Date: 29th December 2011 at 1:44pm
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Rio's return is a massive boost for a decimated defence

Rio's return is a massive boost for a decimated defence

At first the title of this article may seem like a statement from an afficionado of Manchester City, after all how could any self-respecting United fan find comfort from a near disastrous injury list? Well, allow me to elucidate, over the past few weeks United have at one point or another been without – deep breath now- Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Chicharito, Fabio, Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Michael Owen, Ashley Young, and Bebe- alright, I’ll concede the last one isn’t exactly ‘disastrous.’

That’s practically United’s entire first team out with injuries yet where do the Reds currently sit in the Barclays Premier League? Second, with the same amount of points as leaders City, the only difference being five goals. “Ah wait!” I hear you cry, “every team has injuries, even City!” Do they? Well the M.E.N reports- rather happily- “Mancini was given a boost ahead of a hectic January schedule with news that his squad will be back at full strength.”

Back at full strength after losing Owen Hargreaves- I know, such a rarity, Alexander Kolarov and Micah Richards who was out for the WBA game. United have survived a decimating injury pile up and somehow actually managed to claw back points from our ‘Noisier then ever neighbours.’

I’ll admit, the loss of Vidic and Fletcher for in all likelihood the entire season, could prove to be fatal, only time will truly tell, but at the moment, the Reds have shown Sir Alex Ferguson’s faith in the strength of his squad is far from misplaced.

Critics will look at the games we’ve had over the Christmas period and note they were hardly the most ardous, yet that’s being a little dismissive of United’s acheivements. QPR gave City a very tough test, while Fulham held them to a 2-2 draw. These are the type of games we were dropping points in last season, regardless of how many players we had available, so to have taken maximum points from our last five games, including three away fixtures, is no mean feat, take into account the players we’ve had out and it’s nothing short of inspiring.

Teams suffer injuries, that’s as assured as a Luis Suarez controversy, but not all sides can cope the way United have done. City may well be enjoying the rub of the green injury-wise, rumours that Hargreaves was signed merely to give the Eastlands medical team something to do are as yet unfounded, but it may not all be plain sailing for our rivals.

Regardless of whether City experience the type of misfortune United have had to endure, there can be no denying that to be level on points with the team that was being described as ‘untouchable’ by a fawning ABU media only a few weeks ago, especially with the injuries weve had, is a momentus acheivement.

City may sit on the top of the Premier League for now, but with the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Rio Ferdinand all set to be fit for the visit of bottom-placed Blackburn on New Year’s Eve, 2012 could be a lot brighter than many Reds feared it would be not so long ago.

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3 responses to “United’s Injury List Actually Gives Me A Small Measure Of Comfort”

  1. leftback says:

    I am not surprised at all since the squad we have right now is basically the same team that beat Chelsea twice for the CL and the important title-deciding game against Chelsea in May (apart from the retired VDS and injured Vidic). The youngsters have been great this season but people easily forget the fact that the team that won the championship last year are still here and they are in form at the moment.

  2. Clevblue says:

    I think you will find that City fans are well aware of the situation, Mancini has repeated a few times that United are the top team in the league and it will be the papers that go into orbit as usual if and when either team gets a bad result – fans are more realistic. Whatever happens this season, City will continue to grow and develop. Mancini is in for the long haul as are the owners. Good luck for the rest of the season

  3. richard says:

    City are yesterdays Chelsea…United saw them off and they will do the same to City..