26th November vs Besiktas. 0-1

Another ‘easy’ European night? Ferguson’s team selection suggested it was certainly not the most important European night; giving our eager youths a healthy and much warranted run-out in what should have STILL been a clean victory.





As the half progressed we looked more and more threatening; comfortable on the ball and even played on the brink of elegancy with some slick passing, intelligent movement and confident possession from our impressive under-21’s (Wellbeck, Macheda, Gibson, Anderson and Obertan). Even without Rooney, Berbatov et al, this game could have still been easier than expected...



Yet, as has been far more consistent than our ‘elegant’ football this season, we were wasteful and unable to competently finish attacking moves. A dangerous tactic yet through our often graceful style and superb, resilient possession from the midfield – with Park and Obertan controlling the play from the wings – this surely rejected any possibility of a goal, or even an attack, from the opposition.



But it happened and in an incident that defined the term ‘against the run of play’, all the hard work and exciting football produced by our youngsters and debutants was undone. Actually, the reality was we could have been two down at half time; as even though the possession and innovative football was all ours, the only two real chances came from the Turk’s only two attacking moves and the only two half-decent shots on target all half!



I’m writing this at half-time, so of course the final outcome could easily swing in our favour, but for now, we have to further highlight a worrying, over-reliant aspect of our game; and that is our goals coming from a uni-dimensional route (more than regularly from our attackers) and more worryingly, we are wasteful and not scoring enough. Infrequent and indirect is United’s current path to goal, and even though the likes of Macheda, Wellbeck, Park and the flamboyant Obertan suggested otherwise through their early promise, our lack of finality was the difference after 45 minutes.

‘Glimpses of potential, but only one decisive moment’ was Steve Ryder's half-time signoff as the players walked through the tunnel, and as it was (though it really shouldn’t of been), that depressingly summed up the entire game.



Those I mentioned who shone in the first half drifted as the game went on – either through being unable to penetrate the impossible Besiktas resilience as they threw everyone back, or just through sheer lack of trying – and even when Owen, Carrick and our seasons best performer, Evra, were introduced to add some fresh attacking potency, the dimension was still the same and still easy as pie for Besiktas to knock back.



They collected what seemed like too many men behind the ball as they rebounded nearly every one of our shots; shots that had ambition however, as usual, lacked genuine potential and instead flew aimlessly into the Stretford End or into the shins of a Besiktas defender.



There’s no question that our first half dominance and overall performance by our brave reserves deserved a point; and the defining incident of this disappointing European night that summed up our unavoidable on-field frustration occurred in the final moments. Just as the Stretford Ender’s ‘ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!’ was fully echoing throughout the ground, Evra was clear through in the penalty area only to be illegally rammed off the ball. Penalty? Of course not. As if referees couldn’t get any more retarded they are now clearly taking the advice of the deluded yet consistent (and boring) hater claims that, ‘you never get a penalty and Old Trafford’, and obviously, ‘United always do’. With an incident that brought back memories of two weeks ago when Fletcher was booked instead of given the penalty, it genuinely does get you thinking about – in the words of a certain Scotsman himself – the ‘fitness’ of these c**ting ref's.

In a final desperate act, Foster sprinted up for a corner; proving an almost effective move (as the ball swung directly towards him with Brown headed the ball goal-wards, producing our final chance) and also a rather touching site that reminded us somewhat of a great Dane and that rather more memorable European night ten years ago. But how very different those eclectic and almost perfect footballing specimens were to those wearing the United shirt today.

To be honest, I am happy I have this blog. I’m happy I have a medium through which I can channel my frustration, annoyance and general hurt over this complacent United side. And that goes for the gaffer as well. £80 million to spend and you produce this? A team so full of youth and potential yet with as little conviction as any United side I have ever seen. Ronaldo and Tevez aren't the only difference. Something inert has disappeared: the spirit and determination is missing. Who knows, maybe the selling of Ronaldo did signal the end of our dominance as we watch more teams come to Old Trafford and play with prosperity and ambition. Maybe it signalled the lack of power United have; to sell our biggest, best player when we have clearly NEVER been a selling club in the past.

People might read this and think, ‘calm the f**k down! We’ve already qualified AND we had a weakened team out’, but this is so much bigger than tonight’s frustration that I defy anyone to argue against my proclamation.



Whatever has changed this season – not ONLY on tonight’s evidence, as yes, Ferguson’s team selection was clearly rather brave (verging on risky) – it has produced a newer apathetic and typically un-United style that has surely got us all worried for the teams’ future success.



Whether the great one’s departure initiated it is not really an issue. The issue now is when and how it's going to change if we are to have any genuine chance of success in the near future...