5 Take-Aways from the Britannia for Manchester United's October BPL Fixtures

With an away clash at Anfield in a few weeks, and the much-anticipated Manchester derby the week following, the Barclays Premier League is becoming a much more serious affair for the reigning champions Manchester United.

Six matches deep into the 2011/12 season, Manchester United relinquished a first-half lead at Stoke City to escape with their first draw of the season, leaving them perched atop the League table alongside Manchester City.

This campaign has certainly been different from their Championship run of last season; this time, one year ago, the Red Devils only had 12 points to their name, quietly floating around the middle of the top 10.

The Old Trafford Reds have come across some of their more classic and competitive rivals that resulted in much-talked-about victories.  With the title race heating up, the next few months rely on consistency and cohesion from the Red Devils.

Many people view United's victories to be the result of extraneous influences, mostly luck. Whether this is the case, Manchester United has come out on top, convincingly or not.

With two very important matches coming up, and Chelsea and Arsenal out of the way for the time being, the Stoke City clash was United's most difficult BPL fixture to date due to the influence of injury, lack of cohesion between players, and the strong Potters' offensive and defensive lines.

Many positives and negatives can be taken from this match to achieve success in their October fixtures. 

Manchester United at Home Is Not Manchester United Away

Last season, United never had an issue creating goals away from Old Trafford--scoring as many goals away in their first six games as they have this season; however, victories were elusive. This would become a problem that would make the latter parts of title race uncomfortably tight.

Now, over a month into the premiership, with the league table taking shape, draws begin to hold more weight than any team would like. 

United has already scored 22 goals in 6 games, yielding only 5 goals to their opposition; and has so far won their away matches against West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers with entertaining adequacy. However, the Red Devils struggled at the Britannia to maintain the form they had been previously displaying. 

Even a subpar United team can do well playing at Old Trafford, but when away, the cracks tend to manifest. As past fixtures have shown, Liverpool still has the ability to overpower the Red Devils at Anfield, unless United can put up a consistent fight similar to their display in the final minutes against Stoke.

A Mounting Slew of Injuries May or May Not Hinder Team Performances

Stoke City exposed many of Manchester United's tactical weaknesses both offensively and defensively in the fielded squad, weaknesses that were a result of the absence of key players.

United currently has the most injured players of any BPL team as of the Stoke fixture. With the loss of their captain, Nemanja Vidic, and Rio Ferdinand to the start of the season, the United backline would cause a worry.

However, compared the dynamics of the midfield and strikers, the defense would appear to be maintaining a desirable level of consistency and control.

With Javier Hernandez's heavy tumble unto Potters goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, following a challenge on the loose ball by Johnathan Woodgate, this would the third slight injury of the season to interrupt his League appearances. This left Berbatov and Owen to lead the strike unconvincingly.

Each Red Devil striking pair works most effectively with certain midfield arrangements against certain defenses. Penetrating runs similar to those of Hernandez and Rooney were necessary to break down the Potter resistance, which was shown by Nani's cunning tear through the left wing and ultimately, his strike on goal.

Rooney, Smalling, Cleverly and Rafael have also suffered injuries, with their expected returns ranging from next week to mid-November, respectively. Each of these players have been instrumental in play making and goal scoring in earlier fixtures, and their return would definitely benefit the United run-of-play in the future.

United needs to field the strongest, most cohesive team they can allow come October. With the Rooney injury apparently non-threatening, and many individual defensive and midfield players showing great concentration and determination, if the lack of players due to injury persists into the autumn, United could still mount a threatening attack.

Nani, David De Gea, and Ryan Giggs' Positive Performances

Luis Nani scored the only United goal of the day as a result of ambitious and persistent forward play. With his third goal of the season, Nani has become a very valuable asset to Manchester United's campaign and has kept proving his worth on the pitch.

In the fall fixtures to come, United will rely heavily on the skills and stylings of the Portuguese winger. With team collaboration, the goals could abound for him and the Red Devils.

Like Nani, Ryan Giggs, never seems to give up. In his 20th season for the Red Devils, Giggs still makes spectacular challenges and goal attempts. Even though there were nightmarish misses at the Britannia, Giggs still fields experience and an impact to the game's flow that will always be valuable in any United game.

The availability and willingness of both him and Ji-Sun Park will still have an undeniable influence on play dynamics and entertainment.

If there is one other player that stood out during the Stoke fixture, who will probably stand out for more games to come, is David de Gea. The Spaniard has been making a slew of spectacular saves.

Even amidst the unconvinced, de Gea has shown that he has the determination, tact, and concentration to be a competent and successful Manchester United No. 1. He indeed isn't where he need to be and has often times exposed his issues with point-blank pressure from strikers, the occasional lofty ball in the box, and commanding a defensive line. 

Regardless, with every game he plays, de Gea has provided convincing performances in goal, with some of his greatest striking challenges to come. It will be interesting to see how de Gea handles the Citizen offense come October.

The Managerial Skills of Sir Alex Ferguson

In lieu of Manchester United's string of injured players, there is a depth to the squad that leaves Sir Alex Ferguson room to still play a fighting side. 

Going on 25 years as the spearhead of the Red Devils, Ferguson uses his insight to create the best scenario for every presented situation. This season proves to be no different. Ferguson recognizes the competitive threat that is Manchester City and will go into the game with the squad he deems the best and most able.

At this point, it is a mystery as to who all would be involved in that XI. Until then, Alex Ferguson will still be displaying his handle on maneuverability of players per game. 

He will be faced with the realities of maybe getting it right and maybe getting it a little wrong.

It may only be the sixth week of the League and not the penultimate, but with the presence of competition, injuries, and lackluster performances by players, it is in these moments when a manager must do his job. 

There Is Still More Physical Football to Come

Manchester United has not been playing a very physical game in their past fixtures. They have successfully made clean challenges and dispossession, especially in the Potters match.

However, so far, they have come across some defensively and physically tough squads that have tossed the Red Devils around a bit.

With even more physical football to come in following months, United have to be willing to put up with a slight beating. Patrice Evra showed exemplary aversion to slight pushes and challenges, and was still able to play 90+ minutes with just as much verve and tenacity as his opposition.

The bad challenges will be made and some might not even be considered; that is the human element of the game--but a team cannot get hung up when a challenge that could result in a goal scoring opportunity does not go their way.

Manchester United doesn't need to increase their physical or scrappy play, but the teams to come will indeed scrap, bully, and fight if they have to. It is a matter of the discipline United shows when dealing with it and dishing it out themselves.