Falling Out Of Love With The “Beautiful” Game

Watching Alessandro Del Piero score a scorcher against AS Roma in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday evening brought back a flood of memories. The Champions League clashes between the Turin giants and the Galaticos of Madrid in the early part of the 21st century were a thing of beauty.

There used to be a time when football was embraced around the world as “the beautiful game”. The Brazilians led the way with their Samba style and everybody around the world wanted to play like them. Money, while playing a major role in footballing matters, was never (not usually, anyway) the deciding factor in a player’s career/ambition. Career growth and a willingness to play the game was always given preference over monetary gains.

The death of football? Sure feels like it

But now, “player power” is on the rise. Players have a strangle hold on the game and are taking clubs for a ride. Take Gary Cahill’s move to Chelsea for example. Chelsea made an offer of £80k per week and Cahill rejected it outright, demanding £100k per week instead. A figure like that will leave an average human perplexed and incredulous. But as someone who’s been following the game for over a decade, I can assure you this is nothing new.

The Wayne Rooney transfer saga in the 2010-11 season was another example of a player taking his club to the cleaners. Sir Alex Ferguson might have staged a PR masterclass in the way he handled the whole affair, but it was Rooney who came out of the drama holding a new contract, which made him the top earner at the club. He currently earns £200k a week (yes, you read that right).

What has prompted this rise of the player cult? Why are players suddenly becoming bigger than the clubs they represent? Isn’t playing for a big club supposed to be the creme de la creme in a player’s career? So why is money suddenly the topmost deciding factor in a player’s decision? Where is the passion, the love, the need to play the beautiful game?

To really understand the issue, we have to get to the root of the problem – agents. It is no real surprise that the rise of player power has coincided with the rise of the “men behind the players” – the agents. In a world of cut-throat competition, agents have the uneviable task of thrashing out the best possible deal for their clients while making sure that they don’t disrespect the club.

Sounds harmless enough? It’s anything but. The line of disrespect has long been crossed and it shows no sign of stopping. Agents are holding clubs hostage while they scour the land for better deals for their clients. They use the interest shown by other clubs to demand a better deal (which bascially means a huge pay hike with added bonuses). If the club rejects the notion saying they can’t afford to draw up a new contract in the forseeable future, the player revolts more often than not on the advice of his agent, who obviously has a new destination in mind.

It is indeed a very sad day to see the likes of Manchester City, Anzhi Makhachkala and Paris St. Germain sitting top of their respective leagues after spending an incredible amout of money in the transfer market. Their rise has been more along the lines of capitalism rather than hardwork and passion.

Paul Scholes: Never had an agent in his entire career

So it comes as no surprise that Paul Scholes has never even had an agent. He’s never argued with Manchester United over “something as silly as a contract”. The deal in put on the table and he signs it without even looking at the terms. “I love football, why should I worry about the money?”, said Paul Scholes when asked why he doesn’t have an agent. This is the kind of attitute which has sadly gone missing from today’s game. There was once a thing known as loyalty, when players went hammer and tongs at each other (recall the infamous Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira incident and their rivalry in general) and not an inch was given.

One club players are almost non-existant now-a-days. When players like Del Piero and Giggs finally decide to hang up their boots (and that time isn’t far away), it will be the day football will cease to entertain and enthrall me as a sport. The game is dying a slow and corrupt death at the hands of money and it looks like a terminal disease rather than a temporary one.

Always for the love of the game, not the money. Never the money.

Final Whistle Magazine

Manchester United Left Floundering Again

“Beware of the wounded animal” has oft been the phrase used to warn teams post a Manchester United defeat – they will bite back. Such has been the fighting spirit shown by the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson that back-to-back defeats have become a most uncommon phenomenon.

After suffering a humiliating defeat at Old Trafford to Steve Kean’s floundering Blackburn side on New Year’s eve, Manchester United travelled to the North-East expecting to get back to winning ways – after all, they hadn’t lost to Newcastle United since 2001. On paper, this was as routine as a win was going to get.

Demba Ba signed off in style before departing for the African Nations Cup

But the visitors were in for another torrid 90 minutes as the hosts ripped through them right from the first blast of Howard Webb’s whistle.

Manchester United were handed a reprieve in the opening moments when the ever unreliable Rio Ferdinand clipped Demba Ba’s heel inside the penalty area but Howard Webb chose not to point to the spot, angering the majority of the 52 odd thousand crowd packed inside the Sports Direct Arena.

All eyes were on Wayne Rooney, returning from his club ban, to see how he would react to his omission from the Blackburn defeat. His reply was to put in a shift so abysmal, Tim Krul could’ve taken a day off and still kept a clean sheet. Rooney’s touch deserted him, his passing was wayward and his shooting was non-existent. Ryan Giggs managed to prod a wonderful through ball into his path in the first half only to see the Englishman step on the ball and fall flat on his face. That just about summed up his evening.

Wayne Rooney looked out of sorts on his return

At the back, United were all over the place. Claims that Rio Ferdinand is well past his best surfaced in full again, as he was taken to the cleaners by Demba Ba. The first goal arrived via route one – a huge punt forward from Krul, glanced on by Ameobi and finished clinically by Ba. Patrice Evra has long been looking like a lost soul wandering the Premier League pitches and yesterday proved to be no different. He was beaten for pace and skill by any Newcastle player lucky enough to be in his path.

Phil Jones has been called the next England captain but the 19-year-old was so out of sorts, he made Shola Ameobi look like a half decent striker. He failed to win a single aerial challenge all evening and his woeful display culminated in him scoring an own goal – he went to head the ball despite Lindegaard calling for it, and managed to miss his header altogether and bundled the ball into his own net via his chest.

Phil Jones had an evening to forget

Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov have been enjoying a revival of late, but this game provided a stark reminder to both (and to the fans) that nothing can be taken for granted in this league. Carrick’s passing game was off-key, his passes going astray. He was over-run in midfield by the excellent Yohan Cabaye, scorer of an outstanding free-kick, and the always energetic Cheik Tiote.

Berbatov, on the other hand, was desperately unlucky not to score, his early header clipping Krul’s right-hand post. His case was not helped by the insipid performances of the supporting cast behind him.

Two consecutive defeats is a rare thing under the Alex Ferguson reign (this is only the third time it as happened since 2005), but a glance at the upcoming fixtures doesn’t offer any consolations. A trip to the blue side of Manchester awaits on Sunday, bringing back painful memories of the last Mancunian derby, and recent performances offer nothing but bleak hope to the United faithful. With trips to Chelsea and Arsenal also on the horizon, Sir Alex faces another test of his character, and by now we know this is the stage in which the determined Scotsman absolutely revels.

Talent Scout – Xherdan Shaqiri

A product of FC Basel’s youth academy, Xherdan Shaqiri has been attracting envious glances from clubs all over Europe. The 20-year-old’s future has been the center of intense speculation linking him with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid and with good reason. He is the rising star of Swiss football.

Shaqiri is a mercurial talent

Shaqiri won the best player accolade at the Under-15 Nike Cup in 2007 while representing Basel’s youth team. Despite strong interest from abroad, he decided to stay in Basel and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2009. He made his debut in July of that same year, and hasn’t looked back since.

He is known for his sheer raw pace and speed, both on and off the ball. He boasts immaculate technique and balance coupled with zero back-lift when going for goal. Left-footed he may be, but he’s more than comfortable playing on either wing or just behind the striker as an attacking midfielder.

His ability to dictate the tempo of play has drawn widespread praise from managers and scouts alike. His composure on the ball helps him to pick out the best options available to him thus making his decision-making mature beyond his years. He has a direct running style and a box of tricks, making him one of the most revered youngsters in Europe.

His stock rose even further at the Euro U-21 Championships last summer and he cemented his place in the Swiss national side after a stunning hat-trick against Bulgaria.

Which begs the question – why hasn’t a big club swooped in for him yet? The key reason for this is his attitude. He has a touch of arrogance about him and describing himself as ‘a very special player’ has not helped his cause. This gives the impression that his decisions will be swayed by money, rather than football. He has also drawn criticism from some quarters due to his lack of work ethic and negative body language.

If he can work on his issues, Shaqiri has a very bright future ahead of him and it won’t be long before one of the big clubs sign him up.

Serie A Team Of The Season So Far

With Serie A in the middle of it’s traditional winter break, we decided to take a look at the best performers in the Italian top division this season.

Goalkeeper

Samir Handanović

Udinese have conceded just 9 goals in Serie A this season (boasting the best defensive record) and Handanovic has been an absolute rock at the back for them. His handling and organizational ability complements his shot stopping perfectly and Udinese will be delighted that he has signed a new 5 year contract with the club at the start of the season.

Defenders

Thiago Silva

The Brazilian remains one of the most solid and consistent center backs in the Italian top division. He has attracted the likes of Barcelona in the past and with good reason. His reading of the game is second to none and Milan’s recent run of 7 clean sheets in their last 8 games is testament to Silva’s fantastic organizational play.

Paolo Cannavaro

Napoli are known for their holy trio up front (Cavani, Hamsik, Lavezzi), but Paolo Cannavaro has provided some much needed stability at the back. His best performances have come in Europe this term, but he is an ever reliable center back who can put the fear of God into any forward coming up against him.

Stephan Lichtsteiner

Nicknamed “Forrest Gump”, Lichsteiner has easily been the best right-back in Serie A this term. His marauding runs down the right flank have given opposition left-backs some serious cause for concern and he also has pace to burn. He scored the first league goal in Juventus’ new stadium against Parma.

Senad Lulic

Lazio left-back Lulic has quietly made a name for himself in Italy. He did not start life in the eternal city in the most convincing fashion, but he is the perfect example of hard work paying off. Lulic is one of the most improved players in the Italian top division and can be relied upon to give a hundred percent every time he steps on to the pitch.

Midfielders

Andrea Pirlo

The director of the Juventus symphony, Andrea Pirlo has been absolutely outstanding this season. He manages to bring the best out of his team mates with unerring brilliance – he did it for Shevchenko, he did it for Kaka and now he’s doing it for Juventus. He is a just a fantastic player who deserves more praise than he gets.

Claudio Marchisio

With 7 goals in 13 Serie A games this season, Claudio Marchisio has had an outstanding season so far. He scored 2 dramatic late goals in the win against Milan and has proven to be an extremely effective foil for Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. Pirlo recognised his talent and has labelled him “Juventus’ future”.

Walter Gargano

The Uruguayan plays behind Napoli star Hamsik and is one of unsung heros in the Naples outfit. Hamsik might take all the headlines with his performances, but Gargano is the man in midfield who keeps the play ticking and his hard, combative style has endeared him to the Napoli faithful.

Antonio Nocerino

It was a tough call to make between him and Radja Nainggolan (of Cagliari fame), but Nocerino edges ahead, but only just. He was signed on deadline day and only managed to get into the team because of an injury crisis but Nocerino has made a name for himself during that time. He scored a brilliant hat-trick against Parma and is Mialn’s second highest scorer this season.

Forwards

Kevin-Prince Boateng

AC Milan have looked average at times this season but the Ghanian international has been turning in some eye catching performances. His astonishing hat-trick against Lecce helped Milan complete one of the most amazing comebacks in recent times. They were 3-0 down at half-time before Boateng weaved his magical boot and led Milan to a 4-3 victory.

Antonio Di Natale

Di Natale has been a key factor in Udinese’s rise to the top of the Italian game – he has scored an incredible 57 goals in the last 2 seasons. He has started this season on fire, too, having already notched 13 strikers in a mere 19 games. Not only is he clinical in front of goal, but he has very quick feet and can leave defenders embarrassed in his wake.

Premier League 2011/12 – Best Performers So Far

As we near the end of yet another fantastic year in football, we give you the pick of the players so far this term in the Barclays Premier League.

Arsenal – Robin van Persie.

One of the easiest choices on this list. The Dutchman has indeed been flying this calender yeat, averaging almost a goal a game. His strikes have ranged from stunning to the most outrageous of volleys against Everton and it’s safe to say that Arsenal would be nowhere near their current position had it not been for their talismanic forward.

Aston Villa – Shay Given.

Villa might be turning in lifeless performances this season, but the ever reliable Shay Given has kept them solid and tight at the back. Brad Guzan is an able replacement but Villa miss Given’s command of his area and incredible shot stopping ability.

Blackburn Rovers – Yakubu.

In a season filled with defeats and protests, summer signing Yakubu has done his best to lift the gloom surrounding the Ewood outfit. Steve Kean may be facing serious pressure from the fans, but Yakubu’s goals this season have at least ensured that the under-fire Scottish manager hangs on to his position a little while longer.

Bolton Wanderers – Ivan Klasnic.

Extremely difficult to pick a player from Owen Coyle’s side. No one has really stood out in an error-striken season, but Klasnic has at least turned in half decent performances. Chris Eagles could’ve made the list but his erractic form has kept him out.

Chelsea – Juan Mata.

In a season of ups and downs, Juan Mata has been the one shining light for AVB’s Chelsea. While Torres’ goal drought shows no sign of ending, and with Malouda and Kalou losing all form, Chelsea needed a star and Mata has delivered in some style. He has taken to the Premier League like duck to water. He has 9 assists and 4 goals in 20 appearances this season, an outstanding record.

Everton – Leighton Baines.

Everton have been very inconsistent this season but Baines has been their standout performer without a shadow of a doubt. Defensively solid, he is a potent threat going forward and has one of the best left foots to boast in the whole division.

Fulham – Moussa Dembele/Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey has been hitting the back of the net regularly for Fulham and has been ably assisted by Dembele. Dembele has incredibly quick feet and a sharp mind to match. If he can get a little sharpness into his game, he will turn into one of the most fearsome forwards in the division.

Liverpool – Luis Suarez.

While his conduct may be under serious scrutiny these days, there is no doubt about the qualities the Uruguayan brings to the Liverpool side. While Andy Carroll continues to fire blanks, Suarez has been hitting the back of the net when needed (and the woodwork, too). Lucas could give him a fight for his money as far as this list goes, but the season-ending injury he suffered at Stamford Bridge edges Suarez ahead, but only just.

Manchester City – David Silva.

People have just about run out of superlatives to describe the Spanish playmaker, such has been his influence in the Manchester City squad this season. His best performance to date might well be in the Manchester derby when he ripped apart the defending champions with his silky movement and eagle-eyed vision.

Manchester United – Phil Jones.

It’s strange to select a 19 year-old but such have been his performances this season that it’s impossible to select anyone else. Not only has he been consistent, but has performed admirably well wherever he’s been asked to play (central defense, right-back and central midfield). He has drawn comparisons with the mighty Duncan Edwards because of his incredible stamina and lung bursting runs. High praise indeed.

Newcastle United – Demba Ba.

Before they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Manchester City, Newcastle’s defense was getting all the praise for having the joint tightest defense in the league. But one man has been scoring the goals consistently this season at the other end, Demba Ba. He has found the net 13 times in just 18 appearances this season and looks a real threat every time the ball is at his feet.

Norwich City – Steve Morison.

Grant Holt and Anthony Pilkington were close contenders for this spot but in the end it goes to Steve Morison. He was a non-league football player just 3 seasons ago and is now terrorizing Premier league defenders with his wonderful off-the-ball movement and has been averaging a goal every 2 games to top it off.

QPR – Alejandro Faurlin.

While Joey Barton and Adel Taarabt have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Faurlin has got on with his job and has put in a sterling effort. He has attracted a lot of attention reportedly from Arsenal and Juventus. He has adapted to life in the Premier League quickly and brilliantly.

Stoke City – Jonathan Walters.

Had it not been for Matt Etherington’s indifferent form at the start of the season, he was a sure fire winner. But Jonathan Walters has endeared himself to the Stoke City faithful with his workhorse like displays and a never-say-die attitude. He has formed an unlikely partnership with Peter Crouch up front, scary indeed.

Sunderland – Sebastian Larsson.

Sunderland’s season has been mostly gloom and doom so far but the free signing from Birmingham has provided a ray of hope. He is one of the best strikers of the dead ball and his contributions to the Sunderland cause this season cannot be taken lightly. If Sunderland are to avoid dropping down into the Championship, Seb Larsson will have a pivotal role to play.

Swansea City – Michel Vorm.

Who else? The Dutch stop stopper has been one of the signings of the season as he has produced stellar performances week after week. Swansea have kept an incredible 8 clean sheets in 17 games this season and that is in no small part down to Vorm. He is nicknamed ‘the penalty killer’ and with reason.

Tottenham Hotspur – Scott Parker.

While Adebayor has been banging in the goals this season, Scott Parker has provided the Spurs midfield with the sort of performances they have craved since a long time. Harry Redknapp can now play both Lennon and Bale on either wing with Modric and Parker in the middle. Parker has kept Sandro out of the squad this season and will be a big part of England’s squad next season for Euro 2012.

West Bromwich Albion – Shane Long.

While he and Odemwingie are not the perfect fit (not so far, anyway), Long has been West Brom’s most effective performer in the absence of Odemwingie. After a promising start to his WBA career, he has continued to work hard and provided the link-up between the midfield and the forward line.

Wigan Athletic – Victor Moses.

It has been another topsy-turvy season for Wigan Athletic but their fans must now be used to the ride. Goals have been few and far between but it’s certainly not for lack of trying. Victor Moses has shown real promise, his dancing feet and sheer raw pace troubling teams up and down in the league.

Wolves – Stephen Ward.

One of the most improved players in the division, Ward has had an outstanding season at left back for Wolves. While the other players around him have crumbled like a pack of cards, he has held his own and has rightly earned the captain’s armband in the absence of Karl Henry.

English Leagues Set New Sacking Record

Chris Hughton was controversially sacked by Newcastle last season

The latest edition of LMA’s (League Managers Association) Manager magazine has revealed that a staggering sum of over £99 million was spent by clubs in all four divisions in England on sacking managers. The LMA has taken a swipe at club owners and questioned the patience of the men at the top.

The figure arrived at by the LMA consists of the costs incurred in paying compensation to the sacked managers, legal fees and double contracts. A double contract means the sacked manager’s contract is honored for a particular time after he has been let go.

The LMA’s chief executive, Richard Bevan, said,

“This defies the principles of building for stability and success and, more worryingly, is an expense that clubs, certainly in the lower leagues, can ill-afford.

“As the squeeze on finances, from the global institution to the man in the street, continues, we hope 2012 will not see a repeat of the vast sums of money wasted from the game.”

The report also goes on to suggest that Premier League managers last, on an average, just two years. Despite the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes in the league, this is a worringly low figure and shows the lack of patience being exhibited by club owners. Results have taken priority over time given to build a squad. According to the report,

“The figure for the length of manager tenure are equally worrying, with the average tenure of a manager in the Championship now having fallen to below 12 months.

“The figures are only slightly better for the other divisions, with League Two managers lasting, on average, for 1.33 years, League One enjoying 1.67 years and Premier League managers lasting 2.07 years.”

Darren Fletcher Forced To Take Extended Leave From Football

Manchester United have been rocked by the news that Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher has been forced to take an extended leave from football. The club’s official website released a statement saying that the midfielder is suffering from ulcerative colitis.

Fletcher missed two months of last season with a mystery virus (now revealed as ulcerative colitis) but had been deemed fit to return to first team football despite losing quite a lot of weight. He then missed pre-season training and has only featured in ten games this season, starting seven of them.

The disease has now taken it’s toll on him and he has been advised by the medical team to take rest and not take part in training at all. A statement on Manchester United’s official website read,

“On behalf of Darren Fletcher, Manchester United wishes to announce that he is taking an extended break from football for health reasons.

“Over the past year he has had several absence periods which we have attributed to a viral illness in order to respect his right to medical confidentiality. Darren has, in fact, been suffering from ulcerative colitis (a chronic inflammatory bowel condition) for some time preceding this.

“Whilst he was able to maintain remission of symptoms for a considerable period this has proved more difficult recently and Darren’s continued desire to play and his loyalty to both his club and country has probably compromised the chances of optimising his own health and fitness.

“He has therefore accepted medical advice to take an extended break from the demands of training and playing in order to afford the best chance possible of achieving full remission once again.

“We request that his privacy is respected and hope that the removal of the additional stress associated with speculation regarding his health will also aid his recovery.”

This news comes as a major blow to United who have already lost club captain Nemanja Vidic for the rest of the season with ruptured knee ligaments and puts extra pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson as his options have become severely limited in the middle of the park.

Manchester United’s Central Defensive Conundrum

Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the rest of the season

The agonising sight of Nemanja Vidic writhing in pain on the surface of St. Jakob Park on Wednesday evening filled dread into the hearts of everyone concerned with Manchester United. United were already 1-0 down and facing possible elimination from European football’s most prestigious club competition, and now they had their skipper down on the turf with what looked like a potentially season ending knee injury. A sight for sore eyes indeed.

So, as Sir Alex Ferguson took his seat for Friday’s pre-match press conference, everyone waited with bated breath to hear about the extent of Vidic’s injury. It was rumored that he would be out for at least a period of four months and Ferguson confirmed that his captain had suffered ruptured knee ligaments and had been ruled out for the rest of the season. Major, major blow to the English champions.

Manchester United, without Nemanja Vidic this season, have had more holes in their defense than Swiss cheese. As he limped off with an injury on the opening day of the season at the Hawthorns, there was a sense of impending doom about United’s defense. They struggled to fill the hole that Vidic had left behind. A variety of combinations were tried in the center of defense and each one proved ineffective as the opposition invariably found a way through the heart of United. He returned to the United side a week after the derby defeat and immediately shored up the leaky defense. United went on a run of 7 clean sheets in 8 games. But now they face a severe test of their credentials.

Jonny Evans has well and truly failed to live with up to the potential he showed in the 2007/08 season. His form has dipped alarmingly and United have had to suffer accordingly. He took the majority of the blame when the “noisy neighbours” Manchester City thrashed the Red Devils 6-1 in their own backyard. Evans was caught out of position for Balotelli’s opener. He then proceeded to haul down Balotelli in the second half as he got his body position all wrong and got sent-off. Cue utter humiliation as City ran riot.

Phil Jones has taken to Manchester United like duck to water. He has already been deployed in a variety of positions ranging from right-back to central midfield. But it is his natural position at center-back, where he has looked most vulnerable. There is no doubt that he possesses a lot of talent and the promise of his potential being fulfilled is looking odds on but he has shown a lack of inexperience in certain situations, as is to be expected of a 19 year old. Fernando Torres turned him on his blind side on more than one occasion during Chelsea’s loss to Old Trafford. He was also found wanting when Peter Crouch headed Stoke’s equalizer at the Britannia Stadium. He possesses a lot of raw power and pace, loves to play the ball out of defense and has already drawn comparisons with the great Duncan Edwards but he still has a long way to go to establish himself as a regular center back in the Manchester United and England setup.

Chris Smalling has made a remarkable jump from non-league football to the Premier League and he certainly does not look out of place playing with Europe’s elite. Just 3 seasons ago, he was playing for Maidstone United before Fulham snapped him up. Ferguson saw the potential than this youngster was showing and swooped him from Craven Cottage. His has been a rapid rise from obscurity to the big time and one which he seemingly relishes. He has shown outstanding understanding of the game and is held in high regard by those associated with the club. He has shown maturity beyond his age but now his credentials will well and truly be tested in the absence of Vidic. A bigger role and huge responsibility await the Englishman.

Rio Ferdinand takes center stage in the absence of Vidic

And now onto the juggernaut that is Rio Ferdinand. Time has not been too kind on Ferdinand as he has struggled with injuries in the last couple of seasons. Vidic and Ferdinand have formed an almost unbreacheble partnership in the center of defense and with Vidic, Rio looks lost. The 33 year old has lost that yard of pace but he more than makes up for it with his magnificent ability to read the game. He tends to suffer from lapses in concentration, most notably in the Manchester derby last season when he gave the ball straight to Craig Bellamy, who went on to to score. But with Vidic out for the season, Ferdinand can ill afford any mistake. He is the most experienced of the back four (even Patrice Evra looks all at sea). With a goalkeeper (David De Gea) still adapting to the Premier League, Rio Ferdinand now takes center stage at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Manchester United’s mettle with be severely tested now till the end of the season but with the Basel hangover still not over, Sir Alex Ferguson must make sure his charges are up for the job. You build a team from the back, and that’s what United will be looking to do as they look to tighten up the backbone of the team in the absence of their influential captain.

FC Basel v Manchester United: The United Verdict

Alex Frei seals qualification for Basel

On a cold, rainy evening in Basel, Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage for the third time since the competition was revamped in 1992. Not many people would have predicted the outcome of the group quite like this.

When the draw was made in August, Manchester United drew Basel, Benfica and European first-timers Otelul Galati. On paper, this was one of the easiest groups for United in recent times. But the Red Devils paid a very heavy price for some poor home displays along with shambolic defending.

Despite their poor form in the Champions League, United travelled to Basel knowing that all they needed to qualify was to avoid defeat. They had kept clean sheets in 7 of their last 8 away games in Europe before last evening. Surely they could see out Basel and seal qualification to the lucrative knockout stages?

The visitors started with Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-Sung and Phil Jones in the middle of the park and United certainly had the better of the opening exchanges as they made the extra man in midfield count. But Basel got up the other end and scored just as United were starting to threaten. The shaky De Gea misjudged Shaqiri’s cross and managed to divert it into the path of Streller who gleefully obliged and found the back of the net. It was a kick in the teeth of the English champions who now knew they needed to score.

But where would the goals come from? Wayne Rooney is in the middle of another one of his now infamous goal droughts, and his lack of confidence showed when he failed to connect with a Nani cross when the goal was gaping. Unfortunately for United, that was about as close to a goal as they would come in the first half. Nani tormented the Basel left back, Park, but failed to deliver a telling ball. To be fair to the Portuguese winger, United weren’t exactly lining up in the box to score. Whenever they managed to work the ball out to Nani or Young on the wings, only Rooney would be available in the box to aim at and he was superbly marshaled and outmuscled by Abraham throughout the game.

Rooney looks glum as United crash out

In the middle of all this, United suffered a potentially fatal blow as their skipper Vidic had to be stretchered off with what looked like a serious knee ligament injury. His replacement, Jonny Evans, hardly fills one with confidence though he did put in a decent shift on the evening. But the severity of the injury Vidic suffered might well determine United’s campaign this season as without him, the defense looks all at sea. Patrice Evra was taken to the cleaners by the outstanding Shaqiri as the Swiss star beat him time and again. It has been a while since Patrice Evra turned in a solid shift defensively and one wonders if his time with the English champions is nearing an end. Chris Smalling, barring the second goal when he was found wanting the far post, had a far better evening at right-back as he kept Xhaka at bay. Going forward, he supported Nani well though the latter chose not to use him at times.

It said a lot about United’s precarious position when they missed Michael Carrick (through suspension). A midfield trio of Jones, Giggs and Park left a lot to be desired. Park will always give you a whole hearted and committed performance but he lacks the spark of creativity United so desperately crave. Giggs, except one stunning through ball for Rooney, struggled to pull the strings in midfield as the options in front of him were limited. With Anderson out till February and Cleverley not being available till Christmas, it will fall to Michael Carrick to be United’s playmaker in chief. It is a task he has taken to heart this season but can Alex Ferguson rely on the now aging Englishman? Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison are two of the brightest prospects Manchester United have at their disposal but Ferguson has rightly kept them wrapped in cotton wool till now. But his refusal (or inability) to sign a playmaker has now put the heat on him but how many times have we seen the wily old Scot pull a rabbit out of the hat just when all looked lost?

This is a team in transition and while that’s not a good enough excuse for last night’s result, Manchester United will be looking to bounce back starting this weekend when Wolves come visiting. The wounded animal will be more hungry than ever to get their season back on track and if ever there was a man to trust in such a situation, it’s Sir Alex Ferguson. Believe.