The Veil Is Slipping: Are United Still In The Title Race?

                          The worst start to a Premier League season. This is the (unwanted) record that the 2013/14 Manchester United squad, and David Moyes, have claimed. I hate the term 'transition period', as it is all too often used as an excuse by managers and fans alike to explain poor form. A recent example would be, in my opinion, Liverpool. In the last 5 years, the Reds' form has dipped significantly, with each of Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers claiming that Liverpool were in 'transition'. However, in United's case, I believe it is justified. After a managerial dynasty, the like of which the Premier League has never seen before, it was always likely to take Manchester United some time to regroup and adjust. However, there remain those who are surprised by their recent dip in form, with many suggesting that United may be out of the title race already. This post will examine this claim, whilst also looking at alternative explanations for the champions' sudden decline.

                            Man Utd have begun this 2013/2014 Premier League season with three defeats, two draws, and just three victories, leaving them on a grand total of 11 points after 8 games. This represents the club's worst start to a Premier League season ever, and their worst start to a campaign in 24 years. Bearing in mind all three of the sides considered to be in the hunt for the Premier League crown (Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea) have changed their managers, it was always going to be an interesting start to the season. Most United fans believed that they could therefore compare their performances and results to those of their rivals, as they had all gone through a period of instability. When they see their side 8th, and 8 points off the lead of the Premier League, 5 and 6 points behind City and Chelsea respectively, we have seen many become disenchanted. However, I consider the disenchanted to be short-termist supporters (and generally fair-weather fans), and I say that for two reasons. The first is that Manchester United, as I discussed in my Premier League fixtures post, recieved the toughest start to the campaign of the three title contenders. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all in their opening five fixtures, two of which were away, it was always going to be tough for United to gain too much momentum. The second is Sir Alex Ferguson.

                               One misjudgement that Manchester United fans make when they compare Manchester City's and, in particular, Chelsea's situation to their own. In Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United had a manager that was with them for quarter of a century, providing them with success unrivalled by any other English club. It is only natural that he will have shaped the club in a particular way, making it incredibly difficult for the next man coming in. If losing Ferguson was not enough, the club would have been further destabilised by the loss of chief executive David Gill. Another incredibly influential member of the footballing world. His replacement, Ed Woodward, was widely considered to have had a poor transfer window, managing to bring in only Marouane Fellaini, despite several key failures. Comparing this to City and Chelsea, we see no such backroom instability. Roberto Mancini at City, whilst he was successful, did not have the same effect on the backroom as Ferguson, meaning that Manuel Pellegrini's transition would be much smoother. For Chelsea, the transition would be even more easy, as Jose Mourinho has managed Chelsea before, and will therefore be accustomed to the Premier League, and the club. Comparisons made between the three clubs are, in my mind, unfair, as United have had to deal with far more internal turmoil than either of their rivals.

                                Something else that many short-termist Manchester United 'fans' often forget (or perhaps do not even know) is that their idol, Sir Alex Ferguson, was within minutes of a sacking way back before he won his first title. Had he been disposed of, United would almost certainly not be the force we know them as today. In a move regarded as one of the best in history, Manchester United bosses took a risk on the Scottish manager, despite a dismal early United career. It would pay off handsomely, with 13 Premier League titles following. It is that same patience that new man David Moyes will be asking for from United bosses and fans alike. I'm not so sure he will get it...

                                 David Moyes has been heavily criticised by many in recent weeks. The team's abject performance in the Manchester derby was followed by the shock loss at home to West Brom. In no league game since the opening day has the side looked settled and confident, and fans are placing the majority of the blame on the shoulders of the manager. He also shouldered blame for the club's lack of activity in the transfer market. Missing out on key targets like Thiago Alcantara, Gareth Bale and Ander Herrera meant that they had to settle for an ex-Moyes charge, Marouane Fellaini. However, even that was a flawed move. United had allowed a £24 Million minimum fee release clause to expire, meaning that the Belgian cost the Red Devils an extra £4 Million. A move that prompted wide calls of financial incompetance and lack of vision, also seemingly illustrating Moyes's inability to draw in the big players. With the American owners, the Glazers, there is no guarantee that the Abramovic-style short-termism won't win out, meaning that Moyes finds himself in line at the job centre. However, is it really fair that he shoulders the entirety of the blame?

                                  I would certainly argue no. David Moyes has not become a bad manager overnight. He performed miracles year after year at Everton, where he was given the time to build the squad the way he wanted. Admittedly, the expectations at Manchester United are quite difficult to those of Everton, but the point remains the same. It is also important to point out that the current crop of Manchester United players would hardly make their best Premier League XI. There are a few gems (Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic spring to mind), but there is little in terms of strength in depth at United. If we compare their players to those at City or Chelsea, they are certainly at a significant disadvantage. United fans may attempt to contradict me here, using last season's emphatic victory in the league as evidence of their squad's quality. My counter-argument would be this: United had their backroom working effectively, with a manager that knew the squad and the team inside-out, meaning he could get the best out of them. City, on the other hand, were divided, with several player revolts against Mancini. I think most sides could have beaten City last season. This year, both the lack of quality in the squad, and Moyes's lack of squad knowledge hinders the side on the field, and the turmoil behind the scenes means that players are not brought in, inevitably transferring onto the pitch.

                              People also point, quite rightly, to the change of mindset of teams when they play United, especially when they travel to Old Trafford. However, once again, I believe they misunderstand when they apply blame to Moyes for this. Such was the strength of Ferguson-led Manchester United teams, due to the manager's depth of squad knowledge, teams would come to Old Trafford expecting to lose, and treating a draw as though they had won. His retirement lifts that feeling, and teams can now exploit United's many weaknesses, as illustrated by the results thus far. I believe that this would have been the same had it been Moyes, Klopp or Guardiola in the United dugout. The new United manager was always going to struggle initially, perhaps for the rest of this season, as he can only work with what he has been given. What Moyes has been given is arguably the league's best strike force, but little in the midfield, and a defence that remains shaky at times. Ferguson's tactical knowledge instilled a sense of invincibility, which a manager can only grant a side after a considerable stint at the club. Expecting Moyes to come in and instantly perform to a similar standard is deluded. For opposing teams, I believe it is a case of 'making hay whilst the sun shines', as a suspect United will not stay this vulnerable for long.

                                So are United out of the title race? No. Simple as that. Arsene Wenger was quite right in his comments today. There is still plenty of time for the Red Devils to find their best form. In fact, it has been a trademark of both Manchester United and David Moyes teams in the past to come back strongly after Christmas. If they continue their current form until then, that resurgency may come too late. However, to write someone's title ambitions off after 8 games is ludicrous, and is indicative of the short-term nature of contemporary football.

                                Will Moyes be sacked? If it was up to me, not a chance. From a City point of view, I have made several jokes to United friends that David Moyes is the best thing to happen to City, so long may this early season form continue. However, I suspect that if United stick with the Scot, I will be smiling on the other side of my face soon enough. You cannot judge a new manager on 8 games (despite what many fans and chairmen think). If United get rid of Moyes, they will be in danger of falling into the trap that City (over the years) and Chelsea have fallen into. It is proven: a revolving door policy rarely brings sustained success. Find the right man, and stick with him. If fans believed Ferguson was the right man, they should be right behind Moyes. After all, the man who won them 13 Premier League titles did choose him for the job.

Liverpool: The Never Ending ‘Re-Adjustment Period’

2012/2013 Season Review:

                The season began with another managerial change, with former Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers taking the helm. With him, he brought young Welsh talent Joe Allen, along with the signing of Fabio Borini from Roma. The first controversial issue of his tenure was his decision to allow Andy Carroll go out on loan to West Ham, despite the fact that Liverpool were running perilously low on strikers. This forced Luis Suarez into a sole striker role, pushing him further into the spotlight. A role he took on, in both positive and negative ways.

                For Liverpool, the season began in the worst possible way, with a heavy defeat away at West Brom. A more heartening result against Manchester City followed, where the Reds dominated but an error from Martin Skrtel handed City a 2-2 draw. These performances seemed few and far between, with a narrow aggregate victory over Hearts in the Europa League before defeats in the Premier League to both Arsenal and fierce rivals Man Utd. Whilst their performance against United merited more, Brendan Rodgers passing philosophy began to be called into question, with pundits claiming that it was taking a long time for the Liverpool players to adjust to the new system. Rodgers got his first league win as Liverpool boss in an emphatic 5-2 win at Carrow Road, where Luis Suarez claimed his second hat-trick in as many years.

                October was a month of frustration for the Liverpool fans. A tough Europa League group saw one win and one loss, more struggles in the league, with only 1 win in 3, and a disappointing home exit of the Capital One Cup at the hands of Swansea. November continued in a similar vein, with further toil in the Europa League, dropping a further 5 points. Liverpool’s league form began to steadily improve, mostly thanks to the performances of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan was having his most successful season so far, adding finishing to his trickery, speed and vision, and therefore chipping in with vital goals. Nevertheless, controversy was never far from him. Brendan Rodgers found himself having to regularly defend Luis Suarez against accusations of diving, and was eventually undermined by Suarez himself, after he admitted in an interview to diving in a game against Stoke.

                As Brendan Rodgers philosophy began to take effect, Liverpool’s form began to improve. December saw 5 wins out of 7 in all competitions for Liverpool, before Rodgers dipped into the January transfer fund to buy more attacking players. Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge and Inter Milan’s Phillippe Coutinho were brought in, and seemed to make an instant impact. Another defeat against Manchester United, and a poor exit of the FA Cup to League 1 side Oldham marred what otherwise would have been considered a successful month. A further disappointing exit to Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League Last 32 put paid to Liverpool’s chances of silverware, leaving them to focus solely on securing European football for the following year.

                Liverpool’s claim for a Europa League place, and even the final Champions League place was strengthened with a narrow 3-2 victory over Spurs at Anfield in mid-March, however their chances were dealt a fatal blow in the following game. A disappointing 3-1 defeat at St. Mary’s put Champions League football out of reach, giving them only pride to play for, attempting to usurp Everton as the top Liverpudlian side. Liverpool responded well to that setback, going the rest of the season unbeaten (8 games). Unfortunately for Liverpool, they drew 4 of these, including the Merseyside derby, thus failing to gain significantly on Everton, and finishing in 6^th place.

                During this run, possibly the most controversial issue of the season occurred. During the 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Liverpool talisman Luis Suarez was involved in an altercation with Branislav Ivanovic, where he appeared to bite the Chelsea defender. Suarez’s actions were subsequently condemned by pundits, officials and the club itself, and he offered a hasty apology to the FA and Ivanovic. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the FA handing out an 8 match ban for the Uruguayan, which ruled him out of the rest of the season. A ban that the player and the club found incredibly harsh, and a decision they considered contesting, which would arguably have undermined their condemnation of Suarez’s actions.

                Overall, Brendan Rodgers first season as Liverpool manager should be considered successful. He certainly has done no worse than Kenny Dalglish, and he has instilled a new style of football which shows much promise. Unfortunately, this season will be remembered more for the misdemeanours of Luis Suarez than the positive play.

 

Player of the Season: Luis Suarez – Despite his problems, the Uruguayan has been a delight to watch at times this season. Love him or loathe him, he does have prodigious talent, and coming runner up in the Golden Boot, in a 6^th placed team, and without playing the final five games of the season, is impressive.

 

Game of the Season: Norwich City 2-5 Liverpool – Instead of pointing to Liverpool’s 6-0 demolition of Newcastle, where the home side simply failed to turn up, I feel that the emphatic win over Norwich shows the positives of Liverpool’s game. 4-0 up inside of 57 minutes, with a Suarez hat-trick, Liverpool were rampant, and despite a rousing comeback from the home side, Liverpool eased to a 5-2 victory to give Brendan Rodgers his first Liverpool league win.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): After the Suarez controversies, there has been much speculation over whether he will leave in the summer. Keeping him  must be Liverpool’s primary concern. After that, another central defender to replace the retiring Jamie Carragher would be useful, with Kolo Toure looking like a likely replacement. With the signings made in January, along with the refound form of Henderson and Downing, Liverpool look like this genuinely will be the final ‘re-adjustment’ period.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Alex Pearce (Reading, CB), Martin Montoya (Barcelona, RB), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino, CB), Loic Remy (QPR, ST), Victor Wanyama (Celtic, CDM), David Villa (Barcelona, ST), Douglas (FC Twente, CB), Ashley Williams (Swansea City, CB), Cristian Tello (Barcelona, LW), Tiago Ilori (Sporting Lisbon, LB), Christian Eriksen (Ajax, CM)

Out:

Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid, ST), Andy Carroll (West Ham United, AS Monaco, ST), Pepe Reina (Barcelona, GK)