The Five Reasons Why Manchester United Will Be Okay
This summer has been full of football’s most dramatic elements: transfers, rumors, and money. With silly season in full flight, one of the most debated topics in the world of football has been the future of Manchester United. Yes, the same Manchester United that is coming off three straight Premiership crowns.
For some reason, many members of the media have been writing Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United off already.
Having sold the best player in the world (I don’t mean Carlos Tevez) and one of the Premiership’s hardest working strikers (there’s your cue, Carlitos), far too many people were anxiously awaiting a massive spending spree by Fergie and company. Instead, United fans are forced to sit at home and celebrate the signings of a standout from Premier League giants Wigan, a former Liverpool star who enjoyed a memorable spell at the famed Newcastle United, and a young French winger who admitted himself that he was shocked at the move. Hmmm…
But even with all of this, even through all of the disappointment that United fans are feeling, I can’t help but think that everything is going to be alright. Here are the five reasons why United will be in with a shout come May:
1. There’s no “Ronaldo” in “team”
While Cristiano Ronaldo may have appeared to carry Manchester United game after game, it was only because the system set it up that way. When I wrote about Sir Alex Ferguson’s new plan the initial feedback was “yeah, but who will replace Ronaldo!?” It’s a simple solution.
Just like when Ruud van Nistelrooy left the club in 2006, everyone is looking to replace that one star player. When Ruud and all of his goals left, the fans were crying out for Fergie to sign a 30 goals a season striker to replace the Dutchman. No such signing came in, but somehow the Red Devils managed to secure a first Premier League crown in four seasons.
Now, with Cristiano Ronaldo gone, Sir Alex Ferguson is clearly opting for the same fix. Instead of trying to replace a single man and his goals, the wily old Scot is signing players that will fit into the new system. Cristiano Ronaldo scored forty-two goals in one season? So what? With him gone that means the rest of the team will split those 42 goals amongst each other; Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, and the midfield will all gain some tallies.
At the end of the day football is a team game, and eleven men working together is far better than one. Sir Alex Ferguson is getting the right players for a new system, and they will all be pieces of the puzzle.
2. The class of 2009
United will forever be remembered for their famous crops of youngsters. Last season we were lucky enough to get a tiny glimpse of what’s been going on behind closed doors at Carrington as Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck got significant playing time, but there’s still more to come.
Kiko Macheda and Welbeck should have even more chances to shine this season, and fellow youngsters Ritchie De Laet, Fabio, and maybe even Davide Petrucci could see some senior action during cup games. Just like the beginning days of the Nevilles, Beckham, etc., these youngsters are hungry and determined.
3. Owen Hargreaves
Before you write this guy off, think back to May of this year. United were chasing an unprecedented second straight Champions League victory, but Barcelona’s midfield played with United and put the English champions to the sword. United fans were clamoring for a Michael Essien-type player, and one is already waiting in the wings.
Yes, Owen Hargreaves has been hurt for an entire season, and yes his health is being compared to the fragile Louis Saha, but if he can remain healthy this season then United will be getting back a solid midfielder. Owen can tackle, can shoot, and can take some worldclass freekicks. It may be a cliche, but Owen’s return is like a new signing for the club.
4. Squad players
Cross-town rivals Manchester City are catching a lot of heat for their summer exploits this far, but Mark Hughes knows exactly what he’s doing. Manchester United’s success in recent years has been down to the fact that the Red Devils’ squad is much deeper than their rivals’.
Even without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez this rings true. Last season saw the emergence of some fairly average players like Darren Fletcher make the step up into useful squad players, and expect more of the same this season. If you look across the board there are very few positions where United is thin; the defense is as solid as ever, the midfield has been bulked up over the summer, and the front-line has experience and youth.
5. The white Pele
Wayne Rooney was billed as England’s savior when he was only a teenager. Now, years later, people are still saying the same thing – but still in anticipation. It’s time for Wayne Rooney to stand up, and there’s no better time than in a World Cup year. On top of that, Rooney will have a chance to play an entire season with Michael Owen, who could quite possibly be Rooney’s strike partner come June in South Africa.
Even without all of the extra motivation, Wayne Rooney should be in top form due to the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead of being pushed out wide to compensate for Ronaldo’s lack of tracking back, Rooney will be able to stick to his central role and get in front of goal this season. “Shrek” will not have to focus on getting back and playing defense – this season it’s all about the goals.
It’s for these five reasons that I truly believe that Manchester United could make history this time next year. A record fourth consecutive Premiership crown? It just might happen.
Brian Lofrumento is a full time writer for Premiership Talk.
Also See: Red Ranter’s take on Ferguson’s transfer strategy this summer.
Brian Lofrumento is right. Fergie alone knows what he is planning. Whereas all play revolved around one main striker, now there will be a team at play just like in “the beginning days of the Nevilles, Beckham, etc.” Macheda, Welback and others will burst into the scene and “these youngsters are hungry and determined”. I await to see who does what to whom. Clubs, like Liverpool, have already started claiming that the Premiership is theirs next year. With Owen Hargreaves coming back, the youngsters, the trio of strikers, and the rest making a solid team, we’ll see that we need no big money buys. Fergie will be proved right. Onwards Manchester United!
Lets hope your right….
It’s a season of ‘IF’ at utd this yeah, and i for one i’m hoping it all works out and ends up with 4 in a row!!
Fair enough on the Ruud comparison. I agree we might end up a better “team” with Ronaldo gone and lets be honest, Macheda had more of an impact last season than Tevez did. So im not so worried about the reshaping of the team.
However what does worry me is the midfield. Long gone are the days when the likes of Scholes, Beckham and Giggs used to chip in atleast 10 goals a season each. Scholes scores about 3-4, Giggs the same. Carrick is rubbish in front of goal, as is Park. That leaves Nani and Valencia. Nani has the ability to score that outrageous goal, that happens maybe twice a season and Valencia remains to be seen.
The problem for me is not so much replacing Ronaldo’s goals as it is his role in assists and buildup play. Case in point the games against Arsenal last season. There is no one in our midfield that i feel confident about filling in that gap.
If anything thats our Achilles’ heel.
Would wish Owen H. stays fit to bully other teams like mascherano does or even essien does, lest Man U midfield remains paper weight. The prospect of Ritchie keeping Evra on toes is so mouth watering I can’t wait. Haters don’t ask who Ritchie is just wait and watch him grow.
an article quite clearly written by a united supporter. Very wishful thinking. Anyone who watches world football knows tevez is world class and Ronaldo is one the best players in the world. Rooney is the result of makor overhype by the English media. Man utd fans prepare to suffer..
i think you got it spot on in this article.im dissapointed at the lack of people with faith.the only thing i would like to see change is fergie to sign a hardman in midfield,even only as backup because of the doubts over hargos fitness.somebody like lorik cana,who is apparently available for as little as 6m.cant wait for rooney to prove the doubters wrong and show he is the main man
I agree with all your points but the main problem for me which hasn’t been addressed with our summer signings is the left wing spot.
We played Rooney there for a lot of last season because Nani wasn’t up to the job and Tosic needed sometime in the reserves to adjust.
So what’s changed this season? We’ve signed Valencia for the right, Owen up front and Obertan for the future but haven’t addressed the left wing at all.
So we’re placing a lot of faith in either Obertan, Nani, Tosic or Park to do a consistent job on the left wing, else Wayne Rooney could very well be back on the left which will be disappointing considering he’s most effective as a striker.
I’ve got every faith in Fergie so we’ll have to wait and see but I’d have been much happier if we’d signed someone with Premiership experience like Villa’s Ashley Young, but time will tell.
Great article! And I couldn’t agree more with the Ronaldo piece, yes he was an amazing player and yes he scored all those goals. But alot of players had to moved around and play out of position for this. I think with Rooney and Berbatov now free to play where they would have usually I think the goals will come.
And as for Hargreaves, I think he is an absolute key factor. He passes, crosses, runs, tackles, shoots plus more effectively than Carrick and Park put together. If he stays fit United have a real heavy weight in the middle of the park.
I think as a unit United will be strong if they can get everyone on the same page. The team is longer focused on 1 player which will make them stronger.
I read the article’s title: ManU will be Okay
what is the meaning of Okay?
getting 4th place in EPL? or getting 3rds in all competition? or getting out of champions League in the group stage
1. yes, Fergie had made limited plans for Ronaldo’s sake when he was still in Manchester, but who could step up to kill more than 25 goals in a season?
2. The class of 2009 is full of potential, everyone has to admit that, but the problem, how much time they would need to step up? Giggs, Scholes, Neville are all old and tired. Who could replace them? I don’t see anyone up till now
3. We shall see how long he recovers and get in form
4. Yes they have reserves, tons of them, but none of them are really up to the challenge in Champions League/more than 20 matches in a season/EPL
5. I hope he does. But it’s impossible to see him score more than 15
AND
in addition
Although I’m a ManU fan, I would like to criticize SAF.
Not to be rude or mean, why the he** didn’t he buy replacements before C.Ronaldo left?
He could have waited until August to sell Ronaldo, buying right replacements like Ibrahimovic, Villa, Aguro, David Silva, Ribery etc.
The reason is after clubs heard ManU got 80m for selling Ronaldo, they just put the price so high that only Real Madrid could buy them out. Maybe they would sell them in original price if Ronaldo was still in Manchester.
One example would be : Gremio demanded more than 20m for ManU to buy Douglas Da Costa. That guy is really not worth 20m, I would say 13 at most. But all the teams had been demanding high sums of money, making a bad cycle, in which Real Madrid could buy everyone’s heard out (because of money )
I think you got at spot on but may be you should have added the main reason … Sir Alex Ferguson!
“tevez is world class”
World class at what exactly? Being s striker? Five goals in a season suggests otherwise…
yo right man,one thing i like most is about the youngsters i think sir fergie is not worried cos i think he has big surprises this season,something unexpected
Hahahahahahahaah! Owen Hargreaves comparable to Michael Essien?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA pinch me I’m dreaming!
Dave, about not having an obvious left winger, how about Anderson? He’s fast, skilful and left footed. If Hargreaves takes his place in central midfield it seems an obvious move.
see i agree with this article. yeah maybe we will win the league. but question is champs league. to be frank i dont think we are favourites to win.
see i have full faith in fergi ,those who think man u will perish they can go to hell. but still one star player is needed .aguero would have been the best.
but i am happy with all the players man utd has signed this season.
now atleast fergi should let the youth players play regularly.
Re Bobby’s comment about Ritchie – if he’s the same Ritchie I’m thinking of, he’s a top top player. Shame he’s just pissed off to Burnley on a four-year contract. Can’t really blame him I suppose, he’s probably got more chance of a regular United place by moving on and proving himself instead of contenting himself with the odd cup game and hoping for the best.
Perhaps point six could be : Alex Ferguson. Keeping calm when all around him lose their heads. Great article. Fergie at the controls also v. important.
To post 16.(Gervilian), the richie he meant is Ritchie de Laet, the gut we got from stoke(i think). The one who gone to Burnley is Richard Eckersly(not sure of the spelling). Anyway, if there are players we need to bolster the squad, it would be 2..a goal-scoring(offensive minded) CM, a proven left winger(at least one that is more consistent than nani/tosic)..other than that, we dont really need any1..a backup to hargreaves perhaps but i doubt SAF is looking to bolster that department
Nice post mate.
Hope Hargreaves recovers 99%.
Utd!
@jeremy: “Giggs, Scholes, Neville are all old and tired. Who could replace them?”
I can’t believe that amount of times this still comes-up!
Hasn’t Neville hardly played in 2 seasons as is now 4th choice at right-full back?
Doesn’t Giggs only play occasionally and mostly from the bench? And Scholes only played just over half the games last year.
In other words…they’ve already been replaced….keep up!
Jeremy, Sir Alex Ferguson did buy a replacement for Ronaldo at least 1 year ago, his name is Dimitar Berbatov.
listen you guys, we all know SAF did wrong a dn good decision in the past and we must faith on him. for now, i wouldnt dare to think of the future that lies ahead but for next season, let wait and see, we cant just say things just because this way. let wait for how SAF tackles season 09-10
Great article. One thing SAF is very good at is seeing the future of the club not only for the next season but for seasons to come. That’s the difference between some other clubs and some fans who only see the quick fix to everything.Very easy to criticize and say he should have done this last season or he should do this before this coming season. All of a sudden some man utd fans and haters have become experts. SAF have done whatever he thinks its the best for the club, some have been failures but most of them are successful. He have won everything there is to win is his career. He had his share of losses and bad decisions only to come out on top again. Not all managers move/decisions are guaranteed. No one team can win everything they want, every time. Not all players are guaranteed they can deliver what they are expected. That’s why they play the game and for us to watch what unfolds. As a manchester united fan, I have seen more wins/championship /success more than losses or failures of the team. Manchester United have won more trophies than any other club for the last decade or two. That is not by accident or luck. It’s the fact.
but the thing I want to say is:
why didn’t SAF buy big names BEFORE C,Ronaldo left?
he could have kept the deal secret
so the market value of players will not be inflated
maybe by then Aguro would be here
perhaps Ribery, Villa, Silva etc
am still nervous, hope we wont be like arsenal of last season! we 4 sure gonna miss Ronaldo though!and Fergie idea of giving Owen no.7 wasn’t polite!
@ jeremy
stop making remarks in hindsight. I for one thought man united would win the champions league and hence wouldn’t be talking about all the “what if’s” and “maybe’s” of today. Barcelona beat United. United won the league (3 in a row). Move on. Barcelona’s triumph and Madrid and Man City’s riches have imbalanced the priorities and dealings in the transfer market of other clubs. The transfer market is not over yet and other clubs (less likely Utd) still can make some moves. United is not the only club with if’s in their future. Next season is just around the corner and all the major clubs with their own ambitions have a clean slate. No one knows how the season will unfold. There would be twist and turns that’s for sure, hope United can ride the tide once more.
I hope fergie has a surprise for us and I reckon he has some deal sorted out for Ashley Young. I don’t believe Downing would go to Villa in the year of the world cup to play second fiddle to Young. Transfer deadline day, we pray and hope to get our 20m winger that would give us plenty of excitement and sort out our left wing problem. Fergie could even sweeten O’Neil by insisting he’ll put in a good word for him as a replacement for fergie when he does decide to call it a day.
@jeremy
i’m not finished with you just yet.
let me dissect the comments you made at 9. You say you are united fan, does it really needs to be explained to you what ‘okay’ means to a club like Man Utd. This is not a club like Fiorentina or Lazio of Seria A.
You asked “Who could replace Ronaldo and kill 25 goals for the club?” Though we got killed by Barcelona in the final due to poor midfield play and Liverpool got the better of us last season,United still have arguably a strong defense which can result in more cleansheets like last season and minimize the damage on the other end. United controls most of the play in their games. Most often than not, united will score. Does it really matter who gets it?
As for saying none of the youngster are up to the challenge of the CL and lack EPL experience? United and Arsenal’s youngsters/reserves can conceivably beat most of the EPL’s teams. Gibson, Macheda, Wellbeck, da Silva etc. have already proven they can compete. United have to let a lot of good young talent go (Eagles and Campbell for example) because there wasn’t much room in the senior squad. ‘Experience’ would never come if people like you dips into the transfer market for replacements instead of ‘cultivating your own farm’ You should jump on the Real Madrid bandwagon instead of calling yourself a united fan because all you complain about is who SAF didn’t buy.
Who could replace Neville, Scholes, and Giggs?? Do you really watch the game and FOLLOW the team or you got stuck playing FIFA 09 last season?
As for the tranfer market, none of the ‘big four’ have made significant signings just yet. Though a little bit late, SAF made an offer for Tevez to stay. For all his contributions last season, Tevez thought what’s best for him first before the club. He is not irreplaceable. Benzema would have been a good addition but it didn’t happen. Now, there is no need to buy as SAF figures just for the sake of spending. Time to move on and concentrate on the club.
@fearflash
yes
but Manchester United’s squad looks really really weak compared to other teams
in EPL Liverpool’s overtaking with Man City coming to challenge
in CL Barcelona and Real Madrid just dominated the whole thing
in EC Other teams like Chelsea, Arsenal would pose a great threat
in FAC same as EC
i just want someone real good in Manchester United
and if Fergie bought the star before Ronaldo left, (or at least someone)
the prices won’t be so high
and teams won’t try to put the value so high that only Real Madrid could buy
even Douglas Da Costa costs 20m, teams are just taking advantage from ManU
All dis talk about being okay is just a way 4 us manutd fans 2 calm down our nerves b4 da season begins . Ronaldo can never b replaced by 1 player … He has shown da world how gud he is . Everythn about him is a topic of discussion , dese r attributes of great players , ders no1 in da world apart from Messi dat cud single handedly match his ambition n keep up wid his speed … Aguero also another lad dat cud add some serious quality 2 da squad . Ders da feeling still dat SAF will indeed get another player,need not b a big name , but a man 4 da job on da line … A genuine left man . A Robben , or Young cud b enuf 2 keep da squad as exciting as it already is .. N remember SAF goes 4 players proven in da EPL … Carrick , Rio , berbatov , Tevez , berbatov , now Owen n Valencia … most impt is dat wel c an even faster 1-2 touch play n alot of running wid a young squad wid da right balance of experience … If hargreaves is fit n we buy Young , der wudnt b ne more place for star coz da star is da team n only a team wins . Sorry Ronaldo …
your spot on mate, man united are the biggest team in the world and without ronny, we will still be league champions next year and reach and 3rd straight champs lge final.
I’m just not satisfied with ManU transfer activity
and i really hate Ronaldo AND Real Madrid, more than before
they made other teams take advantage of Manchester United of financial boom
A lot of “if”s. Rather look at the track record. Owen H was always injured at Bayern M, and was the same in Manu. Rooney has been the “Next Great” for many years now, and will remain ONLY that. We kept of hoping M. Owen to junp start, and we kept on waiting..and waiting, and most likely will keep on waiting. Berbatov, who was incredible at Tottenham, really couldn’t do jilt at Manu. We are hoping that Fergie has got a plan. But actually he did. His plan was to get Benzema, and Ribery, and the plans back fired. I still think that last season Manu got lucky to win the premier league, and this season will not be his. Unless, rest of the 19 teams top ten clubs starts suffering setbacks like him.
No, they won’t be okay this season. They need transition time to eliminate the Ronaldo-dependency as he was their top goalscorer for the last two seasons.
i agree
even if i’m a manunited fan
manu just happens to suck now without ronaldo
I hate the whiners that complain about CR9 leaving dirty Manchester for glorious Madrid! Madrid did nothing wrong in bringing home a player who clearly and publicly expressed his desire to leave. And don’t be hypocrites! Your dirty old Fergie did the same thing to Bayern and Tottenham when acquiring Hargreaves and Berbatov, so don’t say Madrid is bad for doing the exact same thing MU did! The fact is MU don’t have as strong a team as last year and will have a tougher go this year. Keep being positive all you want, but when you lose the best player in the world, your gonna be worse for it, not better! Ps. Rooney is overrated shite!
spot on mate… de only thing id add… is not only de ‘coming off age’ of rooney… n de fitness of hagreaves… but i think anderson could be absolutely key for us next season… if anderson can step up his game… we automatically hv one of the best central midfield players in the world… becos anderson… jes judging on potential… can be an amazing player… if he comes good… i think united will b an absolute powerhse…
@dam? What are you on about? Nobody has had a go at Madrid, so no need to get on your high horse.
Anyway it doesn’t matter what anyone has to say, Sir Alex has the final say and proved over and over again that he know’s what he was doing.
Remember Alan Hansen, the “expert”, who predicted ‘you don’t win anything with kids’, United won the double that year.
It is true that with the loss of Tevez and Ronaldo, United do not have as strong a squad, but the team is. Tevez was bemoaning his fate as far back as January and Ronaldo showed his true colours in the Derby match when he spat his dummy out of the pram. The dressing room will be a much more harmonious place, and will stay this way without the big egos that have left.
When Sir Alex has his back against the wall that is when he is his most dangerous. Give the great man a break he has just equalled the scouse record, a feat no-one would have thought he could do when he arrived in 86. Here’s to another great year watching the red devils march on.
You’ve got to admire the nerve of some people. You’d think that after all the success he’s brought to the club, SAF would be given the benefit of the doubt. But here we are, on the back of three titles and two CL finals, and “fans” are throwing tantrums because they didn’t get their superstar signing. Sorry guys, I’m sure you all have very impressive save files on Football Manager or Fifa, but I like to think SAF knows what he’s doing.
I’d love a repeat of 95/96, but I’ll be fine if this is a rebuilding year. SAF is (hopefully) putting together his last great side before retiring. This takes time. Get over it.
But… at the beginning of this season, Ronaldo was injured and utd were 9th. Then when he recovered from injury, utd went up the table and then won the prem. Utd will b awful this year
@For the love of God
yes, it will take time to rebuild, but it is also important to buy someone who could have the ability to change the score of the game
if SAF bought someone before Ronaldo left + inflated market values
manunited would have saved a lot of money and bought better players
I kept repeating, other clubs are just trying to take advantage of united’s financial boom
Gremio demanded 20m for douglas de costa, who is worth around 12m
maybe Ibrahimovic would worth only 30m, now he’s 70m
@Nadav
I concur with you mate
and also
without Ronaldo Manunited’s shirt selling would be awful too