As of Friday 3rd July 2009, Manchester United, the team that I have followed and supported for the rest of my life, has officially signed former Liverpool star Michael Owen on a free transfer. It is reported that the English marksman (or whats left of him) will be earning a 50,000 pound a week salary and possibly a pay-as-you-play wage.
never saw this coming....
After losing high profile players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, many (including yours truly) expected United to splash some money around in siging replacements of the same calibre into the fray. However, despite reaping 80 million pounds from the sale of CR7 which brings United's transfer kitty, as they call it, to a 100 million pounds, United have only spent a rumoured 17 million on their first signing Luis Antonio Valencia. Many have scoffed at United's transfer activities in this ever so important transfer period but United and SAF are not to be solely blamed.
Real Madrid, home of the scorned Galacticos, have been some sort of a leaky drain in their spending. High profile signings, Kaka, Ronaldo, Albiol and potentially Benzema, Ribery and Maicon, has seen United running out of options on players. It is rumoured that United's next targets are Sergio 'Kun' Aguero from Atletico Madrid, Luis Fabiano from Sevilla and Ibrahimovic of Inter. It is highly unlikely though for United to sign either players with El Kun's release clause is worth 60 million euros, Luis Fabiano is a tad bit too old and Ibrahimovic is just a dream away.
Off to be a Blanco
But do we really need any more forwards? With the likes of Rooney, Berbatov and Owen being 'senior' forwards and Danny Welbeck and Frederico Macheda rising through the ranks, United's strike force is more than sufficient. All these players can surely contribute to the goal tally but only under one condition: United need to sign a playmaker of some sorts in the centre of midfield.
The strike force!
The Young Devils
If any of you watched the Champions League final against Barcelona, it was evident that United were the weakest in the middle of the field. Xavi and Iniesta dominated over United's 'mediocre' central midfielders. So the solution here for the Red Devils in order to retain EPL glory and reach and win another Champons League final is a central midfielder who can complete passes and win tackles. We had that once when Roy Keane was in service or when Paul Scholes was in his prime but those years have faded and its time for things to change.
There are many options for the Red Devils. The likes of Youann Gourcuff and Jeremy Toulalan and come into my mind but is an unrealistic dream though with Gourcuff just signing a four year deal with Bordeaux and Jeremy Toulalan is everything but a traitor to Lyon. Then down the pecking order comes the names of Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho. These players have made names for themselves in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and are established internationals. However are they good enough for United? Veloso is known for inconsistency and Moutinho although can hold the ball in the centre of midfield, his strength and commanding prowess is doubtful. And on a side note: all the names above seem to be 'nice' guys and what United really need are players with the charisma of Eric Cantona, vision of Paul Scholes, fighting nature of Roy Keane and the work rate of Wayne Rooney. A player of that calibre may as well be the best player to ever exist (sorry Ronny but you're just not that good personally) and surely United would be able to dominate for many years to come.
The Ginger Magician
However finding a player with such criterias is, as I utter repeatedly , impossible. It really is heartbreaking when you (you I mean 'me') think about it. There is no such player in existence like that. So what I think United should do is carry on what they do best: harness and develop the talent instead of search for it. Currently in our squad we have Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves, Darron Gibson, Paul Scholes, Park Ji Sung and Ryan Giggs who can play in the centre. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are approaching the twilights of their careers and I expect them to see limited amount of play time in the next term, which would possibly be their last. Darron Gibson is untested and lacks experience and the latter also can be applied to Anderson. Owen Hargreaves is crocked but I have total faith in him and Park Ji Sung is more effective playing by the wings. The only ones left are Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. Both unsung heroes but the latter gets more adulations than the former which to me is rather unfair. Darren Fletcher is a reliable workhorse when you expect him to hold the ball and Michael Carrick can surely breakdown defences with his cutting diagonal passes. But these two players are only effective as one.
When one can pass the other can't. When one keeps possession the other can't. So to say either of them can play well only if the other one does too. The missing factor in the United midfield is none other than Owen Hargreaves. As both of the aforementioned unsung heroes are not really defensive in their nature (Fletcher used to be a winger and Carrick can't relly hold possession), 'Hargo' can and will cover for them. At top form, he can be as solid and commanding as both Ferdinand and Vidic combined, aggressive and committed as Rooney and the dearly departed Tevez, score goals from dead ball situation like he who will be forgotten and the versatiliy that should be named 'The Hargreaves'.
The solution to all the Devils' woes
But just to be safe United should sign someone who can cover for Hargreaves when he's out.
He came, he saw, he conquered and popped his collar!
There's only one number 7!
PS: I was really disappointed when Benzema chose Real over United. I thought he could be the successor of l'enfant terribles, Eric Cantona, and wear the number 7 shirt proudly. But like I said United don't need another striker, they need a playmaker.
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