Why Manchester United Are Still In The Race

If this article had come up on the 9^th of December, you would have probably started laughing at the heading and hurled abuses in the comment section for this piece of writing. Manchester United, known for their last-gasp comeback victories and their domination over the teams located in the lower half of the table, were deemed clueless. Two consecutive defeats at their fortress, The Theatre of Dreams – Old Trafford, one each at the hands of Everton and Newcastle United had halted their top 4 hopes – let alone the championship. Sitting at a lowly 9^th in the table, nothing was clicking for them. Add to that, the injuries and suspensions to important players. The club needed players (some suggested, maybe a change of manager itself) who would win them matches week in week out.

Fast forward 20 days and what have we got here? A 6-game winning streak which extends to three different competitions (4 in EPL, 1 each in UCL and League Cup) – involving 4 clean sheets for David de Gea, a scintillating run of form for Wayne Rooney and a good run for young lad Adnan Januzaj. Surprisingly 4 of those 6 victories have been away from home – something which many teams fail to do so.

The Picture above shows the table on 9/12. (Courtesy of statto.com)

And the one below shows the latest table after 19 games on (31/12).

From being 9^th on the table earlier, Manchester United sit at 6^th on the table. In 4 Gameweeks, United rose 3 places, leaving behind Southampton, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur (though, they are just behind on goal difference). Currently, Manchester United are 8 points behind league leaders Arsenal, 7 behind their neighbours Manchester City, 6 behind Mourinho’s Chelsea, 3 behind Martinez’s roaring Everton and 2 behind Rodgers’ Liverpool.

8 points. Something United fans will clearly remember. This was the same advantage United gave up in its quest for its 20^th title in the 2011/12 season. And that happened in the last 2 months.

The best part with the current season – its only midway. And the transfer window is about to open.

The name of ‘Transfer Window’ will definitely bring bad memories to Moyes and fans alike. It was a horrendous performance by the club while dealing with transfers in the summer with failed bids for Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas. The last-ditch attempts weren’t any good either with an overpriced bid accepted for Marouane Fellaini and apparently, an incomplete loan transfer for Fabio Coentrao.

The winter transfer window generally does not involve too many transfers but with the World Cup on the cards and many players falling out of favour, perhaps we might see some really big name transfers. Which takes me back to the failed transfer of Fabio Coentrao, a left back. Leighton Baines has been a top United priority on the Transfer List for some years now but with every passing season, he remains an Everton player.

The speculations are rife that Moyes would like to bring Baines finally into the squad but Martinez’s statement that Baines will be at Everton at the end of the season seems to have stalled yet another move. With Evra’s ever-dipping form and Coentrao being out-of-favour at Real Madrid, can the Transfer Window kick-off where it ended last summer with the undoing of a wrong to a right? Mind you, he isn’t cup-tied as he didn’t play even a single game for Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

The next concern will be midfield. A lot of players have been linked to United – Angel Di Maria, Koke, Marco Reus to name a few. Frankly speaking, none of the players I feel would be coming in this window as the clubs they belong to will try their best to fend off any interests from clubs as their pursuit for domestic and European glory lives on. Some of other targets like Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana may serve as ‘cheaper’ alternatives but their Premier League experience might take them little time to settle into the club.

The youth of United have made some extraordinary performances at different clubs, so another loan spell for the remainder of the season will get them more first-team experience and also signal a bright future for the lads at the clubs.

With the right signings and right squad selection, fans can definitely expect Manchester United not to drop many points over the next half of the season – the most crucial one. Also with players like Robin van Persie (EPL Golden Boot winner for the last couple of seasons) and Wayne Rooney, both expected to return in a fortnight, it is safe to expect that this partnership will start giving us the same performances where they left off previously.

In less than 48 hours, United face Spurs (who incidentally were the last team in the previous unbeaten streak which spanned over two months). A victory on the New Year’s Eve should get all fans excited about 2014.

Is it time that the comeback kings make their BEST COMEBACK EVER? If they do, as Gary Neville said and I quote:

“It would be the greatest championship they have ever won, it really would.”

As for me, I’m pretty optimistic about our chances. I feel a Top 4 finish is definitely on the cards.

 

A Happy New Year to all the Reds! May this year be the best one we ever had.