The Comfort Of Losing …
There is a a hit song from the 1980’s called ’The Wicker Rap’ which contains the following lyric:
Good is bad and bad is about as good as you can possibly get.
This reinvention of the English language came to mind when reports emerged of Sir Alex’s Ferguson’s belief that defeat at Arsenal was a wake up call to his team.
“Sometimes you need that shock to get you back and going at it,” the manager advised.”The Arsenal game gave us a real wake-up call, a right kick in the you-know-whats.”
It didn’t matter that Ferguson had aired a similar view after United slunk home from a miserable evening’s work at Southend in the Carling Cup last November. In any case, the manager was merely singing a familiar tune back to some fans and to the chorus of the blogosphere who took a similar approach to the last gasp defeat.
All manner of excuses were dragged screaming and kicking from the book of clichés, to leave the impression that last month’s capital loss was almost therapeutic and might not matter too much in the long run. The setback would ‘focus’ the players’ minds, it was claimed. If fans needed proof, then look no further than the immediate thrashings administered to Watford and Spurs. From defeat would spring the resolution to succeed etc etc. One writer even asked readers to consider that “perhaps, the Arsenal result was just what the team needed!”
The ’shock of defeat’ may concentrate minds long enough to allow United to cross the Premiership’s finishing line first. Nevertheless, the Arsenal choke is surely something to be taken more seriously than a little local difficulty, forgotten amid warm words and a dose of Churchillian fortitude. This season’s meetings with the Gunners suggest a surprising loss of nerve by United. Sir Alex blamed the home reverse on a virus which swept through Old Trafford on the eve of the match. Four months later, with United poised to take a nine point lead over Chelsea, who had lost the previous day at Liverpool, the manager approached the encounter as though he was sending his troops to meet a Milanese firing squad or the dragons of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Wayne Rooney, a devastating centre forward when on top form, was once again despatched to the wing. He scored but was not a major influence on the game. Ryan Giggs, a left wing terror when at his best, was asked to play in the hole. Go figure! This is not the first time the manager has adopted such a tactic. A fortunate away win at Benfica apart, it’s record is modest indeed.
It must be hoped that Sir Alex’s comments were made tongue in cheek to allay concerns about the stamina of ‘Dad’s Army’ in the last 20 minutes of a match. Meanwhile, on the playing fields of Carrington, the questions raised by the Arsenal defeat were addressed and resolved.
This is all the more important given that next week, United’s season reaches a key stage with a Champions League game in Lille. Already the French side have cranked up the pressure before the encounter by pointing to alleged deficiencies in Sir Alex’s unit.
“We have a younger team with strong players, who are ready to prove a point,” said Lille danger man Peter Odemwingie. “We will not look at credentials when we meet. We beat Milan 2-0 in our last match — so playing United is no big deal.”
United’s confidence should be sky-high too going into the match but doubt will descend on players and fans faster than a tropical rain storm should Sir Alex’s tactical battle plan read as it did against Benfica, Celtic and Arsenal. Chalking up victory after victory against the Premiership’s lesser lights is good for morale but the ‘big momentum,’ essential to prize-winning, comes from facing down the challenge of bigger beasts blocking the path to glory.
In such contests this season, United’s record is sobering. Arsenal have plundered six points from two matches. Chelsea escaped with a draw at Old Trafford and promise an almighty battle at Stamford Bridge where United’s recent record is poor. Liverpool, lie in wait next month for a return match, desperate to avenge an earlier 2-0 defeat.
Only once in the last 36 European away ties have United tasted victory. Celtic and FC Copenhagen, hardly in the heavyweight class in Champions League rankings, broke Red hearts when Sir Alex’s team appeared to be cruising. United’s blushes were only just spared in two matches against Benfica.
Harsh though it may sound, victories over the likes of Watford, Charlton and even Spurs, serve only to decorate United’s path to honours. It is games against the top teams that will shed far greater light on whether United have what it takes to mount the winners’ podium at the season’s end.
The evidence on hand really should be a ‘wake-up’ call to Sir Alex, offering clear instruction that tactics employed in Europe and at Arsenal have hamstrung his own side. That alone should be sufficient to jolt the manager away from seeking comfort in defeat. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2007
