Keep the Faith

Dreams Will Return
By Chris O'Brien
April 5 2005

Trailing Chelsea by 13 points in an already decided Premiership race, fans are starting to get on the back of Sir Alex Ferguson. But having only lost twice all season in the top flight, and boasting an unbeaten home record, can this really be deemed a dissappointing season in the Football League?

As the forthcoming General Election campaign will undoubtedly show, you can twist statistics to such an extent that you can practically have legitimate figures to argue just about anything. With Manchester United's Premiership dream all but over, supporters are calling the 2004/2005 a dissappointing season with the European dream being cut early also, although United could yet still retain their F.A Cup crown.

However, with big-spending Chelsea playing some pulsating football at times, United's achievements domestically cannot be considered a failure this term. It is unfamiliar territory over the past decade to see the Red Devils trailing the Football League Champions elect by an astonishing 13 points, but with an unblemished home record in the Premiership and only two league defeats to the clubs name all season, should Sir Alex Ferguson be coming under pressure for not winning a ninth league title this term? These numbers are not evidence of a team on the verge of a major downfall.

The simple answer is no and expectation has become too high after years and years of almost unrivalled success in England. The Red Devils have dominated the domestic game since the Premiership was born in 1992, cruising to 8 league titles and success reached a climax in 1999 as Fergie secured perhaps the greatest footballing achievement of all time, as United took the league, F.A Cup and European Cup to Old Trafford. Such achievements will not be possible every season, and though not mounting more of a challenge for the Premiership is frustrating, we must applaud Chelsea on a title they thoroughly deserve.

One defeat in the Premiership, a controversial penalty away to the bitter Blues, has proved the only stumbling blocks in a thus far invincible season for Jose Mourinho's men. Chelsea have already secured the League Cup and are many people's favourites for success on the continent. Having spent in excess of £200million on the transfer market in the past two years, such achievements are not surprising and United cannot be expected to instantly better a team who years ago would only be played together in a schoolboy's dream XI.

United are on an unbeaten Premiership run of 20 matches, and any other season would surely be on course for the league title. Sadly, a high number of draws has proved United's downfall and a handful of below-par results such as goalless draws with Crystal Palace, Spurs and Blackburn Rovers to name a few have seen United fall short of the blistering pace set by the expensively-assembled Stamford Bridge squad. The Red Devils roster has bags of potential for development, with a number of impressive younger players who are already setting the division alight. Letting these players progress together can only be good for MUFC.

The team is by far the finished article. A goalkeeping crisis has meant a distinct lack of stability in defence, whilst United have struggled in front of goals at times despite having a squad with over £60million of attacking talent. Still, these cracks can be smoothed out and with less frustrating injury problems and a more organised squad, I am sure United can maintain a better Premiership challenge next season. Keep the faith.