To get half way through a season unbeaten is a fantastic achievement, but could Manchester United really go a whole season unbeaten. Manchester United haven’t been on top form this season, and this record has slipped through the net – mainly because to most fans the draws at home to West Brom and away to Everton and Fulham felt like defeats. Arsenal’s achievement was something to admire, and there is nothing wrong with aspiring to that level of superiority. Could this Manchester United side go the whole season unbeaten?
Andy Gray, and his friends at Sky Sports maintain that Manchester United have only gone the first half of the season unbeaten because they haven’t played the top teams. That is not only ridiculous, but completely untrue. Manchester United have played everyone in the top half apart from Chelsea. They have gone away to Everton and Fulham, two places where Manchester United lost last season, and have hosted Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. Maybe the strength of the league should be called into question not who Manchester United have or haven’t played.
As I was discussing earlier, Manchester United’s achievements have gone under the radar somewhat because of the way the team threw games away at the start of the season. As well as this Manchester United haven’t been the best team this season, the most consistent maybe, but not the best. As teams become more aware of this unbeaten record – which actually stretches back to when Manchester United lost to Chelsea in April, they will become a target. Everyone wants to beat Manchester United, but everyone will want to end the record – its natural. Do Manchester United have the characters of Patrick Viera, Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell to maintain the standards, to stop the squad closing in on itself as they get closer and closer to any record.
Manchester United themselves are not getting carried away with what could happen. New boy, Chris Smalling, recently spoke to The Sun about the new invincible tag.
”I am not sure we will ever see a team go through a whole season unbeaten again.”
“So many sides are losing matches unexpectedly now you would have to applaud any team who did do it.
“For us at the moment, it is just about continuing the momentum.”
It is good to hear that the Manchester United players have their feet on the ground, and are taking the achievement for what it is. United haven’t won anything yet and haven’t achieved any records. The best thing they can do is continue to push clear in the fight for the Premier League crown.
This Manchester United team is not as good as the Arsenal squad that went a whole season unbeaten, but that doesn’t mean they can’t emulate them. On the flip side, Manchester United will scare Premier League sides the longer they go unbeaten. As they continue, the players will start to believe they are unbeatable and the confidence will flow. Manchester United can only get better this season. They have remained unbeaten playing average, imagine what they could do when Wayne Rooney hits form and Antonio Valencia returns.
In every season there are turning points. For Arsenal’s unbeaten season it was Robert Pires’ dive at Highbury against Portsmouth. Had a penalty not been given that day, the record may never have existed. For Manchester United could it be the come back against Aston Villa. Seasons and records hinge on these defining moments.
Manchester United may not have the quality of the Arsenal invincible team but they do have the spirit and character to get close to them. However, the difference between the two teams is Manchester United are unbeaten where as Arsenal looked unbeatable.
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