Can you remember how United played in their 2-0 Old Trafford victory against Wigan last November? I can’t, and I suspect most people won’t instantly recall how the Reds performed to beat Roberto Martinez’s side.
I checked back and it was described as one that didn’t set the pulses racing and at one stage in the unmemorable display Old Trafford was losing its patience with the Reds.
The point is that the minutia of the 90 minutes has been largely forgotten, confined to history and United went on to win the Premier League title.
So who really cares that on occasions it took a dull scrap to win the points that ultimately secured the silverware?
A title-winning season is made up of a multitude of differing displays ranging from the sublime to the stupefying.
Every single one of United’s title campaigns will have contained uninspiring affairs where the Reds have scraped home by the skin of their teeth.
This is how Norwich City’s visit will be remembered – or rather forgotten – by the end of the season if the Reds retain their crown.
It could, however, have been very different.
Had Paul Lambert’s side matched some of their slick counter-attacking with clinical finishing United could have been summarily embarrassed.
And you have to wonder what has happened to the early-season searing form and goal frenzy that suggested United were in the mood to obliterate all comers.
Eight of this side dismissed Chelsea, and seven were on starting duty to wipe the floor with Bolton last month.
The common denominator in the draws against Stoke and Basle looked to be the absence of Wayne Rooney.
But he was back against Norwich having recovered from his injury, but even he couldn’t turn a workmanlike, gritty performance into the kind of swashbuckling effort that destroyed Arsenal.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s post-Basle call for his side to stop being too cavalier might have been taken on board a bit too stringently.
But even tempering the adventure didn’t fully cure the Reds' defensive deficiencies of late.
Had it not been for the fact that the hugely impressive Phil Jones was in a stubborn, determined mood Norwich could have sent their celebrity directors Delia Smith and Stephen Fry into raptures in the VIP seats.
The cook and the wordsmith would have been enjoying this far more than a distinctly stern looking Fergie was - even though Fry allegedly fell asleep!
United’s more expansive displays this season have all, bar the 3-0 win against Spurs, been built on an early, or at least first-half goal.
When the Reds have been in front before the interval, they have cut loose.
Breakthrough
But at no point in a dreary first half did they come seriously close to making the breakthrough that could ultimately have seen Norwich put to the sword.
After an hour lacking creation and punch, Fergie decided the guile of Ryan Giggs and the new menace of Danny Welbeck was called for.
Ultimately, the two subs were to have a say in dragging the Reds through.
But a minute after their arrival their job was almost made twice as hard.
In Friday’s pre-match press conference Fergie had been unable to recall Anthony Pilkington’s time as a Red trainee.
Not surprisingly really since it was an inauspicious and brief spell in 2004-05.
The Reds boss wondered if the questioner had mixed the Norwich player up with one-time young United keeper Kevin Pilkington.
Well, the Canary almost made sure Fergie never forgot him.
Antonio Valencia messed about in possession and was robbed by Kevin’s namesake.
It set him up for a one-on-one with Anders Lindegaard.
The Dane didn’t even have to make a save as Pilkington dragged a poor effort wide.
Three minutes after that reprieve the Reds woke up and proved the value of taking chances when they are so rare.
Giggs’ corner was flicked back by Jones’ header and Rooney rose to knock on with his head. Anderson joined the game of head tennis to lift his attempt home.
As if to emphasise the probable feeling amongst Norwich fans that their luck wasn’t in, Pilkington then saw another effort deflect off Anderson and hit a post.
The rebound off the woodwork fell nicely into Lindegaard’s gloves and United escaped another uncomfortable moment.
Danny Welbeck had reason to be a bit miffed having been demoted to the bench despite scoring twice against Basel in the Champions League in midweek.
But when he was asked to come on against Norwich, he couldn’t wait to get on.
United’s clincher couldn’t have been scored by anyone more appropriate as local-lad Welbeck as he finished off Ji-sung Park’s assist to keep United top of the table.
What is your verdict? Have your say.
Manchester United 2 Norwich 0: Stuart Mathieson's verdict
October 03, 2011
Comments
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The dip in form can be easily explained. It is ok to call it a dip in form. Start with the forwards where injuries have played a part in slowing their output. The 3 outstanding performers there have all missed time due to injury. Against Norwich Rooney was not sharp at all and Chicharito was missing all together but Welbeck was ok. He provide the difference when he came on and I said earlier in the week that he did not necessarily have to go to the bench just because Chicharito was healthy again. Chic has been a bit fragil and I have not seen a mark improvement in his holding the ball and build up play. At the moment he is living on last year achivements but it early still.
The midfield has been hit by injuries also and that has taken it toll on the clever passing and linking of midfield and attack. That is something you just don't get with Fletcher and Carrick. Carrick is good at keeping possession but I fail to see any advantage in playing Fletcher at the moment. He does not shield the back 4 nor does contribute with his passing. I understand SAF thinks he has to play him to get him ready but Fletcher has been on the decline for 2 years now in his passing and work rate. How much of that is due to the illness I don't know. All this has affected Anderson, who started brightly with Cleverly beside him nice 1 touch passes and linking play but with Carrick and Fletcher beside him he suffers.
The defense is missing the Captain but also Evra is not defending up to scratch at the moment. Add to that the bedding in of Phil Jones and injury to Smalling and it is understandable why we are not consistent defending. People tend to blame Rio but to me he is the only one who is in position and the rest are out of synch which makes him look bad. I would not write Rio off just yet and with Capello dropping him maybe just maybe he has done United a favor. Rio should retire from England now and just save himself for United. Rio and Vidic together are still our best defensive pairing despite what you may read in the papers.
The quick start was just that a quick start something we don't usually do but I like where we are as a team. We just need to get everybody back healthy. SAF knows how to get them to the finish line after Xmas so everything seems good at the moment. Just don't be alarmed when we get hammer and it's coming because we have been too sloppy of late but lucky enough to get away with it. We usually throw in a game for free where everything thing we do wrong just comes together at the wrong time and we get beat. We usually have 1 to 2 of those per season.
So the MUEN apologists and PR machine are out in force. A very lucky win, Norwich should have scored at least 2 before Yoonited did. I suppose it was tricky for the players, must have been confusing with all that yellow and green in the ground. The wheels are coming off - scrappy draw against a buch on no-marks Swiss, and a struggling win against yokels. Tick tock.
Well it was a good win against a side with nothing to lose. As with many United fans, the midfield continues to worry me.It's obvious the likes of the excellent Jones and Valencia are trying to support our midfield at all times. Pushing that high up is dangerous, as Basel exploited last week. But being United, it's exciting. The match wasn't the best because we were wasteful again, but it's another 3 points to keep us top.
It was obvious at the start of the season, and even in pre-season, which players would make the difference; Vidic, Cleverly, Nani, Welbeck and Rooney. To that we can add Jones who has been a revelation. Because of the wealth of striking talent the key players are Vidic and Cleverly, one brings experience and the exhuberance. We will always look a worse side without them and unless Anderson can learn to play with MC or DF the midfield will suffer the most. Anderson always looked a better player when he teamed up with Hargreaves and the same is true with Cleverly.
I dont care what the abu media writes or what any abu clown thinks, only Manchester United deserved to win this game. I'm still wondering what happened to Norwich's pro football stance, it disappeared and became anti-football stuff, typical, when anyone plays us we have to battle against a 10man defence and it is getting really old now.
we need more creativity in midfield.... Rooney is doing an excellent job, but we need Cleverley..... Even more so, I would add Berba to Rooney in midfield/attacking role. With Welbeck upfront (or Chica if he starts playing better as he is still a shadow of 2nd half last year) + two of Nani/Young/Valencia on the wings..... So hopefully the team should look like Lindegaard (or De Gea), then center defense Vidic and Smalling, Jones on the right wing, Evra on the left (even though he is a weak spot). Have somebody like Fletcher (or else) as defensive midfield, plus Berba in the center, and in the wings Young and Nani.... Upfront Rooney and Welbeck, with Rooney playing behind Welbeck
we definitely need more creativity in the center of midfield.... I have always repeated this is the right spot for berba alongside Cleverly and defensive midfielder like Fletcher may be.... or Anderson. On the wings Young and Nani, and upfront Rooney and Welbeck. Come on ManUtd
This team is not good enough, we have been SO LUCKY so far! (and effective off course, but that is thanks to Rooney).
Every team creates lots of chances against us, who cannot see this??
Anderson? Yes some goals but cannot stop attacking players against us in the hole and cannot keep possession well enough.
Berba slows the game down??? STUPID, he is one of a very few who can play the Barca way with one and two touches, that is because he's got VISION & Technique!!!
Chelsea was lots better than us at OT but we were lucky!
Look at players like Silva at City and Mata at Chelsea and wonder why we didn't get any of them.
I totally agree, central midfield is where we are lacking, i'm very happy with the Young & Jones signings, great signings by Fergie.
Hope he can get Thiago Alcantara in January or somebody similar. And either he needs to put Carrick back in to plug the gap or he needs to buy Yann M'Vila or Javi Martinez!!!