Champagneblade
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Don't get me wrong, the current situation isn't looking good with talk of more lockdowns and the first utterances of fans being taken away once more.
But are United better placed than most to cope with covid?
My thoughts are twofold:
1. The squad - we just beat Fulham without the availability of 8 senior pros, 9 if you count Verrips and had a 10th withdrawn at half time. Apply that situation to the other clubs, even Fulham and Bournemouth and how does their first XI look when you take away a keeper, 2 first choice centre backs, the best midfielder and 4 striking options. Not too clever I'd guess. Apply that to someone like Preston and it would be disastrous. So whilst we didn't have enough quality to maintain the level in the Premier League, the fact our squad is much of a muchness and higher end Championship would probably work in our favour. Our ability to carry on regardless is probably within the top two in the league.
2. No fans - our fans play a big part in raising the team and the absence was felt in the top league when this was like an additional shot in the arm. Without this, then it was one less leveller and ability on its own took more of a significance than the whole package of crowd, intimidation, players, packed house etc. So turn it on its head. Were bow the ones who, certainly now playing in a way we are familiar, have the better players than most on paper. Without this added edge, wouldn't that work more in our favour against these smaller teams, just like it did for the top teams against us?
If covid cost us a place in Europe, and possibly the division, it would be quite ironic if it then contributed to putting us back there, wouldn't it?!
But are United better placed than most to cope with covid?
My thoughts are twofold:
1. The squad - we just beat Fulham without the availability of 8 senior pros, 9 if you count Verrips and had a 10th withdrawn at half time. Apply that situation to the other clubs, even Fulham and Bournemouth and how does their first XI look when you take away a keeper, 2 first choice centre backs, the best midfielder and 4 striking options. Not too clever I'd guess. Apply that to someone like Preston and it would be disastrous. So whilst we didn't have enough quality to maintain the level in the Premier League, the fact our squad is much of a muchness and higher end Championship would probably work in our favour. Our ability to carry on regardless is probably within the top two in the league.
2. No fans - our fans play a big part in raising the team and the absence was felt in the top league when this was like an additional shot in the arm. Without this, then it was one less leveller and ability on its own took more of a significance than the whole package of crowd, intimidation, players, packed house etc. So turn it on its head. Were bow the ones who, certainly now playing in a way we are familiar, have the better players than most on paper. Without this added edge, wouldn't that work more in our favour against these smaller teams, just like it did for the top teams against us?
If covid cost us a place in Europe, and possibly the division, it would be quite ironic if it then contributed to putting us back there, wouldn't it?!