Run like the wind

Manchester United won trophy after trophy in the 1990's and were consistently top scorers in the league, but now they've lost their way.

With the exception of Yorke who scored 20 in 1999, none of Utd's strikers of the 1990's scored more than 19 league goals in a season. Instead, midfielders such as Kanchelskis, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham and Keane, and defenders such as Bruce, Pallister, and Johnsen regularly weighed in. The idea was attack in numbers, create a lot of options in attack and use them. The centre forwards were seen as link players and penalty box poachers - Hughes, Cantona, Sheringham, Yorke the former, McClair, Cole, Ole the latter, with the speediest players in midfield (behind Cantona and Hughes you had Sharpe, Giggs, Keane and Kanchelskis) and a lot of crosses going in.

Now the style has changed. You see them hitting balls behind defenders or trying to thread their way through the middle. The passing is "pretty", but you barely see a cross, you never see that swarm of red shirts steaming in, and they just do not look as scary. It's much easier to take care of two strikers - whoever they are - than a quick and commited attack from an entire team - which is how it used to feel.

Whatever the reasons, whether its a desire to protect a weaker, less organised defence, to accomodate a mega-expensive passer of the ball, to win free kicks on the edge of the box, or even to accomodate a mega-talented striker, they are making a big mistake.

The signs are there: players once famous for getting forward and chasing back are criticised for being too static, Giggs has stopped scoring at home, Scholes and Keane have given it up home and away and the cross count is Transylvanian.

The press questions the confidence, the desire, and the character of the players, but the problem is none of these. No more 451, no more defending as a team. Come on you reds.