All the signs that emerged after
the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson were positive, with the swift appointment of
David Moyes and his staff. The appointment of Ryan Giggs from a player to
player-coach and Phil Neville as the assistant coach was symbol of belief in
the club culture. Everything smooth for a club that is renowned for stability
not only on the pitch also off it. Where others clubs go through a series of
transformations during the football summer with the appointment of new managers
and the players adopting to the certain manager and few falling out of favour
and down the pecking order even before the ball has been kicked in in the new
season. That problem never occurred for Manchester United, the perks of having
a single boss for past 26 years. Yet one problem spilled over from the Ferguson
era to Moyes, THE ROONEY CONUNDRUM.
You see the problem with
replacing the title winning outgoing coach is that you are not only supposed to
retain the title but you are supposed to do it in some style to prove that you
are one for the job. It’s the challenge facing the likes of Moyes and Guardiola,
as if this wasn’t enough the delicate matter of fan favourite Rooney was handed
over to Moyes. He seemed to handle it well initially, but some misinterpreted quotes
have brought up all the kind of headache to him when he on the other side of
the world building his side to retain the title. May be he should leave it up
to the board to the Rooney mess, but he is intelligent enough to know the caliber
of Rooney, he introduced him to the world. Losing a player of that caliber to direct
rivals (Chelsea have already made an offer, with Arsenal also interested) will
be damning because irrespective of the forward options at United Hernandez,
Welback & Van Persie, Rooney is something special to the fans and the club.
Given that Rooney never gave in the transfer request and still silent through
this entire episode seems to me that he wants to stay and play, in his
preferred position. That’s all he has asked for, to play in his position (apart
from an improved contract three years earlier). One should remember that United
legend Paul Scholes also got into the dark side of Sir Alex and was punished by
benching him for important matches. Comparing to that scenario Rooney has
suffered enough and should be given one more last chance to prove that he can
follow in Scholes footsteps and go on to become a legend at Old Trafford.
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Moving on other issues plaguing
the club during this summer, or should we say last few years is the signing of
the genuine midfielder for the club. The last of such signing was Michael Carrick.
The issue was put to rot and the rot seems to continue. Not that there wasn’t
any effort put to fill the gaps, Sneijder couldn’t be signed because of his
high wages, Moura was lost to high fee of Paris Saint-Germain. Hazard again
lost to money of Chelsea. Thiago lost to allure of Guardiola. Again and again
United have a lost out the race in the market and it is starting to reflect
badly. But it has never affected the Club heavily in Premier league, because of
the mentality of club. But in Europe it has become limp. There are some
exciting young players in the squad who would be up to the challenge but not
with immediate effect. Players like Adnan Januzaj, who is impressing the boss
at the preseason friendly, Zaha and Nick Powell will take time to get adjusted
to rough and tumble of premier league, let alone Europe.
I am no expert in transfer dealings but I feel United should’ve reacted quickly to the Thiago transfer. United were in negotiations from almost a month and yet Bayern Munich came in swooped up Thiago in just two days. And now United are in for Fabregas for 30 milllion euros. Seriously 30 million? Thiago goes for 22million and the club bids for a improved senior player who has proved potential at highest level, for just a 8 million more. That shows United are not seriously interest or someone at the club who decides the bid don’t know the player potential. Anyway, Barcelona won’t sell him. Another long term target Kevin Strootmen is also lost to Roma. So where does that leave the club? Again at square one. The search for another Central midfielder (CM) goes on. That’s the confusion I am talking about. The club need a genuine CM, needed it for years, and still can’t get one. The sight of targeted players lost to some other clubs has become a common sight for fans like me. Do we have the money to buy required players? Yes. Do we have the history? In plenty. So what’s the issue? No one seems to know or get hold of the answer. So how is Moyes going to manage without the required CM? He had Fellaini at Everton. So how will he fill that gap United? That’s the answer everyone is waiting for.
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