Too old Trafford?

IT is clear to all of those with half a football brain that Manchester United have gone from unbeatables to unbelievables in the last month or so.

What is not immediately apparent is the reasons why this has happened. Even Sir Alex Ferguson seems to be having difficulty rectifying the problems.

The cataclysmic drop in defensive performance is surely the most obvious metamorphosis in recent times.

The watertight back five were setting records left-back, right-back and centre-back but now keep fewer clean sheets than a toddler having recurring nightmares.

Stability is a keyword within football, and that is something United have lacked in defence due to injuries to Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Wes Brown and Rafael as well as the suspension to Nemanja Vidic.

Jonny Evans has received rightful praise for his deputising roles, but he has become suspect in the games against Aston Villa and FC Porto and is quite prone to a niggle himself.

Patrice Evra is still regarded one of the best left-backs in Europe, but he has been woeful of late, epitomised by his awful display in the Carling Cup final and the penalty conceded in the mauling against Liverpool.

The title race is wide open after United blew the advantage they had gained despite jetting off to the World Club Championships towards the back end of 2008.

This is usually the time that experience is called for, but I see a little problem in that widely held belief.

United’s modern-day ‘Holy Trinity’ of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Neville are starting to feel their heads overtake their legs.

Neville has been injured for large portions of the campaign, but nightmare performances against Villa and at Arsenal earlier in the season have shown he is no longer Mr. Reliable and will be need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

Paul Scholes is a complex case. He still has the vision to pick out 50- yard raking passes, but he has lost the scoring touch completely and has infamously never been able to tackle.
I’m not suggesting he should still be able to burst into the box at just the right time to pounce on a loose ball, but he should still be capable of tucking some chances away.

If United need a midfielder to start moves off, track back and play crossfield balls, they have Michael Carrick.

Ryan Giggs on the other hand just keeps coming back. Left wing, centre forward and now even midfield general, he seems to play them all to a high standard.

There was much premature talk of a quintuple for last season’s double winners, but if the Carling Cup is not joined in the trophy room by further trophies, it might be time for Sir Alex Ferguson to contemplate a changing of the guard.

With the likes of Rafael, Anderson and Danny Welbeck the future certainly looks bright.