Crisis? What Crisis?

Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, a steady decline has no doubt hit Manchester United. However, United have played two and a half seasons since and despite a few lacklustre permormances, the success of the club has not disappeared. In the first of these Ronaldo-less seasons they pushed a very strong Chelsea side to the final day of the Premier League season, won the League Cup and were unlucky to lose to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final. Last season they won the league and reached the Champions League final where they were beaten by possibly the greatest club side this planet has seen. No shame in that. This campaign Ferguson's ever-evolving army has been criticised even more harshly, and with some justification. Humiliation in the league against Man City and early eliminations from the Champions League and Carling Cup have sparked talks of a "crisis", but the Reds are still within 3 points of City and only last week they beat their nearest rivals in the FA Cup, albeit with a shambolic second half performance. It was however, a win and United are still very much on course for a Double, not forgetting they are now the "Pride of Europa" as one United fanzine put it.

Three trophies United could still win, yet we are a club who with every defeat are seen as being at breaking point, with Fergie's empire apparently crumbling. There have been times in the past when criticism of United has been fair and for a time between 2003 and 2006, it seemed it was the beginning of the end for the Ferguson regime. For three seasons United failed to win the league and following two consecutive knockouts in the Round of 16 in the Champions League, they failed to get through their group in 2005/06. Three seasons of discontent, it is no surprise that criticism flew in from all angles and a "crisis" was spoken of. Yet Fergie picked himself up out of the rubble, dusted himself off and went onto win four more league titles and reach three Champions League Finals (including one victory), before this current "crisis".

It has not been three seasons of no league title, it has been half a season, and United may very well be champions of England for a twentieth time come May. Ferguson and his players know better than Mancini and his (or even Redknapp and his Spurs squad) what it takes to win a league title, and if United do pull off the surprising feat of pipping City at the post, then all this talk of a crisis will seem bizarre. Along with the dismal performances seen against City, Blackburn and Newcastle (to name a few), United have played some exhilirating football this season in the 8-2 humiliation of Arsenal, the first half of the 3-1 victory over Chelsea in September, as well as more recently against QPR, Fulham and City in the first half of last week's cup tie. Although there is a certain inconcsistency in United's performances, they have more experience of winning titles and title run-ins than their rivals. It is said that the Reds hit good form in the last few months of the season, and this means more often than not they are champions. However, it is not so much a case of United getting better, but their rivals getting fatigued and their form becoming more inconsistent, with injuries and the pressure of a title battle hitting the players. Often United's performances towards the end of the season are worse than at earlier stages, they just become more clinical and can deal with the pressures. One thing we all know United can do is fight till the very last.

Meanwhile injuries have been a running theme in United's campaign. When was the last time Ashley Young was at full fitness, following his bright start to life at Old Trafford? Or Javier Hernandez? Not forgetting constant injuries to the Da Silva twins and Michael Owen, the ever-decreasing fitness and form of Rio Ferdinand, spells on the touchline for Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Danny Welbeck, and the long term absence of the world's best defender Nemanja Vidic. In spite of all of these United are still plucking away at the top, and you would have thought things can only improve with regards to these injuries. City on the other hand have spent the best part of the season relatively absentee-free, but have seen their form start to drop in recent games, and they are missing arguably their two best players, Vincent Kompany and the man-mountain Yaya Toure. David Silva has also struggled with an injury in the last couple of games and if he was to be absent for a longer period of time later in the season, or if Sergio Aguero was to pick up a knock or two along the route to the finish line, then no doubt City could find themselves struggling. The English contingent of City's starting XI in Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and James Milner have all been fantastic for Roberto Mancini but if any were to get injured (particularly Hart, Richards or Barry), then that could also lead to major problems in City's title bid.

Of course it is easy to say "what if" with regards to injuries, and who is to say that any City player will be ravaged by injury between now and May. At the same time an injury to Wayne Rooney would cause collateral damage to United, not forgetting the contributions of Nani and Antonio Valencia this season, both of whom would be sorely missed if they were to fall by the wayside. Yet one gets the feeling that United have had their spell of bad luck for this term, and maybe, just maybe, the tables will turn.

It is on this basis that United cannot be ruled out of winning the league title. If United do win it then it would be ridiculous to suggest they are a club in crisis. However, while the media make it seem as if United are in the midst of a crisis at this moment in time, the problems they point out as causing damage right now certainly need to be addressed as soon as possible by Ferguson and the hapless Glaziers. Although United could push City all the way this season, the experience of a title race that City will gain will be taken on board for future campagins. There is no doubt whatsoever that City's squad of players is better than United's and the main thing going for United in this title race is experience. They are not a club in crisis, they have some brilliant players but have been dreadfully unlucky with injuries this season. Certainly they are not the force they once were but a club in crisis?  If a crisis is the potential of winning three trophies between now and May, then I think many more people would want to be in a crisis like United's.