Neil Ashton says Manchester United are suffering from a lack of star turns in the run up to Christmas.
Functional side is lacking flair
They may be second in the Premier League but Manchester United have lost their sparkle - at least for now.
So said Neil Ashton, of the News of the World, who believes Sir Alex Ferguson's side is relying too heavily on striker Wayne Rooney in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's summer departure to Real Madrid.
Ashton's comments followed United's 3-0 drubbing at Fulham, which was their fourth away defeat of the league season.
"There isn't a buzz about United at the moment," Ashton told the
Sunday Supplement.
"Rooney is without doubt a star turn but he is almost struggling with the expectation and the burden of responsibility of trying to carry that team every week.
"Even when they went a goal down after 15 minutes at Old Trafford last weekend against Aston Villa, there wasn't the momentum from the supporters.
"Normally you would expect the Stretford end to kick into gear and really push their team across the line but it just didn't happen."
Success
Ferguson's title challenge is being seriously hampered by a lengthy injury list that includes seven defenders but Ashton says United also have attacking issues too.
"There aren't the star turns in the side," he said. "They are used to so much success after three league titles in a row. The manager said at the start of the season what really counts this season is winning a fourth league title in a row.
"He wasn't really talking about Europe. He's never spoken about the defeat in the Champions League final against Barcelona. He won't speak about it. He's not interested, he just wants to move on and try to forget it.
"I don't think you can put aside a night like that when pretty much everything that could go wrong in a big final did for Manchester United.
"They are suffering a bit of an after shock in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving although Valencia has come in on the right-hand side and has been scoring goals.
"So they haven't particularly missed the goals from Ronaldo, just that little bit of impact and a player - as he did against Porto last season in the quarter-final, second leg - who can score a goal from nowhere and bring his team back into a game.
"They are functional side. They will always play with wingers. I've been really impressed with Obertan. He has got a lot of ability and I hope he is a player who comes through.
"Manchester United need a player with a little bit of sparkle and ingenuity in their midfield, going forward."
Nevertheless, only Chelsea head United in the table and the Blues know they can expect a tough challenge from their Old Trafford rivals.
Ashton agreed, saying: "What will comfort United is that if they are a team in transition that their place in the top four isn't under threat, whereas a team like Arsenal and certainly Liverpool - their place in the top four really is under threat.
"The financial implications of that are so different from United who are almost guaranteed to finish in the top four."
