We each get our thrills in different ways. Some of us go to theme parks. Some of us go bungee jumping. Some of us watch horror movies. And then there are those of us who watch Manchester United's games.

Watching the Red Devils play has never been for the faint of heart. Whether the boys play well or not there is always a little bit of unpredictability about them. This does not restrict itself to the recent years of transition at Old Trafford, but includes the Glory Years of Sir Fergie the Hairdryer as well.

In those days recently past, when victory at home was all but assured, the team still had a tendency to play with emotions. One need only look back to that 3-2 victory over Sunderland a couple of years ago. Conspiring to concede against mid-table opposition, and then dashing their hopes amid a wave of relief on the Stretford end, was all in a day's work.

Much of this was down to brand of Helter-Skelter football many of us had grown to associate with the Red Half of Manchester. There was no dallying in possession, no wasting of time. Arsenal can attest to as much with what had seemed like a billion year losing streak against the Reds ever since Ferguson worked out the Invincibles. “Take your time and pass it around”, he probably said to himself. “We need only one minute and three passes to score.”

These days, however, the story is quite different, with some similarities we probably don't want. The shoe seems very much on the other foot, and in trying to adopt a more Arsenal-esque style under Louis Van Gaal, we've adopted some unwanted Arsenal frailties. The quick counterattack is a thing of the past; there is much more in the way of passing without purpose. 

For those of us that have grown accustomed to the quick-fire blitzkrieg tactics of the Sir Alex era, this can at times be quite draining. It seems against the soul of Manchester United, and this internal strife is reflected in the players' performances. They seem distinctly uncomfortable with this new identity, unsure of what to do with too much time on their hands.

Yet this is still Manchester United, and United are anything but predictable. Just as we begin to despair over the constant and endless circles in the middle of the pitch, something seems to spark. The incessant repetitions of back passes are, in rare instances, mixed with flashes of pure brilliance. We see shadows of what the team may become, with flowing passing moves reminiscent of the great Brazil teams of the past.

The end result is that while we lose or draw more, there is still no telling what the team is going to produce. They can shred Liverpool on one day, and lose to West Ham on the next. They tease, and then they deny. They provide magic and then muck. They promise a top four finish and then follow with performances worthy of relegation. So what can we fans hope for? Well, in the name of all that is good and holy, don't go nine years without a title and please come up with some form of consistency in the results. Otherwise, my poor heart can't take it.

Nabban Tahsin Haque is a daring explorer brave enough to explore the sick and twisted world of his own imagination. He is also the secret leader of the officially unofficial Manchester United Fan Club, and enjoys the carnage of computer to computer combat. You can reach him at [email protected]