Bayern Munich madness & Manchester United myths
Keith writes to Soccerlens about Bayern Munich’s childish behaviour and the various BS myths surrounding Manchester United.
As a fan of Bayern Munich the last year and a half has been maddening to say the least.
We lost our captain to money bags Chelsea simply because the club hierarchy had disrespected him one too many times (Anyone remember claims that Ballack was not as good as they had thought when they bought him by none other than Herr Beckenbauer himself?). To make this worse they let our best young midfielder, Trochowski go for nothing to Hamburg. Yet he was probably the one Ballack replacement we had left.
As for Hargreaves, we have mistreated the on player who was the very embodiment of past Bayern greats like Effenberg and Mathaeus (No jokes!. Mathaeus said the lad was better than him!). Benched him for seasons on end. Now he wants to move: They don’t want to sell, claiming “He is what they need�. Yeah right.
By adding Van Bommel and having Jeremies, Diesler and Magath’s first choice defensive midfielder Demechelis around who are they trying to kid when they say they need Hargreaves or he will even get a game? FC Hollywood are unfortunately back to what they know best. Childishness. They turned on an agreed deal with Manchester United for Hargreaves just because “They don’t want to look like a club that sells to English teams� and simply because they couldn’t get Van Nisterlrooy because they were not convincing enough. Typical!
As for Manchester United - if you live down here in Africa, where I do and are a supporter/sympathizer of United, the local soccer pundits, far much more than the international ones would drive you totally insane! They come up with pronouncement after pronouncement, that United are broke (i.e. have NO money for transfers), will not be signing anyone this transfer window, United are weaker without Van Nisterlrooy, need to replace him and Fergie is simply taking the club backwards by not winning the premiership in 3 seasons, and kicking out Ruud and Keane. Puhlease!
Myth One: Manchester United have no money! Someone then explain to me spending 18 million on Carrick and then chasing Hargreaves and Senna. He is just the new Veron. Just destined to be much more successful in a red shirt.
Myth two: Fergie is taking the club backward. I would like to know how coming second in a league where Manchester United gave Chelsea a run for their money is taking a club backward. Especially playing with a striker, a left winger, a center back and the inexperienced but committed Fletcher in midfield. Where “better teams� like Liverpool and Arsenal blessed with such personnel as Alonso, Gerard, Silva and Fabregas respectively couldn’t do the same.
More still even Keane admits it’s his mouth that kicked him out of OT (In a year he was retiring anyway and by ranting had lost the support of the dressing room). As for Ruud? He lost the pace for some reason after January, along with the desire to work hard on the pitch or fight for his place. When he looked off color and Saha deservedly got his place. What did he prefer to do? Sulk and insult Ronaldo over his late father. Thus when push came to shove; this summer Fergie had to choose between the two of them; and his choice I tell you was damn easy! Just remember the World Cup Ruud!
Myth three: United will miss Ruud. Who told you? Without a midfield of the caliber of Arsenal or Barcelona, a striker who didn’t work for his chances would never survive at Manchester United. Carrick and Hargreaves which looked like United’s next midfield undoubtedly would function best with a Saha/ Rooney combo because of their passing style of through balls and balls into channels.
Face it: Manchester United were one dimensional with Ruud in the side since Beck’s and Veron’s departure. But with Saha they are as dangerous as in 99. 10 goals in 3 games is testament to that (Despite only Fletcher and O’shea being behind the forward line). Besides one can not honestly tell me a fully fit Saha, Solksjaer and Smith coupled with Rooney plus Rossi coming back from Newcastle and Dong to come in January (and maybe someone else before Aug 31st for the Champion’s league) strike-force is not one of the best in the league.
Myth four: Last but not least! Ruud won’t be replaced. Talk of stating the obvious. Where on Earth will you find an upgraded version of the greatest goal scorer United has had since Dennis Law? No where! You just sign alternatives. Just like United had to when Cantona left. You almost never replace greats. You just get alternatives and new stars i.e. Saha! You can quote me on that!
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Discussion - 4 Responses
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Very nice article. I agree with all of it!
The move of Rossi to Newcastle does seem to indicate that Fergie has an ace up his sleeve. The move itself was to be expected - only a Premiership side would be good enough to improve Rossi and the only thing stopping a loan deal of this type was we havent sealed a replacement for Ruud … or have we ? For some time I have been expecting Rossi to be loaned out to a Premiership side (as have Howard and Foster), but I didn’t expect it to happen before another striker was signed. Fergie has recently said that Ole will not be used as a striker from now on but on the right wing. To me this statement combined with the Rossi loan means one of two things …
1. Sir Alex will be bringing in a new striker before the transfer window closes.
or
2. He now fully intendeds to change Ronaldo’s role from being purely a right sided winger, to starting much more games as a support striker.
Time will tell which of the above is true but we have already seen a Ronaldo being used as a striker (he has been played there elsewhere and we purchased him as a striker not as a winger).
That’s true, but have you realised? Liverpool and Arsenal are one man teams, whereby if Gerrard and Henry don’t play well, they won’t win. We are getting our grit back and we have that movement that won us the treble. By far and large, our team aren’t far off from Chelsea but we don’t have strength in depth. Unless we are free from injuries this season, we will be fine and probably pip Chelsea to the title. That is why there is a rant for new signings. We still need that elusive box to box midfielder which will allow our attackers to venture forward without getting caught out and we still need another proven striker which will be guaranteed to score goals and stay fit a majority part of the season. Solksjaer and Smith don’t offer that sort of luxury. However, if we could just get another central midfielder, I’ll gladly say that we had a productive summer.
Hi,
I can’t comment much on Bayern’s childishness as I don’t follow german football much but about manchester united I have to totally agree with keith’s comments on african soccer pundits comments on manchester united.
I don’t understand where they base their views from.
Manchester United are much better off without Nistelroy!! We have a more fluid attack with saha in the team. You can see saha backtracking to help out in the midfield at times and saha is not selfish either If another player has a better chance of scoring (like silvestre did on saturday against watford) he will pass the ball to him!! I have not seen ruud do that as much as saha. As for when he was benched it was for a reason - namely being he was off form and what should he have done about it? He should have worked his ass off in training and make it impossible for SAF to not pick him. Instead he sulks up big time!! When Saha was on the sidelines he didn’t sulk. He was patient enough to wait for his chance and when he got it he took it with all his might and made it impossible for SAF not pick him!! That is the king of attitude and ethic we need at United!!
I hope SAF does not sign a Ruud replacement but rather Saha like player who plays for the team not for himself!!(Rumours are going round today that Defoe is on his way!!) Given Ruud has scored loads of goals for United and I thank him for that but his attitude to being dropped from the first team was wrong. He had to go!!
Manchester United going backwards and not spending? I don’t need to add much more then what Keith has said but heres my twopence worth anyways anyway!!
United have soent 18 million pounds(Can’t find the pound sign on this african keyboard) on Michael Carrick and have tried signing Owen Hargreaves for around 17 million pounds which would have brought our spending to around 35 million pounds.
Like Keith says ever since Ruud has left the team has been working together more then ever. Goals are coming from all over the team. I hope the whole squad can get atleast a goal each (goalkeepers included…lol..anyone remember Smeichels crazy antics running forward for corners especially in Champs League 1999 final?) this season.
Even then I still hope we can get in a good central midfielder and possibly another striker before the transfer deadline although I’m not too desperate for a striker!!
By the way people in Africa are soccer mad especially about the Premier League. Just reading the papers and listening to them talk about football tells you how passionate these people are. Infact they are as passionate as the fans in England if not more. From the shamba boy to the CEO of a big firm they all follow European Soccer like diehard fans. Its so much fun watching football with them. They make the atmosphere feel like your actually in the stadium watching the game live!!!