VIEW: United vs Blackburn Rovers (a). 0-0

Well my friends, it seems that that's that well and truly that. The pre-season struggle to adapt and develop without our best player, the lack of funds and the colourful off-field distractions have seeminly taken their toll; even if things were going so swimmingly up until the Bayern game in Germany 13 days ago (a game/result I - now correctly - described as the most pivitol of the season).



Yet you feel, with only 5 games to go (well, only 4 now), that something more obvious, direct and integral to the fibre of the squad is to blame for our apparent end of season meltdown.

It’s a cliché of a statement at this time of the season, but the players are looking tired. What should never decrease with time however, regardless of the physical state of the players, is the passion and desire to battle all the way to the end. The team with the ability to compete at the top (in this league there are only 3…there used to be 4), who also possess the mental and physical capacity to maintain a certain standard right the way to the end will be champions. Manchester United, it is fair to say at this stage, do not.

After a slow start, we appeared to tactically come together at the time it most mattered. The performances and form of Rooney, Valencia, Fletcher and Nani (who would’ve thought??) have catalysed our challenge to seemingly strengthen our position; yet instead it has given us false hope, as, inconveniently, it was the physical strain that took its toll.

Against Chelsea, the away side confidently dominated against our knackered Champions League victims, and the same could be said about yesterday.

Berbatov’s inclusion was obvious as a result of Rooney’s absence (that diminishing fitness again…), and Macheda was a brave and, no doubt, popular choice alongside him. Neville also stepped in for Wednesday night’s failing Rafael, yet using that same logic, why did Ferguson decide against dropping last Saturday’s two most incompetent players? Giggs and Scholes’s names in the line-up had me nervous even before kick-off, although not being as ignorant as some might believe – and ALWAYS trusting our divine manager’s judgement – I knew the occasion and the epic meaning that was attached to winning today (as will now be for the case for the remainder of the season) would motivate the players enough.

So (very briefly) on to the game itself. We created chance - in the form of the ever potent Valencia and Nani - and to his credit, Scholes pinged a few absolute beauty's across the park. But Berbatov, yet again, failed to make an impact in any way. His positioning and general utilisation of the ball once he recieved it was often pointless, and thanks to his lack of intuition, we will yet again be conveniently - and continuously - dubbed a 'one man team'. Even when the fresh legs stepped in - in the form of Park, Gibson and Evra - to inject some life and much needed energy into our tired side, the impact was minimal and, eventually, the entire exhausted performance was detremental. Number 19 and an unprecidented 4th in a row, is now devestatingly out of reach.

At the end of the day, Manchester United win. That’s what they do and that's what they know. And especially when we’re banked not to, that’s when we thrive. The desire and ability (regardless of what cynics might think about this current, post-Ronaldo crop) is still there. Yet the fitness of our squad – highlighted by the ridiculous amount of players we’ve had injured throughout the season, as well as the lethargic appearance of United at this moment in time – is the most serious, worrying sign that we have suddenly gone from champions to mere contenders. And unless the squad is increased and undoubtedly improved to provide quality within quantity, we will continue to struggle at that crucial, 'squeeky bum', 'United' time of the season that we all traditionally love.

...On a positive note, Liverpool drew 0-0 against Fulham to royally fuck them up. Is it bad that I feel the blow of missing out on the title will be severely dampened if Liverpool miss out on 4th? Naaah.

And on another side note, fair play Pompey. What an amazing feat.