A squad player?
Football is a squad game now. It is what every team with a realistic chance of winning anything throughout the course of a whole season needs in order to compete. So is this current Manchester United squad the strongest ever?
I only recently went through the Manchester United squad list and I was pleasantly shocked. So far this season there has been a settled team of 11 which has started; De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra, Nani, Cleverley, Anderson, Young, Rooney, Welbeck. This was the starting 11 for both of the Tottenham and Arsenal matches at Old Trafford this season, both of whom we managed to beat quite comfortably. In fact, from this team of 11, only 2 players (Evra and Rooney) started vs Barcelona in the Champions League final.
Now think of the outfield players that are missing. For various reasons there was no Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio; a back four that could easily have played in any of Manchester United’s games so far this season and played just as well, if not better.
In midfield it was clear to see that there were 6 players who have regularly featured for Manchester United left out of the starting 11 to face two of the so called top 6 teams; Giggs, Park, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia and Gibson. I suppose I do not have to tell you how strong a midfield with a combination of 4 of these players would be. As it happens, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs and Park were the starting midfield against Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley last season, the biggest testament as to how this curent Manchester United squad is made up. On top of that there is also Paul Pogba who has been tipped by Sir Alex Ferguson to break through into the Manchester United team this season.
I don’t particularly think that it is necessary to tell you how much depth we have in attacking options. At times it almost seems excessive. Only 2 strikers; Rooney and Welbeck started yesterday with another 5 in reserve; Chicharito, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda and Diouf. So I ask again. Is this the strongest ever Manchester United squad?
I believe that it is. Any combination of any of these non-starting players have the ability and know how to win a league match. The previously mentioned non-starters has ammased a total of 42 Premier League winning medals, 5 FA Cup winning medals, 26 League Cup winning medals, 7 Champions League winning medals, 37 Community Shield winners medals as well as 9 FIFA Club World Cup winners medals. In addition to this there are also the solitary UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup winning medals which Ryan Giggs is in possession of.
These players have been there, done that and with the mixture of the youth and the energy, with this current crop of players, I honestly believe that winning every competition that we are involved in this season can be a reality.
Do you agree with this view? Has there ever been a stronger Manchester United squad than this? Feel free to comment below.
Follow me on Twitter @RedMancunia and check out my blog Iconic Number 7.
Who would think that Sergio Busquets, messi, pedro would have such deadly effect three years ago. Anderson has been performing very well for United in the last few games. He is a tremendous talent.
I wouldn’t bother looking into whether this is our strongest ever squad. Any time you use the word “ever” you’re compairing to great United squads of the 50’s, 60’s, late 90’s or even just 3 years ago. That team for example had Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov as forwards so I wouldn’t get too carried away.