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Fergie’s gone: so why roll over at Old Trafford?

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David Moyes discovered just how easy life can be at Old Trafford last weekend

They say it is impossible to win the title in your opening 8 or so games, but you certainly can lose it. For those fighting at the opposite of the table no such hypothesis exists, only the ‘the first win is vital’ truism. It’s a wonder why, as applying this same theory of the importance of momentum for the newly promoted sides also makes perfect sense. If Crystal Palace adopted such an attitude at Old Trafford last week for example, then the approach to their visit may have been very different.

Fresh on the back of an excellent victory at home to Sunderland, there was an overwhelming impression of resignation about the impending trip to Old Trafford that weekend, reflected in the lacklustre display and subsequent defeat. When the final whistle blew, the stats read a dismal 38% possession, one solitary corner, and not a single shot on target. Kagisho Dikgacoi’s dismissal offers some justification, but an honest Palace fan must admit that even for the 43 minutes prior to this, their side lacked desire and barely ventured out of their own half. It was the typical performance of a bottom end club at United; to sit back and keep the tally down.

Smaller sides’ visits to such ‘fortresses’ are all too often defined by fear and negativity. Wigan Athletic were once notorious for it, failing to collect a single point in 9 Premier League visits to Old Trafford and only scoring one goal. They never once went there and played, and they’re not alone. In fact this has been the artificial quality of Old Trafford for years now; that it is the impenetrable fortress where United simply fill their boots, and you are nothing short of cannon fodder.

Yet no other ground in the country boasts such a remarkable environment. While Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are undoubtedly regarded as tough places to go, bizarrely smaller clubs rarely visit such grounds with the pessimism of a trip Old Trafford. City were in for a particular surprise when Hull visited the Etihad earlier in the season, when their opposition pressed high and carved out a few considerable chances of their own. The result was far from what their opposition’s performance merited.

Aston Villa and Southampton, albeit stronger sides, proved just how effective a positive style can be at the big grounds, Villa employing superb counter attacking movement and Southampton pressing heavily in the final third which helped record wins over Arsenal and Liverpool respectively. Whether such approaches are adopted when these sides visit Old Trafford remains to be seen, but history unfortunately suggests otherwise.

Of course Old Trafford owes much of its untouchable stature to recently departed manager Alex Ferguson. Whether it was his debated influence over referees or his infamous ‘Fergie Time’, winning at United was an incredibly daunting task for anyone during his tenure, let alone for the newly promoted clubs. But the days of Fergie are dead and gone, and United are entering a difficult period of transition, as new manager David Moyes looks to prevail from the shadow of one of the most successful managers in footballing history.

The transition is proving tumultuous. Crystal Palace visited United only a week after Moyes’ humbling first trip to Anfield, which was followed by what many considered to be a disastrous Deadline Day for the club. Unease is an unfamiliar feeling around the Old Trafford terraces, a feeling on which a confident Crystal

Palace could have capitalised and watch grow if they showed more energy and conviction in the opening half hour. Instead it was the familiar deep defensive line and static midfield. United were therefore easily able to settle into the game and calm any nerves, and the game was lost before it had even begun.

The next visitors are Steve Clarke’s West Bromwich Albion, and we can only hope that we see a less anxious performance from his side, for as Manchester United tentatively enter this new era, never have they looked so vulnerable. Yet it appears Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy transcends the trophy cabinet he left behind. The delusion of Old Trafford looks to have survived, and for that, David Moyes should be extremely grateful.

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  • Jenny says:

    If is always negative in football.
    Even so – if 0-0 and 11 v 11 at half time – your article might have been quite different!

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