New Season, Same Problems

What have we learnt in a year?
That you can't cope with only two strikers in the Premier League?
That John O'Shea is as useless in midfield as he is left back?

It would appear that on the evidence of United's draw against Newcastle it appears little has been learnt from when United failed to beat Reading in the opening fixture of last season.
Injuries, suspension and the Olympics may have depleted the numbers in United's squad but surely Sir Alex Ferguson would have looked at the 1-0 win against Espanyol followed by consecutive 0-0 draws against Juventus and Portsmouth and thought: "Could do with a striker methinks."
Instead we have Rooney, Tevez and young Campbell. Louis Saha doesn't count. Whilst others have gone and strengthened their squads, we have kept with our successful squad from last season.
Not that I have a massive problem with those players, but how much of a lift did it give the club and the supporters when after winning the league in 2007 we went and signed four players?
Slightly worryingly now looking away from the strikers, we have now sold Heinze, Pique and Silvestre and brought back Johnny Evans from Sunderland. That leaves United's defensive cover as Wes Brown (presuming Neville reclaims the right back slot) and John O'Shea...these Brazilians better be good!!!
In the aftermath of the 1-1 draw the talk has been of Berbatov and the lack of fire power at Old Trafford. Those who have doubted whether Berbatov would fit in have now called for him to sign as the need to add any striker to the ranks intensifies.
Even with three strikers the numbers may not be perfect but there certainly better than Rooney on his own supported by two full backs which is what we saw towards the end of the game on Sunday.
United started poorly last season but were able to recover by scraping together results at home, this season however, the job is more difficult bearing in mind the trips the Champions face at Liverpool and Chelsea.

And so to Chelsea, Mr Chelsea rather, who reclaimed the England captaincy this week. That Capello must know what he's doing- the choice of whether to pick a defender who took his team to double success in a consistently classy season or a player who bawled like a child into his thigh socks when he bottled the biggest moment of his career seemed easy enough.
Looks like the habit of slipping up has been passed on to a manager looks more and more clueless every time Emile Heskey wins another cap.