Is There Cause for Concern?

Well, that really depends on which side of the fence you're sitting on. As Paul so eloquently chronicled in his blog, we've really been thru this before and have come out smelling like roses.

However sitting on the other side of the fence, we are going thru a period where goals just aren't flowing in anymore.

2nd May 07 Champions League AC Milan L 0-3
5th May 07 Premiership Man City W 1-0
7th May 07 Premiership Chelsea D 0-0
13th May 07 Premiership West Ham United L 0-1
19th May 07 FA Cup Chelsea L 1-0

12th Aug 07 Premiership Reading D 0-0
15th Aug 07 Premiership Portsmouth D 1-1

In our last 7 competitive games, we've only scored one goal from open play and that's from Scholesy against Pompey yesterday. The other goal scored in the Man City derby was by Ronaldo from the penalty spot. I struggle to find a point in our recent history where goals were so difficult to come by.

To make matters worse, we'd be without our mercurial Portuguese talent, Ronaldo, who is suspended for the next 3 games. Not to mention, we'd be without Rooney until at least October.

Concentrating on the next 3 games, we'd be facing surprise front runners Man City away this Sunday. I have no idea how this new City team looks or plays, but if we continue our goal slump, we could be looking at yet another draw. It doesn't help that we're also in the process of bedding in new players to the team. Hopefully the lads are up for the challenge.

A week later, we'd be facing surprise bottom feeders Spurs in a late kickoff. The mention of late kickoffs has already sent shivers down my spine. Spurs are better than the position they current occupy. Any team with the kind of defensive injuries would struggle in the league. We barely made it thru our own defensive mayhem at the end of last season.

To round off the trio of difficult games, we face Sunderland at home in yet another late kick off on the 1st of Sept. I foresee a team managed by Keano would be giving us trouble. If we haven't picked up the scoring slack by then, we'd be picking up another draw.

After the international weekend, we face both Everton and Chelsea, but that's another post for another time. In short, we'd be without our most consistant players in Ronaldo and Rooney, while giving time to both Nani and Tevez, and maybe even Hargeaves, on top of trying to find the net from open play again. I don't know about you guys, but it's giving me a huge headache.

That being said, United could just come out firing on all cylinders against City this Sunday to put all my fears to rest. I, for one, certainly hope they start finding their scoring boots soon.