Manchester United Sans Vidic and Ferdinand: Deja Vu ?

Yesterday's match against Middlesbrough was very disappointing from United's perspective. The points lost, though, just make up a part of the disappointment.

Rio Ferdinand, their talismanic defender, limped off the pitch on what looked a definite injury. This means that at best, even if the injury is minor, one might not see him on the big green until the Uefa Champions League semi finals. 

This spells trouble for the United Gaffer and his subsequent worries are well justified.

Remember last season?

While Facing AC Milan in the semi finals Manchester United were in midst of an acute defensive crisis.

And didn't they pay heavily?

With Vidic out again and Ferdinand following his defensive partner to the medical ward there is a huge sense of deja vu filling the United faithful. 

This year, though, the stakes are even higher. The Premier League is still an unfinished business and their prospective opponents in the semi finals are one of the finest attacking forces in Europe.

In Barcelona, their most likely opponents, they have a huge challenge ahead.

For all their huge squad United don't have replacements to fill the boots of Ferdinand and Vidic. But then no team would have players to replace quality players of their kind. 

If one weighs their options the prospects don't look too bright. They could have Pique and Brown playing in the middle with Patrice Evra and John O'Shea on the flanks.

Or, they might choose to rush in Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre and play them as right back and center back respectively in place of O'Shea and Pique. 

Neither of the options though looks promising, the former lacks experience and the latter first team experience (with Gary Neville and Silvestre coming back from injury).

With Manchester United having a difficult run-up to the end of the season as compared to their London rivals Chelsea, and having to play them and Arsenal, Sir Alex will already be having headaches.

It will take character, hunger and luck for Manchester United to come up trumps this season. The first two is hopefully there.

For the third one, as some say, "you make your own luck."