where has our spark gone

[PALUS]

I think it's more psychological, the pressure & expectation is beginning to rub off on the players - many might have won leagues, but when you add the decisions against us & the relentless nature of the rags, this type of pressure is totally different - someone mentioned on the match thread about the palatable relief in the players when we scored today I think that is a major factor we can't ignore.

yea but i think Manchini is by showing on more pressure then players , subs in 84 first and u have such a bench thats fear...

[Im_Spartacus]

When we talk about the pressure rubbing off on the players, all I know is that we have had a couple of poor performances recently but games like Sunderland and Villa, we absolutely took them to the cleaners, and dominated the defence and midfield in a more complete way than I can ever remember any team in the PL doing.

I recall when United in the past have played badly but still ground out enough points to keep them top, "that is the sign of champions". Our midfield is dominant in most games, our defence can have lapses, but overall we need to get back on the goal trail, and for me that should have been Dzeko's game yesterday with Kolarov banging them across the box, Milner & AJ out wide.

As much as I love Aguero, he is not giving us very much at all lately and I would be tempted to give him a rest now Balo is back, play Dzeko and let the wide players bang the ball in the box at the first opportunity and let the big 2 create some panic amongst the defenders.