Showing posts with label Man U. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Man U. Show all posts

Monday, February 10, 2014

Where do Manchester United go from here?


Liverpool won the title 11 times from 1972-90, but (as many United fans will tell you) haven't won it since. United have won it 13 times since the 1992-93 season - and while their total dominance is probably over, their ability to compete at the top hasn't quite come to an end,  but it could if they don't completely rebuild.

Manchester United are 15 points behind Chelsea after 25 games, and 9 points behind Liverpool who currently occupy the last Champions League place.

A draw with bottom-placed Fulham is the latest disappointment in a season that many are already labeling a disaster.

Competing for major trophies is probably unrealistic this year, and the process of overhauling the squad begins as soon as the season ends. People may be laughing at David Moyes now and saying he's clueless, but he needs to be given a chance to shape a squad.

Personally, I don't think Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata were the players that United should have spend the best part of $100 million on. Mata is a top player, but Fellaini doesn't fit United style. He may have scored a couple against Fulham on Sunday, but that's not the typical United way of playing. They need players who can open the door and create chances for Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Juan Mata could be that guy, as could Shinji Kagawa (although it seems his time at Old Trafford is done).

Nemanja Vidic is leaving in the summer, as will Rio Ferdinand. Ryan Giggs may call it a day, but he looks like he's done after an amazing career. Patrice Evra could go, as could Chicharito and Nani.

With all these players on the way out, United would need 6-7 really good players if they are going to compete with Manchester City and Chelsea next year. If they don't strengthen at the start of the summer, Rooney and van Persie could also exit - and that may be a hurdle too much for Moyes to overcome. He'll get the blame, but there doesn't appear to be another 'Class of '92' coming along to help him out.

There is still a huge amount of talent at Old Trafford, they've just lost the edge that Fergie gave them - and that will probably never be replicated. But how long the slide lasts is dependent on how well they rebuild this summer.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

A level playing field now Fergie has gone?

The Premier League may be more interesting this year

Still 3 divisions within a division, but balance of power may shift again



Where to start?

Will David Moyes fail? Can he succeed after Fergie? Sell Rooney, sign Ibrahimovic - that's my solution. He's got to win something or the tabloids will label him a failure - and I think he'll be a failure!

Manchester City have made the big signings - Navas, Negrado, Jovetic and Fernandinho should all start, although with Aguero and Dzeko, Pellegrini will struggle to get the right rotation, much as Mancini did.

Chelsea have 47 midfielders, so Lampard to the LA Galaxy rumors will start as soon as he misses a match. Mourinho will no doubt spice things up a bit, but the league needs that after how boring it was last year.

Can Arsenal be relevant even if Arsene doesn't spend? He got rid of Gervinho and Andre Santos, so they at least can't be worse than last year.

And then there's Spurs. Fifth again no doubt, maybe lower if they sell Bale. I'd like to see them break the top 4, and they are much closer than Liverpool or Everton.

Middle table teams will be the same - Newcastle, West Ham, Stoke (although hoping Mark Hughes messes it all up again and takes them down).

Not sure why, but I think Fulham could struggle this year. If Berbatov is off, they may not have enough, and there is always one strange one. It could be Sunderland as no-one (not even the manager) knows who they are signing - could be great, but who knows? Hull and Crystal Palace will go down, but Cardiff should really challenge Swansea for a place in the top half.

Whoever I missed out - Norwich, West Brom, Aston Villa, Southampton, should be fine and probably fit in that tier with Newcastle and West Ham. One of these will struggle and be involved in the relegation battle - probably Southampton or West Brom (especially with no Lukaku).

I can't wait for it to start - especially as it actually may be interesting this year now that Fergie can't bully referees into a couple of extra minutes, a dubious penalty or a harsh red card.