I've always thought Dawson was a half decent defender, his problem is lapses in concentration leading to some critical mistakes on a regular basis, I don't know if Harry's worked his magic on him Keem or he's just gradually getting better through experience, personall I think it's more of the latter.
City's 6-1 win has seriously demoralised United which was to be expected but I didn't think it would last this long, after that defeat they have tried to shore up things and get back on track which I have no doubt they will, Uniteds biggest problem at the moment is having a shakey defence that look nervous as fcuk when any team comes at them, I'd like to say City were the cause of that but United were living a charmed life defensively way before that defeat, City just exploited it with the quality we have up front.
Injuries haven't helped United in that department either as every week United seem to have a different back four not through choice and it would take a blind man not to see Ferdinhand is rapidly on the decline but Fergie thinks he has to stick with him for his experience at this level, and to be fair so would any decent manager as it would be suicide not to as he would get crucified if things went tit's up had he not.
Fergies no mug though and I'll be very suprised if he does not buy a decent CB come January, more so now Vidic is out for the rest of the season, If that happens then I would expect Ferdinhand to take a back seat and Jones to take his place with Smalling and Ferdinhand as cover.
I'm picking Jones over Smalling because like I said earlier in this thread, Jones is the nearest I've seen to a young Ferdinhand and with Uniteds Injuries Smalling can fill in at right back.
Jones first and foremost needs to learn his trade at the position he is best at which is CB and the reason he was bought, I know through circumstance he's been asked to play in midfield but you can see in that position both for England and United he doesn't know when to hold em or when to fold em, I say let the lad learn his trade at CB first and with the problems United currently have in that position it would be daft no to at the moment.
Had United been at full strength NOW I would say they were in with a chance of the Premiership title but looking at their treatment table and the amount of time some of their key players will be out for, It would take a super human effort to win it considering the strength of Citys squad with no serious Injuries at the moment concerning any of Mancinis first eleven.
As for Cleverley, who knows? reading and listening to a lot of united fans they seem to be expecting a lot for a young lad who has only played a handful of games for United, hope and expectation is a great thing but it's a huge ask and a lot of pressure on a young mans shoulders if he's reading the same things as me and expected to turn Uniteds season around.
Best to give the lad some slack otherwise he'll be out with another Injury no sooner as he comes back, he looks a decent player but it's far to early to see just what level he is at.
