United - An Enforcer?

Two Premier League defeats, on the trot, gives us an ideal opportunity to re-assess where we`re heading.

It wasn`t too long ago that we were being championed as this season`s answer to the invincible Arsenal team that went a whole season unbeaten.

Now, in a matter of weeks, we`ve suffered three away defeats (Wolves, Chelsea and Liverpool).

For many this isn`t too much of a shock, our away performances, at several grounds, haven`t been up to the standards we`d normally expect in a potential title winning campaign.

But another worrying sign is that we`re looking a little fragile in several areas, most notably the midfield.

It`s been noticeable that the department seems to function better when the ageing duo of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are present, but we have to accept that they can`t go on forever and that time waits for no man.

Indeed, their age prohibits them from playing a regular basis as they need nurturing through a season, with next season almost certain to be their last.

On Sunday, at Liverpool, Michael Carrick, despite the award of a new contract, didn`t look that convincing and with Darren Fletcher on the bench we lacked that bullish strength in the middle of the park that makes us a harder team to get at.

Our wide players, Valencia and Nani, are currently out injured although both will soon become available, but it makes you wonder is there still something missing, something missing in the middle of the park that makes United the United of old?

Teddy Sherringham, in an article I stumbled across, suggests we`re missing a Roy Keane like player, someone who possesses boundless energy and someone who`s not afraid to go in where it hurts.

Perhaps Teddy is right, the United teams of old have always had what could loosely be described as an enforcer, Keane and Robson immediately springing to mind.

Paul Scholes has been known to put it about a bit in his younger years but whereas the mind is probably willing the body is being caught out by age, as we`ve discussed previously.

But what`s the solution?

Should Sir Alex concentrate his efforts trying to sign an enforcer this summer or has the game changed since Keane and Robson dominated the middle of the park?

Your views on a possible signing and the changing game making that role redundant would be appreciated.




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