da marjack bet: Manchester United’s success has been based on a relentless ambition for success based around a group of talented youngsters with good domestic and international experience mixed in with a number of experienced heads. With the evolution of the Premier League in the early nineties, Ferguson mixed the likes of Giggs, Sharpe and Ince with Hughes, Robson and Bruce. Again in the mid nineties Ferguson refreshed his squad after the F.A Cup final defeat to Everton, with younger more ambitious players. Ferguson brought in Johnson, Solskjaer and the year prior, Cole. This was a new youthful and inexperienced side with the Neville’s, Beckham Butt and Scholes taking to the pitch at Villa Park. The United team was lead by the likes of Schmeichel, Keane and Cantona. This United side, with the exception of Cantona, crowned off their achievements with the treble season of 1999.
da dobrowin: In 2003 Ferguson signed Laurent Blanc. Though Blanc’s performances on the pitch were below his best it was the Frenchman’s influence on Rio Ferdinand that shone through. Blanc taught the defender how to dominate the back line and most importantly taught him when to play and when to defend. Ferguson used Blanc’s own desire for flair play as well as his experience to bring out the undoubted quality that Ferdinand had always possessed. Ferdinand is now is the England Captain and without niggling injuries would no doubt have been appointed the permanent Manchester United Captain by now.
Has Ferguson got it wrong this time. Has Ferguson’s transfer policy been naïve considering the improvements to the top teams. The goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford is something that needs to be resolved sooner rather than later. Manchester City have two world class goalkeepers fighting for the number one jersey. It could be City’s strength in this position that ultimately determines how successful they really can be this season. Ferguson is making the same mistakes he made when Peter Schmeichel left in 1999. Manchester United didn’t have a world class successor in the ranks when he left. The same has to be said today. Van Der Sar who is 40 this autumn has become susceptible to injury. Van Der Sar missed the first five games last season, and Foster was not good enough to hold down the position. Can Ferguson truly trust the Pole to cope with the pressures of succeeding one of Europe’s best goalkeepers? The keeper looked nervy in the recent Carling Cup encounter at Scunthorpe, and although he made a couple of decent stops should have conceded more. With David Gill having announced a year ago that Ferguson had as much of the Ronaldo money that he wanted to spend on new players, it is puzzling why Ferguson hasn’t even hinted of the possibility of signing a top quality goalkeeper. This summer Ferguson should have invested a large interest in a world class name such as Stephen Mandanda, Hugo Lloris and Manuel Neur. All have been ignored by Ferguson this summer, a decision that could not only cost United on the pitch but also the later he leaves it, on the cheque book.
United’s transfers this summer are without doubt talented individuals. Ferguson’s best deal was the signing of Mexican forward Javier Hernandez. His seven million pound signing before the World Cup raised a few eyebrows but he was a revelation during the World Cup and has flourished in a United shirt. As well as Hernandez, Ferguson completed his other major signing before the World Cup. Chris Smalling was signed from Fulham in February and moved to Old Trafford in the summer. Smalling, last season showed his quality with a performance beyond his years against Chelsea, a performance that sprung Ferguson to spend big on his new man. United fans should be confident about the future in tow key areas. With the Da Silva twins improving and Jonny Evans showing real class when covering for either Vidic or Ferdinand United have real options in defence. Before the start of the season United could have been worried that the strike force was at least one man light. However if the start of the season is anything to go by, United have a real quality line up. Dmitar Berbatov looks a different player – a player that now looks like he could lift the goal scoring burden from Wayne Rooney and there is no doubt that Rooney will come alive sooner rather than later.
Manchester United fans demand the desire to win from their players. This group of players have shown they have that ethos. If they do not they will fall by the way side. It is a credit to both Anderson and Nani that Ferguson has stick with them. He clearly sees something in them and is determined to get it out of them and who would bet against him. Manchester United will have to invest in the goalkeeping and midfield departments in the very near future. However, will Ferguson leave when Van Der Sar, Scholes, Giggs and Neville leave? Maybe, just maybe these tough decision will be for a new manager.
Written By Thomas Costello