It’s becoming evidently clear that a couple years ago Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson lost a bet with an African Voodoo Priest and refused to pay up. The team, specifically its defence, has once again been cursed with an all-out injury crisis as talismanic Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic undergoes knee surgery, ruling him out for eight weeks. Vidic joins both Smalling and Jones in the treatment room, who have been out since July and September respectively. With Rio Ferdinand and Johnny Evans their only remaining established centre backs, will United’s title push fall short once again due to injuries?
Vidic will be a huge blow for the Red Devils, who missed most of last season after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage against FC Basel. Although United went on to amass an impressive total of 89 points, losing only to rivals Manchester City on goal difference, it could certainly be argued that Vidic may have seen them over the line. If the tides were turned and Kompany missed half of the season for City and Vidic had remained fit for its entirety, the blue side of Manchester would not have been celebrating their first title 44 years.
On top of his form Vidic is simply the best centre-back in the world, absolutely dominant in the air as well as a brilliant leader. Being the vocal steward of his back line is one of Vidic’s best attributes and with Patrice Evra as captain that is a trait United sorely miss. Although Sir Alex Ferguson praises the French right back for his leadership abilities, these often fail to materialise on the pitch, with the experience defender left open time and time again last season. Let’s not forget the player revolt Evra lead against the then French coach Raymond Domenech in their embarrassing World Cup 2010 campaign in South Africa.
Being without Vidic is not just a blow; it leaves with just two first-team centre backs; Rio Ferdinand, who has been riddled with injuries for the last few years, and Jonny Evans, who is just returning from a lay-off. An injury to either player would force Sir Alex into playing either Carrick in or a youngster, such as Michael Keane or Scott Wootton, in defence. Oh how Manchester United could use John O’shea now. United fans will hope that the pair are wrapped in cotton wool (perhaps even literally) as losing one of them seems, on the face of it, disastrous. Fear not United fans, there is a silver lining.
Ferdinand and Evans were a highlight for the Red Devils last season, with the former staying injury free and the latter emerging into the team to form a strong partnership in the absence of Vidic that, surprisingly, only conceded 33 goals, four less than the previous season. That is a remarkable feat, considering it was an inconsistent back four in front of a young goal keeper new to the premiership and that six of those goals came in a single match against City.
The upcoming international break comes as a blessing for United, who only have two league games in the next 25 thanks to it. Tottenham and Newcastle are tricky fixtures but Rio and Evans should see them through and once the international break is over Chris Smalling would almost certainly be back, who was laid off for 10 weeks in July. United fans won’t be happy seeing Robin Van Persie in a Holland shirt though, as the striker has a tendency picking up knocks playing for his country.
Whilst it would certainly be knee-jerk to talk about United’s title hopes in September but losing Vidic is a blow for United. If Ferdinand and Evans can stay fit for a run of games they should be fine but it is a mighty big if with the pairing’s recent records with injury. Even with Smalling back, the young England defender may find it hard to find form having been in and out of the first team in the past year through injury. Sir Alex will be wishing he had just paid that fiver.
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