Here we go again! It is Manchester United looking more and more like a kampung team with every passing weekend. But, that is stating the obvious!
There is no transition, or is it a transition from being average to being mediocre? The talk of a transfer window approaching and Manchester United having to spend big in order to transform is like asking for a heart transplant.
How many of the Red Devils simply do not have the heart anymore nor the appetite? To accuse Manchester United players of neither having the heart nor appetite is a crime! Only players with both in abundance used to play for MU. And Manchester United only ever signed players who displayed both.
So, to cut the ramblings short, is it the club itself or their new manager who is responsible for this mediocrity? Go figure.
Another home defeat for David Moyes' Manchester United and yet again Marouane Fellaini, the £27.5 million summer transfer not starting nor even coming on as a substitute - all of United's deficiencies have once again been laid bare.
The dependence on Michael Carrick to transfer the ball between defence and attack was worrying over the past few seasons, and now without him Manchester United seem to have no Plan B.
Other than the (former) Everton way, of course - lumping it long and hoping for moments of individual brilliance to save the day. If Manchester United indeed want to continue this system of football, they're better off being managed by Sam Allardyce. Alan Pardew's Newcastle came to Old Trafford with a simple but so difficult to consistently attain game plan - to defend with discipline and play on the counter attack.
A Yoann Cabaye finish supplied by Sissokko's cross (who, it must be said, got the better of Patrice Evra far too easily then) was enough for all three points.
A relaxing Champions League tie could not come soon enough for this team; the comfort of having already qualified to the knockout stages perhaps assisting David Moyes in, at the very least, to try out alternatives.
However, from where and with whom in this currently available squad? That would be anybody's guess.
Breathless? Nah, I am not referring to the paragraph's above but Southampton's unbelievable tempo and desire against Manchester City.
Manuel Pellegrini's Sky Blues have the highly talented individuals but Southampton on the night displayed fantastic teamwork and movement. Southampton played beautiful football, with Osvaldo's stunning strike the icing on the cake; Vincent Kompany left on his back.
Sergio Aguero's finish was clinical as well, a ball whipped in from Aleksandr Kolarov finding a way past three Southampton defenders for Aguero to fire home.
All in all, matches like this prove far more fruitful viewing than the dross that followed on Sunday with Fulham's victory over a shambolic Aston Villa.
Rene Meulensteen earned his first win as manager of Fulham as Paul Lambert surely needs to get consistency out of his squad - putting three goals past Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium followed by this toothless display does not bode well.
The Stadium of Light had only its' name for the football was gloomy. Sunderland players just could not find a teammate and Spurs could not find the back of the net.
Another 3 points for Andre Villas-Boas, who will take them any which way he can get them right now.
Isn't it funny that but a week ago his job was in peril, and David Moyes seemed like the second coming after a glorious unbeaten streak? Football… what a game.
Onwards to the weekly Mourinho show - this episode, how not to defend!
Andre Schurrle put in another sterling performance, terribly unlucky not to get a hat-trick for his efforts yet Mourinho's tactical substitutions were curious to say the least.
Frank Lampard and a still-wanting-for-form Samuel Eto'o failed to provide the necessary push Chelsea needed to go for the win. Indeed, their introductions galvanised Stoke City even more.
Lampard was a mere passenger when Mark Hughes' men come counter-attacking. The goal? An absolute stunner by Oussama Assaidi to give Stoke all three points.
But who will the critics point to now as the reason behind Chelsea's defensive woes, seeing that fall-guy David Luiz has not been playing lately?
Seven goals conceded in the past three league matches (albeit with two wins), it seems to be all Gary Cahill's and Petr Cech's fault.
After all, John Terry never puts a foot wrong according to the "media noise". - December 10, 2013.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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