United a one man team?
I can see the United fans queuing up to slam this accusation already. What!? We’re not a one man team! What about Rooney and Carrick? Valencia! And Nan….erm maybe not. If you can bear with me for just a second, allow me to explain my rationale.
Of course, I am referring to Robin van Persie and the immediate impact he has had at his new club. He is in blistering form. Absolutely scorching to be exact as the Dutchman has knocked in 8 goals already this season including some strikes at critical times.
He was at it again on Wednesday night in the Champions League coming off the bench to score ignite Man United’s comeback against Braga to book his team’s place in the knockout stages. United looked abject prior to the equaliser. Wayne Rooney continually had to drop very deep to simply get a touch of the ball. Handy for Sir Alex Ferguson, then, that he was able to look at his bench and bring on van Persie to bang in a goal and send them on their way to winning the game.
Even in these early stages of his time at Man United, van Persie has become a very important part of the team (as you’d expect) but there is the possibility of United relying too heavily on his goals much like Arsenal did during last season.
This is certainly not one of Ferguson’s best United teams and increasingly without van Persie in the line up United’s attack looks a little feeble. Those eight goals he has aleady scored have helped United to the top of the league and qualification to the Champions League knockout stages.
Of course, there is quality in the form of Rooney, Valencia and Hernandez but van Persie is the game changer, a man whose movement and clinical finishing makes the crucial difference in important moments. But, I guess that’s what 24 millions will get you.
The key for Ferguson will have to be that he makes sure that the team mentality does not move towards a feeling that will not be able to win without the Dutchman’s goals, like Arsenal did heavily last season.
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