Can Fergie prevent City from enjoying a dominant spell?
Less than 24 hours have passed since those ridiculous 4 minutes at the Etihad Stadium and I’m already sick of the image of the oh-so unlikeable Roberto Mancini holding the Premier League trophy. Naturally, I have turned to the art of writing to offload some emotion, and now just need to avoid including expletives in this article.
It wasn’t too long ago that United fans were celebrating the inevitable prospect of a 20th league title, and with City falling 8 points behind after a loss at Arsenal, the plans were being put in place for a United street parade. Those plans were halted however after a loss at the in-form Wigan, followed by a disastrous self-destruction at home to Everton. Still the enigmatic Mancini was insisting City were out of the title race. Then United travelled the short distance to the Etihad for the derby to end all derbies, and as many predicted, it was City who won the game and took charge of the title.
A valiant effort from a fighting Queens Park Rangers side almost gifted United the trophy, until English football’s baddest bad boy had yet another moment of madness. So at the end of the day, an ex-Manchester City player costs United the title. If it wasn’t so typical of Joey Barton, one might be tempted to call it match-fixing.
The one thing that numbs the pain ever so slightly is the fact that we have 19 league titles, and a history steeped in tradition. When someone asks me to name United legends I instantly recall; Robson, Charlton, Best, Scholes, Giggs and Neville. Who have City got? What makes me so bitter about City winning the league is the fact that before Sheikh Mansour took over the club, they were a middle of the road team at best. After 1 billion pounds of investment in facilities, staff and players, City have a league trophy to show for it. With United, there is a sense of pride when a player who has spent many of his young years being trained at United breaks into the first team. Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck are a couple of recent examples. As a United fan, if you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d find a team I hate more than Liverpool, I would have had a laugh at your expense. Step up and take a bow Mancini, Tevez, Balotelli and co.
Anyone can see that United are going to have to invest in the squad this summer to avoid being left behind by Manchester City, who are sure to ship out some players and bring in even better ones. United’s long term transfer target, Eden Hazard who, along with Neymar, is probably the most coveted young player in Europe, is one who is looking likely to choose City over United. If City do sign him, it will certainly be a cruel blow to Sir Alex Ferguson and United fans. One player who looks certain to arrive is Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund, but the question remains, where will he play? Sir Alex has recently stated he is not going to invest in a holding midfielder so the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations that United employ look set to stay for the forseeable future.
Aside from central midfield, I would love to see United invest in two new fullbacks. It is time for Ferguson to take the hard line and accept that Patrice Evra hasn’t been United quality for a while now. Leighton Baines and Jordi Alba are two options who have been mentioned and both are in the 10-15 million pound brice bracket. I believe United also need to purchase a specialist right back. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were surely signed first and foremost as central defenders and Rafael (the first choice and only specialist right back) was dumped for the derby because he lacks the temperament. Smalling plays admirably at right back but has had ongoing injury problems, and Jones hasn’t looked in good touch since Christmas. The impressive Kyle Walker has recently extended his contract with Tottenham, so perhaps someone like Gregory van der Wiel or Łukasz Piszczek could be an option. It’s a pity we didn’t sign Micah Richards when we had the chance a few years ago.
So, it pains me to say it but Manchester City are champions of England (and Wales), and admittedly we are all a little jealous of City’s celebrations today. Sir Alex Ferguson is going to have to act quickly again this Summer if he wants to avoid being gazumped on his transfer targets. It should be an interesting summer ahead.
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It’s a painful feeling, but the fact is the fact and City are Champion of 2011-12 EPL. They are simple the best team and fully deserve to win it. They’ve beaten us twice in the EPL and this summer we will have to hope that SAF will react in the right direction.
We’ve got to accept the fact that City, with their unlimited money, got the better quality players than us. They keep on signing top class players while SAF keep on signing second grade players. Players like Ashley Young, Anderson, Chicharito, Smalling, etc. will never get the place in the current City team.
It’s no use to lie ourselves, praising our players that they are the best which in fact they are not that good. If SAF not react in the right way and bring in the real top class players this summer, next season we will all be pained again…
United need to invest £60 – £80 mil in the transfer market to compete with city next year. Thats what they will spend if not more. offload Berba and Owen up front and bring in a player like Huntalaar who won’t cost to much. He would be a good player hooked up with Chicharito.
Midfield I think offload Park, Carrick, Anderson and Scholes is retiring so gives us enough room for signings.
And the defense should stay the same and let them work more often together and build a steady back line with Smalling Jones Vidic and make next season Evra’s last.
Good write-up but sadly we face a bleak future as whilst Mancini is buying players at the equivalent to Harrods Fergie is buying them at Poundstretchers!
Kagawa is not a top class player but he is cheap and the same applies to most of the alleged targets.
I thought MUFC are the richest club in the world so why is Hazard going to City?
Must be the Scottish mean streak in SAF but second best incomers will leave us struggling again.
we need a partner for rooney. he can’t do it alone. welbeck and chicharito are still works in progress… i hate city.
It is disgraceful that a club of Manchester United’s stature should be looking to feed off the scraps none of the other super clubs want. SAF should come clean and admit he does not have the money. Otherwise, it is down to him not wanting to do what everyone knows needs doing: invest in a top class midfielder. Eden Hazard is the man. To be pipped by City is gut wrenching. We haven’t bought a top top quality player for years. And to then hear SAF say that Cleverley is probably the best midfielder in Britain or allow the Pogba situation to get to where it is angers me. Does he think we are all stupid. Cleverley has potential nothing else at here moment and Pogba should have been tied down a year ago.
rafael made as loose the CL(2010),EPL ths year.how long should we be doin this?brazilians dnt work at united.
If it wasn’t for all our injuries this season it would have been a different story
Just returned from the celebrations at Albert Square ( Manchester, not Trafford ). we enjoyed quality opera singers, high class entertainment and the emerging news that Hazard is heading for City. This must be gut wrenching for United until I hear Ruud Van Nistleroy is retiring. He is surely an answer to Uniteds financial difficulties. Quality striker ( bit old, but younger than Scholesy )probably free transfer and we know he gels with the older boys, Giggssy, Scolesy and Buchan. Just a thought. Glory glory . . .
Blue Tony, I think you are either a flirting teenager or a mentally handicapped old fella!either way, you can mock at united forever, but you will see next season what it means to be consistent!!its easy to be at top, but what makes it difficult is to stay there for a long time.it needs hard working and dedication, you can buy one moon, but you can’t buy all the solar system!let all see what happen when the likes of Tevez and Balotelli fuck up with their silly ego once again.You are scoffing at Nistelroy who once upon a time was tearing you apart, and for Hazard, I wish you can bring Messi with him, as we are not afraid of names.I can’t wait for the next season!!!!United for eternity.
Blue Tony hahaha. Nice one dude. Honestly I love the jokes, and it’s okay you to make good jokes on us.
On a serious note Blue Tony what will happen when the FFP are enforced :). Salary caps and transfer fees caps :).
We will be laughing at you.