English Premier League - Part 2: Conclusions from Manchester United versus Newcastle United
When the fixture list came out before the start of the season for Manchester United, it would have been a welcoming sight for them. Last season, the former treble winners had a wretched time in the English Premier League due to the nature of their fixtures. After most of their European matches, United were scheduled to play away in the league, which is one of the most difficult things to do given the fact that fatigue accumulates to a large extent in the latter half of the season after Christmas.
Ferguson’s most valuable midfielder, Paul Scholes cannot play three games in a week because of his age, the aging former English international can’t even play in two games in quick succession. For example if Manchester United have a league game on Sunday and a UEFA Champions League tie on Tuesday, Scholes is bound to miss one or make limited appearances from the bench in both the games.
Such is the compromise that Sir Alex has to reach to keep his team in the best possible shape. Last August, Scholes did not feature for United in their away match loss to Burnley. When he returned to Manchester United’s line up for their match away to Wigan at the DW Stadium, the outcome was an impressive five nil win for Manchester United. Was it a coincidence? No, it was because Ferguson had used his best midfielder, in his best position.
Scholes has now also had the chance to earn a precious seven day rest before United's next league encounter against Fulham at the craven cottage. After that match, there is a two week English Premier League break in club football because of an upcoming international break. This year’s fixture list might allow United to use Scholes more effectively and thus control and win more football matches. Focusing on all fronts has always been Ferguson’s main target, whether Manchester United are playing in the league or in Europe. Sir Alex has always gone for a win because the pressure at a club like Manchester United is immense.
However, there are certain limitations to how Scholes plays and there are negative points which have marred the ginger man’s career. His inability to tackle is well documented and whenever he picks up a yellow card early on in the match, United run the risk of going a man down with him on the field for the rest of the match. Another point that should be focused upon is related to United’s left back Patrice Evra. Despite being at the World Cup and despite the announcement that he might be given an extended rest period to deal with his national team problems, Patrice was in action on Monday night for Manchester United.
Perhaps, Evra is the red devil’s most consistent performer but sometimes one does wonder whether Sir Alex uses the Frenchman excessively. In the season’s opening match, it would have been a perfect opportunity for the Scotsman to start Fabio Da Silva at the left back place instead of Evra but that did not happen. Ever since Evra arrived at Old Trafford, he has started an average of around fifty five games a season with Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney’s start for Manchester United against Newcastle came as a surprise for most watching the match. The English striker has been termed as tired and some media reports even suggest that he is carrying a minor injury. Maybe, Ferguson thought that his star centre forward might score and in doing so break his drought which has been prevalent since United’s match away to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League last March.
If this was the case, then Fergie’s gamble back fired, Rooney not only looked off the mark, he lacked his usual energetic self and this must not be a good sight for the things to come for United’s fans. If Rooney does indeed misfire for United this season, their chances to win the league will definitely turn bleaker.
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