Manchester United’s stroll towards the title continued with last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Fulham, temporarily stretching their lead to ten points. While their rivals have struggled to maintain consistency, United’s march has rarely threatened to go off-course, and PLB look into the reasons why…
Dimitar Berbatov
They say you get what you pay for in this world, but Dimitar Berbatov had previously put this aphorism to the test for some. United paid Spurs somewhere in the region of £30m for the languid Bulgarian in 2008, but despite a decent enough scoring record, his laid-back style failed to win over the fans. This season, however, he’s looked worth every penny, firing in 21 goals in 29 games. Granted, 11 of them were spread across just three games (hat-tricks against Liverpool and Birmingham City, and a five-goal haul against Blackburn Rovers), but Berbatov’s excellent start to the season ensured United stayed within touching distance of Chelsea. Since the rejuvenation of Wayne Rooney, Berbatov’s scoring – and his involvement – has dwindled, but he was still on hand to score a crucial winner against Bolton at Old Trafford last month. To stay in the race without their star player firing, United needed a hero to fill his boots – Berbatov fulfilled his role and earned his redemption.
Home form
Old Trafford has been a fortress of formidable standing this season, with United taking 46 from a possible 48 points at home so far. Chelsea are still to visit, but with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City all already been vanquished at the Theatre of Dreams this season, and this strength on home soil has allowed United to get away with their frequent slip ups away from Old Trafford. Each win brings with it more than just three points – the more intimidating their home record, the less likely the away side is to arrive with the belief that they can return home with a positive result. Apart from the vital visit of Chelsea, United welcome to their home ground Everton, who have an abominable record in the fixture, and Blackpool, who may either be safe or down by that point. If form holds true, United will end the season with the best home record in the top flight for over 70 years. The only side to take points from them at Old Trafford this season? West Brom, in a 2-2 draw which prompted a ‘crisis’ rush from the press. So much for that.
Squad players
At Chelsea, when Didier Drogba has been absent or off-form, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres have struggled to replace him. Yuri Zhirkov, Ramires, José Bosingwa and Salomon Kalou all disappointing during Chelsea’s damaging slump, while either errors or invisibility have plagued Arsenal’s Sebastien Squillaci, Denilson, Emmanuel Eboué and Marouane Chamakh. All the while, United’s squad players have carried the torch for their more illustrious team mates admirably. The excellent Chris Smalling, who has been dominant in the air and cultured and composed on the floor, looks a ready made replacement for Rio Ferdinand, while any number of positions seems to be covered by the da Silva twins – Rafael’s frequent fits of pique shouldn’t overshadow his emergence as one of the league’s most promising full-backs, while Fabio’s drive and skill mark his out as another promising player. Not all United’s bit-part players have justified their presence – Darron Gibson continues to defy logic to remain at the club – but third-choice striker Javier Hernandez’s opportunism and intelligent running have yielded 18 goals, taking the pressure off Rooney and Berbatov to devastating effect.
A solid goalkeeper
Arsenal’s seemingly eternal struggle to field a competent goalkeeper has long undermined their challenges for silverware. When, finally, they seemed to have the position covered, Wojciech Szczesny sustained an injury and the maligned Manuel Almunia returned to the fray, to catastrophic effect at the Hawthorns recently. Now 41-year-old Jens Lehmann holds the fort with four out of five senior goalkeepers injured, but there are no such worries at Old Trafford. Only just the German’s junior, Edwin Van Der Sar is enjoying his sixth season at United and although it will be his last before retirement, his form seems to be as good as ever. Such is his unassuming solidity in goal, although he is unlikely to feature in many dream teams of Premier League history, any errors are so rare as to nonpluss onlookers. A handling error which gifted West Brom their equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in October was, according to his manager, Van Der Sar’s first dropped catch “since primary school.” The decision regarding how to replace him in the summer will be every bit as important as the one facing Ferguson when Peter Schmeichel departed in 1999.
A winning mentality
If God created man in his own image, Ferguson created United in his. The mental strength of Manchester United is by far their biggest asset, a phenomenal attitude coursing through the club that they are never beaten. Remarkable recoveries have become the hallmark of an apparently unremarkable team – 2-0 half-time deficits against Blackpool and West Ham United were both overturned into victories, while they snatched late victories when draws looked likely against Liverpool, Bolton and Wolves. While self-doubt plagues the Emirates Stadium and pressure envelops Stamford Bridge, the famed refusal to lie down until the job is done drags United to victory after victory. There are United teams in the past which have set the pulse racing far faster than this one, but the important quality remains – they are very, very good at winning football matches.
