Two defeats in the past 17 games... crisis, what crisis?
by gary neville
WATCHING our victory over FC Basle on television on Tuesday night, I heard the commentator say that Manchester United had lost two of the past 17 games. It says something about the standards we have set that we are supposedly in the midst of a crisis. I would concede that there have been some disappointing performances but, to judge from that record, our fighting qualities are still there.
That is easy to say and now we have to prove it with two massive games against Liverpool and Arsenal. I know any match at Anfield is a highlight of the season but tomorrow’s meeting really does feel as if it has special significance at a time when there are so many people questioning whether this is the end of the era of United domination.
And let’s be honest, lots of people are willing us to fail. Around the country, they respect it when you first win the title. Then, I believe, they admire the brilliance for a season or two if you can keep it going. But they get bored of seeing the same team lifting trophies so it is no surprise to hear and read the longing for a change.
If we lose to Liverpool and/or Arsenal, we will not be in much of a position to argue back so it is vital that we come through these matches unbeaten at the very least. We are playing well in Europe and, in the Premiership, we have to hang in there over the next few weeks while our players recover from injury.
I believe that if we can go into January within two or three points of Arsenal and Liverpool, we will be in great shape for the rest of the campaign. Traditionally, we pick up form after Christmas and there is even more reason to hope for that improvement with Roy Keane, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and others to come back.
You can talk too much about injuries but there is no getting away from the fact that this has been by far the worst run in my time at United. It is not just the number of injuries but the quality of player who has been sidelined. No team in the world can afford to lose Keane, Beckham and Ferdinand all at one time as well as Nicky Butt and Laurent Blanc.
The best bit of good news has been the return of Wes Brown who has looked superb in the past three matches, which is even more remarkable when you consider his age (23) and the fact that he barely played an hour in the reserves. Wes has lost almost two of the last three years through serious injuries but, if he stays fit, he is ready to prove that he is one of the best centre halves in the country.
My recovery is going well but I don’t know if I will be involved tomorrow when we must not repeat last season’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield, which was one of the worst performances of a disappointing season. I know the manager said some strong things after the game. No one likes to be embarrassed but that is the position we put him in when he had to explain our display to the media.
We conceded an early goal, which is the last thing you need in a match like this because the crowd start to behave like they are at a carnival. A visiting team needs to make them anxious so that they turn on their own players.
Liverpool will have taken heart from Thursday night’s Uefa Cup victory at Vitesse Arnhem after the defeat to Fulham and the departure from the Champions League. It is too early to say whether that exit will help or hinder their Premiership chances but I don’t think it will have shocked them as much as if it had happened to United. It is a fact rather than a boast that we have come to expect reaching the knockout stages.
We regard the European Cup and Premiership as equal priorities these days whereas I would expect Liverpool started the season with their focus mostly on the domestic league. It is only when you have won the title that you get the confidence to take on the best in Europe, as we have seen from Arsenal’s performances in the Champions League so far this season.
Liverpool can throw everything into their challenge for the championship, which makes it even more important that we are ready to battle for our lives at Anfield tomorrow.
From the Times
by gary neville
WATCHING our victory over FC Basle on television on Tuesday night, I heard the commentator say that Manchester United had lost two of the past 17 games. It says something about the standards we have set that we are supposedly in the midst of a crisis. I would concede that there have been some disappointing performances but, to judge from that record, our fighting qualities are still there.
That is easy to say and now we have to prove it with two massive games against Liverpool and Arsenal. I know any match at Anfield is a highlight of the season but tomorrow’s meeting really does feel as if it has special significance at a time when there are so many people questioning whether this is the end of the era of United domination.
And let’s be honest, lots of people are willing us to fail. Around the country, they respect it when you first win the title. Then, I believe, they admire the brilliance for a season or two if you can keep it going. But they get bored of seeing the same team lifting trophies so it is no surprise to hear and read the longing for a change.
If we lose to Liverpool and/or Arsenal, we will not be in much of a position to argue back so it is vital that we come through these matches unbeaten at the very least. We are playing well in Europe and, in the Premiership, we have to hang in there over the next few weeks while our players recover from injury.
I believe that if we can go into January within two or three points of Arsenal and Liverpool, we will be in great shape for the rest of the campaign. Traditionally, we pick up form after Christmas and there is even more reason to hope for that improvement with Roy Keane, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and others to come back.
You can talk too much about injuries but there is no getting away from the fact that this has been by far the worst run in my time at United. It is not just the number of injuries but the quality of player who has been sidelined. No team in the world can afford to lose Keane, Beckham and Ferdinand all at one time as well as Nicky Butt and Laurent Blanc.
The best bit of good news has been the return of Wes Brown who has looked superb in the past three matches, which is even more remarkable when you consider his age (23) and the fact that he barely played an hour in the reserves. Wes has lost almost two of the last three years through serious injuries but, if he stays fit, he is ready to prove that he is one of the best centre halves in the country.
My recovery is going well but I don’t know if I will be involved tomorrow when we must not repeat last season’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield, which was one of the worst performances of a disappointing season. I know the manager said some strong things after the game. No one likes to be embarrassed but that is the position we put him in when he had to explain our display to the media.
We conceded an early goal, which is the last thing you need in a match like this because the crowd start to behave like they are at a carnival. A visiting team needs to make them anxious so that they turn on their own players.
Liverpool will have taken heart from Thursday night’s Uefa Cup victory at Vitesse Arnhem after the defeat to Fulham and the departure from the Champions League. It is too early to say whether that exit will help or hinder their Premiership chances but I don’t think it will have shocked them as much as if it had happened to United. It is a fact rather than a boast that we have come to expect reaching the knockout stages.
We regard the European Cup and Premiership as equal priorities these days whereas I would expect Liverpool started the season with their focus mostly on the domestic league. It is only when you have won the title that you get the confidence to take on the best in Europe, as we have seen from Arsenal’s performances in the Champions League so far this season.
Liverpool can throw everything into their challenge for the championship, which makes it even more important that we are ready to battle for our lives at Anfield tomorrow.
From the Times