United flaws too big to ignore

I have been saying for over 18 months that their midfield needs at least three new quality players as the defence is being left exposed and the forwards are receiving the ball far too late. They have a number of quality defenders and forwards, when fit, but you cant rely on Giggs forever and his lack of pace over 90 min is showing. I'm not too keen on the brazillian boys as they lack discipline plus they often deliver the ball too late or without thought and its mad to try and play Valencia as a fullback with Carrick as a centre half. Too many players are being played out of position and it shows. I get the suspicion that SAF is being denied transfer money by the owners as they have spent little for a major club over the past two seasons. Sneider was a necessity not a luxury.

United lacks depth, and 2 loses in a row is very uncharacteristic of United in the SAF era, when was the last time you heard of them losing 3 in a row, they lost 2 in a row last year to Chelsea and Arsenal, but those were top 4 teams playing at their stadiums, This series of 2 in a row were at Newcastle, who are 7th, and a home loss to Blackburn, who is dancing the relegation tightrope at the moment, that tells you, the team is heading for a steep decline. The second half of the season has them playing a home match against Tottenham, and away games against the rest of the top 6, I don't see them winning the league if this trend continues. In terms of buying, SAF will most likely they'll buy a player from a team that didn't play in Euro competition this year, i don't see players like Wesley Sneidjer leaving Italy for United when his team is in the Champion's league right now. the only way to look is outside of Europe and Africa and toward S. America's Argentine and Brazilian leagues for reinforcement.

To question Sir Alex's tactics or players that he fielded against Blackburn or Newcastle to me appeared lame. Several times he mix and match his team around and it always paid very well for United. point of note however,The premiership is not for Manchester United alone, it belongs to the other 19 teams in the Premiership. Having said that, we have to acknowledge the investment other teams are bringing into the premiership, as a result it is highly difficult to predict outcomes of results nowadays.
Personally I believe United have got too many average players, and old players. The process of rebuilding will take some time and you have to expect these types of results occasionally.

One of the up sides to Uniteds situation is that they have rarely played well this season, and are only 3 points behind City, who have almost always played very well. There is a lot of scope for improvement for United, when we get some of the injured back, but very little room for City to improve

MANU has plenty of offensive power but they very much luck a midfielder that is able and willing to be the one that starts and organizes the attacking plays (not many can do this in the world). Defensibly, this is where the not so easy to fix. They need a complete overhaul, they have too many little bit*&^ches made out of glass, always hurt. they have not had the same starting line-up for more the 4 games in a row in the past 2years.

Nice one paul a not one of the so called coaching staff were in the tec area to adminester a size 8 up the back sides or a good verbal lashing

Even the formerly imperious Jones is looking a little bit more like David Luiz with each defensively suspect performance.

Yeah try getting a quote from not watching Alan Hansen on MOTD.

You're opinion is as good as mine but who is getting paid for it. Jammy facker

there have been a few very poor results this season, just a few, so let's keep some sense of perspective and refrain from falling into unsubstantiated generalisations. city have been rightly praised for a record breaking first half of the season and yet we are still only three points behind, with a supposedly weaker squad that has been ravaged by injury in addition. of course the squad can be improved, there has never been one that couldn't be, do barcelona not still sign new players? two top quality midfielders and we'll be ready to compete with anyone on an equal standing. not exactly an impossible quest is it?

everyone says man u are not playing well but the fact remains we are only 3 points off the lead and can only start playing better

another big loss against city then we will see the true united blitz to the top and the europa cup will be theirs

Now, Taggart himself has said several times that he won't be making any signings this January. I bet he does the usual thing and does the exact opposite to what he says.

i can see rio in a la galaxy shirt next season, newcastle out-muscled utd last night and deserved the victory

Too many of the current squad have problems with the basics of tackling, ball control and passing. They also lack strength, so United are vulnerable to any team that 'has a go'. I'm amazed that the likes of Carrick, Park and Gibson have been tolerated for so long.

A few facts - over the Xmas period United had an injured/illness list amounting to 11 first team squad members. City had none injured. City coped better than United over the Xmas period. United played a similar team at Fulham and Newcastle - first game, before fatigue set in, was won 5-0.The Newcastle game was lost 3-0 with evidently tiring players. QED if/when United get a full squad fit they'll be flying again. City will lose some players to the ACN and, like most clubs, will pick up injuries and suspensions. This will affect City's results.
Therefore, injuries/suspensions permitting, United can cope and win the league again this year. Note I said, "can", not "will" - I'm only dealing in facts.

fergie has always had a thing about buying average or even below avergage players but usually it was just to increase the squad and cover for injuries ect.... but now, all he does is try and replace world class players for cheaper alternatives, more often than not, a player he brings in is not good enough and man utd have wasted millions recently, bebe, diouf, owen, anderson, da gae, young..none of these are in the same league as players like scholes, ronaldo, tevez, van der sar, its all down to money and because our owners dont have the cash to splash, our standards have dropped, its not rocket science! even hernandez has a problem keeping the ball under control!

Hum... Evra's form has been declining even before the Suarez spat. As for the decline of United, as the article says, it has been predicted many times before but never happened.

I know manu are not in good shape for now but i bet fergie will turn thngs around!!!!

well it just one of those things, the jump ship united fans are the ones kickin off about fergie..it does hurt that we are falling apart slightly...but in the end we come good..again and again and again.......

United are looking weak, tired, bored, uninspired. Even when the injured players return, without a creative midfielder United are a class below City with Silva, who makes City so formidable.

SAF better make some moves in the January transfer window. Money is not a problem, as the Glazers will readily put up the money to support United's threatened brand (though they can't match City's endless money supply). The problem at this point seems to be SAF's stubbornness.

It's funny how people tip toe around Ferguson -- the Joe Torre of English football, who is given a gazillion dollars to buy the best players and then wins with them. United is a team in decline. Ferguson didn't have them ready to play against Basil. Nani is the only world class player left on the team and the fact is that Ferguson hasn't attracted the talent boasted in previous teams. His players have aged and slowed down and not been replaced: Evra and Ferdinand are good examples of players that have lost a step. His keeper is mediocre. The fact that Giggs is still one of the team's better players tells you someting about the team. The other fact is that Rooney, while a good club player -- is no world class striker and just isn't good enough to carry the load up front. He isn't Ronaldo, period. It's nonsense about the other teams getting better. There are only five teams in the premier league that can win it -- everyone else plays amongst themselves to avoid relegation.