Written by Nicholas Edwards
“Manchester United have a chance to emulate our “Invincibles”… Avoiding defeat this season in particular, when the smaller teams are playing very well and others, such as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, are so strong, would be an even bigger achievement than ours.”
These are the words of former Arsenal great Ray Parlour who believes that an unbeaten season for Manchester United would be a greater achievement than the famous 2003/04 season where Arsenal didn’t suffer a single loss for the entire campaign.
Can United do it? And will it be a bigger achievement than Arsenal’s?
As an Arsenal fan I am expected to say this but few can argue that Arsenal’s Invincibles were the greatest football team to play in the Premier League’s 18 year history. It was the last time that the Gunner’s truly had the perfect balance between attack and defence. You had Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp up front; Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg, Gilberto Silva and Robert Pires in midfield; Lauren, Campbell, Toure and Cole in defence; and Jens Lehmann in goal. On top of that you had the likes of Reyes, Wiltord, Fabregas, Edu, Kanu, Parlour, Keown, and Clichy filling up the squad. The entire first team were playing the best football of their careers and their passing play was just magical to watch. It felt like the first time that English football had seen the game played so beautifully.
If we compare that to the current Manchester United squad then the Red Devils come up more than a little short.
Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney are very good players and hugely talented but have been inconsistent this season. Berbatov has had a wonderful season (possibly his best) but has failed to deliver in the big games where United need him. Rooney’s year has definitely been one to forget. After a dismal world cup campaign with England and a very public and nasty contract dispute he hasn’t even begun to find the form he is capable of.
In midfield Manchester United are surprisingly unremarkable. Nani has show genuine promise but his selfishness and inconsistency leave him completely submerged in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo (United severely miss him). Darren Fletcher is a hard worker but lacks any real flair required to stand out. It is a statement to United’s lacklustre midfield that veteran’s Scholes and Giggs are still playing as often as they do.
It is United’s defence that have kept them unbeaten so far. Ferdinand and Vidic are truly solid in the centre while Rafael and Evra are very competent full backs. Edwin Van Der Sar is as reliable as you can get for a goalkeeper but his age is a concern for united fans.
If we compare the two squads then it is remarkable that United’s current squad are even being mentioned in the same breath as the team to equal that feat. And it doesn’t stop there. There are also other factors to consider that cast doubt on United’s unbeaten season credentials.
In the 03/04 season Arsenal were without a doubt the best team in the league while few teams were at a standard to compete. Chelsea were still building the squad that would eventually force its way to the top and Manchester United were going through a rebuilding process. Elsewhere in the league Liverpool finished in 4th a full 30 points behind the Gunner’s while Newcastle and Aston Villa were the only other teams worth mentioning.
Flash forward seven years and we are witnessing the most competitive season in the Premier League’s history. Five teams are still in the race for the title in Arsenal, Chelsea, City, United and Tottenham while the quality of the other teams has markedly improved. We are seeing shock results left right and centre as teams from the bottom of the table are beating teams at the top. It is a wonder that United have gone on undefeated for this long.
Furthermore if we look at United’s remaining fixtures then we see big challenges ahead. The Red Devil’s still have to travel to The Emirates Stadium, Stamford Bridge and Anfield. They haven’t faced Chelsea at all this season and they are the team that has caused them the most problems in recent seasons.
I agree with Ray Parlour. If United defy the odds and go undefeated for the entire campaign it will be a remarkable achievement. Arsenal’s team were much better and faced a less competitive league to the one we have today. I don’t think United can do it though. The games against Chelsea will be a real test and an away match at the Emirates with Arsenal in top form (and maybe without the burden of Champions League football) will be a tall order so close to the end of the campaign. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see United’s unbeaten run come to an end sooner rather than later. They play away to Blackpool in eight days and I wouldn’t put it past Ian Holloway’s team to pull off a miracle.
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Well the “Invincibles” were certainly the most arrogant team ever to play in the Premiership. I’ve never seen a bunch of players so in love with themselves. But they were brittle psychologically – once they lost it all went to pieces.
As a Man United fan I don’t care about this unbeaten record stuff. I’d take a defeat and a win over two draws any day – it’s more points! It’s trophies that matter and I just want us to get that 19th title and climb ahead of Liverpool. Arsenal are welcome to keep their unique record and I think they will.