Manchester United Turning the Tide but Still Lacking the Finishing Touch

Traditionally slow starters Manchester United are ever so slowly starting to hit top gear. A draw on the opening day at home to Newcastle United was identical to the start they made last term, as Reading held them to a 0-0 draw.

Of course United finished as Champions, and after a similar start this season the alarm bells were hardly ringing due to how last season finished.

In recent weeks we have seen the old United creating chance after chance and putting teams to the sword, however they have lacked the cutting edge that saw them pip Chelsea by just two points last season.

The performance against Hull City highlighted how United have failed to kill off teams in their usual ruthless way.

Hull were allowed back into the game and were within a whisker of giving the Champions the same scare they gave Arsenal a month ago.

You could even say United's start has been inconsistent.

For example they produced one of their poorest performances in a long time at Anfield in a 2-1 defeat back in September, but a week later they were causing Chelsea trouble in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

The game at Celtic Park is another that shows United aren't quiet the force they were last season.

Countless chances fell their way, but United were only able to score once, with Ryan Giggs heading home.

This weekend they face Arsenal at the Emirates looking to record their first win there since the opening of the stadium.

Having been unlucky not to have come away with a win already in their two visits to the Emirates, United will be looking for a performance to mirror what they produced at Stamford Bridge, only this time to come up with more of a finishing touch.

If United are to be taken seriously as title contenders then they have to turn around there dismal goal record up till now.

They haven't dismantled a side yet this season, but the positive being that they are due to score a hat full, and against a leaky Arsenal on Saturday there's a good chance they could cash in.

Dimitar Berbatov has fitted in nicely to the United attack, edging out Argentine Carlos Tevez to take his place alongside Wayne Rooney.

With the Bulgarian in the side the team do look more creative, but he wouldn't be at the top of my list to finish off many chances, like he has shown already, at Old Trafford.

Without Louis Saha, after his move to Everton, United do lack an out-and-out finisher, something they haven't had since Ruud van Nistelrooy.

This could be the reason for their lack of goals, and it is definitely down to Berbatov to provide them.

Rooney has weighed in with his share, and a half-fit Cristiano Ronaldo is starting to get on the score-sheet after a poor start to the season.

The favourite for World Player of the Year has hardly set the world alight at the beginning of the season, and although hitting the heights he did at the end of last season would be difficult, he hasn't even come close to any sort of form.

With Rooney looking on song, Ronaldo's form isn't a problem just yet. However, he needs to get into gear soon as he was the clear difference last season.

In midfield Nani and Darren Fletcher, players used sparingly last season, have been intrinsic to the United side this term.

Fletcher in particular has been brilliant, and so far he's clearly been United's player of the season, with three goals already to help United towards the top four.

At the back United have been a little bit shaky, and from set-pieces they look at sixes and sevens, unlike last season where they were so sure at the back.

Newcastle, Hull, and Chelsea are just a few who have taken advantage of slack defending on the part of the usually dependable Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Edwin van Der Sar has looked very shaky in goal for United and this can't be helping an already nervous looking back four.

Rafael da Silva looks like a breath of fresh air at right-back for United, but at the same time the omission of Wes Brown from the majority of first team duties is disappointing to see, as the England right-back had a brilliant season last year for the double-winners.

Da Silva looks like holding onto the birth for the foreseeable future, with both Gary Neville and Brown having to sit out to the Brazilian.

United are always slow starters yes, but there's something about this years start that makes me feel like there isn't much more to come.

Goal scoring has been a problem, and who would have thought it with the fire-power on show.

If United are to push Chelsea and Liverpool all the way, their form and performances of their key players has to improve, otherwise they will be left in their wake domestically and in Europe.