By Robert Morris
A rollercoaster ride at Goodison Park yesterday afternoon saw Everton snatch a 3-3 draw in injury time against (photo) Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. As a wasteful Manchester United threw away a comfortably 3-1 lead, they dropped two more points for the second time in the space of just three games. So the question United fans will be asking themselves is: Are recent results a cause for concern?
Well, despite an obvious lack of concentration in recent games, the age of the team is perhaps becoming an issue the manager must address. The likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are without doubt technically exceptional; however the Red Devils arguably lack that creative midfield spark; a player with exceptional pace and the ability to beat a man.
Ever since Christiano Ronaldo vacated the hallowed number 7 jersey two seasons ago, Manchester United have required a talented footballer of a similar mould. A player who could perhaps feed off Rooney and allow him to play where he is most effective; upfront by himself, instead of coming deep to receive the ball.
Although the big money required to purchase someone of the calibre of Arjen Robben or Wesley Sneijder wasn’t exactly available to Manchester United during the recent transfer window, surely the likes of Gourcoff, Ozil, Diego or Van der Vaart fitted the bill?
As I’m sure many United fans will admit Darron Gibson, Anderson and Michael Carrick simply do not have the right attributes or skill to start alongside Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield. In addition, when you take into account the staggering age of the Red Devil’s veterans, Giggs and Scholes, shouldn’t Alex Ferguson begin seriously looking elsewhere?
