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As Roberto Mancini has been quick to attest one swallow doesn't make a summer but it would be remiss to suggest the rewriting of unwanted records at Old Trafford which have stood since 1955 will not elicit sombre reflections by all at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson
has been at pains to concede that yesterday was his 'worst ever day' in football but the magnanimous manner in which he dealt with a defeat that will burn longer than any other in his 25-year reign will have had body language experts reaching for their textbooks.
One interpretation is that a 'shattered' Ferguson seemed almost resigned to the fact the shifting sands of power are now weighted in City's favour. His lack of ire at full-time was the clearest indication yet that United no long cock a snooty nose up at their noisy neighbours but instead twitch at the curtains, worrying about keeping up with the Joneses.
I read it differently. Fergie is far too long in the tooth to worry about a single result. It doesn't happen often but United have been in this position before and if their manager could afford a wry smile at full-time it's because he knows his players will respond. A cursory look at United's worst ever defeats under Ferguson should be encouragement enough for their supporters. Prior to Sunday's aberration, four of the six seasons which have housed United's heaviest defeats since 1986 have ended with Ferguson guiding his side to the title.
United's kamikaze defending which led to their late capitulation left Ferguson flabbergasted as he pointedly referred to his most experienced players Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand making poor choices, but while work has to be done on a back four which has been changed too often to find any kind of cohesion, it is United's lack of a player in the mould of David Silva, or even a Samir Nasri, that still worries many.
At the back end of last season at a Nike event held at Old Trafford the question was asked of Andy Cole 'Who is the best player you ever played with?' Without missing a beat he replied 'Scholes'. He's not a man of many words our Andy but when pressed further on who might replace Scholes as United's creative hub, he added: 'You can't, impossible'.
When Scholes hung up his boots he was rightly celebrated as a player who elevated the act of passing to an art form but it wasn't exactly a shock announcement that left United reeling. This was no Cantona bolt out of the blue; Scholes is not a man prone to existential doubt. If there are sardines on his plate he eats them. Trawlers can go whistle.
While scores of United supporters have long-since called for an A-lister to pull the strings from the centre of the field, Ferguson has always insisted he's content enough with the options at his disposal. And yet, behind the scenes, he encouraged bids for Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder over the summer. Against City, and indeed against Barcelona at Wembley in May, United's midfield lacked the cutting chutzpah either would have provided.
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Neville - It's not over yet
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On Sunday, City's positivity, wit and invention was in stark contrast with the more prosaic fare dished up by United after Jonny Evans' dismissal. City's midfield was tight and lean; United's paunchy, a sagging midriff of misplaced passes and wheezing shadow chasing when a man down.
Darren Fletcher is as willing as ever but he looks as if he's still topping up his energy levels after a debilitating virus, while how Anderson might best be employed remains a quandary. The Brazilian has perennially hinted at what he might become - his capacity to surge past opponents over a few yards remains impressive - but after four years at Old Trafford it's time to deliver.
In that time he has troubled the scoresheet just four times, while eight assists since 2007 is an equally alarming statistic. One twitter philosopher asked at the weekend: 'If Anderson is the answer what is the question?' Other than 'who played caravan dwelling lesbian Norma in Shameless?' it's another tough one to call.
The promise showed by Tom Cleverley in an eye-catch Community Shield cameo more than justified Ferguson's faith to start him on the first day of the season and his subsequent performances before injury intervened suggest United have a real player on their hands. An incisive passing range that is matched by an ability to go from box-to-box certainly transcends the controlled but limited promptings of Michael Carrick in terms of movement.
United's conveyor belt of young talent is rightly lauded but it's a big ask to suggest a player with just four first team appearances to his name is ready to take on the mantle of being playmaker to one of Europe's great powerhouses.
It is down the flanks that United have always been at their most penetrating and Ashley Young's brilliant start to life in Manchester when coupled with Nani's maturing into a player of world class credentials could well be enough to propel them to yet another Premier League title.
However, whilst there is scant need for Ferguson to panic, there remains an argument that against the very top sides a world class central midfielder could make all the difference.
For the moment, it remains that elusive piece of the jigsaw that United are still searching for. Of that there can be little contention.
As Roberto Mancini has been quick to attest one swallow doesn't make a summer but it would be remiss to suggest the rewriting of unwanted records at Old Trafford which have stood since 1955 will not elicit sombre reflections by all at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson
has been at pains to concede that yesterday was his 'worst ever day' in football but the magnanimous manner in which he dealt with a defeat that will burn longer than any other in his 25-year reign will have had body language experts reaching for their textbooks.One interpretation is that a 'shattered' Ferguson seemed almost resigned to the fact the shifting sands of power are now weighted in City's favour. His lack of ire at full-time was the clearest indication yet that United no long cock a snooty nose up at their noisy neighbours but instead twitch at the curtains, worrying about keeping up with the Joneses.
I read it differently. Fergie is far too long in the tooth to worry about a single result. It doesn't happen often but United have been in this position before and if their manager could afford a wry smile at full-time it's because he knows his players will respond. A cursory look at United's worst ever defeats under Ferguson should be encouragement enough for their supporters. Prior to Sunday's aberration, four of the six seasons which have housed United's heaviest defeats since 1986 have ended with Ferguson guiding his side to the title.
United's kamikaze defending which led to their late capitulation left Ferguson flabbergasted as he pointedly referred to his most experienced players Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand
making poor choices, but while work has to be done on a back four which has been changed too often to find any kind of cohesion, it is United's lack of a player in the mould of David Silva, or even a Samir Nasri, that still worries many.At the back end of last season at a Nike event held at Old Trafford
the question was asked of Andy Cole 'Who is the best player you ever played with?' Without missing a beat he replied 'Scholes'. He's not a man of many words our Andy but when pressed further on who might replace Scholes as United's creative hub, he added: 'You can't, impossible'.When Scholes hung up his boots he was rightly celebrated as a player who elevated the act of passing to an art form but it wasn't exactly a shock announcement that left United reeling. This was no Cantona bolt out of the blue; Scholes is not a man prone to existential doubt. If there are sardines on his plate he eats them. Trawlers can go whistle.
While scores of United supporters have long-since called for an A-lister to pull the strings from the centre of the field, Ferguson has always insisted he's content enough with the options at his disposal. And yet, behind the scenes, he encouraged bids for Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder
over the summer. Against City, and indeed against Barcelona at Wembley in May, United's midfield lacked the cutting chutzpah either would have provided.function fw_config(){ return { siteSection:"SkySports:Article", videoAssetFallbackId:30621833 }; }
Neville - It's not over yetgetBC({'con':'#video1','ob':'#video-id1','id':'1234488410001'});
On Sunday, City's positivity, wit and invention was in stark contrast with the more prosaic fare dished up by United after Jonny Evans' dismissal. City's midfield was tight and lean; United's paunchy, a sagging midriff of misplaced passes and wheezing shadow chasing when a man down.
Darren Fletcher
is as willing as ever but he looks as if he's still topping up his energy levels after a debilitating virus, while how Anderson might best be employed remains a quandary. The Brazilian has perennially hinted at what he might become - his capacity to surge past opponents over a few yards remains impressive - but after four years at Old Trafford it's time to deliver.In that time he has troubled the scoresheet just four times, while eight assists since 2007 is an equally alarming statistic. One twitter philosopher asked at the weekend: 'If Anderson is the answer what is the question?' Other than 'who played caravan dwelling lesbian Norma in Shameless?' it's another tough one to call.
The promise showed by Tom Cleverley in an eye-catch Community Shield cameo more than justified Ferguson's faith to start him on the first day of the season and his subsequent performances before injury intervened suggest United have a real player on their hands. An incisive passing range that is matched by an ability to go from box-to-box certainly transcends the controlled but limited promptings of Michael Carrick
in terms of movement.United's conveyor belt of young talent is rightly lauded but it's a big ask to suggest a player with just four first team appearances to his name is ready to take on the mantle of being playmaker to one of Europe's great powerhouses.
It is down the flanks that United have always been at their most penetrating and Ashley Young's brilliant start to life in Manchester when coupled with Nani's maturing into a player of world class credentials could well be enough to propel them to yet another Premier League title.
However, whilst there is scant need for Ferguson to panic, there remains an argument that against the very top sides a world class central midfielder could make all the difference.
For the moment, it remains that elusive piece of the jigsaw that United are still searching for. Of that there can be little contention.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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