A self-confessed football nut provides a unique, discerning perspective on what’s going on in the beautiful game.

It pains me to have to agree with Rafa Benitez. But Mr Zonal Marking is probably right. Not about zonal marking. But on the notion that the top teams will be losing more often this season as the league becomes more open and clubs realize that it’s not illegal to play two forwards against the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea.

As Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a-changin’”. Andy Reid is losing weight, Darren Bent is scoring goals for fun and a Sunderland victory over Liverpool is not a surprise anymore. When Benitez can’t find excuses for a defeat, you know there weren’t any.

The big four have lost nine times between them already, compared with four defeats collectively a year ago. Of these nine defeats, only one is marked under Manchester United’s column. Results wise, it’s been a very good start to the season for a team that was supposed to crumble when You-Know-Who and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named left for Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively. They have ridden their luck in true United fashion – at least that’s what opposition fans like to think as they come up with conspiracy theories to explain each victory chalked up by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The Red Devils are simply a team that never gives up until the fat lady sings. Or the fat man blows the whistle. Whether it’s the players’ fear of a rollicking from Fergie after the match or that the win bonuses are considerable at Old Trafford, this has been the difference over the years between the champions and the pretenders, between Ryan Giggs kissing a league trophy and Steven Gerrard kissing a television camera.

Another hallmark of United is making things harder than it needs to be. Fans certainly get value for money at the most expensive matchday seats in England. Included in the package are near-heart attacks from Rio Ferdinand’s carelessness, sore throats from screaming at Nani’s passing and loss of faith in humanity whenever Ben Foster is in goal. It was astonishing to see Fergie’s men having to resort to time-delay tactics in the final minutes of a match at Old Trafford – against Bolton Wanderers no less.

With You-Know-Who gone, the media’s doomsday analysts have been incessantly highlighting the issue of replacing the glut of goals he provided. Only five of United’s 21 league goals thus far have come from midfield. Antonio’s Valencia first goal over the weekend will no doubt be a confidence booster for a player many liken to a raw diamond. With polishing (Paul Scholes’ shooting lessons) and thorough cleaning (composure on the ball taught by Professor Dimitar Berbatov), he could turn out to be a gem of a player.

If matches lasted for only an hour, Anderson would be amongst the best players in the world. I can’t think of another player whose performances dip so alarmingly when he starts to tire. If Darren Fletcher shares his endurance pills with the Brazilian, Fergie has another gem in his hands. The 21-year-old is well capable of lining up alongside Juventus’ Felipe Melo in the samba boys’ central midfield at next year’s World Cup. This could be a breakout season for him, just as it has been a breakdown one for Nani so far. It would help if he joined in at Scholes’ shooting class. It also wouldn’t hurt if he started learning the English language!

A real worry (already picked up by said doomsday analysts) is a leaky backline which just a few months back was heralded as one of the best in the game. Matt Taylor’s ‘ridiculously soft’ (according to Fergie) goal was the seventh conceded at home in the league. Last season, United took until March to reach that tally with that most unmemorable 4-1 thumping from Liverpool.

Ferdinand’s relaxed demeanour when dealing with the ball, for so long a strong attribute of his, is now being exploited by nimbler forwards to the point that the England international is finding his place challenged for the first time in his career by young Jonny Evans. Edwin Van der Sar’s return could not have been better timed for a sloppy and lethargic defence that has been more characteristic of the club in the blue half of Manchester.

However, it’s the return of Owen Hargreaves that all United (and England) fans have been waiting for. The protection he offers in front of the back four has been missed, together with his curly hair. His return (in a matter of weeks hopefully) may not be publicized as much as the return of Eric Cantona after his long suspension, but it’s just as important for club and country.

As for the now infamous ‘boy in Adidas jumper’ who threw the Liverpool beach ball onto the pitch, he is welcome at Old Trafford anytime, where he knows Messrs Ferdinand and Nani will guarantee him ninety minutes of heart-stopping action. If he was at the Bolton match, he would have joined 75,000 reds in breathing a huge sigh of relief at the end. Still, it was a much happier place to be than the away ends at the Stadium of Light and Villa Park over the weekend.

The beach ball has now scored more goals than Andriy Voronin this season. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce might have been tempted to present it with the ‘man’ of the match award. The last I heard, Real Madrid scouts were interested. The ball’s agent has refused to comment.