United in a typical pose
Could fate really be such a cruel mistress as to allow United to finally overtake Liverpool in the number of titles won, only to see them catch up a mere season later?
“Surely not!” I hear you cry almost incredulously in unison, yet as I’ve learnt over the years as a United fan, its more often complacency that leads to our defeats, rather than lack of ability.
In ’92 we were sure to beat Forest at home and West Ham away, in 1995 Blackburn werent good enough 1998, Arsenal would never catch us- just ask Fred Done, in 2003 we’d put Arsenal back in their place and didn’t need to worry about them again, Roman’s billions? Pah! Nothing to fear there.
You get my point. It’s been too easy over the years to dismiss any sort of threat to United, with the disdain many of us believe they deserve, but let’s face some ‘facts’ as a certain Spanish waiter once said, United don’t always have things our way, despite what we may sing.
This pre-season has almost been a gift from baby Jesus, United have bought three top class young players while our rivals have done very little and in some cases gone backwards. With Chelsea’s best midfielder out for several months- sorry but it is a massive boost for us as much as it is a loss for them, Arsenal struggling to keep hold of their players when they also need to buy a goalkeeper, striker, defender and a midfielder it’s easy to feel somewhat overjoyed at how the Summer has begun. Then there’s our noisy neighbours facing the potential loss of a certain Argentinian, who somehow hasn’t turned out to be as loyal as they thought, ooh the irony.
Only one team seems to be bothering to try and assemble the sort of squad that can really challenge United next season and unfortunately it happens to be our less educated friends from down the M62.
Liverpool have picked up where they left off in the January transfer window by spending big. They were fortunate in January in the fact that Chelsea were willing to pay over the odds for a player who looks like he’d rather spend an evening having his nails pulled out than he would playing football.
This Summer though, Liverpool have dipped into their own pockets – yeah, I know “instead of the nearest bin”- to spend money on the likes of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.
Henderson I’m not a big fan of to be perfectly honest and this isn’t my Mancunian tinted spectacles working overtime, I’ve said ever since we were linked to him, I felt he was a poor man’s Michael Carrick. Adam is a player I did admire last season though, I even wrote a post advocating a United bid for him as I genuinely felt we could use his dead ball ability – not just from free kicks and penalties but corners which have been a problem for us for some time now.
Given the choice of Downing or Ashley Young, I’d pick Young but that doesn’t mean Downing is a complete waste of space, in fact he may well rise to the occasion at a bigger club.
The point is Liverpool have three players who have shown they can perform in the Premier League to a high standard- albeit rarely in the case of Henderson, while all United’s other rivals have done very little.
More importantly Kenny Daglish seems to have some form of plan for getting players who could benefit Andy Carroll the most. Carroll’s aerial threat will be utilised nicely by Adam and Downing, while Luis Suarez could feed off the knockdowns, not an all too terrible attack if we’re disgustingly honest.
Add to the mix the youngsters who were given a chance at the back end of last season and did a decent job, plus the experience of the barely comprehensible Jamie Carragher and title throwing Steven Gerrard, not to mention arguably the League’s best ‘keeper and you have the makings of a title challenging side.
It’s easy for me to rant about how Downing wouldn’t get in our side or Carroll will probably be in prison by the time the season starts but I’ve been equally as flippant about our threats in the past and sometimes been left with an omelette on my face.
Don’t forget in 1995 Jason Wilcox wasn’t good enough for our bench, in 2002 the Arsenal defence was past it, in 2010 Chelsea were no longer a threat.
It’s easy to dismiss Liverpool and would be very enjoyable but just for now I’ll err on the side of caution and say while I still believe it’s United’s title to lose, the new arrivals at Anfield plus the galvanising effect a certain Scottish manager has had on the club, shouldn’t be ignored just yet.
Am I worrying too much about a team that’ll struggle to make the top four? Is it City and Chelsea we should be focusing on? Will Liverpool ever win the title again?
Feel free to comment suggest and abuse below.
jordan henderson is a poor mans michael carrick??
at least henderson can pass a ball 2 yards, play a WHOLE match without getting injured and is still 8 years younger!!!
Carrick is better Jordan Henderson…passing a ball 2 yards proves nothing. Neither of them are good, but Carrick is still better than Henderson
The only thing i disagree with in this article is the ‘uneducated” part. I am not the sort of scouser who relishes any nasty arguements between rival clubs. I think Ferguson is a legend and his work with you United boys is a tale that will hold history for eons. Im also not going to say “this is our season” new players with talent do not automatically mean that the team will gel immediately, however I will allow myself to believe that a top four position is not unrealistic ant that you guys have a challenge on your hands. Liverpool Manu top 2 teams??? Probably! which order? I look forward to finding out 🙂
The mighty liverpool will rise once again under king kenny and take back what is rightfully ours. Fergies time is limited and once its up the time of manchester will end
As a Liverpool fan I agree with you on all but one point. Henderson is already better than Carrick and has the potential to be great. He is only 20 and held a regular place at a club that was in the top 8 for most of the season. Albeit a funny and truthful article, much better than the bollocks spoken by many Man United fans who know more about Time Travel than they do about football.
Good one 🙂 (y)
@scouser steve: Well said.
@Ryan: Only in yr dreams.
As a Utd fan, I strongly believe Chelski & Shitty r the ones tt wl give Utd a gd fight. As for Poo??? ….. I see them fightin’ hard wz Spurs, Everton & maybe Bolton for the UEFA slot & I wnt b surprise at all if they end the season wz nothin’ to show for!.
Uneducated you say?!
Great use of the English language my friend!
City will be challenging this year, Chelsea are still strong – and will sign more players. Apart from one blip last season they were the strongest team. Arsenal may struggle but Liverpool, with new signings, and Spurs without the burden of CL Football could both improve and push for the top 3 or 4 spots.
As for Young being better than Downing – no way! You’ll soon be lamenting his poor final balls week in week out.
I really don’t see why people have to argue whether Downing is better than Young or vice versa. To me they are 2 very different types of players, and each will only be better if they fit into the right team.
To me Ashley Young has pace, and ability to beat his man, make his way into the box and cause carnage. I see him as fitting United’s style a bit better than Liverpool’s, in that they play with wingers who constantly come into the box and help with the scoring.
Downing on the other hand is a winger that, IMO, prefers to stay out wide and deliver deadly balls into the box. The sort of box that will allow Carroll, Gerrard and even Suarez to get on the end of. Downing is a better fit for us, as it allows Gerrard to get into the box more often, rather than being outside delivering the ball in.
Young is better than Downing
what’s wrong with being a Spanish waiter? Por Que? I am a spanish waiter…Fuck you! Dammit! Got to pay off school loans….
lolololol
I FEEL YOUR PAIN! LOLOLOLOLOL
@dmaster, tottenham have thursday night football to worry about, plus they’ll play more games in that comp than they would in the champions league. downing is a good player as a liverpool fan henderson isn’t all that but he won’t be in the first eleven just yet.
Hah, I see you made the corrections, don’t I get credit for being more educated than you? Not that it would be difficult! werent, Daglish? As for bin dippers, who’s that stocky lad that plays up front for you, and the little one who likes horses and gets the occasional game? No uneducated mancs on our team!
I’ve no idea what you’re on about mate but here’s a pic for you http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/05/blogs/picture-michael-owen-show-liverpool-what-theyre-missing
Not that he did anything to deserve it….
I’ve no interest in Michael Owen, since he chose Newcastle, then ceased to exist by joining you plebs, but if you’re going on about bin dippers, what are himself and Rooney? No manc shít on our team!
Liverpool will do more than just compete for a CL spot i can assure you,
1.man utd 2.liverpool 3.chelsea 4.man city…..7.arsenal
completely agreed mate.i just hope that that the first two spots exchange positions!!YNWA
Haha you lot have been saying this for years and your still gonna do as bad as always. Enjoy mediocrity.