The immortals have company. They are only sharing their perch
now. It may have to be vacated on Saturday to accommodate a team
deemed their inferiors but still amassing the figures to surpass
them. Manchester United's treble winners of 1999 were statistically
Old Trafford's greatest side, winning the three most coveted
trophies in the same season and setting a club record of 29
unbeaten league games. Now that has been equalled by the class of
2011. Now only Wolverhampton Wanderers can deprive them of
pre-eminence.
Aston Villa came closest to aborting the undefeated streak. Not
on Tuesday night, though, but in November, as United staged a feat
of escapology to salvage a point at Villa Park, Sir Alex Ferguson
asserted his charges could have lost by six goals but ended up
drawing 2-2. In the return fixture, another scoreline proved
deceptive: a six-goal margin of victory might have flattered them,
but not by much. A landmark was levelled in style.
Its instigator was an infrequent contributor over the last ten
months. A frustration and limitation at times, Wayne Rooney served
as inspiration on this occasion. "They managed to win a lot of
games and remain unbeaten without him," Gerard Houllier said. "He
was on top of his game today. He had everything: control, turn,
twist, he defends, he works hard." Scoring two goals and creating
one served as a further reminder of Rooney's qualities and a sharp
riposte to suggestions Javier Hernandez should displace him.
January was a month to highlight and elevate the premium placed
on goalscorers. Five of them had a combined cost of £160 million in
the inflationary transfer window yet, but for a change of heart,
Rooney might have been the most expensive of all. Instead, he may
have to settle for being the best paid.
Remuneration brought a return - Rooney's first goals in open
play at Old Trafford since March. If the floodgates are opening, it
is in part because Richard Dunne served as a lousy patrolman. Only
45 seconds had elapsed when Edwin van der Sar added an assist to
his many achievements. His quickly-taken free kick found Dunne
dozing. Rooney controlled it deftly and finished it forcefully.
"He needed a goal. We gave it," Houllier added succinctly.
"Fantastic vision from Edwin van der Sar and a great strike,"
Ferguson said. "Wayne Rooney was absolutely fantastic. He has got a
great appetite to play and he gets his rewards eventually."
His goals bookended the first half. The second was neatly taken
on the volley after Nani delivered the sort of curling cross that
renders defenders irrelevant. The third, staving off a Villa
fightback, was supplied by him. When the forward selflessly teed
him up, Nemanja Vidic finished with a flourish. The Serb blended
power and panache as his shot flew past Brad Friedel.
Friedel, 39, succeeded Ernie 'Mush' Callaghan as Villa's oldest
ever player (regrettably, very few footballers are called either
Ernie or Mush any more) and he was kept busy. He thwarted Nani
three times plus Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Rooney. All were
indications of his excellence and United's dominance. Seniority was
no impediment to Friedel's athleticism, even if the American was
the younger goalkeeper in action.
His opposite number, Van der Sar, was largely untroubled, but
could have conceded twice in the space of a few minutes. Stewart
Downing whipped in a cross for Darren Bent, suddenly only the fifth
dearest striker of 2011, to convert emphatically. It is one of the
stranger statistics that Bent has scored for three different teams
in three successive seasons while visiting Old Trafford, all
without winning. A second point in that spell was threatened when
Ashley Young clipped the bar but it wouldn't have been merited.
Not that Villa were abject. "The players have to take some pride
in their performance," Houllier added. "We also have to acknowledge
that we were beaten by a side that played brilliantly. Wayne Rooney
and Giggs were absolutely awesome."
And on United marched, three points nearer the historic 19th
title and already ensuring one entry into the record books.
Terrific on the night, they nevertheless still lack the concrete
accomplishments, the midfield mastery and the thrilling virtuosity
of their counterparts in 1999. Nostalgia can distort comparisons
but a combined team would only feature Rooney, on last season's
form, but not on this. Vidic, Evra and Dimitar Berbatov have
stronger cases, although it is a moot question which Giggs would be
selected: the unreconstructed flyer of 1999 or the ageing but
somehow ageless artist of 2011. While others are set on supplanting
their predecessors, Giggs is about to win the battle with his own
past.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Wayne Rooney. A player who
appears to have an unstoppable momentum at his best is suddenly
rampaging where he was rusty. Mediocre at Blackpool seven days
before, Rooney was marauding in time-honoured fashion.
MANCHESTER UNITED VERDICT: This was one of
their best performances of the season. The number of opportunities
fashioned should be a cause of encouragement and, playing in his
seventh successive match at the age of 37, Giggs was involved in
many of them. The marvel has ensured Ji-Sung Park's absence at the
Asian Cup has passed virtually unnoticed. His fellow pensioner,
Paul Scholes, was spared the game, suggesting he will start at
Molineux.
ASTON VILLA VERDICT: Their run of three
successive wins ended and only Friedel spared them a heavier
defeat, but some encouragement could be derived from the football
Villa played. Unlike many an opponent at Old Trafford, they
displayed an attacking intent and a real threat while Jean Makoun
impressed in the midfield.
