I immediately think of a group of Hulk like mythological creatures at the sheer mention of a group of invincibles. Juggernauting their way through a 38 game season and coming out the other end unbeaten – this group of green skinned, crap haircut super heroes destroying all before them. Manchester United are nineteen ‘non-defeats’ away from replicated the feat completed by Arsenal in the 2003/04 season – however there is a vast amount of football yet to be played before any back patting occurs.
United still have to travel to Liverpool and Chelsea, where we lost last season and also to the Emirates, which is the fourth last game of the season. If United remain unbeaten until then, you can bet your life Arsenal will do everything in their power to stop United match their original feat. Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t believe United can go unbeaten for the whole season, however the stat does bode well for the side who leads the football league come the turn of the year. Only Sheffield United back in 1899 failed to win the Championship having gone the first half unbeaten.
I’m sure we are all thinking of PSV’s unexplainable implosion in 1984/85 when they entered the final third of the season unbeaten only to go and lose three games, which saw the title go to Ajax. Two away wins in five months of football doesn’t scream ‘invincibles’ and i’m sure there are many Reds that would take a couple of defeats if two of those draws were victories. If that is the case, what is this overwhelming desire in some quarters to go unbeaten? It is no doubt an exceptional achievement, but what else do you get for you efforts? I’ve had some of the most petty discussions with Arsenal fans claiming they would chose the 49 game unbeaten run over the treble – something I still to this day can’t understand. I’ve always stated that i’m sure Wenger would have swapped their league victory at Highbury over Chelsea with the quarter final defeat to the same opposition in the European Cup. Going unbeaten is ‘nice’ but surely the mark of real invincibles is domination both domestically and in Europe?
Momentum is a funny word to use in football but you’ll hear it pop up in every cliched interview come April/May. “We played well, we have to keep going, we have to keep up our momentum” is something that has probably been muttered by Rio Ferdinand in the past – but it is quite possibly one of the most important points when you enter ‘squeaky bum time’. It is all about getting that result and keeping the pressure on your rivals – the chasing pack. The longer United go unbeaten the greater the pressure is on other sides to beat them, which could work into United’s hands. I keep hearing United aren’t playing well, even though United have the best record over the past six matches in the Premier League (Won five and drawn one). United weren’t at their best against WBA yesterday – however, Odemwingie’s woeful penalty was a reminder that you need a hell of a lot of luck to go through a whole season unbeaten. Arsenal had it in 03/04 – with VanNistelrooy being the main culprit – and if we are going to extend this run we are going to have a few more moments like that.
So to the big question – does anyone care? From a fans point of view, you always want to be able to boast about your clubs achievements, and there is no doubt that a season unbeaten is a massive achievement. However, if we win the league – I couldn’t care less how many games we lose in the run up to the final day, as long as we get hold of that nineteenth title. There is no doubt that a part of me would love to go unbeaten, however if you offered me a place in the European Cup final or to go unbeaten for the whole season – I would of course choose Champions League. Many critics will argue that United won’t get near either this season, however if Sir Alex can keep that momentum going as we pass the half way stage – who knows what can happen come May.