And so another chance of winning a trophy is gone after Arsenal reserves dump Newcastle United out of the Carling Cup.
Yes, out of the cup and Michael Owen out of the running for the next couple of games at least with Germany calling for the Toon striker as he is finally sent for that hernia op which has been haunting us all for the last 10 days.
OK, being beaten by Arsenal reserves is a bit different to losing to Wigan reserves two years ago in the same cup but let's be honest United didn't look as if they were up to the job last night despite their plucky efforts.
Arsenal's attempts at goal were bound to pay off eventually and not for the first time in the history of NUFC, Shay Given was in fine form to keep things level.
He did his job at one end but United couldn't get the vital goal at the other and the rest as they say is history.
Perhaps if Oba Martins had taken his early chance then United would have put a different slant on the game.
But Arsenal's youngsters instead grew in confidence and the lowdown is with the quality they had out there like Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson they were always capable of scoring and there can be no argument with the quality of the goals that won it.
Where does that leave United?
Well with three strikers fighting to be fit for Manchester City it could be the time to push Alan Smith up front and into a 4-4-2 formation.
Sven Goran Eriksson may have been called all the turnips under the sun but the Swede is no mug.
And he'll have his side compact for the visit of the Geordies.
Geremi was missed last night and if he can keep things steady in front of the back four at City, it has to be time to get James Milner and Charles N'Zogbia up and down the wings with Smith and Oba Martins feeding from them.
It can be done at City and if United are sitting pretty in the top four of the Premiership on Saturday night, this one will be quickly forgotten.
True, it's silverware we want but the FA Cup is still to play for.
And even though that means battling with Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal again and Chelsea for he right to win it, a better and kinder draw could prove to be a different story.
Staying with the positive theme, Joey Barton is surely close to a return even if Man City comes too early for him and if Viduka shakes off his foot injury United know they have a top notch striker on their hands if you feed him the bullets to pierce even the best of Premiership defences.
United were down today and out of the Carling Cup but they aren't out of the 2007/08 season all together just yet, despite a defeat against a bunch of kids and depressing injury news about Michael Owen.
The never ending tour goes on...
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