As the season reaches its quarter point, Manchester United sit proudly on top of the Premier League and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men remain unbeaten in the Champions League. There are long-term questions about the club’s health unanswered. United faces impending retirements in key positions that will need replacements.
In goal Edwin van der Sar has finally solved the Peter Schmeichel problem. After countless failures, Sir Alex found a genuine world class custodian, who was far too cool to let another goalkeeper’s presence overshadow him. How many more trophies would United have won if the club had signed the Dutchman in ’99, and been spared the calamities of Fabian Barthez, Ricardo, Tim Howard, Roy Carroll and Massimo Taibi?
But van der Sar is nearing the end of his career – this is almost certainly his last campaign. In Ben Foster, Ferguson has a ‘keeper with the talent to fill van der Sar’s jersey but whose decision making and lack of experience have cost the club this season. Foster could still make it but Sir Alex risks enduring another search for a successor.
United’s defence also poses a number of questions. Without the aid of rose-tinted glasses many feel that – short of a testimonial – Gary Neville should not kick another ball in anger for the club. The United stalwart can no longer be relied on due to lengthy injury absences and age. Meanwhile, Neville’s erstwhile successor, John O’Shea, is little more than a liability despite his adaptability and more than 200 games for the club.
More worrying still, Rio Ferdinand’s recent loss of form suggests that his body is starting to let his brain down. The defender’s calamities have been greatly exaggerated of course but the player is reaching an age where Ferguson must think about the future.
Unfortunately, Johnny Evans is not it. Perhaps by allowing Gérard Piqué to leave – a player who has eased his way into the Barcelona first team and is a regular for Spain – Sir Alex made his biggest mistake of the last couple of seasons.
United has a wealth of options in midfield but also an uncertain future.
Despite the doubts, Michael Carrick and Anderson are both classy options. Anderson in particular would benefit from a long run in the team. Sir Alex has also proven everybody wrong with Darren Fletcher’s development, who has established himself as the club’s midfield linchpin. And if Owen Hargreaves can successfully return from injury then United will add a world class defensive midfielder to its squad.
Yet Nani, Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan are yet to prove themselves at United. Nani, who always delivers for Portugal, so often frustrates for the reds. Meanwhile the Ecuadorian, clearly a very good player for Wigan Athletic, has shown sporadic touches of class for United and Obertan will only make his début in the next fortnight.
Ferguson must also shortly decide on the future of two priceless midfielders. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes impending retirement will offer a huge problem for the manager. Two legends that United has no immediate replacements for.
Despite summer predictions of doom, United’s strikeforce has the air of long term success. Wayne Rooney, short of a dramatic loss of form, can count on remaining at Old Trafford for life. Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov is slowly starting to win over the fans with his class, if not the work rate.
Michael Owen may yet be a great piece of business, provided the former Liverpool forward can stay injury free. But if the inevitable strikes then Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda have done little to prove they will slot straight into the side. This must be a concern.
Trying to offer solutions to these questions is the manager, no spring chicken himself. During the wilderness years – 2002-2005 – when United seemed so far behind Chelsea, some called for Sir Alex’ head. Yet, the Scot raised the metaphorical finger and has led United to three league titles, domestic cups, and the Champions League in the past three seasons. Ferguson, it seems, is stronger than ever.
The concern now is that when Ferguson retires the club is left looking for the best option available, not simply the best. But the board could start planning for succession now. The bold move would be to capture Jose Mourinho, the only manager with the confidence, self belief and arrogance to take over from Sir Alex. Mourinho would undoubtedly relish the challenge.
What better time for Sir Alex to call it a day, with a 19th title win in May and Liverpool, who United visit this weekend, knocked permanently ‘off their f*cking perch.’
The Mourinho argument is an old chestnut and one that really isn’t in United’s best interests. United has long held a tradition of playing enterprising and attacking football. It’s virtually the team’s trademark, one Sir Matt helped establish over 50 years ago. Mourinho plays another brand of football altogether, one based on pragmatism and sterling defense. Also, despite his over-inflated ego the self-professed ‘great one’ isn’t that great a manager, merely a great opportunist with a facility for selling himself convincingly to the next set of owners on the merry-go-round that is his managerial life.
I’m glad I don’t have to sit next to Brett at OT. I’m sure he’s full of optimism and support for the boys. O’Shea had an excellent season last year and to dismiss him in this manner is insulting. Can’t be bothered going into the myriad of other calamaties awaiting us but I just hope that Fergie, who of course is yet to prove himself, will come up with the answers
With regard to O’Shea he’s just one player I have never rated, and in my opinion lived off of THAT nutmeg against Luis Figo. He’s a good utility player, in the same way that Phil Neville was, and he could probably go on to captain another club and be successful, I just think he’s a weak link.
I’m with Red Rupert. Take the Evans v Pique example. We were offered £12m for Evans by Sunderland and yet accepted less for Pique. Who did Fergie rate better? Everyone says how good Pique is but do you remember his error against Bolton? The fact is that if you were to watch him week on week he’d be no better than Evans. Personally I rate Evans as the better defender and think he’ll establish himself soon enough as first choice.
Evans is as good if not better than Pique and we have enough of squad cover for the defense and midfield. This is a rebuilding period both with the team and tactics. The fact that the utility players end up keeping the ship steady while the flair players are bedding in says a lot about how this team functions. We are playing as a squad and not just the best XI, this philosophy seems to be working very well considering our results in the last three years!
As far as the next manager goes, I would rather see Brucie or Ole than a mercenary manager. We need permanence in that position not a couple of titles, a couple of years and another new manager!
Just to mention a few players left out above, Fabio and Rafael both have more than potential in defence, and in January Mame Biram Diouf and Adem Lajic will make very decent additions to the squad. Also if Obertan is half as good as they say he is, he’ll do the job.
So, in the next few months, we’re basically looking at adding a world class midfielder (hoping Owen makes a full recovery) and five exciting young players to our current top-of-the-league line-up. Things could be worse.
Brett’s comments lose credibility with this:
“Ferguson must think about the future.
Unfortunately, Johnny Evans is not it.”
Firstly, the pedant in me can’t help pointing out that it’s spelt Jonny (my bad, fixed – ed), and secondly, he’s 21. He’s managed to slot into the side with ease whenever called upon and get on with it without the glaring errors the likes of Rio and especially Wes Brown were making at that age. He has the confidence of Sir Alex which is what matters most, will only get better and hopefully develop into a great defender.
I was annoyed to see Pique leave as well, especially at that price, but it was probably due to his relationship with Fergie, unsuitability to the style of the Premier League and desire to return to Spain rather than United not realising his quality.
There are unanswered questions about several positions – notably the wide positions and goalkeeper (though every Frenchman I know says Obertan is the real deal).
Fortunately, Jonny Evans isn’t one of them. A terrific player – has he run over your cat, Brett?
Agree with everyone here about Jonny Evans, I rate him very highly and so does Sir Alex obviously, and for good reason too. He’s put in consistently solid performances and while Pique is a talented player (I was incredibly sore about his leaving), he gave me far more heart attacks than Evans in his time here.
That said, we certainly aren’t a perfect squad, and as Brett’s pointed out, all bias aside, Gary Neville should be retiring soon and given more time in the squad, Rafael and Fabio should be more than able replacements for him. The youngsters have impressed so far and we really need them to have a good run in the first team, with which I think we’ll be fixing most of the things we lack as a team.
What we really need, as GH points out, is a decent keeper. Nani, Obertan and Valencia will come good and make great wide players, I trust Sir Alex on that.