The
instinctive human reaction to failure is blame – blame someone or something. We
tend to provide good and sometimes lengthy analysis on why it didn’t go our way
but most times, it ends in blame. But the question is “who is really to blame?”
I
watched the Manchester united away game against Chelsea on Sunday with an open
mind expecting and ready to take any possible outcome provided my beloved
united put up a good display akin to what we saw against Stoke City at Old
Trafford. United dominated in the opening 20 minutes and for a side with
Carrick and Fellaini in central midfield, the zeal of the attack was stellar.
The backwards and sideways passes seemed to have evaporated and there was much vigor
going forward. Time and again, the attack produced corner kicks as well as a
dangerous attempt on target by Anthony Martial. But playing and scoring against
a Chelsea side desperate to save their season and that turned up with 2
defensive midfielders in Matic and Mikel as well as a sturdy and quick defender
like Kurt Zouma is easier said than done. Therefore, for me, United performed
well.
Chelsea
grew into the game as expected. Forget their bad season; they are still a
strong side with a strong desire to turn things around. Arsenal can confirm
that. They applied good pressure for the remaining part of the half and
then…fair game to say the least with due credits to both sides.
Fast
forward to the Lingard stunner and of course the usual dab that followed.
And
then Fellaini being subbed off (I really wondered why because he did his job in
the middle quite well) and then to Memphis coming on. Now to that part where
fans begin to shoot the blames for conceding the equalizer. Memphis got a
larger share, Blind got some. Some fans have even been bold enough to add Borthwick-Jackson
to that list (an inexperienced lad who just turned 19, whose mates are playing
for the youth side and who put in his absolute best). But hey, it was a draw.
We didn’t lose but we didn’t win either. Still, it’s painful. Was it a winnable
game? You can answer that.
Imagine
united sitting in second place probably 2 points of the top just before the
Chelsea game. Would a draw have been that painful considering the intensity of
the game and the fact that it has been a while United won a game at the Bridge?
Would we have been satisfied? The pain and the anger actually hinges on
United’s fading top 4 hopes. Bar this game. And before you blame Memphis, Blind
or Borthwick-Jackson, let us recall to mind 4 obviously winnable games that
dented this season for united.
1.
Against Newcastle at Old
Trafford at the start of the season. They were bottom of the table as at then
but United could not beat them as the obsession with possession was high then.
That game cost the team 2 points.
2.
Against Swansea at the
Liberty stadium. The team dell victim to Gary Monk tactical tweaks and you know
what followed. 3 points were lost.
3.
Against Bournemouth at the
Vitality stadium where again, possession was more important than scoring. 3
points lost.
4.
Against Norwich at Old
Trafford. This was about the most winnable of all matches this season. Norwich
were just promoted and United was at home. There was absolutely no excuse for
not scoring a single goal and losing the way they did. Costly 3 points.
11
points in total lost which if bagged and added to the point at Chelsea would
have had united contending for the title.
We
all saw the match and saw the mistakes but the damage had already been done
before Memphis made that error or before Borthwick-Jackson kept Costa onside.
All the team can do now is take each game as a must win, channeling the same
passion and energy they had against Stoke and Chelsea to the games. The
pressure is also on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal to remain in the
top 4. The top 4 sides play each other this weekend and thus, United winning at
Sunderland could ease things up a bit making top 4 closer. With 13 matches left
and with the new freedom and zeal with which United are playing, top 4 may
still be possible with West Ham doing them a favor by loosing at
Southampton,but if United fail to make it to the top four come May then someone will definitely have to take the blame as well as pay the price especially now that the ghost of Jose Mourihno is hovering around Old trafford.
Lambert
Iji
Footie
Lover
Manchester
United fan
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