I tried to put off writing this article after Saturday's game at Maine Road. I felt so low, I just didn't have the inclination to sit down at my computer until now. I’ve cheered up slightly since the 3-1 defeat and the 30-minute wait after it - United fans were kept inside Maine Road to avoid trouble outside the ground - but truly getting over this result could take some time.
Had I written this immediately after the final whistle I’d have probably said the following...
Manchester United are not the team they were.
Our squad is simply not strong enough.
Too many of our players are living on past glories and no longer have the hunger to achieve success.
We’ve spent too much money on too few players.
We lack that something special that the United teams of the past decade had in abundance.
We are no longer good enough to win matches in second gear.
Evidently third, fourth or fifth gears cease to exist.
In summary, we appear to be a team with a mountain of problems.
On reflection a few hours after the match, I realise that some of my initial thoughts were more fuelled by adrenaline and bitter disappointment than common sense. I stick by many of my observations but I now accept that there are explanations for some of them.
The biggest explanation, for me, is the absence of our captain Roy Keane. Manchester United without Keane are a poorer side, a much poorer side. Any team in Europe would miss losing a footballer of his talent and drive. He’s not only our inspiration and captain but also the heartbeat of the team. Take out the heart and the rest of the body fails to function. We are missing him so badly. Add to that the fact that Beckham and Butt were also on the sidelines and you’ve part of the reason why the Blues were the ones singing "We’re the pride of Manchester" at the final whistle on Saturday.
However, that only tells part of the story. City were the better team, snapping into every tackle, being first to every loose ball and simply wanting the win more. Therefore, they deserved their moment. Sadly I can’t say the same thing about their supporters. Peter Schmeichel might think they are ‘fantastic’ and Keegan might call them their twelfth man, but these fans are the same ones who constantly refer to us as ‘Munich’ and celebrate the plane crash that all but wiped out the Busby Babes. I saw men, women and children doing aeroplane impressions and mouthing the words ‘Munich’ throughout the game. Great fans, eh Peter? Great fans.
So what inspired me to write this piece? I'll tell you what... it was hearing Sir Alex Ferguson say that he felt sorry for the fans and felt like inviting some into the dressing room to give the players a few home truths. How I’d have enjoyed being one of those invited.
I love Manchester United and will support them regardless of whether they are winning silverware or not. What upsets and worries me though is that the biggest problem with this team appears to be desire – something our manager has based his success on down the years.
Fans can handle the team underperforming. They can handle them playing well and losing. But what they can’t take is lack of effort. And that’s what I’d have accused the players of if I'd been allowed into the dressing room. Yes, we lost because of three defensive errors but truthfully the game was lost all over the pitch.
So what’s gone wrong? Why is the hunger no longer there? How have we managed to turn from a team that two seasons ago "won the Football League again, this time in second gear" into one that looks disinterested and lacking in urgency? Finding the answer to that question should be Sir Alex’s immediate priority.
This may well smack of spoilt brat syndrome, you might say it's because I can’t handle the fact we’re not winning anymore. Well no I can’t, not when the game in question is the Manchester Derby. OK, we may not have lost one since 1989 but it means everything to us fans. And right now me and many others are disappointed and angry. It reassures me that Sir Alex is angry too and I look forward to seeing how the players respond.
Had I written this immediately after the final whistle I’d have probably said the following...
Manchester United are not the team they were.
Our squad is simply not strong enough.
Too many of our players are living on past glories and no longer have the hunger to achieve success.
We’ve spent too much money on too few players.
We lack that something special that the United teams of the past decade had in abundance.
We are no longer good enough to win matches in second gear.
Evidently third, fourth or fifth gears cease to exist.
In summary, we appear to be a team with a mountain of problems.
On reflection a few hours after the match, I realise that some of my initial thoughts were more fuelled by adrenaline and bitter disappointment than common sense. I stick by many of my observations but I now accept that there are explanations for some of them.
The biggest explanation, for me, is the absence of our captain Roy Keane. Manchester United without Keane are a poorer side, a much poorer side. Any team in Europe would miss losing a footballer of his talent and drive. He’s not only our inspiration and captain but also the heartbeat of the team. Take out the heart and the rest of the body fails to function. We are missing him so badly. Add to that the fact that Beckham and Butt were also on the sidelines and you’ve part of the reason why the Blues were the ones singing "We’re the pride of Manchester" at the final whistle on Saturday.
However, that only tells part of the story. City were the better team, snapping into every tackle, being first to every loose ball and simply wanting the win more. Therefore, they deserved their moment. Sadly I can’t say the same thing about their supporters. Peter Schmeichel might think they are ‘fantastic’ and Keegan might call them their twelfth man, but these fans are the same ones who constantly refer to us as ‘Munich’ and celebrate the plane crash that all but wiped out the Busby Babes. I saw men, women and children doing aeroplane impressions and mouthing the words ‘Munich’ throughout the game. Great fans, eh Peter? Great fans.
So what inspired me to write this piece? I'll tell you what... it was hearing Sir Alex Ferguson say that he felt sorry for the fans and felt like inviting some into the dressing room to give the players a few home truths. How I’d have enjoyed being one of those invited.
I love Manchester United and will support them regardless of whether they are winning silverware or not. What upsets and worries me though is that the biggest problem with this team appears to be desire – something our manager has based his success on down the years.
Fans can handle the team underperforming. They can handle them playing well and losing. But what they can’t take is lack of effort. And that’s what I’d have accused the players of if I'd been allowed into the dressing room. Yes, we lost because of three defensive errors but truthfully the game was lost all over the pitch.
So what’s gone wrong? Why is the hunger no longer there? How have we managed to turn from a team that two seasons ago "won the Football League again, this time in second gear" into one that looks disinterested and lacking in urgency? Finding the answer to that question should be Sir Alex’s immediate priority.
This may well smack of spoilt brat syndrome, you might say it's because I can’t handle the fact we’re not winning anymore. Well no I can’t, not when the game in question is the Manchester Derby. OK, we may not have lost one since 1989 but it means everything to us fans. And right now me and many others are disappointed and angry. It reassures me that Sir Alex is angry too and I look forward to seeing how the players respond.
