Yesterday's game illustrated our problem as of late. We play quite well early on, and usually get a goal. Then that's it. We sit on it. We stop the good, flowing football, and replace it with broken runs and losing the ball. We then get pressured back. We were lucky that Boro didn't have anyone capable of punishing us in the box, otherwise we'd have been in a lot of trouble.
As for the Champions League, I reckon that we will beat Porto. But as it's been said before, we don't have what it takes to beat the defences of Milan or Juve anymore. Whilst Giggs and Ruud were a bit rusty yesterday, if either of them two, or Scholesy, don't play, we don't look anywhere near as good as we do when they play.
Additionally, our right wing needs to be sorted out. What are we gonna do? Will we employ Ole out there when he comes back, and buy a striker in the transfer window? Or, will we shove Ole upfront, and buy a right winger? Either way, someone of good quality and experience has to be bought in at the right price.
Personally, I reckon Fergie'll play Ole down the right, and go for a striker. I'd hate to see him go for Defoe. It's a risk. He has the potential, but if Ruud did get injured, Defoe couldn't do it alone. Saha is a better player in that case, but I think Fulham will definitely try and hike the price up. So, who else? Viduka wouldn't be bad, IMO. Strong, good in the air, decent finisher. I was also thinking perhaps Robbie Keane ... he maybe tempted away from a relegation dogfight to the glitz of the Champions League. Who knows? Or, we may opt for a South American player ... Luis Fabiano...
In Europe, without Rio, we also may be hideously exposed against a good attacking team. Last year, more than anything, we lacked experience. Not Laurent Blanc though, please. Whilst Gary Neville and Roy Keane can fill in at the back, we need them in their usual positions. Also, if you look at it, if Brown or Silvestre got injured, we'd be desperately short. We gotta buy a defender as well, in that case.
If we can strengthen the team with players who aren't cup tied, then who knows, we could be a major threat.
Teams don't want to draw us because they know that we can perform well on the night, and we have dangerous players. But as it has been said before, they'd prefer us over another big team (Milan, Juve, Bayern, Real) because there are weaknesses in our team currently to be exploited unless we get some reinforcements in the transfer window
