Last December, in a match that will forever live in Manchester United infamy; the Red Devils suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to the hands of FC Basel on a cold and wet Swiss evening. As a result Manchester United were condemned to playing the remainder of the European campaign in the previously uncharted abyss of Thursday night football in the Europa League.
However, an even bigger loss occurred during the game; the loss of inspirational and influential captain Nemanja Vidic. In a routine challenge on the Swiss opposition’s captain Marco Streller the Serbian centre back was left reeling and writhing in agony. As a consequence Vidic was stretchered off and had to make his way out of the ground that night with the aid of crutches.
A later x-ray proved to show just how much of the season the United captain would miss. The result, the remainder of it and potentially the start of the next. A bad night in the history of Manchester United became a disastrous one thanks to this massive loss.
The 2011/12 season was the first season since the 2004/05 season when the first injection of the Russian Roman Abramovich’s billions arrived at Chelsea; where Manchester United have failed to win a domestic trophy (Not Including Community Shield) a blow which will hurt United fans all over the world especially having the Premier League title snatched away with near enough the last kick of the last game season by Manchester City with Sergio Aguero’s deciding goal against QPR.
Who’s to say that if the Red Devil’s captain hadn’t ruptured a cruciate knee ligament then defensive calamities like the home defeat to Blackburn on New Years Eve or the simple lack of concentration in the last 10 minutes which saw Everton and an inspired Nikica Jelavic come back from 4-2 down to earn a draw; simply would not have occurred? Meaning that we would now be sitting here looking back at Manchester United’s 20 league title and thus extended their lead of rivals Liverpool.
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But from a Manchester United view point, the season and the injury to Vidic had positive outcomes. For example the development of a certain Northern Irish centre half was astounding. Due to the hole in the United defence left by Vidic’s injury Jonny Evans showed time and time again just how good he can be with consistent game time. This time last year before the 2011/12 season many United fans (including myself) didn’t see Evans as anything but 4th or even 5th choice centre back after the arrival of Blackburn’s Phil Jones.
In a way the 2011/12 season was Jonny Evans’ season. He must have been dreading the campaign when Jones was signed. But with the departures of experienced defenders John O’Shea and Wes Brown and the subsequent lack of fitness early on in the season of Rio Ferdinand followed by the horrific injury suffered by Vidic which saw him make 27 appearances in the League, 38 in all. He played in his most league games for 2 years and his most club appearances in a single season for 3 years.
In these games Evans showed defensive class, a raw defensive ability which will only improve. He also showed how calm he was on the ball on many occasions, even in the bigger games he showed he was no slouch and could match the big, powerful and tricky customers like Drogba and Van Persie. He even scored his first ever goal for United in the 5-0 demolition of Wolves at Molineux.
Now ahead of the 2012/13 season Manchester United will welcome back the players who had represented their countries in the Euro 2012 tournament, they will welcome back their South American contingent as well as the rest of the squad. More importantly they will welcome back their leader, their captain Nemanja Vidic.
Once he gets up to match fitness many around Old Trafford will see the return of the Serbian as a new signing. With the return of Vidic, the resigning of the midfield maestro Paul Scholes as well as the signing of Shinji Kagawa and if rumours are to be believed Luka Modric, Manchester United aren’t going to let their City rivals get away with last seasons title win and they certainly won’t let City make it two in a row.
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I think its pretty obvious manure would have won the league had vidic been fit. I also doubt City would have manged to finish joint top had Kompany nmissed as much football, as their back ups are extremely average.
If Vidic stays fit all season next year I cant se emanure loosing many goals at all. He is undoubtedly one of the best defenders on the planet.