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This English Premier League season is only eight games old and many have already written of Manchester United’s hopes of winning silverware.
With 30 games to go and United only three wins behind league leaders Arsenal, it seems these people have jumped the gun.
Manchester United’s strongest line-up has over one and a half thousand Premier League games under their belt (these figures do not include Ryan Giggs).
What this tells you is United is full of experience with players who have already won the league.
Two of the league’s top 20 goal scorers, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, are at United. With van Persie struggling to find his feel in this new campaign, one can imagine if he did start scoring at his usual rate, the odds for United retaining the league title will shorten.
Wayne Rooney is vital in this pairing because, despite the criticism of him not being a team player and looking a little chubby, he is a work horse for his club.
Also, in a World Cup year, Rooney will be looking to score as frequently as possible to ensure England recognise he is their best player.
The next area that needs mention is United’s spine.
First of all is the club captain, Nemanja Vidic. The Serb is one of the most dominating defenders in the world and is an integral cog in the Manchester United machine.
The other key player in the heart of the team is Michael Carrick, who, due to the poor performances of Tom Cleverley and new signing Marouane Fellaini, has struggled to maintain his high standards.
If Cleverly can be paired with someone who has a high work rate, like Shinji Kagawa, Carrick will pass United up the table.
David Moyes has been reluctant to use some players that could be considered ‘high risk’, such as Kagawa, Nani, Wilfried Zaha and Javier Hernandez.
Kagawa must be paired with Carrick in the United midfield to add some attacking ticker to the team.
Nani is the closest thing United have to the long-gone Cristiano Ronaldo.
Unlike Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, Nani puts his opposing defenders under immense pressure as you do not know if he will take on defender, put in a cross or take a shot.
Zaha and ‘Chicharito’ both need to be used consistently off the bench to add pace and energy to the pitch, which could destroy tiring defences.
So while United are currently in eighth (most clubs would love to be in eighth), it is way too early to count the club out.
My realistic prediction is they will finish third behind Chelsea and Arsenal (in no particular order).
So what are your thought Roarers? Can United make Europe? Can they win the league?
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