United’s Deep Purple
Excellent performances and a return to the goal standard have ensured an Autumn patch of the deepest purple for United.
The 4-2 romp in Kiev, United’s best European away victory since Fergie’s team smashed Brondby 6-2 in 1998, only reinforced the admiration garnered last weekend at Villa Park and previously at home to Wigan.
After a tortuous early season during which United fell to second from bottom in the Premiership, the team currently, can do no wrong. Ferguson’s side has gone from strength to strength despite a mounting injury toll. Squad rotation involving the less heralded likes of Kuszczak, Fletcher and O’Shea is seamless. The strike duo of Tevez and Rooney, which many observers feared would misfire, is on song, whilst defensive iron allows the free spirits of Nani and Anderson to grow in confidence.
“Early in the season we had some problems with Tevez and Nani because they had not had a pre-season with us and Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were injured or suspended,” Sir Alex admitted. “We did not have the ammunition then but we do now.”
If collectively, United are again a fearsome sight, it is because individually, Ferguson’s players are reaching form peaks that are liable to make the manager’s smile ever wider.
Edwin Van Der Sar no longer looks the shaky, diminished keeper of last season, whilst surprisingly, his Polish understudy Tomas Kuszczak, has proved a capable deputy. Patrice Evra has maintained the form that saw him claim the left back slot as his own last term. Rio Ferdinand, a wounded animal in September and the focus of lacerating press criticism, has recovered his poise and added goals to his game. Cristiano Ronaldo is back in stride again, whilst Carlos Tevez looks a player transformed now that he has the effervescent Wayne Rooney alongside with whom to trade passes.
Striker Rooney, 22 today, and the scorer of seven goals in his last six games for club and country, deserves a special mention. His injury produced the self-doubt that afflicted United early season. That he should return ahead of schedule and with a burst of goals and excellence both for club and country, says much for the player and augurs well for United’s season.
Only Arsenal’s continued excellence prevents a full media celebration of United’s return to form. The clash next month between the pride of Manchester and north London looks more and more an occasion to savour.
