You know it’s been a bad weekend when the only pleasure you derive is from the misfortune of others. Liverpool’s extraordinary defeat at home to Blackpool reduced the pain of yet another away draw for United.
On the face of it, a point at Sunderland really isn’t such a bad result but when points have already been thrown away at Fulham and Everton then it felt like a bad day at the Stadium of Light.
If we’re honest, it could have been a lot worse. I’ve rarely seen 45 minutes in the league in which United have been so dominated. That first-period performance was so unlike the Reds. There was a lack of energy, little pressing in midfield and no threat whatsoever as an attacking force. I actually felt sorry for Michael Owen as the service to him was non existent.
Although United were much better in the second half, and might have pinched what would have been a rather cheeky three points, the Reds need to find a cure for the post-Europe blues. Last season Sir Alex’s lost five out of the 10 weekend games that followed midweek Champions League matches.
However, I really don’t think there needs to be any doom and gloom about United’s season so far despite Chelsea’s rather alarming five-point lead. Remember, the Reds haven’t lost a game yet and, crucially, the Ferdinand/Vidic partnership is back in full swing. The Valencia and Sunderland games show that the defensive solidity of old is back, and that’s always been a building block for success for United.
Apart from Saturday, scoring goals hasn’t been much of a problem for United so far. Sixteen goals from seven games marks a good return and when Wayne Rooney is fit and firing again, as he surely will be very soon, then things will be looking significantly brighter. As we enter the international break, I would say we’ve had a solid start to the campaign and provided a good platform for the coming months.
Count your blessings… you could be a Liverpool fan, for instance, or Sunderland’s insurer who will surely be facing a substantial bill this morning for several designer suits that were ruined by sewage - John O’Shea told me his clothes had to be burnt for health reasons! Steve Bruce has tried everything to get the better of Sir Alex over the years… even a leaking pipe that disrupted United’s pre-match preparations didn’t do the trick.
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