David Sadler column

February 09, 2010

When asked about United benefiting from a club record eight own goals this season Sir Alex Ferguson replied: "I hope it is 16 by the end of the season."

I am sure, however, that the Reds boss will prefer it if the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, and some of the midfielders ensure that OGs aren't second top United scorer by the end of the season.

If that were to remain the case and assistance from opponents had to be relied upon to beef up the goal stats, then you'd have to seriously question whether United would be champions again.

You can only enjoy that kind of luck for so long and United need colleagues backing up Wayne Rooney's excellent goal return.

League leaders Chelsea have the benefit of in-form Didier Drogba almost matching Rooney's potency.

But Carlo Ancelotti's side also has Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka in the top 20 of the Premier League's goalscoring chart.

United have Berbatov in there at 14th but to underpin Rooney's contribution there has to be more coming from others.

The one that is most capable and, I hope, will soon begin to make inroads into his disappointing haul, is Berbatov.

I have been in the Bulgarian's corner since day one at Old Trafford and I am not going to desert him now. But there is no doubt he has to contribute more.

I think most United fans realise that you are not going to change his laid-back style.

He's been at the club long enough now for everyone to know that he's not about charging around the pitch for 90 minutes.

But there is more than one way to skin a cat and he has talent in abundance and a decent scoring record. There is no reason why he cannot reproduce that.

His ability is wonderful and that little dink over the Portsmouth defender last Saturday to set up Antonio Valencia had the whole of the stadium gasping.

His goal, too, was top quality and that is what we have to see more of. I hope that is a sign of things to come from him. He has to bring that to the party on a regular basis if United are to keep pace and eventually overtake a strong Chelsea challenge.

A tough place like Aston Villa tomorrow night would be the ideal arena in which to prove Dimitar can bring consistent danger to United's attack.

It won't be easy against Martin O'Neill's side and we are going to need everyone peaking to get the points.

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Drago 34 (09/02/2010 at 12:21)

The stat of 8 own goals is a bit misleading really as at least 4 of them would have been taped in from 1 yard out by a United player.So it's not as though they were flying way off target and an opposing player diverted it in his own net.It also aint all luck we get so many own goals as we put the ball into so many dangerous positions in the box that your bound to get your fair share of own goals.It just good attacking play on our part.

Silvestre's Easter Island Head (09/02/2010 at 12:24)

If I'm not mistaken, we are 17 goals ahead now then we were with Ronaldo this time time last year! so take the 8 goals away, we are still 9 in front.

Well done lads (especially Wazza) who needs Ronaldo?

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (09/02/2010 at 12:27)

I think what David Sadler is forgetting is that some of those OG's were goal bound anyway while others have been deflected into their own net with a United player ready to tap it in so it's hardly luck that these have went down as OG's.

Just on that I think it's much better to have your goals spread amongst the team like United have rather than relaying on just 3 players as Chavski do in Drogbreath, Lampturd and Analka! Yes Rooney has been banging them in for us but we have scored 61 Premiership goals this season compared to Chavski's 60 and without 8 first choice defenders for over a month we have both conceded the same amount of goals, 20 each. So if we take Rooney's haul of 21 goals out of our team and Chavski's 3 muppets haul of 35 goals then who is better off?

Oh and just for the record Analka has scored 8 Premiership goals this season compared to Berbatov's... 8 Premiership goals! so why is Sadler praising one and criticising the other??!!! I just don't understand how a self confessed United supporter believes that United are somehow struggling and think Chavski are somehow unstoppable when you look at these stats never mind the fact that we played them off the park already this season and somehow still managed to end up losing that game. If we simply match Chavski's results from now til the end of the season and beat them at OT in April then we will be the Premiership champions for the fourth time in a row!

Support the Team and Live the Dream.....

Gilly, Belgium (09/02/2010 at 12:33)

United need to win to keep in the chase for glory !!

Fonzy, London (09/02/2010 at 12:40)

My brother and I continually argue the credentials of Berbatov in the team. He says he's not good enough, not world-class whilst i argue that he brings something different than any other player in the premiership. the main reason he wins is the goal ratio... but i looked at it in more details goals to game ratio, this year he's actually in the top ten. now thats not anything to shout about, but I pointed out to him, and now to all of you that he has actually scored in all of his last 4 starts for manchester united!!! Once again nothing to shout about, but Chelsea are raving about ANELKA being great yet Berbatov has scored the same amount of prem goals as him and in much less games. True Life Story!!!
"Perception," I told my brother "Is a funny thing. News articles and comments from commentators blind us to what really is happening". Remember, he has been playing with an injury as well this season...

Horace Hughes, Salford (09/02/2010 at 13:13)

Still think Berba and Owen will be gone by the summer. I appreciate they both probably need a run of games to integrate with the team better. That said Berba has had them especially last season, but still his end product for a £30million+ striker was woeful. Owen was only ever going to be a stop gap. Would like to see Diouf used more. Once his confidence comes, I can see him scoring a lot of goals. He is quick, versatile, big and strong. A bit like Drogba. Remember his first season at Chelsea was awful, until he got used to the speed and frenzy football in the premier league. Benzema doesnt want to come here so why persevere with him? Rooney, Diouf, backed up by Macheda, and perhaps one stepping up from reserves, King or Keane perhaps? Not sure about Welbeck making it. Would like Fergie to buy some quality in midfield. Someone like a Lampard who can create and score regularily. Hopefully Cleverley will be back as well. He is scoring a few at Watford. Would be great to have another home grown come through.

Doc Savage (09/02/2010 at 14:07)

I don't believe United can afford to sell Berbatov this summer, partly because of his prohibitive salary but also because he is an asset of the club who if sold would realise a financial value less than he was purchased for and is on the books as being worth.

I suspect United's four strikers next year will be Rooney and Berbatov with two from Welbeck, Diouf and Owen.

Barry Lee, USA (09/02/2010 at 14:32)

I wish people would stop saying Owen needs to score more goals. The guy can't get on the damn field!! If he had as long as Berbatov has he would have gotten more. Yeah, the little dink from Berbatov for Valencia was nice but it didn't lead to anything. He also missed a sitter which Owen would probably have stuck away. To think we paid 4 million more for Berbatov than Rooney is mind blowing. Give Owen a chance.

Sam Davis (09/02/2010 at 14:36)

I don't care how they go in as long as they go in.

jordy, Middleton (09/02/2010 at 14:46)

A pretty poor article David. We all have our opinions of Berbatov,he is a class player, but he frustrates me to the point of sometimes thinking he's lazy. Then he'll conjure up a piece of magic! He's an enigma. As for Chelski, who cares? United are scoring freely and have tightened up at the back. Win all our games, we retain the title. As for the match tomorrow night, 3-1 to United.

Duncan, London (09/02/2010 at 16:13)

I'm with jordy on that one. Poor premise for an article indeed. A few of those own goals were likely to be finished by a player lurking behind the scorer were they not to attempt a clearance and the position they were in made clearances very risky as was proved. I don't see United relying on them - that is silly.

RedHeart (10/02/2010 at 00:51)

"..then you'd have to seriously question whether United would be champions again." writes Sadler.

We are attempting to do something NO other side has done in winning four on the trot. If we do, which I believe we have every chance of doing, that will be brilliant. If we don't, we have to keep perspective and remember it's a very difficult task the boys had been challenged with and not be consumed by demanding them to live up to our sometimes over the top and spoilt expectations. I don't buy into all this stuff that Chelsea are overly superior to us as a team. For all their supposed superiority and all our supposed faults, we are only 2 points behind.

The goals come from where they come. As long as they keep coming I'm happy.

dimitar dimitar (10/02/2010 at 01:52)

Berbatov has 8 goals in 14 PL starts - not bad at all. He is the most efficient player in terms of shots/goal for the past 2 seasons at United. He will score more if he starts more - hopefully this summer he will get the surgery he needs to permanently fix his knee. Berbatov is "underperforming" only meaning that he does not start enough - mostly because of an injury. If you take into account that he has started only 14 PL games this season - he has a great goal/game ration, as well as a great ration of wins/start - in virtually all PL games that United lost this season Berbatov did not start.

el diablo tinto, Northenden (10/02/2010 at 05:18)

Does anybody really care that much about own goals or do they care about winning the league? Looks to me like Sadler couldn't think of anything to write about, so he bores us again with an uninteresting article about own goals and a rehash of the two year old Berbatov debate.

the devil himself (10/02/2010 at 15:46)

Fonzy, London i totally agree with you,berba is a class act,he's got magic under his feet.ive even seen him work a bit hardrer in the pompy game and he showed a bit of pace.he brings someting different to the table and i admire him for it.hope owen could get more games though...cheers

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