Fortress United …
Any roll call of United legends, invites recognition of some of the greatest midfield and attacking talent to grace the British game.
Edwards, Stiles, Charlton, Law, Best, Robson, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Cole and Cantona, are just a few of the players who have dominated in the modern era of football, representing United’s gift to the greatest of games.
It is no accident that the Old Trafford stadium is dubbed the ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ for the club, like no other bar Real Madrid, is synonymous with crowd-pleasers blessed with outstanding football intelligence and capable of extraordinary individual brilliance.
However, could United be about to establish another football reputation, with the team gaining suprise recognition for its defensive excellence?
During Sir Alex’s tenure, United’s best teams were founded upon solid defence. Irwin, Dolly, Daisy and Paul Parker gave way to Irwin, Stam, Johnsen and Neville as United swept away all-comers.
United’s defensive strength was often overlooked because of the attention demanded by the cavalier genius of Ferguson’s attacking players. The old mantra that United would score four if the opposition struck three times had more than a ring of truth when Giggs, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Kanchelskis, Sharpe, Hughes, Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Ole and Eric the King were at the top of their games.
Now, in more austere times, United are less swash but a lot more buckle. Morale-sapping Champions League defeats against Bayer Leverkeusen and Real Madrid, aswell as the decline of Keane and the influence of coach Carlos Queiroz, almost certainly provoked the redefinition of Sir Alex’s football priorities in recent years.
Many fans watched aghast as Ferguson experimented with less expansive tactical formations. Perhaps, the boss was influenced profoundly by the manner in which the veteran defenders of AC Milan choked the life out of United’s attack, with a master class in the art of defending in two Champions League matches in the Spring of 2005. Thereafter, Sir Alex seemed all the more determined to alter the impression of a United side so willing to attack whilst naïvely indifferent to the requirements of professional defence.
This new vision of United encouraged much of the criticism the manager has suffered since United’s last Premiership triumph in 2003. Fans, reared on a diet of fast, free-flowing, devil-may-care football, found the new measured, continental regime bitter to the taste.
Since last March, a reinvigorated Ferguson appears to have rediscovered his own appetite for United’s traditions. Perhaps, it is no coincidence that this ‘re-conversion’ has occurred at a stage in his team’s development when he can finally call upon athletic and competent defenders able to give the side a solid platform.
Many observers wondered at the manager’s purchase of Nemanja Vidic and particularly Patrice Evra last winter, when the team cried out for midfield investment. But with United cock-a-hoop in Europe and matching Chelsea’s every stride in the league, Ferguson’s decision appears to have been vindicated.
The Frenchman Evra has been a revelation, demonstrating the attacking flair and no little defensive rigour which few fans would have believed possible after his lamentable efforts last season.
The player has admitted that he struggled to find his feet in the Premiership cauldron. “For about six months, I barely played after arriving completely unprepared for making my debut against Manchester City,” Evra revealed. “That led me to call everything about myself into question. I remember on several occasions telling myself I was worthless or I was a good for nothing.”
“It is only now that I can admit I’m able to sleep well at night and I can eat properly. It has been tough but the process has made me tougher. I have learned about myself as a man and also as a footballer.”
Such self-awareness has assured Evra’s rehabilitation and he has not looked out of place in United’s rearguard this term. Evra may still be a liability against teams which possess inventive wingers able to exploit some of his more ill-timed sorties upfield but Ferguson would be entitled to claim his £5.5 million buy has proved his Premiership credentials.
Much the same can be said for the immense Nemanja Vidic. Sir Alex sprung a surprise when he signed the Serbian international and has been rewarded with a series of accomplished displays. Last weekend’s match at Bolton raised the bar still higher.
“We had to defend really well after half-time and that’s a great step forward for us, because to win the league you need to do well defensively,” said Sir Alex. “You only need to go back to the days of Bruce and Pallister and Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen to see how important defending is and Vida and Rio are in that bracket. Vida and Rio were absolutely superb.”
Vidic is a classic defender. Strong in the air, tenancious in the tackle and diligent when clearing his lines, the rugged Serb has provided the United defence with a soundness lacking since the premature departure of Jaap Stam. Certainly, the presence of Vidic seems to have spurred Rio Ferdinand to improvement. A year ago, Ferdinand was made to look decidedly ordinary during a heavy defeat at Middlesborough, with the Londoner suffering the lapses of concentration which have become something of a trademark of his club performances.
Yet, Celtic and Arsenal matches apart, Rio has so far mined a rich seam of form, bringing the composure and elegance of his international appearances to club work. The fine goal scored against Liverpool was a demonstration that with still more attention, United might just have one of the world’s top five defenders on their books.
The excellence of United’s defence – just five goals conceded in 10 league matches - has enabled Sir Alex to make light of the continuing injury woes of Gary Neville and Gabriel Heinze, two stalwarts who would be automatic starters if fit.
Neville is troubled by a worrisome World Cup calf problem and has been in and out of the first 11 this term. The United captain, though England’s right back for a decade, still appears to lack the popular acclaim this achievement alone deserves. His relationship with Ronaldo, whilst not approaching United’s Beckham-Neville axis of the 1990’s, is still a major source of concern for opposition teams. Despite the solidity provided by deputy Wes Brown, Neville’s initiative and crossing ability make an enormous contribution to the United team, particularly at Old Trafford.
The rugged, tough-tackling Argentine Heinze has put a lock on United’s left flank ever since joining from France’s PSG and offers Ferguson the option of playing three at the back when United need to chase a game. A cruciate ligament injury followed by a too hasty return at the World Cup has set back Heinze’s contribution this season but United can only benefit when Heinze regains full-fitness and challenges Evra for the left back berth.
All in all, United now enjoy a level of defensive reliability that not even José Mourinho can match. And waiting in the wings are the promising Pique, Bardsley and the fast-improving Evans to complement Wes Brown and John O’Shea. Sir Alex is not alone in thinking that for the first time in nearly 10 years, United are in safe hands. The pivotal home encounter with a powerful and inventive Chelsea side later this month, will tell Sir Alex and fans alike just how far this team must travel before fortress United is complete. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
