has been letting them down ever since Rio Ferdinand started
his ban in January and it plagued them once again against
Manchester City. But when you analyse United's problems,
then you have to start in the midfield because that was
where yesterday' game was lost.
‘Over recent seasons, with a midfield foursome of David
Beckham, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs with Nicky
Butt as an alternative they looked formidable. With those
four at the height of their powers, the opposition often
looked beaten before the match had even begun. It was the
midfield that gave United their drive.
‘Everything that happens in a football match has to come
through the midfield and the lack of strength that United
have in that department is killing them at the moment. Teams
no longer fear them and City had few problems getting among
them yesterday. They are a team that needed to go on one of
their trademark unbeaten runs to rescue this season, but at
the moment they look like they would struggle to go three
games unbeaten, let alone 10.
‘I have heard people on radio trying to re-define history by
questioning whether Ferguson's United teams were ever that
good. Ludicrous. But for him second best is not good enough
and he will not want to step off the stage while Arsenal, a
team with whom there has been plenty of needling, are
dominant. However, I have said in this column before that
the next two signings United make are vital, needing to be
instantly effective. It is acceptable for one or two new
players a year to take time to settle in, but you can't
accommodate four or five taking that sort of time to adapt.’