Can City Now Catch United?

by Dugald Skene

Manchester United last night showed the sort of resolve that has seen them secure 12 league titles so far under Sir Alex Ferguson. 80^th and 85^th minute goals from the excellent Antonio Valencia and substitute Ashley Young against Blackburn Rovers meant the Reds now have a 5 point cushion over their nearest and fiercest rivals Manchester City.

It’s that resolve, and dare I say ‘unitedness’ that sets them apart from the young pretenders across the city.  Many of the United players have been here before, both Scholes and Giggs started last night and between them have seen it all.  Even Wayne Rooney can be considered a relative veteran in the push for titles.  But it was the composure of the younger and newer players to the Man Utd ethos that have impressed so much, the likes of Young, Jones and Smalling who have all had their injury problems but who have all been consistent and stand out performers when they have played.

United celebrate Valencia's opener against Rovers

With the ridiculous display of in-fighting by some Man City players against Sunderland on Saturday when they were 3-1 down, it was all too clear that the pressure of the title chase is affecting them.  Manager Roberto Mancini seemed resigned at times during the game, almost unwilling to support his players until they had pulled back the deficit to 3-3.

So is it purely down to experience?  Partly, I reckon.  Mancini is an experienced, Serie A winning coach and has managed a team of superstars in the past.  He is now in his 4^th season at City having joined in December 2009 and should be more than aware of the rigours and requirements to compete in English football.  It just seems to me that he hasn’t quite got a grip of his team for whatever reason, and looks at times on the touchline like a spectator rather than the man with the power to make changes.

There’s no chance of that happening at United, where Alex Ferguson has an almost unique ability to rule with an iron fist while having the skill to nurture young talent and let them prosper.  He commands the respect of the team and they give him that respect, knowing that there are consequences if they don’t respect at least the team, if not him.  He is clearly not afraid to play his young players, a trait he has had all of his managerial career, but makes sure he knows exactly when they step out of line.  A great example of that came last night, when only 1-0 up and with 10 minutes to play, Danny Welbeck showboated with a back-heeled lay off intended for Rooney but didn’t come off, handing possession back to Rovers.  Ferguson was immediately all over him (as was Rooney, showing how far his maturity has come along over the years under Ferguson) and Welbeck, fresh from the rollicking, cantered off with his tail firmly between his legs.

So can City catch United?  They can, sure, but I don’t think they will.  United are traditionally so strong at this time of year and as has happened so often over the years, when they get their noses in front in April, they rarely lose to the line.  To succeed, Mancini needs David Silva back in form.  The little Spaniard has been somewhat off it of late and is way too important to how City play to afford being out of form for much longer.  Sergio Aguero’s odd injury may keep him out of touch for a few weeks and in his place, Dzeko hasn’t scored in 8 games and Tevez doesn’t yet look anything like the player he was.

United, on the other hand, have got just about everybody back in time for the last few weeks of the season.  Goalkeeper David de Gea seems far more settled in his new role and has been consistent since Christmas, Ferdinand and Evans have firmed up their partnership in the absence of Nemanja Vidic and the midfield is ticking over nicely.  With Valencia, Young, Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck all contributing to the goal scoring, United have grabbed 31 points from an available 33 since losing to Newcastle in January. I can’t see United giving it up now with 7 games to go.

Don't forget though, one of those 7 games is the Manchester derby at the Etihad.  If City win that with two games to go, anything could happen.

Avoiding The Real Issues

So, Thierry Henry scores the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup on his comeback to Arsenal and English Football and everyone goes mad. "You couldn't have scripted it". "It was written in the stars".

Nonsense. When will sports commentators get it into their heads that these sorts of stories happen all of the time and my 2 year old cousin could write these 'scripts'?

No doubt, Henry's calm and clinical accuracy with his finish certainly took us and the delirious Gunners fans back to the heyday of the early noughties and the 'Invincibles'. A fine goal from a fine servant to the game. But why on earth was he playing!?

I'm not talking about why he was brought on for the miserable Marouin Chamakh, but the deeper issue of why Arsene Wenger feels it necessary to bring back Henry in the first place? It stinks of desperation from what can now be called a perennially underachieving team.

And they're not the only ones. Manchester Utd can hardly be put in the same 'underachieving' column, but they share many similarities with their London rivals in that they are desperately deficient in certain areas of the pitch, forcing them to recall former players into their ranks.

Henry celebrating after scoring against Leeds

Wenger said after last nights game "It looks like the best transfer market is to get your old players back".  Slight tongue-in-cheek aside, it's easy to think that Wenger actually believes what he's saying given the success he had with the likes of Henry and how little he's had since.
With Henry last night and the surprise appearance of Paul Scholes on the Man Utd bench on Sunday, both teams have displayed their weaknesses, just in case it wasn't already apparent.

Granted, both teams won narrowly, but they both can't have aspirations of chasing silverware this year with their current squads. Both have to invest this month to be contenders.

Having lost the previous 2 games, I would have defied anyone who suggested that the third straight loss for United was a given, even if it was across town at their new fiercest title rivals. Their first half performance showed true class and resolve, but the second half demonstrated their lack of strength in midfield, with Ferguson having to resort to using Scholes who came on and shored things up a bit. Meanwhile, Henry's short term arrival offers little more than allowing one man goal machine Robin van Persie a break from keeping his team competitive at all.

Sir Alex Ferguson has said he is no hurry to buy this transfer window, but I can't imagine for one minute he won't try and get some reinforcements in. However, a player of the level of Paul Scholes will be nigh on impossible to replace so quickly.

I like Man Utd, but as long as Man City have the strength and depth that they do right now, they have to remain favourites to win the Premier League.