Wilf McGuinness uges fans to back the team up
It hasn’t been the best of weeks if you’re a United fan. To witness your team give the ball away so wastefully against Porto last Wednesday, albeit salvaging a retrievable 2-1 result, and then to see more points dropped against Fulham on Saturday, leaving us a disconcerting nine points adrift of Arsenal, is difficult to take.
Sir Alex, now being called The Tinkerman among other names in the press, and the team have come in for plenty of criticism in the past few days. I was reading the Sunday Telegraph’s sport section, and even Parkinson is having a dig!
But, as certain quarters of the press, less fond of Fergie than you and I, sharpen the knives, this is a time to do what Manchester United do so well; play on in the face of adversity and refuse to give up.
On Saturday we were away from home - Fulham are a decent side and they work hard, but we had enough in our tank to win the match. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs and Tim Howard were on the bench, but even so, I felt the team we put out was doing enough in the first half to get the three points. We started really well. We were passing the ball around confidently and could have lead 1-0 inside the first ten seconds.
Although Roy Keane dropped back into defence, the defenders who have in recent weeks been looking a bit of worry, looked comfortable. In fairness, the back four looked solid 90% of the time. Wes Brown looks as though he has started to find his form. Boa Morte went round him for the goal, but he’s a handful and is likely to get chances against you. It was unfortunate, Wes still isn’t quite there yet, but he made a huge improvement on Saturday. That’s important. We know what he is capable of.
Penalty Decision
It was an obvious penalty. The referee tried to defend his decision afterwards, but it was a penalty, no question. Van der Sar took Louis Saha out of the game. Louis was clean through on goal so if he could have done, he would have stayed on his feet.
When you are perhaps not on top form and hoping for a change of fortune - that one bit of luck - as we are now, that is the time when things tend to go against you. Never mind the penalty decision, the corner that immediately preceded Fulham’s goal, shouldn’t have been a corner. It was clear to everyone that John O’Shea headed the ball against the Fulham player. Darren Fletcher got caught in possession which led more directly to the goal, but it’s small things like that that don’t go your way when confidence is down.
Fletcher, unfortunately, has been getting some criticism recently. But, as I’ve said in my column in the past, these players need matches and experience for the betterment of their career and for United in the future. Short-term, there may be the odd mistake, but long-term the young players will learn so much from their experience in the first team and become much better players for it. That’s clearly evident with Ronaldo, he had that original flash of brilliance at the start of the season, but then dipped as he adapted to football in England. But, because of Sir Alex’s persistence in giving him first-team experience, he is beginning to really blossom.
People are anxious to dish out criticism when these players come in, but our top players need to rest – as Giggs, van Nistelrooy and Howard, who have all only missed a handful of games all season, did on Saturday.
In the last three matches, we have relinquished our hold the game by giving up 1-0 leads. Against Leeds, Porto and Fulham on Saturday, we have gone 1-0 up, and then not taken advantage of it. There is obviously a lack of confidence among the players. In that situation you’re thinking ‘if we can hold on to this scoreline we’ve got the result’. It’s a dangerous game to play, but one that is caused by a lack of confidence.
Trophy Chances
I won’t be having a bet on us winning the title. But I will still have a bet that we’ll win a trophy. The Premiership title will take some winning now, but we’re still capable of doing it. One of the intrinsic traits of Manchester United teams, the club and the supporters is the unwillingness to give-up.
Arsenal haven’t played great football all season, but things have gone their way, while it’s almost gone the opposite way for us. They got off lightly after the fracas at Old Trafford, and they’ve picked up points this season when, perhaps on another day, they wouldn’t have done so. But, not losing a game all season is a tremendous feat. I don’t mind continuing to say that and we’ll see what happens in the next 11 games.
I’d say the FA Cup is now our most likely source of silverware. We’re certainly better-placed to win that competition than the Premiership or Champions League. But, what annoys me is the way the media whip up a frenzy around the team. Some fans get drawn in by that.
Back The Team
The manager has received a bit of criticism recently. You have to remember though, nobody has done more for this club, not even Matt Busby, when it comes to winning trophies.
When things go against you, the fans play such a vital role. It’s absolutely crucial. And United fans have proved that in the past. You’ve just got to think about 1999, arguably the greatest moment in the club’s history, nearly all of those games were out of adversity. The support of the fans that season was fantastic. That isn’t to say we’re going to win the Treble this season, but it’s evidence of how important a role the fans can play. The team needs, and I’m sure it will get, that same support at a time when things perhaps aren’t going so well.
The media, who largely have a dislike for the manager, are just hoping for the bad times so they can get the knives out. A lot of people are enjoying things not going our way. That is what happens when you are at the top for so long. Your critics are just waiting for you to slip up. I’d urge the fans to put their full support behind the team, and make those people wait a lot longer.
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