Man Utd Need an Overdue Statement Performance Against Sheffield Utd
Manchester United have got away with grinding out results in quite an unconvincing manner so far this season, which is the sole reason they have stayed in contention for a place in the Premier League top four and aren’t, well…Arsenal.
United have won six games, only one fewer than Liverpool or Tottenham, and yet there still isn’t a single performance in a Premier League setting from this season that could be considered ‘good’ over the course of a full game.
The games that United have won, they have done so in individual halves, or through isolated moments of brilliance from individual players. That those moments have been possible and that the team has put together strong displays in 45-minute chunks shows there is at least hope, but they need to spread that over 90 minutes and find the consistency that has been lacking.
Against Brighton, a 100th minute penalty gave them a slender win, while at Newcastle it was a late flurry of three goals in the final 10 minutes. They came from behind against Everton, needed a re-taken penalty to beat West Brom 1-0, were 2-0 down at half-time against Southampton and were also trailing before mounting a comeback against West Ham.
All but one of those victories were away from home, with that narrow triumph over West Brom the club’s sole league win at Old Trafford this season. And yet, they remain in a reasonable position.
United should beat Sheffield United on Thursday night – pretty much everyone else has this season. But the time has come for a more complete and statement performance that is long overdue. There won’t be a more favourable game to do it and get the confidence flowing.
As things stand, Sheffield United are the worst team in Premier League history. They have lost 11 of their 12 games, a run that extends to 14 of 15 stretching into the end of last season and are worse off at this stage of the season than even the infamous Derby side of 2007/08.
The Blades have been well in most games they have played and both West Brom and Fulham are arguably objectively worse, despite having more points. But losing so regularly takes its toll.
The Sheffield team that United will meet on Thursday is a shadow of that which secured a 3-3 draw in this fixture last November, having been 2-0 up at one stage. They have lost key players through injury at the back, while star loanee Dean Henderson is obviously back at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team won’t get a better opportunity to capitalise off an opponent being at rock bottom and can use it to boost their own ends.
Last season, a 6-0 FA Cup win over Tranmere, admittedly a lower league team, was an important moment for United and a catalyst for an improved second half of the season. An overdue big performance against a side that may struggle to put up much of a fight could be that again.
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