Are Manchester United Getting a Little Too Complacent?

As a United lifelong fan,I have been very keen on the recent developments at Old Trafford.United are slowly moving from the traditional and perennial favourites for the Premiership to a side that the mid-table teams can hope for a point or three.Decade-long records that United enjoyed over these sides are also at stake.Take for instance the last time Villa beat united at Old Trafford.

The aura of invincibility that United breathed is no longer anything that the 'weaker' teams are worried of.Or how else can you explain what Leeds could manage recently in the FA cup?It would still baffle many if this were to happen at Eland road,but at the Theatre of Dreams?Used to be only in my wildest dreams. This is not to say that over the seasons before United never lost games like these,but it is the frequency at which this is happening coupled with the fact that you tend to feel that these sides really deserved to win these games and not just pure luck.

This unfolding phenomenon can be hypothesised in many ways.You could say United,having won the Premier league three times in a row as well as equal Liverpool's 18 titles means that United really are not as hungry to win the EPL as before.It seems as though there is nothing else to prove as no one is really pushing the benchmark higher in the recent past.However their domestic dominance hasn't quite been replicated in Europe yet.Without taking away any credit from United for their back tro back final berth in the Champions league including winning one,United are yet to match Liverpool,Milan or Real Madrid at this stage.This implies that they will always want European glory their domestic superiority notwithstanding.

The exit of Cristiano Ronaldo has also exposed the fact that United depended greatly on the Portuguese in the recent seasons.Together with Rooney,he had formed a formidable strike force that ravaged defences at will.With Ronaldo gone,this season was the opprtune moment for Berbatov to live up to his 32m pounds price tag.However,the Bulgarian has only put up what many would call 'lazy' performances with a few flashes of brilliance even though we all know that he is capable of much more than he gives.The midfield has also been one of the most erratic sections for United.Take Anderson for instance.On one day,the kid can muzzle opponents,dictating the pace of the game as well as offering many defence-splitting assists for strikers.On another occasion,he would be that midfielder with only a few complete passes wit opponents running freely past him.Scholes on the other hand is unarguably past his twilight years; that's for sure.The problem here is that any slight mistake can really be punished as we saw during the game against Fulham,where Scholes uncharacteristically gifted them a goal.It is something which happens in football but the frequency at which it is happening can be worrying. This leaves Fletcher and Carrick as the only consistent and reliable midfielders.

The flanks have also had their fair share of blame to what has been happening.Nani and Ji Sung Park have really not helped us forget about Ronaldo.I would say only Giggs and Valencia have done the much required of them.Obviously Obertan needs more time to settle in and cannot be subject to any criticism.He has great potential in him and we just hope he grows into a great player.It would be interesting to see what United's new kid Diouf would add into our game.

I don't think Sir Alex would do much to bolster the squad this January.I just wished he would loan out Nani or even sell him to any willing buyer.His discussion of dressing-room issues to the media is certainly unwelcome as it might lead to disunity within the club.Dimitar Berbatov should be given a final chance this half of the season,failure of which could probably mean he could be traded in the summer.Maybe he just cannot fit into United's style of play and therefore not showing the best in him.It is the same problem Robbie Keane had at Liverpool or closer home, Juan Sebastian Veron is a great player who just could not be absorbed into United's way of play. 

Two players I would love to see at United are Navas,the young brilliant Sevilla winger and Carlton Cole of West-ham.

The former would bring in a little flair into our game while Cole would aid Rooney asserting a more physical presence in United's forwards.I still fancy United's chances to win the EPL and even the Champions league.