With the world’s finest player© sold, workaholic hero Carlitos off to Untied’s nearest rivals, a Liverpool legend signed as third choice striking replacement, and the spending officially finished – it’s got to have been the worst close season in history. Right?
To crudely paraphrase Salford’s finest, there’s panic on the streets of Manchester, and many fans are wondering to themselves, will Sir Alex ever be sane again? Well, if you’ve been panicking take one paper bag, breath deeply, and let Rant give you ten reasons why everything will be ok.
- We’ve been here before: Remember the summer of 1995 when Andrei Kanchelskis, Mark Hughes and Paul Ince were sold to Chelsea, Everton and Inter Milan? Maybe you panicked then too, and called one of those ridiculous GMR phone-ins to demand the manager’s head? But then Sir Alex came up with the goods and United won the Premier League and FA Cup double with his kids. Things were never the same again.
- Ruud van Nistelrooy: tra la la la la, scored 150 goals in 200 games for United while the Reds won almost nothing. Once again Sir Alex backed his own judgment, packed off the Dutchman to Real Madrid for a song and United secured their first Premier League title in three years.
- You can win with kids: in Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Johnny Evans, Fabio and Rafael da Silva, Darron Gibson, Zoran Tošić’, Cory Evans, James Chester and Davide Petrucci United has the finest kids in the country bar none. Forget the media hype about Arsene Wenger’s children – no not that kind – they almost never progress beyond the Gooners’ Carling cup side.
- It’s time for Wayne: While Ronaldo stole all the headlines, Wayne Rooney continued to be the metronomic heartbeat of United’s team. Give the man a free role behind a main striker and the White Pelé will tear you apart. Back United’s best Scouser to win Player of the Year in 2010.
- United’s rivals are no better: Liverpool has made no significant signings and is set to lose one of their better midfielders in Xabi Alonso. Chelsea has spent £18 million on Yuri Zhirkov, a left winger-cum-defender, purely at the behest of owner Roman Abramovich, and recruited their fifth manager in as many seasons. Arsenal has bought an unknown Belgian defender but is about to loose one of the club’s better forwards. Sure, Manchester City is recruiting like oil is going out of fashion, but does anybody really expect a team of ten strikers plus Shay Given to challenge for the title?
- Dimitar Berbatov will come good: he’s just too talented not to. Sir Alex will work a system around the languid Bulgarian that suits his outstanding talent, brings the best out of Wayne Rooney and enables United to move away from being a one-trick pony.
- United does have a defensive midfielder: remember Owen Hargreaves, he’s quite good you know. Whether the Canadian-Englishman returns in August or January, Hargreaves will give United the bite and tenacity in central midfield that the team so badly needed in Rome last May. And if he doesn’t return to full fitness, Fergie will spend, it’s as simple as that.
- Carlitos isn’t actually that good: yes, fans loved his work ethic, and that back-healed strike that won United the game at Wigan, or the last minute goals that secured valuable points. But are his talent and end-product really worth £25 million? Ferguson thought not or he would have been in the team.
- The fixture computer has been kind: and given United some winnable games in the early part of the season that will boost confidence while the team beds down with new players and into a new system.
- Sir Alex Ferguson knows what he is doing: believe.
Admittedly I am nervous about the new season. The luxury of hiding behind Ronaldo has gone and as strong as our defence is – it won’t win us any trophies on its own.
But Berbatov, Rooney, Nani, and Anderson are all capable of making a huge impact. The difference is that this season we are really depending on them to do it on a consistent basis. I believe they will.
Yes, it’s a gamble and if it doesn’t pay off we’re in trouble. But let’s see, we’ve been here before and we always seem to get the last laugh.
Spot on michael owen is a master stroke even tho he is a scouser bring it on believe
The problem with Charlie was not so much the 25 million sign on fee but that he expected to become the highest paid player at the club.
Agree with many of the points raised and I fully support fergie! Only 1 thing that I would like to say is when fergie sold Ruud, Hughes etc it is because he wanted to! He did not want to sell ronaldo!
1 other point which makes me sound a bit of a knob…the winger come defender who Chelsea signed – zhirkov – is actually about 25 (not 30)
Agreed on all fronts. I do not truly believe shopping is done though.
I have been saying all along, give the talented youngsters a proper go! Let’s not pretend to know better than Fergie, we need good squad players not anymore superstars with egos as big as the bank balances! If the boys are good enough we saved a fortune and we can look to the club being debt free sooner, if they don’t then we shop in a more saner market without the extra zero at the end.
Spot On.
Theres no need to panic.
We still have, by far, the best squad in England including the finest youngsters.
Plus
Wazza thru the middle = GOALS.
I thought that with Possebon being sent out on loan Fergie would buy a central midfielder but not a single one has been linked with us this summer.
It’s somewhat disappointing when we used to have the best midfield in the world and now we arguably have the least talented midfield of the top four.
Add to point #3 the name of Adem Ljiac (sp?) to the list of talented youngsters.
I’m really excited that SAF didn’t splash the cash on a young expensive striker. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have been unhappy if we landed Benzema, but he would have almost certainly ended the United carers of Danny and Kiko before they even began. Now, we can see if they really have it. I personally think in 3 years time, when he is all of 21, Kiko will be a special player. I just hope its with United.
Although SAF has said that his Summer spendin’ is over, i just feel he has an ace up in his sleeve in the form of Douglas Costa n IF, and there is a BIG IF, Hargo comes back along with Ljajic, those would be lyk two new signings, n if god forbid anything happens to Hargo, we have the money to spend in January. Until then a midfield of Carrick, Fletch, Ando n Gibson is more than capable, nevermind Giggsy n Scholesy.
Roll On Birmingham City.
To be honest, all you needed to put up is reason number 10. Maybe just add that as United fans, we believe in and support whoever puts on the shirt. I am a United supporter because I love the club, not because we have the most ‘star’ players. If you are a glory hunter go f*ck off and support the clusterf*ck at Madrid. Or not. There are precious few trophies heading over there.
united will have to do more if they are going to win the title. I just fear our midfield is just to weak to cope in many games especially ronaldo is now gone. rooney and berbatov will just just not work the same has lampard and gerrard.