A Disastrous Transfer Window, A Tough Start to the Campaign, A difficult season in store??
Like many United supporters, I was shocked, gutted and speechless when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it a day. While speculation was rife as to who would be his successor, the Gaffer had already planned his next move. David Moyes was the chosen one. Handpicked by SAF to marshal his troupes forward, the Scot was to fill the shoes of the great man. A practically impossible task at hand, Moyes knew he had his work cut out when he decided to sign on the dotted line.
When Moyes took charge, he had a few agendas at hand.
1. Strengthen the squad of the current Champions.
2. The Wayne Rooney Saga that had gone beyond repair
While the new Gaffer did exceedingly well in handling the latter, reiterating the fact that Wayne is not for sale and that his former Evertonian player is very important to his plans, many feel that he and Ed Woodward have failed to add to the squad.
So lets just take a look at the current squad at United.
The backline: Evra, Rio, Vida, Rafael - The automatic selection when fit and available.
While Evra is aging, many would agree he had one o his best season's for United last year. He has been playing really well, both defending and going forward. The fact that he chipped in with goals last year was a bonus. With United failing to sign Contrao (i am not convinced he was needed), Buttner and Fabio are the back ups.
Buttner has a lot to learn and improve his defensive skills.
Fabio on the contrary needs to stay injury free and will get playing time in the Carling and FA cup games.
Rio- Lost a yard or two on pace, but along with Evra was a revelation last year, with a season to remember.
Lead the backline in Vida's absence and did a commendable job with the youngsters playing alongside him.
He offers solidity and his vast experience will only help in improving and educating the youngsters.
Vida: Might not be the force to reckon with like he was, but he is a rock when completely fit. Again, he has lost a yard of pace, but he is tremendous in the air. There is no chance you can win a ball in the air if he is at it. A natural leader, along with rio , they form a formidable duo.
Rafael: The 22 year old Brazilian loves going forward and covering the full length of the pitch. Not afraid to tackle, attack, shoot, he improved by leaps and bounds last year. If not for RvPs goal scoring exploits, Rafael was one of the contenders for the player of the season. He is an automatic selection at RB when fit and he is going to go a long way and become a United legend.
The backups: Jones, Evans, Smalling, Buttner, Fabio
Jones: Not the conventional CB you can call, but he is a fighter and more than happy to play at any position. Love his attitude and commitment and he will only improve over the years.
Smalling: Tall, lean lanky lad, he is good defensively but needs more game time to prove his worth. Had a decent campaign last year and will get his opportunities over the course of the season.
Evans: Not many though Evans was sound defensively but it was SAF who stuck to him and boy did Evans do justice to that. Had a good campaign last season and played well defensively , chipping in with a few goals too. He has improved by leaps and bounds and will eventually take over the mantle from Rio and Vida.
Midfield: That has been a problem area for United, ever since Keano's departure, we have failled to replace him. While SAF made Darren Fletcher the force to reckon, his health conditions left a gap in the MF.
Hargreaves was a steal, 2008 was a glimpse of what he could add to our squad, but his injury woes made him a medical casualty and the MF void came back to haunt us.
While Carrick has come off age, and Tom being touted as the next big thing, the inconsistency of Anderson meant that Giggsy was to play a more central role. While the soon to turn 40 years young talisman and legend has revelled in his new role, he cant possibly be our answer to the MF question that surrounds us.
Getting the Ginger prince out of retirement shows that we need reinforcements in that department.
So now that the transfer window has shut and we have managed to sign Maroune Fellaini from Everton, personally i am not convinced if he is the creative MF that we are seeking.
Fellaini though has this rough side and in your face attitude where he runs through the heart of the defense and could be the physical presence that we need in the MF post the Keano era.
With four wingers in Nani, Valencia, Young and SAFs last signing Zaha we might go back to the 4-4-2 or the 4-4-1-1 depending on the opposition.
While Valencia had a season to forget, and Nani and Young were injury prone, Zaha looked promising and has the pace to outrun defenders and put in the crosses and will only improve with time.
Young and Nani need to be consistent if they are to prove their worth, for both have under performed from the time they have donned the United colours. Some might argue that Nani had a great second half of 2011-2012 campaign, but seeing the potential the guy has, he can go on and do wonders at United, if only he keeps his head in place.
And then we have Shinji Kagawa, the perfect link up player . While many feel that United lack creativity, Kagawa could be an answer to that. He needs more playing time and with his style and ability he could be United's answer to the MF woes faced.
With Rooney deciding to stay at United, something i am happy about, RvP in goal scoring form, Welback working his socks off and the ever reliable Hernandez, we have an attack force that will get us the goals provided the MF performs well.
A failed transfer window?? perhaps.. considering we havent signed any World Class MFs, but keeping Wayne at United was a new signing in itself.
With the WC round the corner, Rooney would be working hard to cement his place both in the United starting 11 and teh England squad.
While there is alot of pessimism amidst the supporters, mainly cause the rivals have strengthened their squads, but lets not forget we won the league last year with the same set of players. While i dont mean to boast or say we dont need to add to our squad, what im trying to do is drive away the negativity and pessimism.
Finally in the Great Mans Words " "I'd also like to remind you that when I had bad times here the club stood by me. All my staff stood by me, the players stood by me, you stood by me, and your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important."
So lets stick together and support Moyes. Testing times ahead for sure, but we got to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.
One love.One Religion.
Manchester United!!!
Like many United supporters, I was shocked, gutted and speechless when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it a day. While speculation was rife as to who would be his successor, the Gaffer had already planned his next move. David Moyes was the chosen one. Handpicked by SAF to marshal his troupes forward, the Scot was to fill the shoes of the great man. A practically impossible task at hand, Moyes knew he had his work cut out when he decided to sign on the dotted line.
When Moyes took charge, he had a few agendas at hand.
1. Strengthen the squad of the current Champions.
2. The Wayne Rooney Saga that had gone beyond repair
While the new Gaffer did exceedingly well in handling the latter, reiterating the fact that Wayne is not for sale and that his former Evertonian player is very important to his plans, many feel that he and Ed Woodward have failed to add to the squad.
So lets just take a look at the current squad at United.
The backline: Evra, Rio, Vida, Rafael - The automatic selection when fit and available.
While Evra is aging, many would agree he had one o his best season's for United last year. He has been playing really well, both defending and going forward. The fact that he chipped in with goals last year was a bonus. With United failing to sign Contrao (i am not convinced he was needed), Buttner and Fabio are the back ups.
Buttner has a lot to learn and improve his defensive skills.
Fabio on the contrary needs to stay injury free and will get playing time in the Carling and FA cup games.
Rio- Lost a yard or two on pace, but along with Evra was a revelation last year, with a season to remember.
Lead the backline in Vida's absence and did a commendable job with the youngsters playing alongside him.
He offers solidity and his vast experience will only help in improving and educating the youngsters.
Vida: Might not be the force to reckon with like he was, but he is a rock when completely fit. Again, he has lost a yard of pace, but he is tremendous in the air. There is no chance you can win a ball in the air if he is at it. A natural leader, along with rio , they form a formidable duo.
Rafael: The 22 year old Brazilian loves going forward and covering the full length of the pitch. Not afraid to tackle, attack, shoot, he improved by leaps and bounds last year. If not for RvPs goal scoring exploits, Rafael was one of the contenders for the player of the season. He is an automatic selection at RB when fit and he is going to go a long way and become a United legend.
The backups: Jones, Evans, Smalling, Buttner, Fabio
Jones: Not the conventional CB you can call, but he is a fighter and more than happy to play at any position. Love his attitude and commitment and he will only improve over the years.
Smalling: Tall, lean lanky lad, he is good defensively but needs more game time to prove his worth. Had a decent campaign last year and will get his opportunities over the course of the season.
Evans: Not many though Evans was sound defensively but it was SAF who stuck to him and boy did Evans do justice to that. Had a good campaign last season and played well defensively , chipping in with a few goals too. He has improved by leaps and bounds and will eventually take over the mantle from Rio and Vida.
Midfield: That has been a problem area for United, ever since Keano's departure, we have failled to replace him. While SAF made Darren Fletcher the force to reckon, his health conditions left a gap in the MF.
Hargreaves was a steal, 2008 was a glimpse of what he could add to our squad, but his injury woes made him a medical casualty and the MF void came back to haunt us.
While Carrick has come off age, and Tom being touted as the next big thing, the inconsistency of Anderson meant that Giggsy was to play a more central role. While the soon to turn 40 years young talisman and legend has revelled in his new role, he cant possibly be our answer to the MF question that surrounds us.
Getting the Ginger prince out of retirement shows that we need reinforcements in that department.
So now that the transfer window has shut and we have managed to sign Maroune Fellaini from Everton, personally i am not convinced if he is the creative MF that we are seeking.
Fellaini though has this rough side and in your face attitude where he runs through the heart of the defense and could be the physical presence that we need in the MF post the Keano era.
With four wingers in Nani, Valencia, Young and SAFs last signing Zaha we might go back to the 4-4-2 or the 4-4-1-1 depending on the opposition.
While Valencia had a season to forget, and Nani and Young were injury prone, Zaha looked promising and has the pace to outrun defenders and put in the crosses and will only improve with time.
Young and Nani need to be consistent if they are to prove their worth, for both have under performed from the time they have donned the United colours. Some might argue that Nani had a great second half of 2011-2012 campaign, but seeing the potential the guy has, he can go on and do wonders at United, if only he keeps his head in place.
And then we have Shinji Kagawa, the perfect link up player . While many feel that United lack creativity, Kagawa could be an answer to that. He needs more playing time and with his style and ability he could be United's answer to the MF woes faced.
With Rooney deciding to stay at United, something i am happy about, RvP in goal scoring form, Welback working his socks off and the ever reliable Hernandez, we have an attack force that will get us the goals provided the MF performs well.
A failed transfer window?? perhaps.. considering we havent signed any World Class MFs, but keeping Wayne at United was a new signing in itself.
With the WC round the corner, Rooney would be working hard to cement his place both in the United starting 11 and teh England squad.
While there is alot of pessimism amidst the supporters, mainly cause the rivals have strengthened their squads, but lets not forget we won the league last year with the same set of players. While i dont mean to boast or say we dont need to add to our squad, what im trying to do is drive away the negativity and pessimism.
Finally in the Great Mans Words " "I'd also like to remind you that when I had bad times here the club stood by me. All my staff stood by me, the players stood by me, you stood by me, and your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important."
So lets stick together and support Moyes. Testing times ahead for sure, but we got to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.
One love.One Religion.
Manchester United!!!
