5 reasons why Manchester United could not win the Treble this season

The season has not gone according to plan for Sir Alex Ferguson. They were overwhelming favourites for the Treble earlier in the season, but after a disappointing last month, the Premier League is the only trophy they’ll have to be content with for this season (Of course, this is based on the assumption that United will not suffer a meltdown similar to last season. And I would definitely give Ferguson’s team the benefit of the doubt here)

Of course this season is better than last in terms of trophies won, but yet it seems rather unsatisfactory given the fact that they signed previous season’s top goal-scorer Van Persie and boosted their attacking options manifold.

So let us try and understand what exactly went wrong for Ferguson’s boys in spite of playing sumptuous football over the course of the season –

1.       Over reliance on forwards – 

      With 4 quality forwards to select from, Ferguson surely faced a dilemma every match as to which of the four should start. Danny Welbeck’s ability to play on the wings, coupled with the disappointing form of Nani, Valencia and Young, helped him get the starting nod over Chicharito in many matches. And while Chicharito has also been sensational, Van Persie has been the difference between United and City this season. It now seems that the Premier League winner was decided before the season even started, when Van Persie chose the Red half of Manchester instead of Blue.

However, Manchester United have been heavily reliant on the forwards, or in other words, the midfield hasn’t contributed enough in terms of goals.

An alarming stat comes into picture here.

Manchester United have scored 98 goals in all competitions so far this season, out of which 57 have been scored by their strikers. This means a whopping 58% of their goals have come from their strike quartet, which is a cause for concern. The midfield has chipped in with only 23 goals so far, which is 23% of total goals scored this season.

It is true that Michael Carrick has been in admirable form this season and his forward passing has been top class. However, the likes of Cleverley, Nani, Young, Valencia, Anderson, Giggs need to start getting into goal scoring positions more often. Because when the forwards don’t fire, then someone from midfield has to step up and contribute with the goals.

Paul Scholes was an absolute genius at this in his earlier days. Perfect positioning, clever runs into the box and the instincts of a poacher – he had it all. Unfortunately, no one has been able to replace his genius so far at Old Trafford.

Hence, the lack of goals from midfield is certainly something which Ferguson will have to address next season.

2.    Wingers out of form – 

     While Nani, Valencia and Young were tremendous last season, both in terms of goals as well as assists, they have certainly gone missing this season. Both Valencia and Young are yet to score a goal this season, while Nani has chipped in with just 3 goals yet. A comparison with their stats from last season brings out startling revelations.

In 2011-12 season, Valencia, Young and Nani, together had a combined total of 24 goals and 35 assists. In 2012-13, they have had a combined total of only 3 goals and 13 assists. A staggering drop in just one season.

It is no wonder that Evra and Rafael have performed well this season, the main reason being the poor performance of the wingers which has led to the space being taken up by Evra and Rafael.

Well, if this isn’t proof enough, here is another stat – In the 2011-12 season, Manchester United made 593 crosses in the Premier League, at a rate of 15.61 per match.

In the 2012-13 season, Manchester United made only 323 crosses in the League till date, at a rate of just 10.42 per match. Enough evidence that crosses from the wings have dried up.

Ferguson has already signed Wilfried Zaha in the winter transfer window and he might just be the spark that United need on the wings.

3.       Constant injury problems – 

      Like last season, Manchester United have been plagued by injury problems this season too. Vidic, Fletcher, Rooney, Anderson, Nani, Jones and the list goes on. All of them have been sidelined with injuries for a brief spell this season and constant changes in the lineup doesn’t help the team’s cause either.

Currently they have Vidic, Smalling and Evans – all 3 centre backs injured. Initially during the season too, Vidic, Smalling and Jones were unavailable for most of the time due to injuries. All possible centre back pairings have been tried by Ferguson this season, not because of loss of form or poor performances of players, but due to unavailability of players due to injury.

Last season too, Manchester United were the worst-hit team by injuries, losing players to a combined total of an astonishing 1,681 days.

Sir Alex cannot afford to keep losing players to injuries because squad depth is the most essential requisite when you are challenging on three fronts simultaneously.

4.       The Red Card – 

      One moment, one decision, one color, one card - and the castle of dreams fell flat on the ground. The dream of every Manchester United fan, the dream of a Treble lay in tatters. We surely thought this was our year, that this would be the year of the fourth European title. That Van Persie was the answer to our hapless European journeys over the past couple of seasons.

But fate had other cruel ideas. And fate in the form of the referee, dished out an unfair red card, as many would argue. Ferguson's reaction after the red card was shown, sums it up perfectly. Everyone was dumbfounded. They couldn’t believe what they had seen. Beating Real Madrid with 11 men is a huge task in itself, but now they were reduced to 10 men.

The players were affected the most as it was clearly evident by their body language. Though they had the confidence and conviction to win the game even in the last 10-15 minutes (which is something I am really proud of, as a Manchester United fan), fate intervened again in the form of Diego Lopez.
Sometimes you wonder, it just wasn’t our night. It just wasn’t meant to be. Everything was perfect until the red card, so perfect that it had to fall apart.

One can only hope that the referee is at his best during such crucial matches, where one decision can change the course of the season for teams.

5.       Reactive, instead of proactive – 

      The number of times Manchester United have gone down and then comeback to win the match this season, it is really remarkable. The never-say-die attitude has shone right through this season.

But Manchester United have now made it a habit – to go down and then come back and win it. Arrogance is good, but only to a good measure. Aston Villa, Newcastle, Braga, Liverpool, Reading, Southampton, the list is never ending. Why always react after going down? Where is the intensity until then? Where is the desire to win until then?

The mentality has to change and Ferguson knows this. It is not always easy to make comebacks time and again, and it is high time the team realised it.

On the positive side, the younger players in the team have gained valuable experience this season and have grown a lot. The likes of Rafael, Evans, Cleverley, Hernandez, Welbeck have shown maturity beyond their age and this will only stand in good stead for the coming seasons.

Kagawa is slowly finding his feet in the Premier League and Ferguson has assured that he will play at his full potential next season.

Engalnd U-21’s exciting winger Wilfried Zaha has been snapped up by Ferguson and he will be eager to strut his stuff at the Theatre of Dreams next season.

Al in all, the next season promises to be an exciting one for the Red Devils. Just like this one was. Whether they will live up to their promise and expectations, only time will tell.

- Ratish

Five players Manchester United should sign in the summer

The season ends on a rather disappointing note for the Red Devils in spite of being miles ahead of be others in the League, which now remains just a formality. This is because a lot was expected of them at the start of the season when they secured the signing of Robin Van Persie from under the nose of the likes of Juventus and Manchester City. From being just contenders for the League title, they were made overnight favourites for wrestling their title back from their neighbour’s grasp.Talks of a treble started surfacing with Ferguson claiming that the current quartet of strikers are better than that of the Treble winning 1999 team.

And everything was going according to the Ferguson’s master plan until that dreadful evening on the 5^th of March, when the whole world was baffled by a shocker of a decision by the Turkish referee. While it is pointless to debate whether the decision was a correct one or not, it certainly delivered a huge psychological blow to the Red Devils, which has seen them bow out of the FA Cup as well. They have nowhere been close to the form they showcased earlier in the season and the promises of a Treble lie unfulfilled. 

Surely, Ferguson has some thinking to do in the summer. Though the squad depth is good enough, they have been constantly plagues by injury problems over the course of the season. Also, it seems that this season is the end of the road for some players who have failed to live up to their potential during their time at Old Trafford. 

So, let us have a look at 5 players who Ferguson should look to bring in for next season – 

 

1.  Kevin Strootman – 

      

     

      Michael Carrick has been superb form this season and Cleverley has complimented him really well too. However, there have been certain matches in which United have felt the lack of steel in midfield, someone in the mould of Roy Keane. Ferguson deployed Phil Jones in midfield against the likes of Real Madrid and Tottenham and although he performed really well defensively, he does not offer much while on the attack and has also been injury prone this season.

Kevin Strootman, the midfield terrier of PSV Eindhoven, looks like a perfect match for the United midfield. He can play as a holding midfielder as well as a deep lying playmaker and is equally comfortable in an advanced role. He has cemented his place in the Dutch midfield too.

Also, with Paul Scholes about to retire and with recent reports of Anderson ready to leave the club, United will definitely face a shortage of midfielders. Nick Powell is still young and learning while there is no return date on Darren Fletcher yet.

Strootman’s versatility is his biggest strength and having been linked to United in the January transfer window as well, it won’t be a surprise if he dons the red jersey of United next season.

2.       James Rodriguez – 

 

 

      Manchester United’s wingers have been really disappointing this season. Nani, Valencia and Young – none of the three have been consistent and have spent more time on the treatment table rather than on the pitch.
This has prompted Ferguson to deploy Welbeck or Kagawa on the flanks or even play the ‘Diamond’ formation in some matches. And naturally, this hasn’t worked too well for them.

Ferguson has already identified this problem and has bought the rising England U-21 star Wilfried Zaha, who will join the team in June’13. However, he is still young and has plied his trade only in the Npower Championship. Premier League is a completely different ball game and it might take time for the youngster to adjust to his new surroundings.Thus, Ferguson might have to look for another winger, someone like the Colombian James Rodriguez.

James Rodriguez has been a revelation at Porto this season, having scored 11 goals till date for club and country together this year.

Nicknamed the ‘El Nuevo pibe’, he is the perfect wide forward player that United are looking for. A versatile forward, his dribbling, first-touch and devastating ability to make things happen in the final third are reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo. He also has excellent distribution and vision and is able to play with his back to the goal and link up with those behind him.

Manchester United have already scouted the young star a couple of times this season and he could just be the player who could continue Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy at Old Trafford.

3.       Ezequiel Garay – 

 

 

      With Rio Ferdinand yet to sign a contract extension for next season and age also slowly catching up with Nemanja Vidic, a new central defender might be on Ferguson’s mind when the summer transfer window opens.

Though Smalling and Phil Jones are equally capable of playing in central defence, Smalling is used as a cover for Rafael at Right back and Phil Jones is finding life in midfield much more easier and enjoyable than in defence.

In these circumstances, the 26-year old Ezequiel Garay can be the perfect successor to Rio Ferdinand. Quick, comfortable on the ball and fond of passing the ball out of defence, he has all the attributes to succeed at Old Trafford. Bravery and consistency are two words that are often associated with the former Real Madrid man.   His speed also allows to him to play a higher pressing game and also do the sweeping up for his defensive partner.

He can be a mainstay in the Manchester United line-up for the coming years and his partnership with Vidic/Evans can prove to be really formidable for even the best teams to break down.

4.       Mario Gotze – 

 

      Manchester United’s midfield troubles have already been highlighted in above. Apart from Rooney and at times, Kagawa, they lack someone who can provide the creativity in the final third of the pitch. They need someone who can provide the killer ball behind the defence, who can run past opposition defenders and is also capable of that moment of magic which can turn games around.

Mario Gotze has long been linked to Old Trafford and has also recently made it publicly known that he is open for a move to the Red half of Manchester. With the departure of Kagawa in the summer, Gotze took on the mantle of the main playmaker and has been sensational for Dortmund this season. He already has amassed 18 goals and 10 assists to his name for club and country so far in 2012-13 and he doesn’t look like he is finished yet.

Ferguson has been chasing him for a while now and there is a huge possibility that he might join his former teammate Kagawa at United next season.

5.       Victor Wanyama – 

 

      Another midfielder who has been linked to United in the past, Wanyama has been the star of the season for Celtic. He is a powerful, holding midfielder, who has a brilliant understanding of the game and also a superb positional sense. These are exactly the attributes that United are looking for and he could also be an ideal long-term replacement for Michael Carrick.

He was sensational in Celtic’s victory over Barcelona in the group stages of the Champions League and was also impressive in their knockout match against Juventus, where he did a good job on Pirlo. He also has the capability to deliver that odd long range thunderbolt, something the United faithful have missed seeing since the decline of Paul Scholes.

All in all, he is the complete package for a central midfielder - reads the game exceptionally well, has great burst, tonnes of upper body strength and a calmness on the ball.

Ferguson could move in to purchase any of the above players. However, it also depends on whether certain players like Anderson, Nani, Scholes or Ferdinand decide to call time on their Old Trafford careers and whether he is planning to build a team for the future that can be successful even after Ferguson himself decides to end his tenure at United.

All in all, it promises to be an action packed summer for the Manchester United fans, who will definitely look forward to some excitement after a rather tame end to the season.

- Ratish