This is why Manchester United are performing poorly

Okay, enough of the bullshit opinion everybody has on the problems with Manchester United and why there are not performing well. Seriously 9 out of 10 football fans don't understand the dynamics of the game and pre-assume the cause of United's show of poor form lately.Another issue here is the influence of the media on these football fans, some take the media too seriously. The media isn't the truth, they show you what sells and what sells isn't the truth.


So what's the truth?
The truth is the dynamics of the game, the physical and psychological conditions of the football game dictate any team's performance.


So, we have the current Manchester United squad as follow:
(1) De Gea
(3) Evra
(4) Jones
(5) Ferdinand
(6) Evans
(7) Owen
(8) Anderson
(9) Berbatov
(10) Rooney
(11) Giggs
(12) Smalling
(13) J.S. Park
(14) Chicharito
(15) Vidic
(16) Carrick
(17) Nani
(18) Young
(19) Welbeck
(20) Fabio
(21) Rafael
(23) Cleverley
(24) Fletcher
(25) Valencia
(27) Macheda
(28) Gibson
(29) Kuszczak
(32) Diouf
(34) Lindegaard
(40) Amos

First thing in a football team-Technical Ability. Absolutely important.To play at the top level that we are playing, to win the trophies which are on the highest level, we need the best players.


So lets see, how many of them are really technically able to play for Manchester United.
Here is the list:
(1) De Gea
(4) Jones
(8) Anderson
(9) Berbatov
(10) Rooney
(11) Giggs
(12) Smalling
(13) J.S. Park
(14) Chicharito
(15) Vidic
(16) Carrick
(17) Nani
(18) Young
(19) Welbeck
(20) Fabio
(21) Rafael
(23) Cleverley
(24) Fletcher
(25) Valencia
(28) Gibson
(34) Lindegaard
(40) Amos


So the ones that are not technically able, or no longer technically able due to age catching up are as follow:


(3) Evra #Age-Can't cover as he used to any more. Most of the goals conceded against us this season has come from the left.See Man City defeat.


(5) Ferdinand# Age-Can't stay fit and unable to defend aerial balls  any more.Goals conceded against Basel and Benfica at Old Trafford were clear show.


(6) Evans #Poor technical and lack of confidence to play as Centre  Back. Doesn't have enough pace or proper tackling ability.Always mistimes.I doubt this needs any more convincing.


(7) Owen #Age and lack of speed.


(27) Macheda # Just not good enough.Horrible first touch, as a striker doesn't get into the box or tiny spaces in between of defenders. Doesn't even  make space for other players to run.


(29) Kuszczak #Not in the right mental state to play. Lost of confidence after following down the pecking order behind De Gea, Lindergaard  and even Ben Amos. Wants to leave the club, he should.


(32) Diouf #Not good enough.Bad touches of the ball. Doesn't make use of  physical ability to push opposing defenders.

Second thing we can relate to United's poor run of form is the mentality of the players. Mentality in United is the winning mentality, never give up till the last whistle.It is the mentality that accompanies the technical ability that has given United wonderful results in past years.

There are 2 main situations in football when mentality plays a big part:

-When the team goes a goal,two or even three goals down. 

-When team plays under high pressure, albeit under media pressure,fans booing or simply playing away from home.

In the past, the United mentality has seen us overcame many situations like these below:

4-2 Last season at Upton Park, after going 2 goals down.

2-2 Last season at Villa Park,after going 2 goals down.Scored 2 in the last 10mins.

2-1 Last minute goals against Wolves (league game at OT and League Cup game)

1-0 88th minute goal against a stubborn Bolton side.

1-0 84th minute goal against a resilient Everton defence.

Thus coming back to the point of mentality. Lets examine how many current first team players that have the mentality.This is based on how many seasons these players have been at the club to adopt to our mentality. 

Young first team players would find experience very vital and thus making young players not being able to handle the pressure and have the right mind set to participate in game.

(1) De Gea -Able.Exception:Has played in Europa league and European U-21's.Winning both.
(4) Jones-Able.Exception.Has a level head.
(8) Anderson-Able
(9) Berbatov-Able
(10) Rooney-Able
(11) Giggs-Able
(12) Smalling-Able
(13) J.S. Park-Able
(14) Chicharito-Able
(15) Vidic-Able
(16) Carrick-Able
(17) Nani-Able
(18) Young-Not able.Not experience playing in Europe or high level games as Aston Villa has been a mediocre team in the last few seasons.
(19) Welbeck-Not able.Lack of match experience and minutes on the pitch.Loan spell at Sunderland didnt really instill this quality.
(20) Fabio-Able
(21) Rafael-Able
(23) Cleverley-Not able.Lack of match experience.Loan spell at Wigan didnt....well it was at Wigan.
(24) Fletcher-Able
(25) Valencia-Able
(28) Gibson-Not able.Lack of match experience.Didnt get much time on the pitch.
(34) Lindegaard-Not Able.Playing in the Danish league just isnt the same.
(40) Amos-Not able.Didnt get much time on the pitch.

So here are the list of current first team players at Manchester United who are technical able with the right mentality:
(1) De Gea
(4) Jones
(8) Anderson
(9) Berbatov
(10) Rooney
(11) Giggs
(12) Smalling
(13) J.S. Park
(14) Chicharito
(15) Vidic
(16) Carrick
(17) Nani
(20) Fabio
(21) Rafael
(23) Cleverley
(24) Fletcher
(25) Valencia


So we are now down to 17 players.
Lets see the last aspect that rules the game.Of course, luck. In terms of suspension and injuries. Suspensions are a one match,two or three match absence.So we will not consider that.


Lets have a look at the players who have been on the treatment table this season at United based on minutes


The list is as follows:
(players in yellow have seen more times off the pitch than the minutes adding up from the fixtures so far)
(1) De Gea
(4) Jones
(8) Anderson
(9) Berbatov
(10) Rooney
(11) Giggs
(12) Smalling
(13) J.S. Park
(14) Chicharito
(15) Vidic
(16) Carrick
(17) Nani
(20) Fabio
(21) Rafael
 Cleverley
(24) Fletcher
(25) Valencia


So that leaves us with the following:
(1) De Gea-GK
(4) Jones-RB/CB
(20) Fabio-RB/LB

(15) Vidic-CB

(11) Giggs-LM

(13) J.S. Park-LM
(17) Nani-LM/RM
(25) Valencia-RM
(16) Carrick-CM
(24) Fletcher-CM
(9) Berbatov-S

(10) Rooney-S/CF


As you can see for yourself, this is NOT A squad that can handle the physical stress and demands of playing in four different competitions week in,week out.This is half of a first team squad thats required at this level.Have a look at the defenders that are available and you will know why they are conceding way too many goals.David De Gea has done superbly well since his big money from Atletico Madrid and has no blame to take in the number of goals conceded this season.



In addition to that, there are 2 key type of players which we are missing at the moment:


-A play maker who can run around with defenders and create chances and open up spaces between opponents defence and also that can score goals.Like how David Silva is doing for City at the moment.


-A central holding midfielder that controls the tempo of the game and holds the ball.Dictates the game in the middle and acts as shield for the back four.No better example than Scholesy.

These are the real reasons why Manchester United are performing badly on the pitch, nothing else.However, this is putting the blame on others or giving excuses.This is the logical and practical reasoning behind the poor form shown lately.United will have to buy in January and buy top notch quality players if they are being serious in winning trophies this season.However,one can always trust in Sir Alex Ferguson in building a squad and this is a squad in transition, like in 95,02,05.Give him time and trust, and you will see many many more trophies at Old Trafford.


Any comment,direct it underneath,any criticism or opinions will be taken discussed.

We are United.We are Manchester United.We WIN.

In the love of Manchester United.

GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED