Ten things we learned about Manchester United in 2013
While Man United spent the second-half of 2013 trying to learn how to
function without the managerial presence of former supreme leader Alex
Ferguson, we spent it learning lessons of our own about the Red Devils.
Nooruddean Choudry, AKA Twitter's Bearded Genius, runs through 10 things he learned about Manchester United in 2013.
1. The boy's a keeper
De Gea is the bottle of red that Fergie left for Moyes and Round
when they moved into his old gaff, to make up for the dry rot and
creaky landing he neglected to mention. Having been allowed the time to
falter and learn in previous years, de Gea is now playing like a
seasoned pro at 23, still embryonic for a keeper. He’s been the one
calming constant in an otherwise up-and-downy old season.
2. Rafael is golden
If
the new coaching team at United were in any doubt as to who was best
right-back at the club, then the last few months must surely removed all
doubt. Smalling and Jones can ‘do a job’ there in the same way that a
nightwatchman can defend his wicket; with difficulty, out of pure
necessity and with zero adventure. Rafael on the other hand breathes
life into the right side of the team with his flight, fight and hutzpah.
3. Phil Cool
For so long mocked and derided for the unfortunate gurns he
pulls during matches, Phil Jones’ feet are finally stealing the
spotlight away from his ridiculous face.
No closer to having a set position in the team, he’s dealt with this by
being mostly excellent wherever he’s played. Centre-half is surely his
ultimate calling, but his mature and forceful cameos in midfield have
very much begged to differ.
4. Thank Evans
All things
must pass (apart from Chris Smalling to a teammate), and so there needs
to be a resolution at the club that the Vidic-Ferdinand axis is glorious
history. The new world order is and must be Jonny Evans. The Norn Irishman
has overtaken his more celebrated colleagues as the main man in
defence, and although not blessed with remarkable physique or noteworthy
skill he’s just a wonderful pain in the arse of anyone who wants to
score.
5. Broken wings
Is there any club in the world more synonymous with dazzling
wing-play than Manchester United? Why then is the current lineup so
beset with fraudulent wideboys and useless flankers? Valencia seems to
have recalled some of his long-lost luster, but the others are either
intermittently okay or frothy cut-inside nothingness.
Without genuine
width you don't stretch defences, so they remain obstinately compact and
narrow. That’s fine if you happen to have a ginger prince lying about,
but…
6. Void of creation
Watching the superb ‘Class of 92’
documentary and less accomplished Chaddy Park YouTube clips, I won’t
have been the only one who wistfully hoped for Paul Scholes to come out
of retirement for a second time and once again walk into the starting
XI. This team is aching, crying out for some invention and playmakery in
midfield. It’s a weakness that requires urgent and expensive attention.
7. Strike action
You can keep all of your strikers happy some of the time, and
some of your strikers happy all the time, but you can’t keep all of the
time… of your strikers… oh I dunno. But Moyes seems to have trouble
keeping each of his goalscorers sweet. If Rooney’s not in a huff then
Robin’s got a cob on, or Hernandez is retweeting passive aggressively.
If one or more continues to give him public jip, a high-profile
departure may be required...
8. The kids are alright
Let’s
be honest, it’s not been a great half-season at United. Nor should
anyone have rightly expected otherwise following Fergie’s departure and a
cack-handled transfer window. But the future at least seems bright. De
Gea (23), Welbeck (23), Jones (21) and Rafael (23) all continue excite
with precocious maturity, whilst loaned out talent such as Nick Powell
(19), Jesse Lingard (21) and Tom Lawrence (19) are creating buzz
elsewhere.
9. Januzaj Januzaj Januzaj
That being said, the one jewel in United’s slightly faded
crown is undoubtedly Adnan Januzaj. It’s difficult not to get
overexcited about a youngster who at 18 looks anything but raw. The
poise and balance in his movement; the effortless grace with which he
glides past opposition lunges as if they were choreographed; the end
product that takes others half a career to perfect - everything points
to a greatness that United must match.
10. Fergie’s crime
Finally,
the one uncomfortable truth that this season has taught us is that Sir
Alex Ferguson’s legacy was less than perfect. There’s an odd notion
amongst certain sections of United’s support that Fergie is beyond
reproach; that to criticise him in any way is blasphemy. Is it not -
neither is it ungrateful or disloyal – it’s pure reason. The current
squad has clear and obvious weaknesses that need fixing.
The truth
is that Ferguson left David Moyes with an uneven squad that only a
genius could make champions. Moyes must start again.
source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ten-things-learned-manchester-united-2960336
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