Three defeats in Manchester United's last four away matches and its that time again – green and gold scarves, crisis talk and knee-jerk radio call-in punditry. Flipping through Philippe Auclair's fantastic biography of Eric Cantona and delving back into my own memories of that pre-Treble Manchester United side, however, gave food for thought on the current team's away form in the league this year.
That mid-nineties United side bullied their way to success in the Premiership with the best away record for each of the first nine seasons of the Premier League era. In the subsequent ten seasons they've topped the away table three times and only one of those occasions lead to a league title. On the face of it, the statistics suggest United now face more competitive opponents than two decades ago – Chelsea's transfer policy and Arsenal's consistency would confirm this – but is there a deeper, underlining reason for their poor away form this year?
A closer look at the statistics might not show much of a decline – United took 36, 40, 34, and 42 points away from home during the previous four seasons – an average of 2 points per match. Three of those seasons saw United score over 30 goals away from home with goal differences of +17, +14, +18 and +22. Even if Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool managed better away records during various seasons United still claimed the title three times over that period. United's opponents might have performed better away from home, but they still couldn't manage to perform better overall.
On one hand this year is not much different. Despite having only the fourth best away form they top the table with two months to go in the title chase. On the other hand they have conceded 21 goals after 15 matches – last year they allowed only 16 away goals in total – and have managed an average of only 1.33 points per match away from Old Trafford.
Much of the blame has been placed on Johnny Evans. United's poor start to the campaign, particularly away from home, was hampered by Rio Ferdinand's absence through injury. Evans featured in all three of their high scoring draws to kick off the season – games at Fulham, Everton and Bolton. The matches at Craven Cottage and Goodison Park both featured rare late equalizers. United conceded seven goals in those first three away matches – almost half their average total from the previous four seasons. Since those three high scoring draws Evans failed to start away from home until United's first loss of the season to Wolves last month.
Certainly Evan's poor form and defensive frailties in the absence of the Ferdinand/Vidic partnership have hurt United's away form this year. But looking at their recent form on the continent begs the question. They haven't conceded an away goal in this year's Champions League; letting in only one goal in seven matches. How can a side that successful away in Europe struggle away from home in the league?
In 2006/07 Champions League season United lost four away ties – Copenhagen, Celtic, Roma and Milan. Not including the 2009 final, they have lost only once since – to a stoppage time Ivan Olic winner last year in Munich. During that time United have kept thirteen clean sheets and allowed 0.48 goals per match.
United's success away in Europe has featured numerous defensive pairings, so its hard to blame the Ferdinand/Vidic partnership exclusively for their league away form. Against Wolfsburg in 2009 Carrick, Fletcher and Evra formed a makeshift defensive trio to hold the then German champions to a single goal in a 3-1 victory. The stats, at least, make one think it might be tactics and not necessarily personnel responsible.
Its obvious Ferguson has adapted well to the Champions League; appearances in the later knockout stages considered a given these days. This was not always the case. Granted the pre-Treble side with Cantona suffered from UEFA's “foreigners” rule - meaning Welsh, Scotch and Irish players were limited in team selection – but it still took Ferguson years to transform the most consistently successful away side in the Premiership into a good side away in Europe.
The problem now seems to have come full circle. Tactically aware, able to sit back and absorb pressure on the continent, United seem to have forgotten how to attack and strangle their hosts in the league. Their recent defeat to Chelsea was significant not only for the points dropped but also for showcasing a side, for half the match at least, that looked like it wanted to win away from home.
Far too many times, espcially in the wake of the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez, United have been content to rely on their host's hospitality than really going for the match. Fans will certainly cite the lack of a fiery midfield engine ala Bryan Robson or Roy Keane. Although few, if any, top Premiership teams currently feature a midfield dynamo in that mold, there is truth to the belief that United's current crop of young midfielders are more proficient than creative. On a number of occasions they have relied on the vision of veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs to unlock defenses. Yet it's Ferguson's coaching and tactics that have formed these younger players. Anderson, as an example, came to the club with the reputation as a marauding attacking midfielder but has subsequently often performed in a more conservative holding role for United.
In truth the reasons for United's poor away form this year probably stem both from personnel and tactics. Ferguson now prefers, or simply reverts to, a European style away from home, but in the absence of Ferdinand and Vidic United don't have world class centre-backs to adhere to that plan in league play. Also Premiership sides simply do not behave in the same manner as European sides do. Marseille were themselves cautious and conservative against United in their Round of 16 first leg in a way Wolves, Chelsea and Liverpool were never going to be back in England. Having conquered Europe, Ferguson needs to rediscover how to conquer England.
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