Lessons learnt… : How we need to improve from the Sunderland game...

...will Cohen (right) continue his goalscoring form against us at OT?...probably not.

‘Not too hard’ or ‘just play better’ might be the rather cunning little responses some of you will come up with in response to this title, but Bolton – niggly at the best of times, but they've obtained 6 points out of 9 on the road – could certainly make it hard for us, just like Sunderland did, and thus prevent us from playing better.

Ferguson knew that Wiley’s performance – way below par any way you look at it; biased United fan or not – was not the only reason for our performance and, lets be honest, rather fortunate result. His frustration at the errors and lack of fluidity in the side allowed the referee to become a handsome (well, fat and ugly) scapegoat as far as the media was concerned. The fact that he spent much longer moaning about the lack of time Wiley spends in the gym and not enough time discussing or explaining his team’s lack of effort was a fair reason for the press to jump on this as ‘another pathetic Fergie rant where he blames anything other than his own wrong-doings’, but the disappointment was plain to see, and by admitting Sunderland were for large parts of the game on top, he not only gave credit to his former captains side for their impressively ambitious style, he also understood that he was in the wrong.

If there’s one positive to be taken from the game it’s that we genuinely can’t be as bad as we were, quite simply, because our best team was not on the field. As mentioned in my previous blog, he disrespected Sunderland by underestimating them; leaving out Giggs, Anderson, Carrick and Valencia. As these names were introduced throughout the game (all but Giggs coming on, who didn’t even make the bench) we evidently improved and caused more of an imposing attacking threat. So, to start this mini ‘what I think we need to improve’ manifesto:

Valencia MUST start. Simple as. He’s not only our most capable winger, slotting rather perfectly into, and understanding the concept of, the 4-4-2, he IS our most potent creative force. The reasons as to why Sir Alex uses him so sparingly are quite baffling, and as much as we know to never judge or question the master, performances like Sunderland will come a lot more regularly if key players are not used to their full potential.

Nani must NOT. Seriously, why? Giggs, Park, even the enigmatic Tosic…but surely not Nani.

Nice try, but Wellbeck doesn’t work on the wing. His inclusion in the side was welcomed by those who have fallen for his work ethic and finishing touch, but he was rather lost on the left. He was dispossessed too easily, and he let Evra over-lap him to effectively dominate his position, yet when his full-back needed cover, he was still bumbling around up the field; ineffective in an attacking position.

…but Van der sar’s back!! If you’ve read my piece regarding his timely return, then you will probably realise that, based on the start of the season, I’m not the biggest Foster admirer. With the big man back, I feel our natural, solid flow at the back will resume; as his presence in the defensive line not only breeds strength and reliability, however also familiarity and consistency. Just as we are tactically shaken by the absence of Evra, Vidic and Rio, the loss of Vds at the very start of the campaign has a similar demoralising affect and leaves a void that becomes evident; especially when someone as inexperienced to this United side as Foster steps in. Ben wasn’t as commanding or confident as the no.1; not only obvious through his own personal errors, however also the general lack of coherence in defence. Obviuosly Rio’s dip in form isn’t entirely Foster’s fault – in fact, you could probably argue that it hasn’t got anything to do with him at all – but I reckon we’ll see the more assured Ferdinand (and defence in general) that we know and love re-enter the scene with the more familiar, reliable appearance of United’s back four.

Prediction:

I think we should take this game fairly comfortably, but because we're United-minus-Ronaldo, we won't flatter ourselves through our performance. A job done, yet worked-for, 2-0.