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.
I agree with everything but two points
I think Henderson has enormous potential (wont quite live up to gerrard though 🙁 but still a fantastic asset for the club)
Downing is no poor man’s carrick, i think his talkent exceeds carrick by a bit, and he’s a massive threat for rival clubs
I think liverpool are huge contenders and kenny deserves the top spot
liverpool will once again rise to heights and push man.U OF THEIR PERCH.. remember the game 3-1 when we smoked you,its gonna happen and to tell u the truth fergie is gonna have a big head ache.. we will be a problem that never be solved..
man.U we r coming for you…
long live kenny!!!
Nevermind Liverpool. Utd’s main title challengers are competent referees.
That’s VERY funny! You’ve had the benefit of more dodgy decisions than any team last season, Neville at Wesr Brom, Blackpool’s not given penalty at 2-0 up, then lost 2-3
I really enjoyed that article it’s very rare to see a Manc with any form of respect or knowledge of the game and can take the piss out of themselves. All to rare by half.
I agree it will be interesting. But good things take time. Fergie had an ass of it before he hit on the right combinations of youth and experience for Man U. Top 4 for Pool a real possibility-challenging United for No1, well the team has to gel. Should be interesting to see. At least Pool are moving away from being a two pony gig.
finally a good article by a manu fan which actually makes sense!!kenny dalglish has the planning and experience and with the young squad,not only the next season but also our future is secured.i think downing is better than young but young cannot be underestimated-he was villa’s captain for some reason!!i always loved charlie adam and im glad he’s wid us now.yes,ferguson will be having a tough time next season.chelsea,mancity an liverpool are all title contenders.i think arsenal wont qualify for europe next season,for sure if fabregas ad nasri leave,and tottenham will be weakened to a great extent if modric joins chelsea.im too excited for the next season start and simply cant wait for it.lets see what happens next year as its an open title challenge between 4 clubs(5 if arsenal play well)!!!!YNWA
good article, with the usual scoser jokes, but i think that downing is better than young, simply because his final ball is much better. young is a better dead ball specialist, and has more pace, but what liverpool need and has needed for the past 3-4 years was actual width and crossing. but anyway, its nice to see a manc educated in football for once 🙂
I can already see Fergie chewing his gum superfast over Liverpool threat.
Always nice to see fans of other teams (even more so when it is a team like United) being able to have some objectivity. I don’t necessarily think this will be our season, because I still think the team will need some time to gel together, but I do like the direction Kenny, Commolli and the new owners are taking things.
The only issue I marginally disagree with is the Downing vs Young debate. I think Young is maybe the more exciting player, but I see Downing as the player more likely to stay out wide, knocking crosses in which I think is maybe more what we need than Young’s pace and ability to beat his man and cut inside.
I think both are fantastic players in their own different wing playing styles.
Judging from the pace Liverpool progressing under the reign of King Kenny and their latest reinforcement, they will win the league title in the coming season.
Excellent article, mostly agreed, apart from the “Education” part. We, LFC fans are emotional & a bit frustrated for the long wait.
Coming to the points, I think most are valid. However, you have to consider AC was panic by, as we were in desperate front man to replace Nando; we knew he ‘ll not be with us & a certain idiot billionaire is ready to pay us “Whatever AC’s fee + 15mn”, so NUFC could ransom us, about 15mn.
I am also a bit confused about JH, but he is just 21, may be can end up as a Lampard or SG in 5 years, may not be more than an average EPL mid-table player, but without the CL, we had to take that risk, especially when the owners are ready to spend for other options as well (Not like G&H for the Keane & Barry situation). CAdam is a top business & for 20mn, Downing is at least a known top performer in EPL; who knows how someone, say, Mata could have suited in hit & run English game? We are a upper mid-table club (It hurts, but it’s reality) now & first priority is to build a strong, deep enough team to fight for 38 matches & qualify for CL. I am sure, you ‘ll not see the last of our purchase this year; I believe the biggest rebuilding ‘ll happen, once we have qualified for CL.
Talking about MU, they were a bit lucky as well, not only with on field decisions, but for the competition as well. Though, despite being a lifelong die-hard LFC fan, I do admire their superiority. However, I am waiting for the day, once a 70+ years old certain Scotsman says his final bow. I ‘ll be waiting for your next article/reply on this after 2016 Euro.
Thanks again for the nice, sober (Mostly) post.