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.
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i have to say i don’t think cleverly has contributed too much in the three games so far, i think we need a new wes.
boy u are in denial…..or u seriously need help….cleverly’s introduction has been a breath of fresh air…it has also lead to anderson performing well…..plus now manutd are playing a much more fluid game as compared to a few previous seasons….that has been solely because of the wave of new talent like jones,welbeck and cleverly….i dont think we need wesley sneijder at all….anothr couple of additions next season like goetze and a certain iturbe…we’ll be fine and with morrison,tunnicliffe and pogba coming up….i dont thinkn there is any need to spend a bucket load of money on a 27 yr old player…
Garbage. Depth is one thing, genuine quality is another. At the front and back there’d be no argument, the stocks of world class talent are there to savour. But in the midfield we are just as thin on quality as we ever have been over the last few years. Who amongst Anderson, Cleverly, Carrick, Fletcher, Gibson and Giggs could crack Barcelona’s midfield – or Real Madrid’s? Other than the emergence of Cleverly, this is the same mob who’ve proven so pedestrian in the engine room over the last few years and so thoroughly incapable of dealing with quality opposition, often conceding control and the majority of possession while relying on one dimensional wing play for any kind of creative spark going forward. Carrick and Fletcher are now where they should be, warming the bench as quality subs, though the latter could serve well as the defensive anchor in a three man midfield against the top sides. Giggs these days is good for the odd cameo and cannot be relied upon to make any telling contribution over the course of a season, plus he’s one of the most wasteful players with the ball at United – it’s a toss up between he, Rooney, and Nani. Gibson by and large is only good for one thing, long range hoofs towards goal, though towards the end of last season he started showing glimpses of some decent passing ability. That essentially leaves United with just Anderson and Cleverly as the midfield front runners, a new and largely untested combination of two players who have a great deal to prove. Anderson needs to finally show some consistency and an ability to marshal the midfield, while Cleverly needs to show that all the hype built up from his seasons on loan are justified and that he, together with Anderson, can help United return to the salad days of Keane and Scholes, the last decent partnership United had in midfield. But that’s a big if, and United should have made efforts to bring in at least one world class talent to really put a stamp on an area where United have really been crying out for class for some years. It’s still very early days as far as the season is concerned, and the team is in danger of falling for all the hype that’s being generated over these early results and coming undone later in the year, particularly if injuries take their toll on the midfield. City’s midfield depth is frightening and will tell over the course of the season, while Barcelona has absolutely nothing to fear from what United has to offer against their chief strength. If the emergence of Cleverly is all that Fergie has to offer in acknowledgement of the midfield drubbing his side have received from the Catalan giants in two CL finals, than he obviously hasn’t heeded the very obvious lesson.
u sir are an idiot and you deserve to be stripped naked and beaten with nail fitted sticks…u call ur self a manutd supporter….go and die u wank!!!!!
Gee, if you were half literate, instead of yet another Neanderthal mangling the English language, it might be worth exchanging a point or two about your post – if there’d been anything of substance or intelligence to respond to. Sadly, you’re just another of the long line of blinkered morons who line up and latch on to United with their rampant tribalism, living your life through a football team in lieu of any real meaning to your vacuous existence.
As for my CV as a United supporter, nitwit, I’ve been around long enough to have watched the team go through a multitude of incarnations, right back to Sir Matt’s last days in charge at Old Trafford, after which, like so many of me era, we had to loyally endure the wilderness years while Liverpool won everything in sight for over two decades. That takes dedication. So don’t try and question my credentials, brainless one, nor the right of anyone who actually knows something of the game, when it comes to levelling criticism or thoughts regarding the team.
You’re obviously the bandwagon variant of supporter who’s only hopped on to ride the wave of success, and wouldn’t know or care in the least about the club’s history. Just as long as you can wear your war paint, jump up and down, and scream abuse at Liverpool supporters when the opportunity arises, you’re just fine – as long as you remember to take your medication regularly of course!
Apologies for the typo – couldn’t find my reading glasses.
i can see very clearly from what you’v written that u think god has only given you the right to become a manutd supporter….but i hate to burst ur bubble you dim witted rambling baboon…i have been a supporter of manutd for a very long time and atleast have the decency to appreciate the sentiment behind the article written….whereas you’v urself clearly stated in that prevoius comment of yours that you dont feel that man united are the force they were before so it shouldnt matter to you whether they win or lose…right..!!!
And as far as intelligence goes your not even half capable of being or achieving what i am and have achieved….because your sole aim in life is to find random forums and spew complete and utter rubbish about the team that you so called “SUPPORT”…and im damn sure it must’v taken you atleast 3 to 4 hrs to write such a comment….because from what iv seen , you brits and americans are the dumbest people on the face of this planet….so please do one thing dont bring up the topic of intelligence because u sir have NONE!!!!
Wesleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey !!
We were luckly to play a weak side and manage the 8-2 wis. Any team in the PL could do the same. Arsenal were unluckly because apart from selling the good players, a number of players were suspended or injured. We should not be decieved that we a strong, SAF still needs a creative midfielder if we are to challenge our noisy neighbours
yaa a weak side consisting of players like arshavin, van persie,rosisky,ramsey….who are all internationals…..plus i think chelsea and man city can score 8 goals…they never have and they never will…..
get a grip! where is your faith, id hate to sit next to you at the match! move on!
Don’t bother, anytime I’ve seen Timbo comment it invariably is a 1000 word rant about how poor our team allegedly is.
@timbo. Agreed on midfield still being a concern to us – after all Anderson and Cleverly are still not tested at the biggest stages.
Qualities and depths in that department weren’t the reasons why we were overrun in midfield back in May. Carrick was destined to be left for dead as soon as we knew our formation’s a 4-4-2 against Barca.
Granted, additions of high quality might make a difference for us in midfield, but games at the highest stages have always been more on tactical triumphs than players’ qualities.
Timbo, although I do agree that united need some more quality in the mid, I don’t think things are as depressing as you make them sound. Ando and cleverly are good players and one can only have faith in their future abilities. So let’s just cross fingers and be entertained
To both of the above posts. I don’t wish to come across as depressing, just dealing with the realities of the situation and wanting the team to remain succesful. I’ve supported United for over forty years, and no one gets more joy out of seeing the team win, especially after enduring nearly 25 years of watching United play second fiddle to Liverpool.
You have to hark back to the Atkinson years to appreciate my point about depth. At one point (I think it was around 1986) United took off like a train that season and played some absolutely scintillating football (sound familiar?) and within a very short space of time had opened up something like a 14 point gap on the rest of the opposition. Then the wheels fell off in dramatic fashion as injuries to key players began to take their toll, and United fell away completely. While we’re well covered this year at the front and back (look what Jones, Evans, and Smalling are accomplishing) the midfield is a genuine concern if anything happens to Cleverly and Anderson.
As I said, the only change to a midfield that got hopelessly outclassed by Barcelona in 2 CL finals is the emergence of Cleverly – is the addition of one largely untested kid going to suddenly turn the team’s engine room into a world class unit to rival that of the better teams? Anderson seems to have turned the corner, and perhaps the two can make an impact if they can make it through the season unscathed, but it’s a big if – remember how fragile Anderson’s legs have been. After those two we’re back with the likes of Carrick and Fletcher, one a shell-shocked individual who really doesn’t seem to be able to cut it at the highest level, the other a work horse still recovering from a long illness. Giggs, at his age? Gibson – please!
So I submit yet again that United would have been well served to bring in an experienced player of real quality to stamp some authority and class in the area of the pitch where we need it most. Particularly so in the big games when Fergie likes to play a three man midfield. We haven’t had a combination boss the midfield regularly since the glory days of Keane and Scholes, Midfield is where teams really win their matches against quality opposition, as Barcelona has shown to our cost.
I do agree that more depth in the mid would be ideal and who knows maybe sneider will be signed. However I still stand by my point that ando and cleverly are very good creative players, and fletcher is a great destructive player. So as long as they fit and well i think they will bring a lot of silverware. Yet. Barca of course, with their strengthened mid will be a more potent force in the engine room than united. And I do strongly agree with you that the mid is where matches are won or lost, especially in Europe
i can’t believe fans are still masturbating furiously to sneidjer. get over him. geez.
Interesting article, especially since just last year our squad was dubbed as the worst PL winning squad to date by many.
After two shocking first games, Young has been fantastic for us, and hopefully he’ll continue and be a great addition.
Anderson and Cleverly are becoming brilliant players in their own rights. They will be our CMs all season, I think and hope.
We need another LB, as it seems all our full backs prefer playing RB and Evra is still unable to cross, and has been shaky at best this season. Smalling started out well at RB but has left us open to the counter on numerous occasions, so playing him there seems risky to me.
It’s great to have faith in our team, and I think it’s great that SAF doesn’t feel the need to waste money on a CM when we have world class midfielders already. The way we demolished Arsenal yesterday was fantastic, but let’s wait ’til the end of the season before we review this team.
This isn’t Fifa.
There’s real talent coming through in the midfield for United. No need for a £30million+
player like Sneijder. We have Wayne Rooney in a ‘Free – Role’ and he seems to be shining in that role. Personally this squad seems vey strong, especially defensively. And with a player like Berbatov sitting on the bench?
Arsenal were poor, but they faced a United side that were also weakened, with the same average age and look what happened. As United fans, don’t take credit away from us, cos we have started the season in great form. Hopefully it will continue..