In the last two Premier League games Manchester United have conceded five goals.
They have looked very leaky at the back, certainly not the defending of potential champions.
Champion’s usually build from the back but at the moment its United’s attackers who are bailing out the defence week-in week –out.
Poor
I have to admit I have never been impressed with centre-back Jonny Evans. He has always struck me as the sort of player who would be decent for a team in midtable or a team battling against relegation.
However the 22 year-old is nowhere near good enough to play for a team challenging for silverware. He will be ok as backup but at the moment first choice centre-back Rio Ferdinand seems to be struggling to get fit. Evans has been exposed in the last two matches.
His positioning is poor and he seems to be really sluggish along the floor. He is a decent header of the ball but can get out jumped by smaller players. He is big enough yet lets himself get bullied by smaller players. His lack of pace can also be exposed by quick players.
Vidic
Nemanja Vidic is in my opinion one of the best centre-backs in Europe. He has recently been given the captain’s armband and I can’t imagine anybody better to captain the team. He is an old fashioned solid and rough defender.
He is like a throwback to the olden days when defenders were allowed to tackle forwards. When he arrived at Old Trafford he was relatively unknown, he is now one of the most feared defenders in the world.
He has always struck me as a leader on the pitch and that has now been acknowledged. Whenever I have seen Manchester United play this season he has spent a lot of time bailing out Evans and it has meant that United’s defence has been exposed.
O’Shea
Although John O’Shea isn’t a regular in the defence he has cost United goals this season. He could even have been sent-off against Liverpool in yesterday’s clash.
Luckily enough referee Howard Webb decided that the Irish international only deserved a yellow card for bringing down Fernando Torres on the edge of the United area, although Liverpool equalised through the resulting free-kick.
Leads
In the last two games United have thrown away two goal leads. It didn’t cost them against Liverpool in yesterday’s game but it cost them two points against Everton at Goodison Park two weeks ago. United won’t win the Premier League title by throwing away leads and they have done it in too many games already this season.
Bailed Out
It’s a good job that United’s attackers are on form or they could really be struggling this season. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov has finally found his feet at Old Trafford and rescued two points for United in yesterday’s game and also scored United’s third at Goodison Park.
Silverware
If Manchester United continues to defend and play like they are at the moment then they could very well end up empty handed when the silverware is being given out. I’m sure United will start defending better at some point this season and it will pay off.
Will United’s defence cost them the Premier League title?
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