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Yes, for the first time this season, we are top of the table, with a game in hand over most of our major rivals. Unexpected? Not really. To tell the truth, I thought it was only a matter of time. However, the way in which we claimed pole position has been a little astounding. 10 consecutive clean sheets despite missing Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, and Wes Brown, winning half of the games 1-0, beating Chelsea 3-0 (albeit at Old Trafford), and achieving all these in spite of the fact that we have not really hit full stride yet, yes this has been a surprise indeed.

How long will we stay top? Maybe not for long, if Everton does not manage to defeat Liverpool on Monday. However, the important thing is not how long at the top we stay, but whether we are there at the end of the season in May. The pass can be beautiful, the cross can be brilliant, the throughball can be perfect, the one-two can be exquisite, but if the shot richochets off the post and is then cleared to safety by an opposing defender, then it is all for naught.

Reality is not so sweet; goals are what win games. The more goals the better, but sometimes one goal is enough. Winning 1-0 may not be pretty, but I have never heard someone praise a team for losing 3-4 beautifully. I believe that offense is the best form of defense, but scoring goals alone cannot secure victory if the backline is as though a leaking pail.

That pretty much sums up what I want to say here : it is not difficult to get a goal, but it can be difficult to win the game without keeping a clean sheet.

守りに入らなくて済むと良いけど、守りきれなきゃ勝利は無い。