With the modern Manchester United struggling, but don’t suggest they are to a Devil, Paul Scholes was finally bullied back into playing again by Fergie and most likely Ravel Morrison, who last year pleaded guilty to two charges of witness intimidation. Suddenly, the “Giggs-Scholes-Beckham era” became the present; an anchor was chucked before oncoming waves, such as the triple header of an in-form Arsenal, a determined Chelsea and a galvanised Liverpool, which makes up 3 of their next 5 fixtures, crashed into the fast porous ship. For once, those “volunteers” may well have been the exact remedy Sir Alex Ferguson needed for Manchester’s winter blues.
Irrespective of Manchester United’s form – at the time of writing – which averages out as 2.25 points per game, enough to win 8 of the last 10 Premier League titles, they are facing a challenge previously never on offer, in the form of Manchester City and a new presence of Tottenham, which threatens to red-face Ferguson more than he already is naturally. In previous struggles for the Premier League title with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, Fergie has had a reliable contingent to depend on when faced with adversity; players such as: Darren Fletcher, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre.
These are the players that when Manchester United have had to dig deep, Sir Alex Ferguson can rely on, be it: John O’Shea easing the pressure on other players slotting in across the defence and midfield or captaining the F.A Cup side, or Darren Fletcher going from a bit part player to one sorely missed now he is indefinitely unavailable. However, over the past 4 years all of the above have either left, retired or out until further notice. Players that were as capable as playing as they were providing a physical embodiment of Ferguson on the pitch, creating a resounding presence and link between manager and squad are gone. With Vidic out for the rest of the season, along with Fletcher, and Ferdinand, by Ferguson’s own admission, not up to standards this season, it is a presence sorely missed.
John O’Shea, Wes Brown and the like, may not have been the best performers ever to grace Old Trafford, but their service was invaluable and, in unpredicted hardship for Manchester United in the shape of injuries and misfortune, players of their ilk are needed more than ever. The sentiment expressed by the poster on the original article of Pearson’s may have excessively assessed and depicted the scenarios of the said players’ careers; however, right now Sir Alex Ferguson could do with some “volunteers.”
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/
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