"Have a bit of that you scouse c*nt!"
Securing the signature of Robin Van Persie proves a number of things to the footballing world:
Firstly, it sends a message to the rest of the country that there is still sense in football.
Money isn’t the be all and end all to every player – and this world class forward, in his own words, made his choice because “Manchester United breathes football”.
Yes, I accept he may be on a good wage at Old Trafford, but ask any Arsenal fan and they will tell you, he was on a good screw at the Emirates. Ask any gloating City fan and they will happily tell you in no uncertain terms, whatever United could offer in wages, City could, and would, easily double it. Sense and passion over finance with Mr Van Persie.
Secondly, this transfer, I believe, will force the end of a Premier League giant. Arsenal have been a major threat to United since the Premier League began in 92. A club with rich history, tradition and a solid foundation bringing players through from youth level, season after season. However, over the past eight years, too many superstars have walked through the exit door.
Every great team goes through a transition period, every great team loses a superstar – but this Arsenal side have lost their very best player, to a United side which was already head and shoulders above them in terms of quality. Unfortunately for Arsenal, a club I respect, I believe this is the end. I only hope for their sake they do not become the new Liverpool.
Finally, the importance of this transfer is, fundamentally, the player. Robin Van Persie is a world class striker. A game changer. A leader. A winner. Granted, there is the niggle of injury problems, but what more can a man do than keep himself fit for a whole season to prove his worth?
Moving away from Van Persie, and on to the section of United fans who were unhappy with this deal – the fundamental problem is apparent: “We do not need a striker, we need a central midfielder.”
Why hasn’t Sir Alex invested in a world class central midfielder?
The simple answer is, there isn’t a world class central midfielder out there who is available.
Many of you will challenge this answer by rolling off the names of 10-15 central midfielders playing in the Premier League, in Europe, and around the world. But, thinking seriously and logically for a moment, ask yourself, would they actually improve our squad?
Obviously there are players like Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure who are all outstanding footballers – but not one of them would join our club. There is more chance of Gary Neville coming out of retirement to play for Liverpool, than any of these players leaving their clubs. So on to a more realistic list of targets.
This week we have seen a talented young Englishman in Jack Rodwell join the noisy neighbours. Have we missed out? I do not think so. £15m for a player who couldn’t force his way into the Everton side most weeks.
The Newcastle pair of Cabaye and Tiote. Industrious, strong, creative. Would you pick either player ahead of Cleverley or Anderson? If this is even a debate, then the answer to signing them is a firm no. I do not want big bucks spent on a player who ‘might’ get in the side. It is either a signing in which they are the first name on the team sheet, or it is a young player who we can develop.
Luka Modric – an exceptional talent who rarely loses the ball – but £35m? Is he that much better at keeping the ball than Carrick or Scholes? He certainly doesn’t possess the hard work of a fit Darren Fletcher. Where exactly would Modric fit in and who would lose their place to him?
More names in the mix are Sahin, M’Vila, Moutinho and Lucas Moura. We have all played Football Manager, we have all won the league with Huddersfield. It isn’t real. Just because a player turns out great in the game, and had a good season last year in France or Portugal, doesn’t mean it will work in real life.
We have seen some very poor central players try and fail over the years at Old Trafford. Liam Miller, Kleberson, Djemba Djemba, Darron Gibson – need I go on?
I do not for one moment argue that, sooner or later, Scholes and Giggs will need replacing. I fully understand Fletcher may not return as the tenacious player he once was.
I accept Kagawa and Powell may take time to get used to the rigours of the Premier League.
What I cannot and will not accept is that the Robin Van Persie transfer money should have been spent on a ‘world class’ central midfielder.
The vision of Scholes, the skill of Ronaldo, the leadership qualities of Roy Keane, the fight of Bryan Robson… this player simply does not exist.
All comments welcome.
This “ball winning midfielder” we all love so much may well become a thing of the past. Watcing Barca, Spain, Italy, none of these teams play with a ball winning midfielder. Football is a becoming a passing game & i think Sir Alex knows it. We have been getting passed to death by inferior opponents all last Season.
I heard countless pundits say England need to start training kids at Grassroots level to love the ball so we can compete. Maybe having Carrick, Kagawa & Cleverly in the mid will help move us along.
They all play with a holding midfielder. Busquets, Busquets, De Rossi in the cases of your examples. Granted they are comfortable on the ball as all players need to be at the top level but they’re purpose is to protect the defence and allow the more creative players to flourish.
United is missing that man, Carrick does it but not on a world class level
Makes sense. Am tired of fans disrespecting the manager. It is not ps3 after all and fergie knows best and in him we must trust. Look at arsenal no trophy for years yet they back wenger and we fume and fret all the times the greed accusation on fergie for supporting the IPO was the most shocking and sad episode. Comming to central midfield a friend in spain a real fan says kaka is indeed manu bound.
Well you have said it. if i were asked i wouldnt prefer a defensive midfielders because the first tactic of defending is out playing or out possessing your opponent completely and you dont get that from defensive midfielders but creative and attacking midfielders.and we might even be surprised when the new players settle and the team becomes a had rock to crack
Wht a stupid article???
Defence. Defence. Defence. Defence. Utd lost titie because of Evans, Evra, Rafael, Ferdinand. Period. Buttner should not be Evra’s cover but the other way around. Utd should have bought Hummels, Piszcek, Subotic.
Our defensive record was not that poor but I fully appreciate the gaps.
Do you not see Smalling (when fit) as a future centre half for us?
i personally feel instead of spending the 20 million on buying some player from outside….i would rather spend that money on developing and giving a chance to the young players we have in the form of petrucci, lindgard, and others….
I think we should develop the youngsters we have…See Fletch had a good 90 minutes with the under 21s hopefully wont be long before he is pushing for a first team place
We could get Tiote if we coughed up enough money. I wish we would. He is a better ball-winning midfielder than anyone currently at the club. Cabaye would improve the squad too. Selling Anderson would release a tidy sum to set against either purchase
I agree selling Anderson to fund Tiote would be a great piece of business. However, it just isn’t as easy as that is it.
Would anybody want Anderson for £10-£15m?
U cannot sell Anderson to get Tiote or you’ll still be left with a hole, Tiote is the player to bench Carrick, you can sell ando for cabaye or dembele
yes sir explanation is better. now i can get ur alternative MAN UTD simply the best.
I cannot work out this Javi Martinez loving. He is behind Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas and Xabi Alonso in the Spanish pecking order, yet worth £40m?
I assume you had all heard of him before we played against him last season, or is this another case of ‘he was excellent against us, so must be world class’?
in case you havent noticed la liga gets very good coverage over here and it was clear to see that before we played Bilbao that he was a class player.
Busquets is only ahead of him because his a fairly good player and has a connection to the Barca boys, while the others you mention at brilliant players that would get into any team.
Yes I fully appreciate La Liga gets al ot of coverage in the UK, but until last season, nobody had given this guy a look.
It was only the excellent European form of Athletic Bilbao that made people sit up and take more notice of their players.
Now people are saying they would be willing to pay £40m for Javi Martinez?
It is nonsense.