Does mystery January target reveal United are to spend in the Summer?
Whilst United fans and, probably, United’s squad were still celebrating and reliving the moment Wayne Rooney decided he could score goals again, Sir Alex Ferguson was pretty much straight back to business.
Of course, he took the time to say a few words about it and revel in the magnificence of it all, going so far as to suggest it was the best goal ever seen at Old Trafford, some feat considering some of the genius that has been displayed in the Theatre of Dreams.
And yet with that, he was quick to move on and not letting himself dwell on it by mentioning his wish that Berbatov and Rooney would forge a formidable partnership away from home as well as producing at home. This was typical Fergie, quick to look forward to the next step and get lost in what has happened, and he has every right to, as United’s form has been patchy at best this season away from home while Old Trafford has become a fortress, and the statistics back this up.
United have won only 3 times away from home this season and 15 of Berbatov’s 19 league goals have come at home. In years gone by these sort of statistics would have meant a team would not have had much chance at challenging for top honours, and yet due to the indifferent form of teams around them, United have been able to claim top stop, with the potential for a strong margin to take hold.
But in the aftermath of the big derby, more comments from Ferguson took my interest and that is the admission that United had tried to bring in an as yet anonymous player in the January transfer window and that he would be trying again come the summer.
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Exactly who this player is remains to be seen, and the fact he kept the identity of the player a secret shows some respect and prevents any controversy and accusations of “tapping up” as well as the other grievances that public courting of another club’s squad member can incur. But it got me thinking about the type of player(s) I would like to see United sign come the summer, assuming “value” (read: available funds) can be seen and the Glazer’s sanction some moves in the market.
In my opinion, the squad needs some fresh legs and perhaps some others need to be moved on. For example, if United are to persevere with Macheda when he comes back from his loan, I see no reason why Michael Owen should be kept any longer, especially considering the superb contribution of Javier Hernandez this season. Depending on whether or not Antonio Valencia can make a return to form on return from injury may make the possibility of a new winger an attractive prospect, as I cannot see Gabriel Obertan or Bebe ever cutting it in the United squad.
Obertan has only shown flashes of potential at best this season and the less said about Bebe the better. These are simply not United players. I ought to mention that I do hope Valencia does make a strong recovery and is able to make a significant contribution to the United team. I have admired his hard working attitude and efficient play in his role as a traditional winder since joining United but I fear that with an injury as severe as his was, we may not be so fortunate as to see the same player that we once had.
Another area that may need addressing is the goalkeeping department. It is far to early to make any real judgement about Lindegaard, regardless of Peter Schmeichel’s early write off of his chance of a successful United career. I believe Tomasz Kuszczak ought to be given his chance to stake his claim to be the number one choice, but as a solid goalkeeper has often been the achilles heel in Ferguson’s teams, the possibility of another signing is certainly very real.
However, the area that United fans probably agree is in most need of some attention is the midfield. Although Anderson and Fletcher have managed to produce some good form this season, there is simply not enough quality or strength in depth for comfort. Paul Scholes, no matter how evergreen he may seem, will not produce the performances week in week out that he was once able to do, Ryan Giggs is the same and Michael Carrick seems to lose confidence as the season drags on, turning in some very average performances.
Finally Darren Gibson, although young has not truly convinced, even though impressing with a strong shot, the rest of his game is lacking and although his talents may come to fruition sometime in the future, a more immediate solution may be required over the summer. Certainly, a loan move will do him no harm.
So with that in mind, who would you like to see join the club this summer? Do you agree with me about the squad? Post your comments and discuss.
Good article mate… I firmly believe it was Ashley Young he tried to sign and will go back for him at the end of the season. I also believe us being linked with Charlie Adam was a ploy to increase his value.
I disagree with your view on Kuszczak, I think he should be moved on – every time he has had a chance I always see errors in his game. I will follow you on twitter mate.
Nath
Thanks for replying and the feedback. I’m inclined to agree about Ashley Young, a lot seems to be pointing that way but you never know! I think he would be a worthwhile signing, he has age on his side and a great deal of talent. In my opinion he’s Villa’s best player.
I see what you mean about Kuszczak but I’m still inclined to think a run of games would give definitive proof, although with a truly solid keeper hard to come by I think you may be proven right and will be shipped off in the summer regardless. Apologies for posting this comment twice I forgot to press reply when posting!
Thanks for replying and the feedback. I’m inclined to agree about Ashley Young, a lot seems to be pointing that way but you never know! I think he would be a worthwhile signing, he has age on his side and a great deal of talent. In my opinion he’s Villa’s best player.
I see what you mean about Kuszczak but I’m still inclined to think a run of games would give definitive proof, although with a truly solid keeper hard to come by I think you may be proven right and will be shipped off in the summer regardless.
Sanchez, defour and diarra will do me ashley youngs not good enough. Wouldn’t mind getting ronnie back if were taken over by the quatories lol
Couldn’t agree with you more!
Disagree with the Ashley Young comment and I sincerely hope its not him. He is good, definitely, but is he United good? I doubt it. Plus we do have TonyV returning, which would see Nani move to the left. I think it is Steven Defour, or another cm.
Defour is a realistic prospect, especially as Ferguson wrote him a letter to keep his head up when injured. As much as I rate Valencia I’m not sure he’ll come back the same player, and as much as Nani has been brilliant on the right, I’m not sure he has the same effect going down the left.
I have said to a lot of fellow United fans time and time again, the biggest mistake we made with the Ronaldo to Madrid transfer, was not getting Wesley Sneider in as part of the deal. Keeping in mind the great Scholesey will at some point be hanging up his boots, this would have been the perfect signing to eventually take over from him. We still would have got about £65m hard cash if we got him in as part of the deal. Missed out big time on him – a world class player in my opinion.
The Player was Alexis Sanchez, no doubt. Fergusons comment co-incides with his agents claim that there had been interest but Udinese were unwilling to sell in january, only to go on to say he will definitely move in the summer. Sir Alex has spoke about him before, something he doesn’t usually do, and he also tried to sign him when he was still in Chile
Firstly I think your being a bit harsh in writing Bebe off so soon, you have to consider his limited footballing experience and once he becomes use to the surroundings and training regime could come on leaps and bounds,look at Smalling. I really hope that we don’t sign Young,Adam or Henderson in the summer because I don’t rate any of them,there good players but not good enough in my opinion. I think that any of these players could leave in the summer,Owen,Diouf,Hargreaves,Gibson,Scholes(retire),KuszczakDe laet and maybe Carrick and Brown. I would like any of the following players to arrive, Sanchez, Sahin,de Gea, Stekelenburg. The likes of Gotze and Chamberlain would also be good. Just want to add that I hope that the likes of Cleverley,Welbeck and Macheda will be involved in the first team aswell as some of the other young lads coming through. Do agree with the Obertan assessment,decent player but don’t think he has a strong enough mentality to succeed.
Perhaps I was being a little harsh, but truthfully, I find it a little odd that so many complaints have been made about “value” in the market and then spending the same amount of money as United spent on Hernandez on a player who had not played top flight football at all. I can’t help being a little pessimistic about his chances of succeeding at United. But I would like to be proved wrong, admittedly.
hello everyone !! I am certain that the mysterious player is alexis sanchez !! you’ll see that I was right in the summer !!! 😀
The best goal ever, by Rooney? Give me a break – the guy played like garbage most of the game, then shanked in a fluky shot off his shin that even he said would have gone soaring over goal 9 times out of 10. And it came from a Nani cross that was over-kicked AND took a deflection along the way! Bottom line? Rooney had no idea what was happening and simply hoped for the best. As with most of his efforts towards goals, no one, least of all Rooney, knew whether it would go into the stratosphere, (his signature shot of late) or be close enough to goal to hope that it might just go in.
Berbatov has put two bicycle kicks in that I know of while at Old Trafford, both were measured and intended, and neither smacked of luck. The one earlier this season, when he cleverly bunted it up off his shin before hoicking it over his shoulder into the net, was pure genius, a stellar example of the Bulgarian’s exquisite control, not arse. But of course it wasn’t score in a derby game, and because he makes his craft look so easy people simply ignore his accomplishments.
Bottom line? Any decent striker, on any given day, could have had the sheer luck to manage what Rooney did – percentages dictate such an outcome, even for someone who’s as much of a wastrel in front of goal as Rooney is. But what Berbatov managed with his effort a few months ago was out of this world – I can’t think of too many footballers over the years (and I’ve been watching for over forty years) who would have had the poise, the presence, and the uncanny control to manage a goal to equal the Bulgarian’s effort. Pele for sure, Maradona perhaps (he wasn’t that athletic) and Van Basten without a doubt.
You want to compare the two, go on youtube and watch the clips. One shows a guy going for a hail Mary effort that was pure arse all the way – he didn’t even strike it properly. Look at Berbatov’s effort and it’s patently obvious that the guy knew what he was doing every step of the way. He took an unplayable ball (at least in terms of sending it directly towards goal) delivered behind him, chipped it beautifully in the air with a singly touch to set up the shot (that in itself was dazzling) then casually leaned back and sent it towards goal with a deceptively casual bicycle kick. Not in a million years could Rooney have matched such an effort.
Berbatov’s biggest curse, is that he’s so incredibly blessed with talent that he makes the game look ridiculously easy. Hence the accusations of his ‘languid’ style and lazy play, which is total BS. Nothing comes easy to Rooney, which makes him look frenetic in his efforts, the workaholic running up and down the pitch. This is deemed ‘world class’. Pewk!
The worst thing about the goal is that it will now save Rooney from the bench, which is where he should have been consigned some time ago because of his appalling recent efforts. That will hurt United in the long run. It also saved Fergie from the embarrassment of playing Rooney over Berbatov and seeing his decision backfire for all but the few seconds it took Rooney to score his goal.
Whoever Utd may manage to buy next summer ( only God, SAF n Gill/Glazers know why not in last January ), pleeeze get rid of Evans,Gibson,Bebe, Owen,O’shea, Park et el. Has anyone got the data how many points Utd dropped when any/some ( cringe) of these “players” played? Special mention must go to Gibson and Evans. These are not even Champo level players.
I agree apart from park and bebe he needs more time, gibson and evans are useless.