Has complacency crept in with certain players at Old Trafford?

After three titles in a row, you could hardly blame some United players for resting on their laurels but it is certainly something Sir Alex Ferguson won’t accept as the Premier League title race hots up during the second half the season. Five league defeats already this campaign, more than the entire of last season, it is certainly been the case that some United players have not been at the top of their game this season. The loss of Cristiano Ronaldo of course has diminished significantly the amount of goalscoring possibilities, and the persistent injuries to both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have certainly not helped matters at the back where there is need for a stable force to mount a successful title challenge. There has been the need this season then for others to step up to the mark to both contribute goals and to become part of a well drilled, organised team.

Apart from Antonio Valencia and some of the usual suspects such as Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, these players for one reason or another have not been playing at the expected level. It is something that Ferguson was plainly aware after the FA Cup third round defeat to Leeds.

I didn’t expect that. I was shocked at the performance. Leeds fought like tigers, but you expect that from any team coming to Old Trafford. I don’t think any of them can say they had a good day. Only Antonio Valencia, when we got the ball to him, but it took us about 10 minutes to do that.

Such a mood was not lightened by the subsequent 1-1 draw away to Birmingham and most of the 68 year old Scot’s anger has been levelled more at some of the senior players rather than the young players. He felt especially that during the Leeds game, the older more experienced players should have helped out and supported the youngsters, but such help failed to materialise as they continued to pass badly and give away possession too easily. It is a situation which has already been apparent earlier on in the season during the Champions League group stages. The home 3-3 draw against CSKA Moscow and the 1-0 defeat against Besiktas were put down solely to the poor performances of the young players at the time, who were in the team as United had already qualified. It seems more likely now that they were omens for more bad performances to come from some of the senior players who played in those games.

Especially with some key players at the back still out, understudies who have not been as tested in the past, are being questioned to the fullest extent now, and some are coming up short. Brown and Evans were culpable for the goal against Birmingham City the other night, while Park and Anderson could not be said to be on the greatest form either.

No doubt a lot of criticism has gone the way of Dimitar Berbatov too as he is simply not carrying his weight in regards to goals compared to Wayne Rooney. Questions have also been asked about Michael Carrick and he again looked to be found wanting against Birmingham last Saturday.

Ferguson’s promise after the Leeds game, that he we would wring changes for the Manchester City League Cup tie (which was eventually postponed) show quite clearly the managers concern that some of the players were either complacent about their place in the team or their form was simply not good enough. If this apparent malaise continues, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few surprise team selections from the manager or even a signing or two to get some of the players out of their current state of mind.

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