...but we really ought to have done this time round given the size of our lead and the disarray City were in. People can talk all they like about City being the better side over the course, but after their loss against Arsenal, it was in the bag for us. Here's a few key points:
- Arrogance - key factor in relinquishing our crown. Never more evident than against Everton. That's ultimately the game that ruined our chances. Losing a 4-2 lead at home in the last seven minutes is utterly unforgivable. If I'm being harsh, at the very least it was a disgraceful lack of concentration. Either way, considering what was at stake, it was piss poor stuff.
- Cowardice - I've used this word when describing our away performances last season and taken stick. However, I can't help but feel it's totally apt to describe the way we approached yesterday's game. It made me laugh when Fergie said that he always goes out to win a game of football because, truth be told, that's a lie.
That game yesterday was reminiscent of our performance against Barcelona at Wembley, especially in the first half. What were we hoping to achieve? After the first ten minutes, we had no intention of getting any support to Rooney, no intention of playing football. We improved after the break, only because we were forced to do so, and even then it looked laboured - as though we were affronted at having to do some work.
The entire lookout was out of touch with some of the club's ingrained principles, ones that Fergie himself has helped put in place. It was negative, defensive, turgid, useless stuff. Why do we never impose ourselves in games like this? I'm not asking for gung-ho attacking football, but carrying some sort of attacking threat would be nice.
- Complacency - especially on the goal difference issue. A few weeks back, I started the Goal Difference thread in the United forum and it felt as though the overriding consensus was that we didn't need to worry about it because we wouldn't/shouldn't drop points. Fact is, with a bit more attacking intent in certain games, we'd still be competitive on this issue. As it stands, we've got no chance. Chelsea hammered QPR 6-1 at the weekend, we beat them, down to 10 men, 2-0.
- Lack of late shows - barring the Norwich game, when have we appended a match with our customary late show this season? The fact that we've failed to overturn a deficit into a win this season in the PL may just be a statistical oddity. Or it may be indicative of a lack of the old spirit. Who knows...
Call me spoilt, or lacking in perspective. Whatever. We had the biggest game of the season and one of the biggest games of the Fergie era, and we didn't have a fucking shot on target. Tiredness wasn't an excuse. It was just rotten tactics and an abysmal performance.