The Manchester United Defence
Last season, not many people could argue against the inclusion of three of the United back four in any team of the year.
Rio Ferdinand is probably the best centre-half in the world at the moment, it would take a brave man to disagree with Nemanja Vidic and the Raymond Domenech has only just woken up to the fact that Patrice Evra has few peers at left-back.
And yet United's defence has, on occasions, looked surprisingly poor this season. Liverpool could in truth have scored more than twice, Hull managed three goals at Old Trafford and Samir Nasri's two strikes last weekend were down to him being given too much space outside the area.
This weekend Rio and friends become the latest to be given the task of dealing with Rory Delap's long throws. In general, the teams that have really struggled with these are those that don't have a particularly commanding goalkeeper (Arsenal, Portsmouth, Sunderland etc), and given the way that Edwin van der Sar flaps at tricky crosses sometimes, there could be a few problems afoot at Old Trafford.
Harry Redknapp And His Embarrassment Of Riches
How times change, eh?
A couple of weeks ago having to choose between Darren Bent, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell was akin to selecting a kick in the balls, stomach or teeth.
Now, each man has two goals in their respective last appearances, and suddenly all three present convincing cases for their inclusion.
The chances are Harry Redknapp will stick with Luka Modric just behind Bent for the trip to Fulham on Saturday, as that combination has brought an impressive seven goals (all scored by Bent) since Redknapp took over three weeks ago.
However, both Pavlyuchenko and Campbell will be pushing for a chance, and given that Redknapp seems to favour the lone striker, he may not even need to spend on a forward in January.
Huerelho Gomes
Assuming he plays (and Harry Redknapp suggested on Wednesday that his injury is not as serious as first feared) Gomes is going to have to solve his chronic flapping problem, and sharpish.
While things are going quite well for Spurs at the moment, they would probably be going even better if Gomes didn't insist on bumbling out for crosses and missing them.
Granted, he did produce some miraculous saves both pre and post Redknapp's arrival, but if he could deal with crosses, Gomes would be one of the best keepers in the world.
Aston Villa
If anyone will offer you any odds better than evens on Aston Villa finishing fifth this season, we at Football365 would suggest you jump all over it.
For Villa are way ahead of the teams occupying positions 6-20, but not in the same class as the top four.
This is not a new point, but Villa may have to watch themselves. The sense of inevitability about such an outcome could - if they're not careful - bring in a mood of complacency. And while losing the last two games perhaps does not constitute a poor run of form, the way Villa have lost them may well be a concern.
This weekend Villa come up against the side - if they have top-four ambitions - that they are most likely to usurp.
Arsenal beating Manchester United last weekend was all very well, but it's winning games like that but still losing to Hull, Fulham and Stoke that virtually rule them out of the title race. Their inconsistency is the reason they may be overhauled, but the game at the Emirates this weekend could be a good indicator of whether or not Villa are ready to steal that Champions League berth.
Obviously it isn't as black and white as this, but win and Villa could be the first to break the cartel since Everton in 2005, lose and a potential season of drift awaits.
Gianfranco Zola
Six games without a win. Pressure is building.
Tony Mowbray
See above, but substitute 'six' for 'five'.
Sunderland
Having shoddy away form is bad, but forgivable if your home is a fortress.
That plan isn't going terribly well for Sunderland at present, who have continued where they left off last season away from the Stadium of Light, but have now managed to lose three of their six home games this time around.
That means they are now in the relegation zone, and while the table is so tight a win could rocket them up the league, if they don't reverse at least one of these two trends then trouble might be just around the corner.
Nick Miller
Your Comments
ringaldo
"I'm probably gonna get a massive backlash here, but I'm firmly of the belief that this years title race is between 3 teams...Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Now, before I get completely bollocked here by legions of United fans, let me quickly explain why...
This brings me on to Uniteds centre midfield. Quite simply, Possebon and Anderson aren't ready yet. Despite being remarkable prospects. (Why Anderson is consistantly played out of position makes me wonder...) Hargreaves is out all year. Park is only effective out wide. Age has finally caught up with Scholes. Fletcher works hard and has scored some decent goals, but I don't think he's anythin more than a squad player. Which leaves Carrick, who can only pass sideways. Giggs plays centre mid now, but can only do it for one half. It just doesnt strike me with confidence!
Secondly, is the fact Carlos is no longer Fergie's assistant. No doubt, all the readers now how important he was. Without reading all the facts, just watching United nowadays, tactically, United seldom get things right.
Add to all this, the fact that Van der Sar is losing it, Rooney won't score for the rest of the season, Ronaldo can't carry the team like last season cos he's not 100% committed, Nani is shithouse, and Rio is gonna get banned cos he'll miss the next drug test, you slowly realise that United are screwed!! (I hope so anyway)
Ringo (let the onslaught begin!) Chohan"
aremufc
"I think VIDIC is better than RIO at the moment. RIO has a bad spell at the moment."
Mutid
"McFunkalot, why is Rio lettuce-lipped? And why is that in any way not just a dumb-arse, purile insult worthy of anything but contempt? And who do you support and where do you come from? I'm guessing another Redditch Scouser? In your non-Liverpool slums..."
wuzza
"Rio might well be the best center half in England (even if his form is terrible) but there are defenders in Spain and italy who would laugh at him. "
chelseablue
"The only reason Vidic was good last season was because the refs allowed him to get away with the little shoves and tugs that he isn't getting away with this season. Rio is not the best center-half in the world at this moment or any moment, he's not even the best ball-playing center-half in the England team, I see John Terry bring the ball out of defence more for England and Chelsea than I have ever seen Rio do. Even Carlvaho is a better ball player as someone else said, he nevers put himself in the way of things.
Van der Sar helped last season, but this season he seems to be doing a Robinson, maybe he is playing one season too many and should hang his gloves up and let the younger man in Ben Foster take over."
McFunkalot
"elsantovicioso, i'm not a chelsea fan, i don't like john terry. though i think he's a better defender than lettuce-lip Rio, they're both b*ll-ends. So, elsantovicioso, well done for proving you are an idiot."
keano99
"Irish Blue and McFunkalot cant have watched United much last season as Rio was easily the star performer in big games against Arsenal and Liverpool. Whereas John Terry was so embarresed by Fernando Torres on many occasions last year (rememeber him kicking Torres in frustration while he was on the floor?) Rio absolutely dominated one of the best strikers in the world at Anfield last season and aside from Ronaldo, most United fans would say he was our player of the year. Granted Rio's form has suffered lately and he's made a few errors but it doesn't help when Vidic is performing badly too and our right back changes every week. One last thing to IrishBlue, i coud turn around what you say and claim that there's a reason why Steven Gerrard never looks that great for England and that's because he has to do all of Frank Lampard's dirty work (as have Makelele and Essien in recent seasons for Chelsea)."
McFunkalot
"blackchides, i do watch ManUre week in week out - i have sky. Ferdinand is the more gaffe-prone centre half for both ManUre and England. But I guess as you are a ManUre 'fan', then the chances are you don't watch him week in week out."
elsantovicioso
"McFunkaLot.....I blv you were in Moscow on 21st of May to witness that penalty miss by your hero great John TEARy ;).
Get a life"
elsantovicioso
"McFunkaLot.....I blv you were in Moscow on 21st of May to witness that penalty miss by your hero great John TEARy ;).
Get a life"
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