Have Manchester United lost their defensive mojo?
Are they as formidable defensively as they were last year?
In addition to being the champions in 2007-08, Man United were also the best team in the league, both, offensively and defensively. The scored the maximum goals and conceded the fewest – also ending up with the maximum number of clean sheets as well. The following table gives the goal scoring and conceding details of the top four. Man United led on all counts
2007-08 EPL Season
And now here’s the same table for the 2008-09 season so far. Numbers in brackets show the expected number had the clubs maintained last years averages. We are only 11 games into the season and the averages will change, but there is enough of an early trend to worry United fans and bring a cheer to their Chelsea counterparts
2008-09 EPL Season so far
United are still as good as last year in banging in the goals but their defense seems to be slipping. The numbers point to a clear fall in their defensive standards from last year. Their performances against Liverpool and Chelsea where they couldn’t defend one-goal leads corroborate what the numbers have to say. Last year, United were winning these games, holding on to one goal leads splendidly. Not so this year.
The other interesting thing shown by the numbers is the huge leap taken by Chelsea – both offensively and defensively. Liverpool have the same number of points, but Chelsea under Scolari have started doing what Abramovich always wanted – decimate the opposition with their attacking prowess. And at the same time they seem to have improved on their defense – supposed to be the highlight of Jose’s reign. Wonder what the great one has to say now
But more importantly, are we seeing a worrying trend for United?
What do you think?
This article was originally published on www.soccerlens.com
Interesting stats, but I think they just reveal the superhuman effort that United put in to retain their crown last season. And lets not get carried away the amount of goals scored against them, as long as they are in matches where we have a positive result, its cool (like the one against Hull).
But yes, not holding on to 1-0s , that is a worrying fact. But I guess its still early in the season, and United have plenty of tiem to recover from their early defensive blunders. I wonder if the rotation is defence (especially at rightback) is in someway responsibel for it, we are missing the solid presence of Wes Brown at right back. I hope our defence comes to the party as the season progresses, which I believe will happen. With all due respect to Gary Neville -and I am a huge fan of his- I’d like to see Wes Brown at rigth back.
Rafeal is good but I dont think he is ready for the big stage yet, we saw that a few days back at Parkhead. For all his attacking prowess he denies us the solidarity that Wes Brown provides in set piece situations, especially hsi ariel prowess.
Apart from the occasional inclusion of Jhonny Evans I dont think we should be tinkering too much in defence. I guess Gary Nevilles return is more of a curse than a boon for us.
I don’t follow much football… but if the same people are around maybe the other teams have improved their offensive. BTW, who is leading?
Hey Kapil…long time…glad to see you here
I agree with you and hope you are right…I wish Fergie had bought another defender and not let Pique go …more than the superhuman effort, a relatively injury free season helped last year…Iam scared man…
Hey Scorpi
Chelsea and Liverpool are tops…and ya looks like Chelsea have gotten really good
Gerrard still around?
Yes and is still the best player at Liverpool
Hey avnish,
Damn man, I am really missign writing for i-sport, neways I dont think signing a defender was necessary. As far as retaining Pique is concerned, his departure was inevitable. He was a Barca man through and through, I was actually surprised when eh signed for us, I guess it was just the competition in Barca B that migth have compelled him to do so.
Today’s result against Arsenal has made me a skeptic, and with teh World club thing coming up I think we will need a herculean effort to retain the title. And we need Wes Brown back and Hargreaves, we are missing big match players.
And there is one more thing. We need someone to play on the shoulder of the defender. Andy Gray made a very interesting observation of how Berbatov drops too deep. I think he should be sent with specific instructions of leading the line. We got him for that very job, didnt we? Moreover, there is a feeling of complacency within the camp, trying to play fancy football even when we are not in the lead, I think we need to revert back to a more direct approach , waddya reckon?
its not a case of Chelsea getting good, its the hunger……..I think today both teams were equally good, Arsenal were the hungrier…..
In retrospect I feel , a defeat at Celtic could have been a kick in the nads we deserved and could have proved handy too……
You know what…forget the team being complacent…I as a fan have become complacent…I wanted that second CL title badly and now that we have that I just feel content…the defeats suddenly dont hurt so much…
hmmmm, very true……I am experiencing something similar….I dont have to put in extra efforts/research to argue with em Chelsea supporters……my answer is a simple statement “we have the 2 biggest trophies”……
Ya and that’s making all of us complacent…we have been unable to close the gap on the leaders but it doesn’t seem to bother