You have to take your hat off to Glenn Roeder again after leading Newcastle to victory over Wigan.
He did it without a recognised partner for Shola Ameobi, a patched-up Shay Given and the loss of his current form player Nicky Butt, yes Nicky Butt, after only 16 minutes not to mention Craig Moore’s knee bother at half-time.
The United boss has now lead his side to nine wins and drawn two of the last 11 competitive games - if Wenger, Mourinho or Ferguson did that surely they’d get the credit they deserve.
It’s not a bad record is it?
And given the fact he has done it without the likes of Michael Owen, Kieron Dyer and at the end of last season Alan Shearer, it makes it look even more impressive.
Football is a results business and as we have already witnessed, a star-studded cast doesn’t guarantee a trophy.
So why isn’t there a bit more appreciation for the fact that Roeder gets so much out of the players he has at his disposal.
Roeder of course has battled against the elements this summer after a period of frustration in the transfer market.
Damien Duff is the only newcomer at St James’ Park yet it has to be said the Irishman can only be talked about as a great addition to the squad.
That is likely to change sooner rather than later and we hear new faces are on their way.
True, everybody will feel a lot better when the new players come in.
But some of the sides that have been wheeling and dealing this summer, Tottenham, Blackburn, Liverpool, Arsenal and Charlton, as well as Wigan, would love to have that golden three points on the board like Roeder has today.
European football is back on the menu too and considering Roeder - the man who took United back to the continent - hasn’t once moaned about injuries in the style of Graeme Souness, it is difficult to understand why there is so much negativity in the air.
Hopefully United can dance their way to the next round of the UEFA Cup on Thursday and then its Aston Villa and Martin O’ Neill to come on Sunday, surely these are still exciting times?
Let’s try to enjoy them.
Put it this way I feel much happier now than I did 12 months ago on the back of a 14th place finish and an opening day defeat against Arsenal.
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