BIG RON – UNITED MISS BECKHAM
‘Manchester United are going through a crisis by their
standards and I don't think it's all down to problems with
their back four. I've felt for a while they have never
really replaced David Beckham and that was obvious again
against Porto.
‘Beckham gave United something defensively as well as going
forward. He did a lot in terms of filling in holes and
getting back to help the backline. At the moment United are
a bit easy to get at down the sides, particularly on their
right. Because people talked about Beckham's crossing and
set pieces, his defensive work was often overlooked. He had
a good little tandem going with Gary Neville, which was
probably strengthened by the fact that they're friends. If
one of them was in trouble the other would bust a gut to
help out.
‘I don't see the same barrier being put up down that flank
now, whoever the personnel are. Opponents are able to get
more crosses into the box and that's the last thing United
need at a time when their backline is weak, particularly in
the air, without Rio Ferdinand.
‘I think Alex hoped Kleberson would play on the right a lot
this season and that hasn't happened. Kleberson's a World
Cup winner and you'd imagine he would be trusted for a game
like Porto but he was on the bench. He's probably better
suited to playing on the right than Paul Scholes, who got
the nod there, so I guess he's not developed as United had
hoped.
‘Scholes looked wasted in that wide role. All I can think is
Alex wanted maximum energy in midfield and players who knew
how to defend and get round the ball. He's tried all sorts
of people on the right. It says something that Scholes,
Ronaldo, Kleberson, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have
all been used there, as have David Bellion and Chris
Eagles.’
standards and I don't think it's all down to problems with
their back four. I've felt for a while they have never
really replaced David Beckham and that was obvious again
against Porto.
‘Beckham gave United something defensively as well as going
forward. He did a lot in terms of filling in holes and
getting back to help the backline. At the moment United are
a bit easy to get at down the sides, particularly on their
right. Because people talked about Beckham's crossing and
set pieces, his defensive work was often overlooked. He had
a good little tandem going with Gary Neville, which was
probably strengthened by the fact that they're friends. If
one of them was in trouble the other would bust a gut to
help out.
‘I don't see the same barrier being put up down that flank
now, whoever the personnel are. Opponents are able to get
more crosses into the box and that's the last thing United
need at a time when their backline is weak, particularly in
the air, without Rio Ferdinand.
‘I think Alex hoped Kleberson would play on the right a lot
this season and that hasn't happened. Kleberson's a World
Cup winner and you'd imagine he would be trusted for a game
like Porto but he was on the bench. He's probably better
suited to playing on the right than Paul Scholes, who got
the nod there, so I guess he's not developed as United had
hoped.
‘Scholes looked wasted in that wide role. All I can think is
Alex wanted maximum energy in midfield and players who knew
how to defend and get round the ball. He's tried all sorts
of people on the right. It says something that Scholes,
Ronaldo, Kleberson, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have
all been used there, as have David Bellion and Chris
Eagles.’