moyes last season
set United to play in a tactic not to lose against opponents. And
certainly not to win. But in the Ferguson era, United was set to go and
attack the opponents to win games. This is what LVG is trying to
reinstall back in the mind of the United players.
Mr. A:
Don’t
forget about Michael Carrick. He is somehow a forgotten man. He is not a
flashy type of a player but his presence in midfield, do make
a difference. Let’s talk about the unsung heroes in the middle of the
park. For ManUtd, it got to be Michael and Darren. Michael provide the
physical strength and passing range where he dictates play and sit just
above the back four. He is not a ball winner,
but he intercepts and controls the tempo. On the other hand, Darren is
more to a box to box type of player. He runs to cover the hole left when
United is attacking. This current ManUtd squad has introduced Blind and
Herrera in a new midfield partnership. Both
of these new boys are in line to control United’s middle of the park
for years to come. Blind, as you mentioned, has the composed nature in
his game with his high completion passing game, only lacking the
physicality that Carrick has. On the other hand, Herrera
is a tireless midfielder like Darren but he usually drops deep playing
as a deep lying playmaker. It has been a while since ManUtd brought in a
midfielder in the likes of ‘Nicky Butts’ and ‘Roy Keanes’. These type
of players win you the ball in the midfield.
They even put their body on the line just to ensure the team retain
possession. Over the years, we saw Sir Alex try to find this Butts and
Keanes type of replacement. As to this date, I am not convinced we
managed to acquire that type. Eric Djemba-Djemba,
Liam Miller, and Owen Hargreaves all came in to become the ball
winners. But only Hargreaves managed to fill that role as he secured his
move from Bayern after impressing at the 2010 World Cup. As a fan, I
was so happy when he came. He showed desire and tenacity
in midfield. His injuries, however, let him down. I always wonder, what
could have happened if he maintain fit all this while. His public
outburst by accusing United’s medical staff of not looking after him
while he was injured, did hurt me too. That sort
of accusation somehow shows that he was not a true United and the worst
part was when he decided to leave for our rival, ManCity. As a
consequence, United fans remembered him as a sulky player, thanks to his
own action.
Other
players that I like to watch are Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) and Lucas
Leiva (Liverpool). The former has revolutionize himself and has became
a regular in Jose Mourinho’s side, winning the position over John Obi
Mikel. Like I mentioned just now, he is like Carrick who is not flashy
but he keeps the game simple. Same goes to the latter, Lucas does play a
simple game. I am not sure why Liverpool fan
does not appreciate him. I do regard him highly. The only concern is
maybe his physicality where he is quite soft in that aspect. Lee
Cattermole is a hard tackling midfield who I see as in the same mould
like Roy Keane. He is aggressive and passionate. I also
think he is a bit under rated and I hope he will don the Three Lions
shirt in the future.
The Writer:
Michael
and Darren are the identity of United. They are appreciated by the fans
but with Europe and the League Cup no longer a commitment for
United, I truly fear for their involvement for United this season. I
read in one news that had Patrick Kluivert saying LVG will use the 3-5-2
formation in his tenure at Old Trafford for foreseeable future. The
match against QPR was a one-off. If LVG got the
centre backs all fit and manage to buy another world-class type, he
will certainly revert back to 3-5-2 in the future. This formation is
good for the likes of Michael and Darren to get game times, but I still
not convinced by its effectiveness in the EPL.
You did mentioned that United has to find the Butts and Keanes type.
But Arturo Vidal is not that type of player, he is a box to box type.
United looks to be content with Blind in that position in the years to
come.
Owen
Hargreaves is very unfortunate with his time at United. He was a good
player groomed by the famous Bayern Munich academy. But his injury
really let him, his coach and the fans down. He was regarded to be the
missing puzzle for United and England prior to his transfer to England,
but instead he had been the forgotten liability for both sides. I didn’t
really know about the United’s affection
on him but if what you’re saying just now is true, it is just sad.
United and Alex Ferguson must rued their mistake in signing him in the
first place.
On
your assessment on Matic and Lucas, I agree totally. They keep the game
simple and really protect their back four. Matic shows that failure
is not the end of the world and if you have talent, form is just a
temporary thing. He blossomed in his return to Chelsea and is currently
very much the first names on the team sheet. Lucas meanwhile has had a
50-50 kind of career at Liverpool. He is sometimes
decent and sometimes poor. But he has improved and the inclusion into
the Brazil team before the World Cup Brazil started where he got injured
is a testament to that. Brazilian who was called into the international
squad and was granted to wear the no 5 jersey
of Dunga is something. And Lucas is that something. Liverpool fans just
want more from him, I supposed and sadly they will not get that. Lucas
is just Lucas, and Steven Gerrard has taken his place nowadays. He can’t
play in a more advanced midfield position
either as I think Joe Allen is better than him in that position. Joe
Allen has improved and he has followed Jordan Henderson in that sense.
Mr. A:
ManUtd’s
next game will be against another newly promoted team, Leicester City.
No disrespect to Leicester, this game will be a good opportunity
for United to carry their sublime form from the match against QPR. For
the past few months, I noticed United was not playing with full
confidence and conviction since the Godfather, Sir Alex step down from
the managerial post. It was more obvious during Moyes’
tenure as the manager. From these two scenarios, we can conclude that
passion and confidence can make huge difference. During Moyes’ tenure, I
really could not see the desire within the team. The players seems lost
and it was a devastating time for players
and fans alike. They were winning one game and will drew the next game
and might lost another two games. Inconsistency was the result from low
confidence among the players. This has definitely left a big impact on
and off the pitch which we saw Moyes’ sacking
before the end of the season. I sympathize with Moyes. After all he did
try to sort things out, but a club like Man united cannot afford to see
all bad records to be broken in such a short period of time. Old
Trafford has lost its fear factor. Full stop.
Judging
from the last game, the hype was there again. The fans were cheering,
the players was performing and the manager, well must have been
quite happy how things went out. Even though LVG doesn’t show a lot of
emotion, he was surely impressed with that sort of performance. Fans
will be expecting the same outcome for next game. If United can continue
their form for the next 3-4 games, I can sense
that we are back. It is still early days, but the time will surely
come. We are United through and through!
The Writer:
Don’t
be too over confident against Leicester. You should know man. They are
actually the team to watch this season, even my earlier prediction
on them getting relegated from EPL this season, looks absurd now. They
play better football than Burnley and QPR certainly. Please keep your
eye on Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez. They are the livewire of this
Leicester team. But I still think United will
win against Leicester, like all the neutrals and United fans. United
have too much firepower and world-class individuals in their team
currently. Not to mention their confidence at this point of time. All
this will see United go through the match against Leicester
with the much-needed 3 points. The key point for United is just play
their own football, be it the 3-5-2 formation or the new 4-4-2 diamond
formation. LVG should know that. They just need to attack Leicester with
the same way they did to QPR. And Falcao may
get the nod above RVP in that match, proven that Falcao is fit enough
this Friday. So expect Falcao to get his first EPL goal before too long.
Anyway, good luck to you and United for the rest of the season ahead.
They will surely still be ups and downs along
the way, but United’s successful era will certainly be rebuilt by LVG.
He is the real ‘Chosen One’…
