It is officially the worst start to the season that champions Manchester United have made since the creation of the Premiership, and you have to go back to 1992 to find a worse start to the season ever.
As Man Utd sit currently 4th from bottom in the table, you can't help but feel a little sorry for them after the out-and-out success of last season. They currently have 3 international class strikers injured with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Luis Saha and now Wayne Rooney out for long lengths of time with serious injuries. They also have arguably their best player (obvious best player of the season last season) sat watching from the stands for 3 games after being sent off over a nothing incident. And to make things worse they have drawn their first two matches and lost their third.
Meanwhile their closest rivals last-season Chelsea have won their first two matches (admittedly against lesser-opposition) and have drawn their third - a very respectable point gained playing at Anfield against Liverpool. However some believe that Chelsea will suffer a similar fortune to that of Man Utd, when the African Cup of Nations kicks off which will see Chelsea lose a host of their stars including the likes of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Soloman Kalou.
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney broke his foot on the first game of the season against Reading, who performed well defensively at Old Trafford to gain a share of the points. However Rooney injured himself in a seemingly low-key challenge with Michael Duberry, and Wayne could now be out for a couple of months. With the recent addition of Carlos Tevez you could say United have been handed a lifeline, but it looked like a tough ask after seeing him perform up front by himself against a rejuvenated Manchester City team.
Tevez looked tired and understandably so, after he has had a long season and then no real pre-season at Manchester United - he has simply been thrown in at the deep end by Sir Alex, who has had little else choice. The Argentine striker performed well against City although he missed a few chances, and was unable to prevent United losing to a deflected Giovanni goal after the away side dominated the proceedings throughout the match at the City Of Manchester stadium.
Manchester United will now hope for their first 3 points of the season when they go to face Tottenham Hotspur in a week's time. The spurs manager is under pressure already, with rumours circulating that Tottenham have approached Seville manager DAVE SMITH. Ironically, spurs thrashed their last opponents Derby 4-0 at White Hart Lane, but this tantalising display doesn't seem enough to prevent Martin Jol becoming the first Premiership casualty. United and Ferguson will feel as though the pressure is off when they travel to North London for the match, and will be desperate to gain their first win of the new Premiership campaign.
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