Manchester United

I was sitting in my friend’s car earlier today. We were discussing what the players were referred to by their teammates. He’s a Liverpool fan. We had gone through all the Liverpool players. I started going through the United players. «…Giggsy…Chris…Anders…Chicha..Well, Sir Alex usually called him Chico..». Usually called him. He won’t anymore. Because it’s not his job. Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer manager of Manchester United.

We have all grown up in different circumstances. Some with a huge family with uncles, aunts, grandparents and the solid unit you call your mother and father. Some of us grew up in homes with just a mother or father. Maybe an older sibling. Maybe not. They were people on whom you could always rely. People who would never really go away. Through good times and bad times you’d stand together. United. Many of us grew up with Sir Alex Ferguson. Many of us have never known anything else. Many of us do not wish to know anything else. It would be to replace the reliable unity you formed. It was never a unity you chose to form. It was just the way it became. Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United.

The past couple of days have been a rollercoaster. For us all. I have danced through my entire emotional register. I have been heartbroken, I have been angry, I have been hopeful and I have been fearful. I was born in 1992. I have never known anything different than what stands ahead of me. My unity with Manchester United was chosen through a radical Frenchman and a baby faced Norwegian who never looked a day older than 14. Behind them stood this authoriative, proud Scot who didn’t need to gesticulate or make a mockery of himself to get his point across. He would, from time to time, lose his cool. But that was his passion, his heart, his relentlessness. He was a winner and he demanded that they transpired him whenever they stepped on the pitch.

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t think about all the trophies he won when I think about the legacy Sir Alex Ferguson leaves at Old Trafford. Sure, he took the club from a fallen giant to the juggernaut of modern football. He made it the biggest and most popular club in the world. But what he did was provide a sense on consistency. You could always rely on Sir Alex Ferguson. You always knew his mentality. His work rate. As the son of a plater’s helper in the shipbuilding industry in Govan his working man’s principles were something we all grew to cherrish. Nothing was done without hard work. Look at the players he created. David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, their talent was obvious, but they were a product of hard work. Sir Alex Ferguson’s hard work alongside them. And in the end, we were the ones who benefited. Had I received had a penny for every time I have been told that Manchester United was the only thing that made a person smile, I would now be a millionaire.

And so came the day. The day that was never supposed to come. It happened so quickly. Too quickly. We never got a chance to react. He was just… gone. Sure, the rumours were there. They were there every summer. Every time the league was won, every time the season ended,  every time something monumental happened at the club. This was the time for Sir Alex Ferguson to retire. And we laughed. Because we all knew it was untrue. He would never leave us. But, he did. He had won us the league. Number thirteen for him, number twenty for the club. He had knocked Liverpool off their perch. He had regained control of Europe. He had ruled the world. But more importantly, he had conquered all of our hearts. 26 years. 9692 days. And so he’ll ride off into the sunset. Having appointed his favorite deputy to lead the march on. But it will never be the same. We will all support David Moyes. Because he’s one of us now. We who grew with Sir Alex Ferguson, however, will forever have a section of out heart reserved to the greatest of them all. The hairdryer, the red nose, the chewing gum, the glasses, the rants, the smiles, the glory, the triumphs, the sadness, the grief and the anger. But more than ever, the unity. And the years we spent finding sense and normality in comfortably knowing that Sir Alex Ferguson would always be able to make us feel good about ourselves again.

When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer

Thank you for the memories, Sir Alex Ferguson.

‘He’s an incredible human being. It’s as simple as that’ – the words used by Sir Alex Ferguson to describe a player who might just get a statue or an Old Trafford stand named in his honour in similar fashion to the wily old Scot. Many within the game have even tipped him to replace the man who has managed him throughout his professional career.

As Ryan Giggs is on the verge of bringing up his millennium of senior matches, we pay tribute to a man who will go down as one of the greatest to ever grace the pitch. The 39-year-old is a one-off and it is unlikely that his combination of footballing excellence and longevity will ever be replicated.

I am going to be direct here; trying to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford would mean a tedious transfer saga, an inflated fee and could well prove impossible to achieve. Despite all this, I think an attempt should be made, and summer 2013 is the time to strike.

Being married to a Spurs fan, I have watched more Tottenham games than any of our other rivals. It has been an entertaining sideshow for me to focus on Bale’s quest to perfect his Cristiano Ronaldo impression. All the elements are there of 2006 version Ronaldo; increasing goal return, diving reputations, more ostentatious attempts from distance, open disapproval of teammates’ shortcomings, growing awareness of how to roam from the wing effectively and even the trademark infuriatingly selfish away performances.

The decision for Bale then is how he moves to the next level. For all Villas-Boas’ impressive endeavours, the feeling remains that qualification for the Champions League represents the summit of Tottenham’s ambitions. It won’t be lost on Bale that his breakthrough moment came over two seasons ago now. He will take some comfort from improving as a player in this time, but the bottom line is in terms of achievement he has made no progress. The sale of Modric reinforced the view that Spurs are destined to remain a second tier club. If Bale is to become one of the Europe’s premier players then logic would suggest a move to one of the Europe’s premier clubs. Only by being surrounded by superior players and competing for trophies can Bale truly fulfil his potential.

But why United?

Daniel Levy attempted to soften the blow of finally losing Modric by announcing a new partnership with Real Madrid. Speculative assumptions were immediately made that this paved the way for Tottenham’s other prize asset to make the same move in the near future. Madrid would certainly fit the profile of the challenge Bale needs as he turns 24 in the summer. Where better to establish yourself as a successor to Ronaldo than at the club where he has become the undisputed second best player of the planet? Herein lies the problem, a move to Madrid at this stage would see Bale directly competing with Ronaldo in order to play in his preferred role. As the feted Modric has found, there are no guarantees at Madrid and a bit part role is a real (forgive the pun) possibility. Is operating as Ronaldo’s understudy an effective way of auditioning to be leading man? Ask Luis Nani. In my view a move to Madrid would see his minutes limited, his role ever-changing and his development stalled.

Which brings me to Manchester United. If Bale were to move to Old Trafford he would be the marquee signing and clear first choice in his preferred position. A debut season at the club with an experienced, Welsh legend for company would allow him to make the transition to the top tier in a comfortable environment. From United’s point of view, he would bring qualities we clearly lack. It is a strange scenario we find ourselves in where our success this season is in spite of an underlying collection of wingers. Young has been tactically useful if limited, Nani has been absent sometimes in body – always in mind, and the less said about Valencia’s regression the better. It is a damning indictment of our options that our most impressive wide players this season have either been fullbacks or 38 years of age. Bale would bring direct running, consistency of supply and an added goal threat. It isn’t hard to think of him linking up spectacularly with the players we have both emerging and established.

Making sense is one thing – actually happening is another. In a dream scenario for many we would be saving our summer budget to bring in that central midfield colossus Reds have been demanding for years. The likelihood of that is a subject for a whole other article but recent seasons would suggest ‘no chance.’ Defensively we have been porous this term – yet with Smalling, Jones and Evans already at the club is a major move for a defender likely? I’d suggest not. At the time of writing, an interest in Zaha has been confirmed yet this would be an acquisition for the future rather than a purchase to solve our immediate wide issues. James Rodriguez is another name frequently linked; but I confess to being in the dark about his likely price tag and/or adaptability to our culture. Bale would carry no such concerns as a proven Premier League player who has excelled in his fleeting opportunities on the European stage. The biggest stumbling block therefore would be cost – the sale of a couple of well-paid squad members (Nani? Anderson?) and likely departure/retirement from at least one from our veterans corps would free up space on the wage bill.

The transfer fee is a trickier issue. The hostility between the respective boardrooms is well known; and Levy would revel in his reputation for driving a hard bargain. A fee in excess of £35m would not be unexpected. A bridge too far in the era of Glazernomics? Perhaps not. The signing of van Persie (minimal resale value, high wages, significant fee) showed a willingness to splash out when a player becomes available of a) sufficient quality to significantly improve fortunes on the field, and b) has the status or potential to be a marketable name throughout the globe. Bale ticks both boxes. In addition we were allegedly willing to pay major sums for Hazard and Moura – players with a similar (or in Lucas’ case arguably lesser) status and record to Bale. Hope springs that the board would be willing to spend big to secure Bale’s capture. Much talk since the Champions League draw has been of ‘bringing Ronaldo home’ – that is beyond our financial capability but Bale is the next best thing.

Do I think it will happen? Probably not. By this stage I would have expected a greater public charm offensive and calculated leaking to prompt Fleet Street ‘exclusives’ that the deal was on. However as today’s opponents love to remind us, I can ‘dare to dream’.

When the teamsheets ahead of the Manchester-derby were unveiled, both managers delivered a few surprises. The biggest of them all was not the selection of the explosive Mario Balotelli or the last minute clearance for David Silva. The biggest surprise, and what may have won Man United the match, was the return of Antonio Valencia.

Ahead of United’s home game against Arsenal, we talked to Lee from Lady Arse about their Capital One Cup game, Robin van Persie, last year’s fixture and much more.

What are your thoughts on Arsenal’s start of the season then?

Arsenal started really well, a lot better than I think most people were expecting, Arsenal fans included. The new signings settled in quickly, even Olivier Giroud who has had a rough time in the press despite scoring three goals and creating four, and things looked really promising. Then we had the international break and the team seemed to be unduly disrupted by that which led to the defeats at Norwich and at home to Schalke.  Those defeats were worrying for a number of reasons, but mostly for the attitude which Arsenal showed which has been a problem over recent seasons, turning up to certain games thinking the win was already in the bag.

Your last game ended 7-5 (vs Reading in the Capital One Cup). After such a promising start to the season defensively with Steve Bould being lauded left, right and centre, surely being 4-0 down so quickly was a bit surprising?

Unexpected, yes. Surprising? Perhaps not. Arsenal showed all of their worst traits in the first 40 minutes or so of that match, even though it was completely different personnel.  The attitude was so poor and was indicative of a problem that has reared its ugly head on more than one occasion.  Thankfully in the second half they showed that they do actually care about the shirt and turned it around. That was perhaps even more surprising than being 4-0 down in the first place as we have been on the wrong end of score lines like that more often than not.

On the other hand, what a comeback! When did you start thinking “We can win this”?

I put a bet on Arsenal when we were 3-0 down but at that point it was more out of hope than expectation as we were playing so poorly.  When Giroud got the second and the team really started to play, that’s when I thought ‘We can do this.’ Of course, at the back of my head I was thinking we’d probably get it back to 4-4 only to concede a fifth in the last minute of injury time. It was amazing to be the team grabbing it late on.

Speaking of goals, you started the season with a new look strikeforce. Have Giroud and Podolski lived up to the expectations of the fans yet?

Giroud is a better player than the press gives him credit for.  He works hard and his hold-up play is impressive and he’s powerful too.  He’s been getting in all the right places and just lacked a little bit in front of goal but there are very few Arsenal fans that don’t think he can do a job for us. As for Podolski, he’s won the fans over completely with his attitude and ability. He’s been playing with a bit of an ankle-niggle for the last few weeks, which is perhaps why he hasn’t been quite as effective as he was early on.

It would be rather hard to conduct this interview without mentioning a player who left Arsenal this summer for Manchester United. What did you think of the whole Robin van Persie saga?

I can’t lie; I’ve never felt a betrayal like it in all my 33 years of watching football. We truly believed he was an Arsenal fan and that, even if he didn’t stay, he would go abroad. His statement hurt a lot of fans and him leaving to go to Manchester United could have only been worse had he went to Tottenham.  Manchester United fans might not see the rivalry with Arsenal as strong as it once was, but for Arsenal fans it is still very real. Am I bitter? Totally. I’m angry about it for many reasons.

Who do you think Arsenal will miss the most over the course of the season: Robin van Persie or Alex Song?

I want to say Alex Song because I don’t want to say that we miss van Persie at all, but what club in the world wouldn’t miss a player of his calibre? After the years of injury problems he suffered that Arsenal stood by him through, he is finally fulfilling the potential Wenger always knew he had. And he’s doing that for Manchester United, it’s sickening. As for Alex Song, to be honest, he’s pretty much forgotten about. Mikel Arteta has dropped back and shows a discipline in that position which Song could never master.

This fixture last season is one that most Arsenal fans will want to forget. Can you see a repeat performance from both sides or will this year’s clash be more evenly matched?

When we turned up at Old Trafford last season, we knew we were going to get a hammering (though no Arsenal fan thought it would be so bad). We were decimated with injuries, playing practically a League Cup side.  There’s no way we will see a repeat this year and it will be a far more evenly matched game.

Which of Manchester United’s weaknesses do you feel Arsene Wenger will try and exploit on Saturday?

I think we have a stronger midfield than United do, with Arteta, Cazorla and Wilshere, three small players who are all technically gifted but strong and not afraid of a tackle as well. On the flanks I think Evra is there to be got at, he’s not the player he once was and Walcott is on fire. Of course, Walcott might not even start after playing 120 minutes midweek after just returning from injury.

Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie seem to all be scoring for fun at the minute. Do you think that Arsenal can contain such a strikeforce?

Despite the five we conceded in the Capital One Cup, it will be a different backline at Old Trafford and Arsenal have the best defense in the League at the minute. It will be their strongest test yet, but I think we should cope.

(@neilljacko) If Wenger were to step down tomorrow who would he like to see replace him?

Honestly? I wouldn’t have a clue. I can’t imagine Arsenal without Wenger (and yes, I do remember Arsenal before him). Of course, the obvious answer would be someone like Guardiola, but I’m pretty sure Arsenal are getting Steve Bould ready to replace Wenger.

(@TomPattison) If Arsenal’s 2003 unbeaten side played Arsenal’s 1998 double winning side-who would win and why?

That’s a great question, and a tough one.  Defensively the 1998 side were better and offensively the 2003/4 side wins for me. Can I say a draw? If I’m pushed for an answer, I’d have to go with the 03/04 side, purely because of the Pires/Bergkamp/Henry factor.

Predicted line-up and score line.

Mannone

Sagna – Mertesacker – Vermaelen – Santos

Arteta – Wilshere – Cazorla

Walcott – Giroud – Podolski

Regarding the score line? I’m going for a 2-2 draw.

Thanks to Lee from LadyArse for taking the time to answer our questions. Make sure you follow her on Twitter here: @LadyArse

The purchases of Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie have left fans drooling over the array of attacking dilemmas United now face. Having to rely on Wayne Rooney’s occasional moment of magic during games seems long gone. However, how do you fit them all into a team? Can you really leave players such as Nani and Valencia on the bench to fit in what many people have referred to as the “the new holy trinity”?

Goal difference. That’s ultimately what it came down to. Points stayed the same, the goal difference did not. “It’ll never happen again, trust me on that”, were Sir Alex Ferguson’s words upon the presentation of his new frontman. Previous to this he had acquired the services of the German Bundesliga Player of the Year. A player who earned that honour somewhat due to his ability to score from his offensive midfield position. Now he sat next to the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year, and the FWA’s Footballer of the Year. 30 goals in 38 matches in the domestic league had made Robin van Persie a Manchester United player. Statement of intent? You betcha…

The question remains; how do you fit Kagawa and van Persie in at United? Kagawa enjoys playing just behind the striker, the position that Wayne Rooney has enjoyed for the past two seasons. Van Persie, who originally played that very same role, plays as a moving frontman who needs to be involved in the build-up the attack. United fans will recall that both Chicharito and Danny Welbeck had periods of pure brilliance in that role. Moving Kagawa or van Persie out on the wing to slot in Rooney/Welbeck/Chicharito is misuse. It also would mean that either Ashley Young, Nani or Antonio Valencia would have to find their names on the substitutes list more often than not. You don’t wanna misuse players, but you don’t want them to sit on the bench either. And you don’t wanna misuse players, and risk unsatisfying players specialized in the positions the misused players now occupies. All in all, it becomes a case of “too many chiefs, not enough indians.”

How United tried to play Van Persie, Kagawa and Rooney together against Everton

The two last seasons have seen United shape themselves in a conventional 4-2-3-1-system where you have two wide wingers. The winger playing on the left with bigger freedom to move across the line. Partly due to Patrice Evra’s surging runs, partly due to Antonio Valencia’s reluctance (or inability) to roam in from the right. Behind the striker, whose sole job was to attack the space behind the defenders, you found Wayne Rooney. Usually, he would be the one to dish the ball out to the wings, find the space to thread the ball through to the striker, or tuck the ball home himself. In many ways, you can almost call it a hierarchy. Wayne Rooney as the king with two strikers beneath him, three wingers and a few central midfielders (obviously depending on who was fit at the time). Having Kagawa and van Persie shakes that system up a bit. Both of them were leaders for their teams and the general consensus is that they wouldn’t join United knowing they’d have to give that up. The result is what we all became witness to at Goodison Park when van Persie was brought on for Danny Welbeck. Rooney moved deep into the space Kagawa played in and van Persie really didn’t know if he was playing on the wing or as a striker. In Norway we have a saying that roughly translated goes; “more cooks, more mess”. That was literally what happened on the pitch. So, can you field all three without leaving too much gap in midfield, or having them all run in the way for each other?

How United played in the 2010/2011-season

The main issue becomes defending. With three players whose sole job becomes attacking, how do you defend against teams that enjoy moving the ball across the middle of the park? Against Fulham we saw tendencies to pressure high upfield, winning the ball back quickly, and creating chances right after having given the ball up. That is utopia for this sort of system. However, as witnessed against Everton, when not applied, it causes serious backlash. United do not have a ballwinner in midfield. Anderson and Cleverley are talented players, but their ability to break down midfields is not present at any time. Scholes was never a ballwinner in his career which leaves Michael Carrick as the only player who is capable of consistently of doing that job. However, not even he is specialized in that field, having played for Tottenham as a midfielder who enjoyed bringing the ball through the opponent’s midfield and thread it through to his team mates. I did state in an earlier piece that I did not see the need for another central midfielder. However, with United’s reluctance to pressure high upfield, you may need a player of such physical stature that the midfield tandem is not bullied across the pitch. Having watched Mousa Dembélé and Marouane Fellaini practically do exactly as they want leaves fans with a bad taste in their mouth. It also leaves you wondering how big of a impact the signings of Kagawa and van Persie will have. In 2003, when Real Madrid sold Claude Makélélé to Chelsea, Zinedine Zidane was appalled. His replacement was David Beckham, to which Zidane’s famous quote was born:“Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you’re losing the entire engine?” Could the failure to put in place a dynamo in United’s midfield be related to the sale of Makélélé?

How United lined up against in the 3-2 win over Fulham

The key to Manchester United functioning on the pitch is Wayne Rooney. From having been virtually untouchable for the past three seasons, he’ll find himself in limbo more times than he’s used to. Benching him against Fulham showed that. It also showed that the aforementioned hierarchy may have seen its last days. The first half against Fulham illustrated the way Manchester United should play. Fast passing combinations, pressing high, involving the wings, involving the fullbacks, having most of the ball. All while Wayne Rooney was sitting on the bench. With Rooney set to be sidelined for up to two months, it may prove a blessing in disguise as players such as van Persie and Kagawa get to implement themselves in the team. It also gives Sir Alex the chance to work out a system that suits everyone. Then there’s Wayne Rooney. When he returns, will he accept having to starts games on the bench? Will he accept that his hierarchy may have been eclipsed? When Rooney demanded to leave it was due to lack of ambition and “star signings”. Sir Alex has answered by getting two of the world’s best players. Both occupying Rooney’s space. Perhaps it’s a challenge to Rooney. “Here you go. The Bundesliga Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year. Beat ‘em. Show that you are leaps and bounds better than them!”

There’s a saying that goes “Either you die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Keep that in mind when Wayne Rooney returns to United.

United fans definitely sit with more questions than answers as to how United will play. What is for certain is that the United side of today is the most intriguing and talented since the days of Carlos Tévez and Cristiano Ronaldo. A midfield that desperately cries out for a catalyst, an offensive unit so stacked that picking an attacking combination becomes a Herculean task. All this sitting in front of a defence that has a history of breaking down with injuries during the course of a season. Perhaps this is our season. Last year United fans felt like the school kids whose parents sent them pre-made lunches consisting of sweaty sandwiches and sour green apples. All while the fans of other teams such as Manchester City showcased their fresh-made baguettes made by the local deli down the street. This season, however, it feels a bit different. Perhaps United still need to find the courage to remove the training wheels off the bike and just ride on down the block.

Rome was not built in a day and every system met its problems when presented to the people. One thing is for certain; if Manchester United manage to make a system work, without rattling the cage of its circus animals too much, then we might be in for the best damn circus we’ve ever seen in our lives.

“The most romantic club in the history of world football…

and that will never change.”

Sir Alex Ferguson

This video was created by @AdityaReds and first appeared on his YouTube page.

“Manchester United just don’t let go…”

Come on You Reds!

This video was created by @AdityaReds and first appeared on his YouTube page.

Welcome back to the Can They Score podcast in time for the new 2012/13 season. During our first season pod, Tom, Jonas, James and I give our thoughts on all the DHL Pre Season Tour, Sir Alex Ferguson, all the transfer rumours and our first trip away to Everton.

Topics Discussed Include

• The New Season
• The Robin Van Persie Saga
• Sir Alex Ferguson’s Successor
• Everton Away

Other Ways To Listen

As the transfer window heads towards its peak, so does the outcry for new recruits and the inevitable calls for a new midfield maestro.

The general consensus amongst United fans seems to be that the central pairing of Carrick and Scholes is too old, too slow and too feeble to overcome teams such as Manchester City and Chelsea. Therefore, it has surprised many that the mighty Scot, whose job it is to oversee how this operation works, does not share the fans’ viewpoint.