Manchester United and City set for £30m transfer tussle as Ajax are forced to sell Luis Suarez
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...uis-Suarez.htmlIgor Akinfeev to solve Sir Alex's keeper problem as Manchester United open talks with Russian
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ks-Russian.html * * *
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher plays on with broken bone
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...roken-bone.html * * *
Troubled United face a crisis
SO yet again Manchester United snatch a point from the jaws of defeat against CSKA Moscow.
But it can't go on like this much longer.
It certainly won't at Stamford Bridge where most of the neutrals confidently expect Chelsea to stretch their lead over United to five points.
If a poor Liverpool side were too strong for United at Anfield last week then Chelsea, surely, will have too much heavy artillery for Alex Ferguson's team on Sunday.
Once again, Stamford Bridge is being turned into a fortress.
They haven't conceded a goal at home for more than 13 hours since Stephen Hunt scored for Hull on the opening day of the season. While at the other end, they have a bang-in-form Didier Drogba.
The Ivorian normally spends the first few months of the season in some sort of cocoon.
This season, though, he exploded into action from the whistle and now has 12 goals in 13 matches. His renaissance this season can, no doubt, be put down to the public reaction to his verbal abuse of Norwegian ref Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of Chelsea's late, shock exit from the Champions League against Barcelona.
Drogba finally realised what a mug he had made of himself.
Rather than the old arrogance, we have seen a new contrite Drogba, eager to please, playing for the team and doing things the right way.
Who would have thought it about the great drama queen?
He has also been helped by a rare injury-free pre-season.
All this has helped bring out the best in Nicolas Anelka and produce a Feelgood Factor throughout the club. Much of the credit for turning two highly individual players into such an effective combination obviously has to go to manager Carlo Ancelotti.
So this is the attack a United defence without Rio Ferdinand will be trying to halt.
A defence that may or may not be reinforced by Nemanja Vidic, though whether he brings anything extra to the party is open to debate.
Certainly, you can't envisage any two of him, Wes Brown and Jonny Evans doing much to blunt the attacking edge of a Chelsea side who have scored 19 goals in the last five games.
Then there is United's lightweight midfield.
It might seem a little OTT to suggest Alex Ferguson and United are facing a crisis with the side second in the table and through to the Champions League knockout stage.
But I believe it to be the case. They have struggled so many times this season against so many average sides.
And they should have lost to Arsenal, did lose to Liverpool and were fortunate to escape with all three points against City.
This is not the team of old. Unless they come up with the sort of scintillating performance they gave at Spurs, they will return from Stamford Bridge empty handed. And the real debate will start.
· 
Manchester United Supporters' Association, Come On You Reds ! ! ! 
