2012-13 Manchester United FC Lineup - The Good and the Bad

Before reading my views on the current line-up at the world’s biggest footballing brand name, Manchester United, consider this – I have always supported Manchester United – from the days of David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy, to the current crop comprising Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. However, I started following all their games and news, gossip and what-nots only last year. Hence, I am a relative rookie to the United franchise, and my views are based on the past two years only.

Manchester United FC is undoubtedly the biggest name in world football. You go anywhere – and I mean anywhere – and people know the name Manchester United. They just do. It is this level of hype and popularity that is the reason for the immense focus of the world on United – its activities, its players, its transfer market rumours, the Glazers, you name it.

Last season, Manchester United missed out on winning an unprecedented 20^th Premier League title by a kitten’s whisker. Manchester City won the league on the basis of goal difference, due to a dramatic injury time finish to the season, when Eden Dzeko and Sergio Aguero overturned a QPR lead of 2-1 to seal the title 3-2 in 5 minutes of injury time at the Etihad. I was angry when Aguero scored. I even tried refusing to accept that the title was snatched from our hands – but as the days passed (and my heart rate returned to normal), I conceded that we shouldn’t have left it to the last day (and certainly not to goal difference), and resolved to support them even more fiercely next season.

This season, Manchester United is off to a good start – not excellent, but good overall. We have won every match outside of the Premier League (Champions League & Capital One Cup) and are currently second in the league. Fantastic performances from Robin van Persie, United’s high-profile buy in the summer transfer window, have catapulted United to where they are currently, and Sir Alex would be happy with the current state of affairs.

I now present a comprehensive evaluation of the first-team players in our lineup.

David De Gea – 6.5/10

De Gea has two sides to him – one good (he is an excellent shot-stopper; I don’t think anyone would argue with the saves he has made) and one terrible (defending the crosses, he seems a fish out of water). While he can be groomed into a very good keeper long-term, he needs extensive practice on crosses and needs to improve his presence when balls are put into the box from distance – otherwise, he will be owned by the Premier League players who are very good in the air.

Anders Lindegaard – 7.0/10

Lindegaard used to be the No.2 keeper in the United team, but declining performances from De Gea have seen him start four games in a row this season. He is better in the air than De Gea (no doubt about that), and his shot-stopping skills are also good. He is a good keeper, but lacks that spark that is evident in world-class keepers.

Rafael – 7.5/10

Rafael has scored some brilliant goals this season; the curler against Liverpool would impress many a world-class manager. But questions have been asked whether that is his role in the team. He is excellent going forward, but the team sheet places him as a right-back, and he has not proven his defensive competence as of yet.

Jonny Evans - 7/10

The trio of Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were considered to be the future of the United defence. While all of them have shown promise, injuries and inconsistent performances have resulted in Manchester United relying too heavily on Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. This was evident last season – Vidic’s injury was deeply felt, and is attributed as one of the reasons United lost the League to City.

Jonny Evans is a good centre-back – makes good tackles, has a good defensive head, gets into good positions to defend crosses, and can be a threat in the air from corners. However, his performances were inconsistent (partly due to injury) all last year. This year, he seems to have started well and we hope he continues his good performances.

Rio Ferdinand – 7.5/10

“He’s probably lost a yard of pace,” seems to be Sir Alex’s standard reply to any and every question about Ferdinand these days. That yard of pace seemed like a mile when we played Spurs at home, and Bale just tore through Ferdinand to score Spurs’ second goal. While many United fans were disconcerted after that goal, and thought the time had come for us to let him go, I feel differently – I still think he has a brilliant defensive mind, and his positioning has always been good. With so many injuries in the team, it is now more critical than ever, that Ferdinand continues to perform at a high level.

Nemanja Vidic – 8/10

“A rock at the back” is how Clive Tyldesley describes Nemanja Vidic in the popular game FIFA 12 (from EA Sports), and he is not wrong – Vidic is hands-down the best defender at United currently, and his injuries have affected United’s fortune more than probably anybody else’. His return was extremely joyous to many United fans – but the recurrence of his injury has sidelined him again, and that is bad news for United. Hope he recovers soon.

Patrice Evra – 7/10

It is my personal opinion that Patrice Evra is the right choice for being United’s captain, simply due to his experience. Recent reports suggested that he has taken Buttner – another one of United’s buys this summer transfer window – under his wing and is helping him into the Premier League. His performances have been a bit up-and-down this season, but since the Spurs debacle, Evra played well, and even scored last week at Newcastle after a long time. He is capable of overlapping runs down the left wing, and can deliver good crosses. Should he continue in this vein, United’s prospects would seem much brighter.

Alexander Buttner - 7.5 / 10

After his stormer of a debut against Wigan in the Premier League this year, Buttner has been sidelined for some reason – maybe due to Evra’s return. He has been described as a “bit rash” by Sir Alex, but his flair for the game and unending industry have endeared him to the United fans, and he is definitely one to watch.

Nani - 4/10

Nani was touted as the next Cristiano Ronaldo – he was from the same country, played in roughly the same position, could curl the ball well, and had pace about him. He lived up to the hype his first couple of seasons at United – where he scored and set up many goals. However, ‘abysmal’ would be the correct word to describe his current season at United – he seems to have lost the creative flair, his passes are being intercepted, and his defensive vulnerabilities are being exposed. He needs to buck up if he wants to keep his place in the team.

Darren Fletcher – 7/10

Fletcher’s return was an emotional moment for many United fans – sidelined from play for 11 months due to ulcerative colitis, his return in the Capital One Cup was applauded and cheered. He played well in that game, and the games he has played since then – my only concern is he seems a bit rusty, and his passes are being intercepted just that tad bit more than they used too.

Paul Scholes– 8.5/10

Scholes has been the best midfielder in England for a generation – a fact acknowledged by many of his peers. His vision and his accuracy of passing are unparalleled in the league. His performances in the league this season have lived up to that standard – he has delivered the goods continuously. However, United are over-dependent on him – he is, after all, 37 and must retire soon (even though we would never want him to). A Scholes-less United midfield still seems very unimaginative, and this is one of the major reasons why United fans were confused why Sir Alex did not buy a creative midfielder this summer transfer window.

Ryan Giggs– 6.5/10

Giggsy has always been around – and he has always delivered for us. However, the lack of pace is evident from Giggs these days, and even though he can still see through-passes others dream of, he cannot be used as a regular first-team player.

Tom Cleverley– 7.5/10

Originally intended to take over the United midfield when Scholes and Giggs decided to call it a day, Cleverley is an imaginative young midfielder who has technique and pace, but is unable to deliver on the day it matters the most. His performances this season have been average, except for the brilliant goal (or was it a cross?) against Newcastle last week.

Anderson– 6/10

If a team has a good holding midfielder, it can express itself so much more in attack yet be sound in defense. The best example of this is Yaya Toure for Manchester City – technique, strength, pace, skill – you name it, he has it. How many times last season did Mancini substitute a midfielder for a defender, allowing Toure to advance and immediately get a goal or two? Too many times to count. Anderson was supposed to be that player for us – strong with a powerful shot. He promised a lot, but delivered little. This season, his performances have not been bad, but haven’t been anything special either.

Antonio Valencia– 8 / 10

If anyone were to ask who the best classical winger was in the Premier League at this moment – the answer would have to be Valencia. His runs down the side are inch-perfect, he can beat players using his dribbling skills, and he can defend when he has to – he is indispensable for the United team. The only (minute) change I would like is for him to come in and take shots more often.

Shinji Kagawa- 7 / 10

Another one of United’s captures this summer transfer window, Shinji Kagawa started the season on a high note – scoring goals, providing assists. However, everyone had hoped that Kagawa would do what Hazard is currently doing for Chelsea – in short, everything. He has shown sparks throughout the campaign so far, and should do very well this season.

Michael Carrick– 7.5 / 10

When the season started, Carrick started as a centre back – certainly not his favourite position (as was evident from the match), but he had to play there since the injury list had grown beyond all bounds at United. Now back at his favourite CM position, Carrick can dictate possession well, and has the knack of spotting a run. He has played well this season, and we hope his good performances continue.

Robin van Persie– 9.5 / 10

People said 24 million pounds was too much for a 29 year-old striker. van Persie certainly shut their mouths this season, with his fantastic performances, scoring seven goals in all competitions already and looking very good for a whole lot more. He seems to have evolved each season, and is now a very mature striker with perhaps the best finishing ability in the world currently. His flick past the Cluj keeper in the Champions League was a goal of the highest order, and it just outlined how having the best striker partnership in the world can work wonders for a team. We might have conceded a few, but with Rooney and van Persie starting regularly, fans can expect a plethora of goals this season.

Wayne Rooney– 9.5 / 10

Anyone who watched the second half of the game against Tottenham this season knows what I mean when I say that Rooney is indispensable to United. Gifted with natural strength and athleticism, he is an excellent striker who can score at will (at times). However, the main feature of his play this season has been his play making – his partnership with van Persie had the football world licking its lips. Indeed, the first time they started a match (against CFR Cluj in the Champions League), both of United’s goals were van Persie’s, from balls delivered by Rooney. His mere presence in the team lifts the spirits, and his tremendous industry is to be appreciated – a striker who can run back and defend at every chance is – as I said it before – indispensable.

Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck –7/10

While Hernandez is a classic ‘poacher’ type of a striker, Welbeck is more Rooney-like in the sense that he can pass the ball around and run back and defend as well. Both of them have had to pull up their socks with van Persie’s arrival in the squad, and they seemed to have responded – both have played reasonably well.

Ashley Young, Nick Powell, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones - NO RATING

These players haven’t played much this season, and I am therefore not assigning a rating to them. Let them play a few matches (or recover from injury, as the case may be), and I will then evaluate their performances.