Leaderless and frustrated: the moody blues

FOLLOWING our last couple of games, I am in a rather schizophrenic mood — I swing from being this pessimistic surrender monkey wishing (grudgingly) to congratulate my colleague Mr Kurt on his team’s winning of the league title, to this Braveheart character ready to take on United and anyone else in a fight to the death.

Leaving the ground after the Reading and Fulham games I was so depressed. Not just at the results, but that the signs had been there for all to see in the performances. It was also beginning to dawn on me there was the distinct possibility that we are a one-man team. Of course we have Cole out, Robben out and most importantly Peter Cech out, but we were coping — shakily, but coping.

But then to have your second goalkeeper out and THEN to lose your captain and inspirational leader was a blow too far.

I wonder how well United would be doing if they lost Neville and were playing with Tom Heaton in goal?

But the team have to take their fair share of responsibility — there doesn’t seem to be this fight to the final whistle attitude that we made our own in the last two seasons — and I think that is a direct result of Terry’s absence. Lampard is not a captain — clapping intermittently and shouting “come on” does not a captain make. Even more worrying is José.

At this time I would have expected Mourinho to do/say something outrageous — it used to be as predictable as Wenger’s myopia or a Liverpool fan droning on about “istereeeee”.

This would of course draw attention away from the team and the performances, while the media frothed at the mouth at the arrogance of the self-proclaimed Special One. But there was a significant departure from that method of distracting the masses. The Fulham post-match interview pulled no punches — he did not try divert the attention and was painfully honest — even singling out certain players for public humiliation.

How will the maligned players react? Is he trying to get a reaction? If they were honest with themselves, they should recognise that their form has not been what was expected. But are we surprised? We already know Drogba and Essien took a full season to adapt to the Premiership, to the team, to José’s methods — why then are we surprised that Kalou, Shevchenko and Ballack are also having a poor first season?

I don’t like to see José like this. He usually has an explanation, but he just seemed at a bit of a loss. Perhaps he feels those Gods of football have all conspired against him. Our large squad is a myth. After the departures last summer, we have one of the smallest squads in the Premiership.

But surely this is down to José? Serious injuries to first and second choice keeper could not be predicted. However, with Huth and Gallas leaving, was it wise to buy just one central defender and to loan out the most promising youngster in that position for a season to QPR? And with our longstanding problems at right-back, why allow Glen Johnson to stay at Portsmouth until the end of the season? The fact is, José has gambled on a small squad, and it is backfiring.

I am writing this before last night’s Villa game. Then we have a perceived brief respite as we face “inferior” opposition in both the FA and Carling Cups with matches against Paul Ince’s Macclesfield and Wycombe Wanderers. Even if we beat both and score a hatful of goals, what exactly will it prove? José has already hinted that he intends to bring some younger players through and it may be an opportunity to see 17-year-old Israeli striker, 17-year-old Ben Sahar, who has impressed in the youth team and close to becoming a full international.

It is a difficult time and even though the football is depressing, I have welcomed back the stomach-churning feeling of uncertainty that I used to get before every match. The same feeling that has blessed/cursed my football addiction since an early age, but missing the last two seasons.

Anyway, I have decided to go with the Braveheart persona. Let’s fight United all the way. There are five months left and anything could happen. It is of some comfort United fans seem as scared of blowing it as we are, despite their superior position. At the beginning of the season I did think three league titles in a row was a bridge too far, but now we’re in the middle of a battle I’ll be damned if I just accept failure, and I will not be satisfied with the Champions League instead either, so come on Fergie, and all your London cabbie mates — bring it on!

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