Remember the days when it looked as though Chelsea’s reign would last forever more? They were an efficient machine, powered by the mighty captaincy of John Terry with all the arrogance in the world provided by Jose Mourinho. When we beat them 1-0 in 2005, during a season where they would go on to finish eight points above us in the league, we had Richardson, Bardsley and Rossi on the bench, whilst they had Gudjohnsen, Carvalho and Wright-Phillips. We were oceans apart and even the idea of matching them any time soon was totally far fetched.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was our top scorer that season and the second highest scorer in the league, scoring 21 goals, more than a quarter of our total. He left that summer, we didn’t buy anybody to replace him and instead just bought Michael Carrick, by everybody’s reckoning a poor man’s Roy Keane, the former captain we were desperately trying to replace.
Was this going to be fourth season running that our trophy would be in London? Sky Sports thought so, predicting we would finish behind Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool the following season.
When we thrashed Fulham on the opening day of the season our fans seemed fairly optimistic though. We played some bloody brilliant football that day and granted, it was only Fulham, but our lads were on fire. After Cristiano Ronaldo made it 4-0 with less than 20 minutes played, Wayne Rooney grabbed his face, both players grinning, and all the fuss about the World Cup and Ruud and our strikeforce and Roy Keane seemed insignificant. We were too insecure following the years without the Premiership to get cocky but things certainly seemed to feel good again.
That good feeling, on top of insecurity, continued for the whole season. In the end, United picked up 6 more points than they had the season before, they scored 11 more goals and won 4 more games than Chelsea. We were champions again.
I doubt you needed that trip down memory lane but judging by the reaction of some of our fans recently, it appears maybe some do.
The idea of signing Michael Owen was completely ludicrous to me. I thought it had to be a shitty paper story. Signing Antonio Valencia wasn’t ever going to have us jumping for joy, I was fairly apathetic, but it was fine, I’m sure he’ll do pretty well. Signing Gabriel Obertan didn’t really feature on the radar at all.
It was time for Cristiano Ronaldo to leave and I’m glad he has. The press don’t seem to understand that perspective but then the press don’t love United and watch them every week. They didn’t have to feel ashamed every time he had a temper tantrum or feel fury every time he lost the ball and made no effort to win it back. Of course it makes no sense for a person entirely unconnected with United – why would any fan want their best player to leave? But that was certainly the case for plenty of reds this season.
I cringed when the Stretford End chanted for Carlos Tevez over the top of Sir Alex Ferguson’s end of season speech but it was definitely a chant I’d sung in the weeks preceding. As Tevez started to voice his displeasure at his current situation it became harder to support the move to sign him though. He was third choice behind Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, with increased competition coming from Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck. He wasn’t going to be happy so it made sense for him to leave rather than stay being unhappy, cost us a fortune, before leaving for Argentina in five years anyway. When he dragged the situation through the press it became beyond any doubt that it was time to leave. He can take his five Premiership goals with him.
We’ve now had time to adjust to the Owen signing and whilst there are still some doubts, the general feeling is positive. He’s free, his wages are next to nothing, so it’s win-win. Valencia isn’t here to be the next Ronaldo, he’s here to boost the squad. He looked good playing against United at Old Trafford so one can only assume he’ll look even better when playing for United. Obertan is one for the future and isn’t a transfer we need to concern ourselves with.
So, champions of England, two other trophies in the bag, European Cup final, FA Cup semi, with three players in and two players out, yet sections of our fans aren’t happy to hear Ferguson isn’t buying anyone else this summer.
Now, I’m not saying because we’ve done it before that naturally it will just happen again. Just because we improved the season after Ruud left when everyone else wrote us off, it doesn’t mean that we will improve the season after Ronaldo and Tevez leave. But equally, if we did following the summer of 2006 then why the fuck can’t we do it following the summer of 2009. Had Ronaldo left at the end of the 07-08 season then maybe things would be different, given the massive effect he’d had on our season, but things changed last season.
To improve on last season’s goal tally and replace the goals Ronaldo scored, we’d be looking at Wayne Rooney scoring 5 more goals, Dimitar Berbatov scoring 5 more goals, as well as 9 goals from Owen, Valencia and the likes of Carrick, Fletcher, Nani etc. chipping in with an extra goal or two. Is that really so hard to imagine? We replaced Ruud’s 21 goals and added 11 to it without buying any replacement. Is it really that unlikely we can replace Ronaldo’s 18 goals and add more, given we have brought players and expect improvements from the likes of Rooney and Berbatov?
Buy Huntelaar for £25m or Aguero for £30m or Ribery for £45m! Do it! We have to if we are to compete for the title!
Has Liverpool’s squad improved? No. Has Chelea’s? No. Has Arsenal’s? No. The chances of Alonso, Mascherano, Terry and Adebayor leaving are higher than the chances of them buying a brilliant talent who will massively turn them around.
Nobody is buying brilliant players this summer and there is a reason for it.
“I can only placate the fans this way and say I am not going to be stupid,” said Ferguson. “We have got that wonderful sum of money from Real Madrid but there was no way we were going to throw it away and put an extra nought on the end of the transfer which I didn’t think was value. Some of the numbers being tossed about are sky-high, not just in England but across Europe. For some reason it seems to have caught fire this summer and it has been very difficult to get value.”
I’m sure the manager would have loved to spend more of Ronaldo’s transfer fee but it made more sense to hold off and save it for when the market has calmed down. Maybe you or I would have been hesitant to make such a brave call but are we really questioning Sir Alex Ferguson here? Are we really wondering whether he knows that we have a squad capable of winning the Premiership or not? He’s won the thing fucking eleven times, so wouldn’t it be wise to assume he knows what he’s doing?
This doesn’t mean the title is wrapped up or in the bag but we will start next season as favourites. We may not win the league but that might very well have happened even with Ronaldo in the team. It’s not our God-given right to win the Premiership every season (I know, shocking isn’t it!) but I’m happy enough for August to come with no new faces and have the belief that we are going to win the title again. Ferguson believes it and I tend to side with him. The occasions when I don’t side with him I end up looking like a twat anyway.
So relaaaax. We’re in very capable hands here, the most capable in the business in fact, so let’s just count ourselves lucky for that and wish away the summer!
Man Utd News 24/7
Well said, Scott.
cheers scott, exactly what some fans need to read and understand. relax take a chill pill and look forward to the coming sesaon, its all good people!
rooney will set the world on fire this year!
come on!
As I pointed out on another site: I reckon it’ll give us a chance to blood some of the youngsters properly: Foster, Da Silva x 2, Evans, Eckersley, Possebon, Gibson, Anderson, Nani, Tosic, Obertan, Lljaic, Wellbeck, Macheda, Petrucci.
Not much point in bringing in & nurturing some of the best talent if you don’t give them a crack. It’s not the end of the world if we don’t win the title but realize the potential of say 6 of the reserves. At least we’d know who to hang onto / who to sell going into 2010/2011, that plus the £80 Mill for CR7, plus the annual £30 Mill budget x 2 in a market that shouldn’t be as crazy as it appears this summer.
and owen will prove the doubters wrong, and fergie right!
I’d say sack the manager but then again I do read alot of newspapers well said Scott
Spot on Scott some of the “fans” reactions on MUTV and other sites is a fucking disgrace. Send this to EVERY media outlet mate.
The usual knee jerk reactions from our so called fans and the media who are obsessed with out demise, we will never die you hatred makes us stonger.
That was very nicely put Scott. Bravo.
Yes, so many new names here on the blog with questionable attitude. But not too many and that is good. Suhayl gone missing, Costas finishing his studyings etc.
But yes, great article Scott. We can not win it every year but ia ma quite possitive about the issue. And i knew Fergie wouldn’t splash the Ronaldo’s cash. Now it is the chance for many players to find their way. Fletch will be stronger than he was before, Nani perhaps will feel that this is his chance, Valencia will rip the oposition apart with the players we have at our disposal. So things look bright.
I am eager for the new season to start. Friendly games before that will do for me.
But the news that Eckersly might be on his way aren’t pleasant. Young players will get their chance but after Frazer another one might go.
In SAF we trust.
Spot on. We’ll Never Die.
I just saw a City fan on Sky Sports saying Tevez is by far the best player in the league.
i dont know why you’ve even bothered with this… haven’t you heard it’s liverpool’s year? robbie fowler says so!
The nail has been hit on the head!
Need we say any more?
Bring on the Champions!
To be honest – i’m not sure we have enough at the moment…
The season Ruud left fergie already had Louis Saha as a replacement.
In fact by the end of that season he’d already pretty much replaced ruud.
Saha, when fit, didnt score as many goals as Ruud but he led the line far better and brought others into play.
Personally i’m worried – when you look at how the scousers and the reant boys ended the season as well as the team citeh are assembling – i think we could do with one or two more top players.
I understand the logic of giving the young players a chance – and i guess only fergie knows if players like tosic, macheda, welbeck, nani and anderson are ready.
From last year and the players leaving i think we need a striker to lead the line, a left winger and central midfield general.
I dont know if tosic, anderson and macheda/welbeck are ready to step into those roles.
Anderson – seems a bit up and down – but he is very young – maybe this season will be his season.
We definitley need a new left winger – i just dont know if tosic or obertan are ready to fill that role…
Whilst I am concerned. And i think it’s ok to be concerned,
I guess we have to trust in fergie.
i do feel we need another player or 2 – but to be honest, i’m not sure i believe fergie when he says ‘no more signings’ anyway.
He loves putting up these smoke screens- telling the press one thing and then doing the other – i would not be surprised if we see at least one more signing
Personally i’d like to see Ashley Young come in……
one of the best blogs of all time!!!!
This year like any other before will be decided in january, i think we will have strong start and if keep it till january, we have very nice chance for 19
well said mate…
happy we saved the money, happy with the siginings !
rememebr next season we will need to replace scholsy, giggsy, neville ! save the money for next summer
GGMU
“ronaldo will miss the red shirt”!
fantastic post! i had fucking goosebumps reading it and thinking of 06-07 season! funny as it may sound,but for all the trophies we won in the last two seasons,i really had a special place for 06-07 season! in fact,it was one of my favorite seasons! maybe because we were’nt the favorites! but we did win and we won in style!
and i have to admit that i was a bit dissappointed to know that we wont be signing any more players but this post has calmed me down considerably! and something that im sure of is that im going to enjoy every win much more than i did last season and im fucking gonna buy michael owen jersey cause i dont care who he was! for me he is united no. 7
@Corea.
I agree with everything you say apart from the Eckersley bit. To be fair what Fergie is thinking is he’s got Neville, Wes, Rafael and O’Shea who can all play there so the lads not really gonna get much of chance this season. Let him go out on loan and get a season of first team football under his belt and see how hes develops. Just hope he gets played and does not go through what Simpson did last season with never getting a game.
MUFC: rofl! ofcourse i’d expect that from Citeh fans!
Obviously last season the best player in the league was Bellamy!
Regarding the topic, i completely agree. Rooney for 20 PL goals this season. I’m a bit pessimistic regarding Europe though… need Berba to come good, along with Nani and Rafael, key areas in the CL.
I’m optimistic about next season…
VdS
Rafael Rio Vida Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Nani
Rooney Berba
Subs? Pick from Foster, Wesley, Evans, O’Shea, Park, Fletch, Obertan, GNev, Giggs, Tosic, Wellbeck, Manuco, Hargreaves, Macheda.. who else am I forgetting here? We have the strongest squad in the PL!
Exciting attacking football to be played next year, coming from all over the pitch, not just the right wing
I’m not too confident about winning the CL or getting to the final again, but the league is ours boys
Whoops, forgot Micky Owen!
@ pbozz22
you missed the last line, mate
but you are wrong. i think he is in the final year of his contract. so this is the question whether he will sign another one or go.
Relax being the operative word here.
We all like to talk and rumour and muse on all this but seriously come next May it will more than likely be Red, White and Black ribbons on that Trophy again and we can all sit back and relax (again) and watch a World Cup.
Yep.
And Anderson! And Fabio! And Petrucci! And Gibson! But it all goes to show just how strong our squad really is!
Yes. Players like Anderson just have to develop their game. We depend on some of the things called luck. There is no question about that.
But as long as Hargo will be back i will be 90% more possitive about our midfield!
anyone who doubts sir alex cannot call themselves a manchester united supporter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the year of nani mark my word don’t start slatin me for saying this but just wait when nani first came pre season remember it he was outstanding! We spoke about nani for all of pre season yes I understand he has been inconsistant but he shows some magic which lets be honest no one else apart from Rooney show who else could score a 30 yard screamer in our squad (I’m not sayin our squad is shit before people jump on my back far from it) if nani can be more consistant and improve his final ball and decision making why can’t he be our next big player look how he played against arsenal he’s got 2 years more experience so why can’t he step up to the plate some one has to. I no we lost ronnie he was our best player but he was greedy and effected the whole squad by his attitude sometimes! But tevez was more of a impact player! I think we still have one of the best squads in the world and if were not doin well next season fergie might buy in January he nearly always does!
this picture might as well be one of my favorite pics of all times!
BELIEVE!
Bravo, good to see not every fan is panicking because we’ve decided not to let an overexuberant market rule our purchasing decisions.
@Mitty
Exactly. I’m proud of our manager not getting bent over the barrel just to please his fans.
Fergie is unique in that emotions never come into it. He’ll do what HE thinks is right, no matter the circumstances.
I’ve been saying it for a long time but I thought Fergies most important signing of the summer would be a coach to replace Mickey P. Fergie is a great man-manager but has never been a masterful tactician, we could do with a tactical super-brain to slot in along-side him, no offense to Mick but he’s a coach/trainer.
Unfortunately I Can’t see it happening though.
Well said, Scott. You never stop impressing me. I totally agree with you on everything as that is my thoughts and reaction to it. Many fans are going crazy and nuts with the transfer money. They are control by the greed and desire that they lost sense of it. Calm down and be ourselves.
Scott
I’ve read so much drivel in the press recently its finally good to read a balanced perspective. As long as we are competitive, putting up a decent challenge and playing some decent football then I’m happy. I’m not enthralled by our signings but I understand the manager’s reasons.
Great article Scott, you put things into perspective perfectly.
Have a little faith lads, we’ve gone through this before!
Kel it’s very very easy to agree with Scott he’s a media free Manchester united fan who has faith in the team because of his learnings of the history and experiences of the past. That’s how you follow a football team it’s not because you own the new shirt and know 15 players it’s the belief
Our downfall has been forecast before and probaly will be again. Some header on mutv last nite said we shud copy madrid in the way they unveil their new signings, no were a proper club not a circus.
I heard him in mutv and taught what an idiot what a way to say this guy is bigger than the club.
Scott I love how you say you sometimes look like a twat. Has anyone ever disagreed with sir Alex and are still right
I’ve been reading this blog religiously for the past year, never really felt the urge to type…. But Scott this is the best blog you have written all year!!!!
We are Manchester United. And this is Sir Alex. For my entire life (23 yrs old) he has done what is best for our club. Although a few of us (me included) wanted a “big” signing, I think our squad is more than capable.
I’m expecting certain players to step up. Anderson (massive potential) consistancy and goals that’s all i ask! Nani consistancy and end product please!!!!!!!!
I wasn’t a big fan of Berbatov but he is a United player now, with undoubted talent/skill and again this could be a big season for him!
Rooney in my opinion, doesn’t even need to improve that much…. Once we get him into the middle of the park he will be doing the business!!!!!
Obviously a massive effort from our extremley talented squad and the Title will remain at Old Trafford. (Owen Hargreaves bk??? MASSIVE boost!!!!!!!)
scott u hve written sme gr8 articles bt dis one is the best.at this time best thing is to back the manager and the team rather then criticizing them.we hve proved critics wrong in the past and we wil continue to do so.
I am SO looking forward to next season. I am happy as a pig in City.
We have got some money in the bank to wait for the right deal. Whta we have currently in our squad is good enough to win EVERYTHING next season.
The only reason we did not beat Barca was cos we had a shocking day in the office – bad timing but that is all it was.
Nothing makes you hungrier than the taste of defeat – especially at Manchester United Football Club.
@GHTT:To be honest,that’s somewhat how I started following United.Because I had got the game FIFA 2002 for my computer from my uncle and I knew only 2 teams:The dippers and us.I now know I picked the right one!
Also,Scott,you missed a tag to file this under:RoM’s Finest Articles.
Scott – you are such a Peanut ! You managed to put this in a nutshell.
it goes like dis.the higher u are the more people want to pull u down.dats why there are so many anti man utd journos and fans.
I still think we will make a signing or two more before the window closes. As Fergie said the fees people are asking due to Real and City (Even moneybags Chelsea are struggling) and the 80mill+ we have in the bank are too much. By saying “Thats it” it puts the ball into the teams we have contacted about their players and will get the fees down. Just look at the papers today, was there a single story about us signing someone. For the first time all summer I didn’t see a single one and speculation raises asking prices, no speculation lowers it.
Gremio atm want all the money upfront for Costa, I can see them now coming back with a proposal closer to what United want to pay to ensure they get their money, Barca apparently scuppered Eto deal by upping the valuation they have been given for Villa but I wouldn’t bet against them coming back with a lower fee (Eto doesn’t want to be there and they don’t want him there after all) and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone like Sanchez suddenly becoming viable as well.
Also it needs to be remembered that while Fergie does say there won’t be any more signings he did give himself an out with the “2 months still to go so who knows” comment
Hi guys. I said it yesterday in another thread. I don’t believe we are the favorites anymore and quite frankly, i don’t have a problem going trophyless for a season. We can’t continue this red hot streak all the time. But, if we do manage to gel quickly, things could look up a bit. I focus my concerns on another issue. Where has the Ronaldo money gone? Pretty simple question. I don’t want players like Ribery and Benzema here, but we have bought from the bottom drawer. And that should be indicative that the Glazers’ sources lied when they said that the 80 million would go back into the club. I discussed this with GHTT yesterday. I can accept the fact that the money have gone to relieve the debts. They should have told us though. It’s the least this great club’s fans deserve. Tevez staying, Ronaldo staying, the money going back to the club. These are all statements made by GIll or the Glazers and so far, they haven’t backed up any of them. We rarely get an update about the true ambitions of the club, yet the ticket prices keep going higher. There is a wrong pattern there.
PS I don’t include Valencia in the bottom drawer category, but his signing was always on the cards. We had the budget for it and we even had the luxury of lowering the fee because he would leave Wigan for nothing next summer.
Gotta hate tiny tears, yeah. After reading this acticle, i know that scott is a truly Man United fans who know full well of the history. There is nothing to be afraid and panic. I will be afraid is when Sir Alex called up on his day.
you’re a class act Scott !!
gosh!!! i love this blog
Costa,I don’t think the money’s gone into the Glazers pocket.I agree with you,though,because if it has they should’ve told us.I woiuldn’t have minded.
In Sir Alex(And the FSW) We Trust
VERY WELL SAID SCOTT AND I AM ASHAMED TO SAY I WAS ONE OF THE FUCKERS IN THE STRETFORD END WHO SANG THAT CUNTS NAME WHILE THE GREAT MAN WAS TRYING TO SPEAK.
UR RIGHT SOME OF US HAVE VERY SHORT MEMORIES.
@ Costas
hi, you are entitled to your opinion but i don’t exactly like the attitude.
Don’t become AlphaRS.
@Costas Said, If we do think a lot for the club, we can’t possibly want them to tell us everything will the whole world knows about it. I do want a bit portion of the money to pay the debt and so it will relieve the debt a bit. I can see Man United maybe signing a players after this as wakey has said. I personally think it’s a mind games with other clubs to cool down the transfer fees. It is really a clever move by Sir Alex.
Good said but the world cup hadn’t even took part by 2004 had it?
it would have been a depressing summer if rooney had left he’s the heart beat of the team, sir fergie has everything in hand how anyone can doubt him beats me………..
GREAT headline
GREAT article
GREAT writing
Most importantly, UTD are a GREAT team.
We can’t not be excited about this season. It’s Waynes World and it’s going to be excellent. With Wazza we can’t not win the league.
Great post Scott. Fans morale are low currently, some may even switch to the white sides already since the departure of CR7. =p T
his may calm the unrest and anxiety of fans who wished to see established names being signed (including me who refreshed man utd sites constantly for breaking transfer news). I think us fans panicking serves as a sign that we expect more and more from our team because we are used to being champions. That aint a bad thing e?
CR7′s departure may serve as a blessing in disguise. Team chemistry would probably improve and now, everyone has the chance to step up and be a star for man utd instead on relying on a single focal point. If ando steps up this season, i see us top of the league again since our squad is quite complete.
Now let us all go for a holiday until august comes.
I also thinkwe will make at least 1 more signing wen the transfer market calms down.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Man Utd will be better this season than they were last season. I fancy Owen to be top Premier League scorer next season.
Does everyone forget that Ronaldo took our penalties and free-kicks? he scored about 10 or so goals from dead ball situations that gives him a total of 17 or so goals scored from open play. Where as Rooney who played as left winger for the majority of the season scored 20. If Rooney is played as a Centre Forward he will score 30 goals a season yet Ferguson chose to cater for a nancy boy in Ronaldo. Ferguson has realised he has got all he can out of Ronaldo which is why he did not standi in his way when he left.
I am angered by the fair weather fans who as soon as their darling Ronaldo and Tevez have left, condemn United to a season of misery do they forget when we sold Hughes, Ince and Kanchelskis? Existing players steeped up to the mark and young players such as Butt, Scholes, Beckham and the Nevilles were introduced to first team football reguarly and improved the club drastically.
Ronaldo is not bigger then the club nor is Tevez and that is why United will carry on being the dominant force certainly in English and with added maturity and experience will be the dominant force in Europe.
In Sir Alex Ferguson I trust! do you?
No arguments here. I was fine with Cr7 going, I wanted him out last summer, and Tevez after the 3rd or 4th head shake when he was subbed. I think we’ll do ok this year, domestically, but can’t see beyond Real Madrid for the CL. We’ll see.
In the end you can’t buy what isn’t there. We could use a holding midfielder but must wait for Hargreaves.
This is my team 2 start the new season,
VDS, BROWN, RIO, VIDA, EVRA.
NANI, CARRICK, ANDO OR FLETCH, VALENCIA.
BERBA AND WAZZA 442.
@Costas
We know that United bid for Benzema, We know they were willing to pay for Tevez, We know they talked to Costa, I’m fairly sure we were speaking to Eto based on what I have heard, I’m also told enquires were made about Ribery although no firm offer and that enquires were made to Udinese about Sanchez.
Add to that that it does seem we made an offer for Torres and I don’t think the money has gone and was always intended to go into the Glazier pocket. Its just nothing is available at a realistic price at this moment in time. I still think signings will be made but even if they aren’t its money we can use in jan or next summer when prices will hopefully be more realistic
Scott, great post. I maybe think that we need some new faces, young ones, but of course SAF knows best.
We know that we can’t win forever, but we shouldn’t give up trying. Hell, we went for the 18, why not going to 19?
We are always concerned that United are top of England, of of the world. We lost are best player of the last few years, and things will always get shaky in times like this.
But I’ll never doubt United, because even we things seems impossible, we seem not to know that and get it done.
Let the pre-season begin, and August come as fast as possible. We’ll never die.
Guys mark my words…
SAF just threw the porkie at the Press…He loves to do it..
He would nick in someone or the other before the Transfer Ends..
He is just playing hardball with the clubs who think MANU would spend their 80 mil..
why does everyone mention sanchez i have never even heard us being linked with him.
Remember. Before signing Ljaic and Tosic SAF also said that we won’t buy in January.
Corea, i don’t want to be like this, but i can’t disguise my concern about somethings, sorry. I don’t care if Owen, Obertan and Valencia become hits or flops. That’s not what this is about. I don’t trust the Glazers. People say we shouldn’t be spending money when Real spend like this. Well, Real spent like this in the past(00-03), yet we still shattered the British transfer record 3 times in those years. This isn’t about trusting in SAF either. Of course i do. I just want some honesty from those above him. It’s not like a lot of things can remain a secret in football these days.
SAF isn’t stupid to pay silly money for RM-lovers. And also, his priority is to build football TEAMS, not to be in charge of various individuals who care more about their endorsements.
I don’t care who plays for us, as long as we have Fergie in charge (although I’d be annoyed if Rooney left!)
@Wakey:
The only enquiry that has been confirmed by the club has been about Benzema. And i will hold my reservations about how we believed we can buy him anyway.
I really hope you guys are right and i am paranoid. The next few transfer windows should show what the situation is.
@7Cantona7
You make a very good point about the penalties and freekicks.
@ Costas
I don’t trust myself, pal.
you have your reasons, i believe in SAF and don’t see why Nani+Valencia with a bit of luck and Fergie magic would be worse than one Cristiano Ronaldo.
@ Corea i don’t beleive that either of them can truly fill the place that Ronaldo left on the Right Wing i do however believe that maybe a different style of football may be used by Ferguson, as i don’t think from what i saw of his selection process this season he truly believes that Nani has the talent to play predominantly at world class club. Valencia however is a safer bet for work ethic and crossing wise is very good.
We could win the Treble next year, and i would still have my concerns. Nani, Valencia and Berbatov can make up for Ronaldo’s goals. Or as 7CANTONA7 says, we could change our style a bit.
Of course it will be a different style. No question about that.
)
There is only one Ronaldo, There is only one Nani, There is only one Valencia (doubt that
It could have been worse if we played on with Ronaldo and Tevez without changing something, mates. I take this as a possibility.
That’s right Corea. Maybe opponents were starting to figure us out.
There is only one Nani, There is only one Valencia (doubt that
)
heheh good 1
Look at Barca after 2006 CL Victory. No Ronaldihno and we have the year 2009.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/man-utd-boss-ferguson-admires-real-madrid-bottle-transfer-market-256887
SAF talking about Real policy.
I think fans with a clear head would agree we are better off not signing the likes of Ribery & Benzema. Thou there is a general feeling that Young might be a good player to have, I feel Nani has more potential than Young. Yes Young can put in a good cross and run faster than many players, but Nani can do those equally well, if not better, on his day, not to mention put in a cracker of a shot. So for me, last chance for Nani to step up, if no improvements, have a look at Young in January
- Whats more, we have 2 new players coming in come turn of the year. Ljajic & a certain Mr. Owen (Not the one we just signed)
I think The Sir Alex saying no more transfers is a ruse to get Germio to lower their asking price for Douglas Costa. I’d like to see us get him.
But otherwise I completely agree we don’t need a “stellar” signing. Last season everyone was constantly talking about our “strength in depth”, now after 2 players have gone we’ve got no team… The press don’t know what they’re talking about.
@ Marq
i think Hargo will be the most important signing for us. With less games for us to play this season (but who knows) and without Ronaldo i think Hargo will be a 100% starter. What a player!
Nani is more talented than Young but he has no football brain. As simple as that. Don’t mention his skills. It it not a problem.
@Costas
Benzema was realistic. While we weren’t his preferred destination he was happy to join us. Real were initially looking elsewhere until they were priced out of buying Villa. When they started sniffing around they wouldn’t match the bid we had accepted at first and if they hadn’t upped their bid he would have been ours, it was by all accounts pretty close to happening until Real matched it at the 11th hour and we decided it wasn’t worth starting a bidding war for him.
Also the Tevez deal was confirmed. So thats 2 confirmed transfer we were willing to make.
The fact we have enquired about Costa has also been confirmed by our Official request to take him on trail with the view of signing him which Gremio turned down.
And sure the others have not been in any way confirmed by the club but have been or hinted at by the club, player or agent and the unofficial word is enquires were made on them all
At the end of the day fcuk benzema and ribery they dont wanna come.
“He can take his five Premiership goals with him”
SPOT ON good buddy
We signed Owen after failing to get deals for Benzema and Tevez.
Fergie’s words.
Scott i have only just realised you made a point of signing ribery for £45million, Ribery unfortunately in my opinion is too similar to the like of Park and Valencia who are more conventional get down the line and cross wingers. and at 27 years old would Fergie really pay that for him? espesially seeing as he is not a prolific goalscorer or at assisting the strikers at Bayern Munich.
right, sometimes I feel you are talking with my mouth. nothing else to add
@ chep who do you mean by this and what coment are you refering to ?
good article. People tend to jump on the band wagon, sometimes big jestures backfire when all that is need is a tweak.
I’m looking forward to seeing the new signings play and show what they can do. I prefer it when we spend 12m and un-earth a major talent. Let’s hope we can get some of the young players to step up and take the mantle Ronaldo has left.
I was happy when Ruud went and I’m happy now Ronaldo has left. With the squad we have, we are more than a match for anyone.
I have been following your blog I dunno since when.I have never ever commented but this is the most awesome read in a long long time.U should put a category of ur best works.Plus to gotta hate tiny tears,king eric,costas,I specifically read ur comments and Manchester United for life.Legendary
@Corea
Where did you read/hear that? While I could buy the Tevez part the timeline doesn’t seem to make sense for Owen to be a fall back for Benzema. With Fergies own timeline when we signed Owen he rang him BEFORE the Benzema deal had fallen through. Real at the point of Fergie ringing Owen had yet to match our bid. And there must have been some discussion at the Club before Fergie rang Owen, I doubt he just decided on his own that “I’m going after Owen”
The press called last seasons squad Fergusons greatest ever. So why is losing two players such a disaster. Granted one of them is the most effective footballer on the planet bar none. (And the other is a whinging Argentinian midget). We will come back stronger than ever. With traditional wingers, that stay on the wing and track back when required. Its time for the white Pele to step forward. Come on Rooney this is your season.
i am so proud to be associated with this club n the gtreatest fans in you guys. i was apprehensive bout the signings in the beginning but i am beginning to see the bigger picture. we are man united and we groom young players into superstars. e gaffer has loads of unknowns whom he will throw into the pits this comin season esp e da silva boys, danny, federico, serbian boys zoran & adam. Most important of all, we have e gaffe. he’s the one that holds everything together. fuck ribery, fuck benzema, fuck all e other big names. u can sign torres n still not win anything. Hail the gaffer Hail Sir Alex. we hav lost ronny we have lost carlito fuck face but we still have e gaffer. wateva it is, pls stop whinning bout us not signing big names. we are man united we shall not fall!!!
@ wakey
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/owen-move-sparked-by-benzemas-real-deal-1731033.html
great article Scott ….i think some people here needed to hear that
I think the situation is not that bad, only that there might be one or two odd positions here and there that would benefit with the addition of more cover.
I expect a tight season for us next year, but the thing is when we look into our younger generation we know clearly that in 2-3 years time we will have an invinsible squad far superior than any of the other big clubs.
Look at Liverpool: how many players have they got below 21? Insua, N’Gog, Spearing, Plessis, Nemeth, Darby, Kelly, Lindfield, Gulacsi. Our young players just simply outclass theirs by miles and again soon Benitez will complain that we spend a this much more buying players when we have great young talents and they turn their heads to buying.
@Corea
See that article doesn’t fit the timeline. On Wednesday Afternoon Real hadn’t yet submitted a bid and Lyon revealed they had accepted a bid from a club that wasn’t Real (which has since been confirmed to be us) that Afternoon
Ofc maybe after speaking to Benzema Fergie realised if Real did match us he would choose them but still throughout Wednesday we were still Favourites. Real matched our bid on Thursday morning and had it accepted instantly.
I still suspect that it had been discussed well before Wednesday afternoon and that it was in Fergies mind to bring Owen in even if Benzema had joined. I know sometimes on transfer deadline day transfers can come out of left field and be tied up in a few hours BUT it just seems like it was too quick to me
Well said Scott. In Fergie we trust. C’mon u REDS.
Amen.
finally a voice of reason among all of this. too many fans forget rooney will move into a more central role and berbatov is no slouch either. also remember when beckham and rvn left? fergie didn’t exactly go out and splash the cash to replace them right away did he? (purchased a little known portugese winger..)
we must also remember there’s a debt to service. there’s no need to panic yet.
great headline, great article, great comments from my favourite readers. thank you for that. what i love about united and sir alex is that we always show character and don´t necessarily make the seemingly obvious move. and concerning michael owen, since i saw his happy face in the training ground pictures i got that song going round in my head: “if you can´t be with the one you love – love the one you´re with”…
My preferred line up:
——-Foster——
Wes—-Rio—-Vidic—-Evra
A.V.–Carrick–Fletch–Fabio
—-Berba—–Wayne—-
–With key positional battles at RB (Rafael), LM (Nani/Tosic/Obertan), CM (Hargo/Ando/Scholes/Gibbo), and GK (VdS).
–And I don’t think his place will be in danger for big games, but Evra will have to be looking over his shoulder at Fabio and Delaet. The same for Rio with Evans.
@Scott, it’s a sad day when you need to remind United fans no to panic and that we’re in good hands.
I thought United fans were meant to be thick skinned? Us against the world? We shall not be moved?
Advice to all reds – don’t buy newspapers. Only believe what comes out of SAF mouth. Nothing else. (Ok, maybe Scott’s!!)
“Ferguson believes it and I tend to side with him. The occasions when I don’t side with him I end up looking like a twat anyway.”
Line of the summer that Scott. Well played lad.
Just watch out for OWEN. Its not for nothing that Fergie has given him the No. 7.
I’d bet 25 goals on him today!!!!
Thing is, Sky Sports to me seem to have an anti-United bias anyway. I remember when we lost 5-0 against Newcastle (remember them?) in the 90s and the following week they showed the goals with a gunshot sound superimposed over the top. And when we go a goal up in a live game, listen to the disappointment in the commentator’s voices!
I reckon we’ll still win the league.
does anyone know how to pronounce Lljaic? does it sound as complicated as it looks?
suberb article!!!
Sir Alex is god
Interesting read scott. the only thing i’ll disagree with you is about Ronaldo going. I really cannot understand why you would want the World Player of the Year to leave United. That makes no sense whatsoever. We all have our opinions and we won’t always agree on everything, but on this issue I will disagree with you on.
Everything else you’ve written is on point. For me, Nani, Anderson and Berbatov must have a big season. All three have the potential to excel on a consistent basis and dominate games the way we know they can.
Berbatov’s football style reminds me of the way Roger Federer plays tennis. In that he moves with grace, doesn’t use up much energy but is effective at what he does.
Also, SAF really does need to look at the tacticle side things – especially in Europe. There’s alot more questions and only SAF and his backroom staff will be able to provide the answers.
Like:
How will our style of play change now we have Owen on board.
Our midfield compostion: Will it be Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick in a 433 or will he go to a 442 or a combination of the two.
Will he give Foster his chane to shine and even if he’s not playing well stick with him through those tough times.
Will Fabio Da Silva get more prem games and experience
When will Hargreaves be back
Will Wellbeck, Macheda and Gibson get more chances in the first team.
The one thing I do see, is that the team will be more of a unit working together rather than at times as individuals.
brilliant piece written scott.i could’nt agree with you more…i for 1 hav neva been tevez’s biggest fan..i’m glad he left as well as ronaldo..the 06/07 season was my favorite because of the brilliant soccer we played and the fact that critics had written us off..I was hoping SAF could sign a quality holding midfielder but i believe fletcher can do a decent job..nani should come fresh this season on the left wing with valencia on the other..i believe that this is the season wger scholes,nev and giggs will be gradually eased out of the side and let the likes of ando,gibson,macheda,tosic and obertan to come through and make a name for themselves..
MAN UTD FOR LIFE!!
scott good article
but my faith in ferguson is as strong as ever
however…..
*i dont have faith in Mike Owens legs
*i dont have faith in a former scouse hero taking our beloved number 7 shirt
*I dont have faith in Owen Hargreaves knees
*I dont have faith in andersons ability to tackle
*i dont have faith in andersons ability to shoot
*i dont have faith in john osheas first touch
*i dont have faith in john osheas crossing
*i dont have faith in the glazers not pocketing some of that ronaldo cash
*i dont have faith in fletchers ability to dominate the midfield in the absence of hargreaves.
*i dont have faith in paul scholes anymore.
*i dont have faith in berbatov leading the line, does he know how far up the field a striker should play?
A bit of perspective is needed i think. last season was almost our best season EVER!! PL CC WCC winners, CL final which we lost to an amazing side in barcelona and FAC semi final loss with our youth.
All this was achieved with ronaldo and tevez i grant you but ronaldo wasnt our best player last season and tevez wasnt great either.
The loss of these two players can even be seen as a positive on the squad as a whole because they unfocused the players at the wrong time.
Ronaldo announcing his departure before the champions league final and all of tevez’s bollox at the end of the season.
I will miss ronaldo but good ridance to the pair.
With owen, valencia and obertan coming in to the squad i am optomistic for next season.
We also have some good youth players at the club such as macheda, wellback, gibson, raphael, evans, fabio, possebon, james, cleverly, amos, tosic and pettrucci. Whilst i dont think they will all make the grade. there are some bright sparks in there for the future.
In fergie we trust!!! *** 4 in a row ***
When you said that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool not strengthen their squad, on the other hand they have not sold their best player.
We sold our 1 best player and released other, so we are behind in that sense. I have no doubt about the goals, they will come and they will come thick and fast.
Owen signing was always a surprise rather more than a surprise, but still I believe he will score goals and that too for fun, because the amount of chances we create are countless, and Owen know how to bang the back of the net.
Its a new beginning of a chapter really,despite not signing marquee names(well owen is just a English lad),we do need to thinker the system’s a bit for this players in order to suit..It is VITAL that fergie must change his tactic in order to suit this players..And its vital to blood some young talent, like the old saying”we will never win titles with kids for more than 14 years”.SO its time to prove that our youth sytem is doin well..In terms of the tittle,I would rather us play majestic football than to do a”job” of winning the title..Last season was boring,I can’t even remeber such a below par performance from my expectation…Whats worst we got expose when we lost to Bar..So,fergie needs a retaliate his tactics or we will be just get expose in European competiton wise..
I just laugh when i read this “we’re doomed we’re doomed stuff”
Some of you should remember the 80′s.. so bad they were actually funny…
That just made me comfortable. Cheers Scott
Newcastle fan here, just want to say that Owen will do well in a decent team, with decent service, which he’s never had at Newcastle. Didn’t expect him to be given the number 7 though, bit more pressure now. I would love to see him break back into england squad personally. Also, if you have some fans who are complaining about what Sir Alex is doing, they are unbelievable. You are so lucky worrying about coming second. Prem should be yours next season good luck.
Scott, you’re an ace.
Wake up boys!! We still have Rooney!!!
i’m positively sure that this year will be rooney’s years!!
btw nice writings scott..
United 4 Live!