Manchester United- Nothing dey happen!!

After two successive home defeats, Manchester United have embarked on a four game winning streak. Not only have we won the games, we have seen a change in approach. United, aren’t now resembling a team like a rabbit caught in headlights. We no longer look afraid of defeat. Victory is essential in nearly every game we play now, that’s if we want to achieve anything this season. We haven’t sat back in any of the games, we have been on the front foot from the off. We are now pressing teams and playing the game at a high tempo. This is exactly what’s needed to continue the winning run.

There is no coincidence, that we have embarked on this run without the older brigade in our squad featuring. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie are all in their thirties. The younger players who looked so forlorn earlier in the season are now stepping up and expressing themselves. What they lack in absolute quality, they are making up for with heart and graft. These aren’t bad players, otherwise they wouldn’t be at United. They have ability but have not expressed themselves so far this season. I think the main difference is the back four. It’s been so apparent that they are playing a high line and condensing the play. Rio Ferdinand does not allow us to do this. He has lost his pace and compensates by dropping deeper. This allows opposition players to play in between the lines. Ask any respectable football pundit, playing in-between the lines is a killer for any team defending against it. Vidic is different, he likes to press but his lack of pace doesn’t allow him to recover if anybody gets in behind. Evans, Smalling and Jones all have recovery pace and the energy to press. It sets the whole tone and shape of the team when they do this.

Whilst there will be games where the tenacity and leadership of Vidic will be vital, I can’t say the same with regard to Ferdinand. Cleverley has looked a different player since we have upped the tempo. It’s exactly what was needed in central midfield. He is beginning to show himself capable of contributing to our engine room and not before time. Of course we still miss Carrick in there but he will benefit from our back four being pushed up when he returns. It means less ground for him to cover and his range of passing and ability to retain possession will be vital for us. Jones does a great job in the middle when needed but like Cleverley, lacks the top class quality to continually create chances or set up attacks. World class energetic box to box players who have offensive qualities are thin on the ground in world football but it’s what we need to take us forward. A lot of the players we have been linked just don’t fit the bill and I doubt are even on Moyes radar.

Up front, Robin van Persie when fit will walk back into any team in Europe. However, his injury has finally allowed Danny Wellbeck to show he can operate as an out-and-out number nine. He will never score as many goals as Robin van Persie and doesn’t have the same class but is now a vital member of our squad as a striker. His energy and ability to hold up the ball and link players has finally come to the forefront. The fact he is now scoring as well can do no harm for the lads confidence. Rooney has proved adaptable once again, he was born for the playmaker role and isn’t letting anybody down. Other players benefiting from the high tempo game are Valencia, Januzaj and Young. Valencia can run up and down the line all day stretching defences. He is doing this now and if he could just up the quality of his final ball or end product, he would be devastating. Januzaj is devastating, young, eager and full of class, he was almost unplayable at times against Villa and West Ham. Young's confidence would have been boosted by his two wonder strikes against Stoke and West Ham. He needs to continue in this vein and contribute to the squad when required.

I am looking forward to the return of Carrick and Robin van Persie and if we play the same type of game, they can only make us stronger. Especially against better opposition, where their extra class will count. I would still like some additions in January as well. I still think midfield is an area where we need to strengthen but would only want a player who could enhance us and play the high tempo game we have now adopted. I think a priority position for us to fill is left back. Patrice Evra has had a great United career but he has lost the love of defending. His concentration and application to defend has been woeful. He has become a liability defensively and needs replacing as soon as possible. I think he still has something to offer the squad for the remainder of the season. His presence in the dressing room and his ability further forward. I could quite see Evra playing a more forward in certain games with a new left back behind him.

Looking at the league table, the teams above us don’t seem to be dropping many points. So it’s going to be a long hard slog to climb the table and get into a challenging position for the title. Maybe one of two will drop away but seven is a massive ask. I know they all have to play each other and we have to play them all. As I said earlier, we just have to win nearly every game in the league from now on in. I think as long as we win, then ignore our actual position in the league. We just have to hope we can narrow the gap bit by bit. It’s hard to envisage at the moment with so many teams above us in excellent form. If we are patient and can push on and extend our winning run, then we will climb the table slowly but surely. First objective is a champions league place, once that is secured, then we can see how far off the leader we are. Only time will tell on that front.

The pressing game has given us some hope and something to build upon. Let’s hope we can continue and press on up the league. We wouldn’t support if everything came easy would we. Merry Christmas Everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!.