When Manchester United experienced a defensive crisis in 2009 it was Fulham who took advantage. Can they do it again this weekend?
Saturday December 19 2009 is a date Manchester United fans would rather forget, for Fulham it marked their second comprehensive victory over the Red Devils that year.
Earlier at the end of the previous season Fulham had defeated United 2-0, a match which saw Scholes and Rooney both sent off.
But it is the game later that year where Fulham won 3-0 which will haunt United more going into this weekend. It was a match where United entered it with a real defensive crisis on their hands and they were badly exposed.
United lined up with just three defenders, and no regular centre-backs. Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, and Ritchie de Laet formed the temporary three man axis.
For Ferguson to abandon his policy of four in defence emphasised how desperate the situation was, and they were badly exposed. There was no Vidic, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Evans, or Brown.
Carrick had and has performed reasonably at centre-half, but it is against physical opponents which his limitations in the position have been highlighted.
On Monday night it was Marouane Fellaini, and in 2009 it was Bobby Zamora who used his presence to good effect. Zamora scored Fulham’s second, in between goals from Danny Murphy and Damien Duff.
Murphy and Zamora are of course now no longer at the club, but the question is whether Fulham can be as effective in light of United’s defensive problems this time around?
The good news for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, is they play this game at Old Trafford, rather than Craven Cottage. This will provide a big advantage as United can expect to see more of the ball and ask questions of Fulham’s back line.
There will be no Zamora this time around, and no Clint Dempsey either, who featured in the 2009 win. Mladen Petric looks excellent, but he will be a different type of threat for United, and may be one their backline are more comfortable attempting to deal with.
The midfield will be another intriguing area, with Moussa Dembele featuring against the club who reportedly want to sign him. The Belgian will be looking to follow his compatriot Fellaini in causing United problems. Against Norwich, 24 of his passes in the Canaries attacking third were successful, and if he is given the same sort of space at Old Trafford he will be an influential figure.
United of course will have Robin van Persie in their ranks, making his home debut, and they will bank on him being the difference maker. If their defence is exposed again, then they will need him to hit the ground running.
What do you think, can Fulham take advantage of United’s problems?
image: © Gordon Flood
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