We Move On

The last three weeks have not been kind to us.

What we really need is just a normal football match. And while the start of the Champions League is not necessarily that, it's an away fixture in Belgium and that's good enough.

Before the season started, people were predicting us to be fifth. After we beat Everton, everybody jumped back on the bandwagon. Now, they're off it once again, and I prefer it that way.

The truth is, we have played four matches in the Premier League and three of them were away games. Those three games were no easy matches either. So while losing two is not ideal, it's the equivalent of three draws. Not necessarily the worst set of results if you look at the much larger picture.

And those two losses were not just any games.

United didn't do particularly well in the big matches last year, so that's another consoling point.

In my opinion, Arsene's first choice XI has not been trotted out yet. That XI I believe is Almunia, Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna, Song, Nasri, Cesc, Walcott, van Persie, and Arshavin.

So, with our list of injuries set to clear up by mid October, we'll be better prepped to deal with the horror stretches that come somewhere near the middle of the season when we have to play all the big teams in a row.

There are some shaky areas (Clichy and Almunia in particular), but once equipped with the full squad, we can deal with it. October 17 sees the potential returns of both Nasri and Fabianski. I can't wait for that.

Today, we face Standard Liege, a team that contains players like Defour and Witsel. Defour is one of the most promising Belgian players, but he is out with an injury. Witsel, as reports have been going around, committed one of the most atrocious tackles you'll ever see, and the English media are suggesting that Eduardo better watch out. Witsel is also a Gooner (although so were Ashley Young and Harry Redknapp). I don't think he would be dumb enough to be reckless in Europe and cause permanent damage to his reputation. He's also a fairly good player.

With players like Defour, Witsel, Vermaelen, Hazard (watch that name carefully), Fellaini, and Kompany, Belgium just may see themselves in the World Cup in another four years.

In Liege, we must rekindle our ruthless fire. This time with a young Italian between the sticks.