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

Monday, January 27, 2014

The transfer window - time for a change?


David Moyes has added Juan Mata, Chelsea have Mohamed Salah, Newcastle may lose Yohan Cabaye - and all in January when teams are desperate to improve, to challenge for trophies or simply to stay in the top division.

Why can teams only strengthen in January or the summer? Imagine someone in your job said that you can only move jobs at certain periods in the year? It won't wash - especially if you were being frozen out of doing what you wanted to and were forced to sit there and watch other people do it.

It seems to contradict everything that the Bosman ruling established. Free movement when contracts expire, chances to move on, no restriction on trade. This was put in place in 1995, but 20 years on, the transfer window seems to make less sense than ever.

Yes, clubs can get better prices for their players in the window, but you're also held to ransom for someone you don't really want, but may desperately need.

Managers don't get to keep their jobs until January, club physios, GMs, tea boys etc. aren't promised that they will be employed until the New Year and then shipped out because they're not deemed necessary anymore.

I can understand that clubs don't want to deal with agents, fees, unhappy players and speculation all year round, but they should be able to stand up and say no, or yes, whenever they want.

There has to be a better way. Because once January passes, it's back to emergency loans and picking up free agents.


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Is Rooney key to Chelsea selling Mata to United?


It doesn't make any sense to me to sell your best player from last season to a rival, especially if that rival is struggling for creative players.

So why would Chelsea sell Juan Mata to Manchester United? They don't need the money, they don't want to help United improve and although Mata wants to get into the Spain squad for the World Cup, Chelsea don't care about that.

All I can think is that United are giving Chelsea first refusal on Wayne Rooney. I can't see Rooney staying at Old Trafford if they don't make the Champions League - and there would be lots of teams interested in the fat, bald man (although he may have just had his hair done again).

He'd be a great fit at Chelsea, and Jose Mourinho is a long-time admirer. I think Mourinho would love to take Wayne back to Old Trafford as his player too - he's just that type of vengeful villain we all love to hate, but actually quite like.

Selling Mata won't have any impact on Chelsea, and they can always buy him back if he start to be really good again (as they did with Nemanja Matic). But if United are even contemplating putting Rooney on the table as bait, then they can only lose from here. If Rooney goes, so will RvP, then they'll be in a world of trouble - or realistically, they'll just become another average club like Liverpool have been for the last 20 years.


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Where are we with the Champions League?


Qualification for the Champions League knockout stages is almost done. There are a few loose ends to tie up, but that's about it - and the rich are about to get richer as almost all the big teams are through to set up some fantastic ties in the last 16.

But it's all about winning the Group. Qualifying for the knockout stage is a success for some, but should be the minimal requirement for those who spend unthinkable money every year. Not just the English teams, but all the big boys have splashed out, and if you can't beat teams like Viktoria Plzen, Austria Vienna and Anderlecht, then you have bought the wrong players.

So here's the breakdown....

PSG and Atletico Madrid bossed their Groups - and that's the price teams will pay for not topping the Group. Nobody wants to play them, Barca, Real or Bayern.

Bayern have won 5 from 5, and it's hard to imagine them not beating Manchester City at home in two weeks. City are through too, which counts as a success, but they may need an easier tie to progress past the last 16 - and there are no easy ties in the knockout stages of the Champions League. City can, and will, score against any team - but they look shaky at the back. I don't agree with Kolo Toure that they will rue selling him, but they do need a quality defender - someone like Vincent Kompany, not Kolo Toure.

Manchester United are through again. Their Group wasn't easy, but they made hard work of some pretty average teams. David Moyes will be happy to advance, but I can't help thinking that United are going to get spanked by someone. Rooney is playing well, but there is nobody in the midfield that other top teams would want. In fact there's nobody in the United midfield that any other team wants on their bench.

Juventus are going to have to get something in Turkey against Galatasaray - a draw will probably do it, but Drogba and Sneider may have something to say about that. Juve look so good in Serie A, but very inconsistent in Europe. Anything but qualification will be a huge failure for them.

Chelsea are in. Basel or Shalke will join them. Who wins that Group is still to play for - but it won't be Steaua Bucharest who are now 22 games without a win in the Champions League. Basel have got 6 of their 8 points against Chelsea - what seemed an easy Group has turned vaguely interesting. Chelsea need to win it, or they will face a tough task in the knockout stages against other Group winners.

Arsenal have won 4 of their 5, yet sit just 3 points ahead of Dortmund and Napoli. Should they lose to the Italians in Naples by 3 or more, they could go out - with 12 points! Marseille have lost to everyone, so that Group of Death thing didn't quite work out. All 3 teams will still be in Europe, and I'd say the team who finishes 3rd would be favorites to win the Europa League.

Ajax stayed alive by beating Barcelona, but they will have to beat AC Milan in Italy to advance. I can't see either topping the Group as the Catalans play the already eliminated Celtic on the last Group match day.


Monday, September 16, 2013

Could Lee Cattermole be unleashed on Ashley Young?


He's a cheat. We know it, his manager knows it, and I'm pretty sure he knows it.

No, I'm not talking about when he tweeted pictures of his junk when on England duty, I'm talking about the consistent diving to try and win penalties and get people sent off.

Ashy Young had already been booked for diving against Crystal Palace on Saturday when he went down again under minimal contact. It may have been a foul and possibly even a penalty (although I think it was outside the box), but the issue is the way he plays for them.

Clicking your heels, flicking your legs up in the air and rolling perfectly to catch the referee's eye as you come down isn't something you do on the fly.

He practices cheating, it's the only way he can produce the same trip, flip and landing so effortlessly.

No, he's not the only one, but it got a man sent off, effectively won the game and even his manager knows he's doing it. Fine him, ban him, or get someone like Lee Cattermole to properly smash him.