Put the home games against West Brom, Southampton and Stoke together and the alarm bells aren’t just ringing - it’s time to dial 999
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This is not going to be
a popular opinion at Old Trafford, but there is no point in pulling punches.
I don’t think Manchester
United are going to finish in the top four this season – because the fear
factor among visiting teams has gone.
In past seasons, losing at home to West Brom could have been written off
as a blip.
And dropping points at home to Southampton could have been dismissed as a
minor hiccup.
And scoring twice in the
last 12 minutes to overturn a 2-1 deficit at home to Stoke could have
been par for the course.
But when you put those
three matches together, the alarm bells aren’t just ringing for the champions. It’s time to dial 999.
And when the fans turn
on United, as some did last weekend, it’s a sure sign that anxiety is
giving way to impatience.
As I’ve said in this column before, I like David Moyes and I believe he
should be given time to build his own dynasty at United - Sir Alex Ferguson was
always going to be an impossible act to follow.
However, recent Premier
League results at Old Trafford don’t paint a false picture.
Visiting opponents are
not scared of United any more.
In previous years, when
you lined up in the tunnel before kick-off and glanced across at a cast of
household names, you were beaten before a ball was kicked.
As a midfielder, you knew David
Beckham would pass you to death, Roy Keane would be relentless, Paul Scholes
could do everything and Ryan Giggs would dribble until you were dizzy.
As a defender, you knew that
if Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole weren’t playing, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer would punish every mistake.
And as a striker, you knew there
would be no change out of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, Gary and Phil Neville
or Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
But do opponents look
across the tunnel now and raise the white flag?
I don’t think so.
Wayne Rooney and Robin
van Persie are fabulous players, but even one of the best double acts in Europe
can’t hurt you if they don’t get enough service.
For me, United are not moving the ball quick enough.
They are not playing at a high enough tempo. There are not enough
players running from midfield to get behind the opposition back four.
Rooney is having to come deep to receive the ball when he should
be getting more support in the box from midfield.
And in all the years I have been going to Old Trafford as player
and observer, I have never known the fans turn on the team the way they did
during the first half against Stoke.
Die-hard United fans who called up Six-O-Six were shocked at the atmosphere,
and I share their surprise.
Historically, United crowds – like those at Anfield – have always
been among the most supportive and vocally positive in the country.
By the way, I stand by what I said on Match of the Day last week -
on present form, I rate Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as the best pair of
strikers in the Premier League.
Oh dear, that may not go down well at Old Trafford, either!
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