ManUtd: The Season Ahead

I have been a ManUtd fan for quite a few years now and as any other fan I hate it when the team goes through its downs. I was reading a few articles lately and quite a lot has been made about players going out and some coming in. And SAF is usually the scapegoat.

Lets look a few things:

1. The squad and injuries: This season barring some last minute injuries the whole team is fit and ready to go. No one could predict that the Rio Ferdinand would be playing in the mid-field last year could they? When did Van de Sar, Nev, Rio, Vidic and Heinze play all together? So if you look at it, you got a solid back 4 before a good goalie. Everyone knows that midfield is a problem and what we lack is a holding mid-fielder. Other than that if you have Ronaldo, Scholes/Carrick and Giggs forming 3 of the 4 in the midfield, its not that bad at all. In fact its still good. Up in front Saha and Rooney with help from Rossi, Smith and Ole are good enough to pile up a few goals.

2. Transfers: However much we cry, other than Wenger very few managers have been able to get a bargain for a good player. Chelski has bloated the market prices and unfortunately not everyone has deep pockets like Roman. So we have to depend on the fact that coming to ManUtd would help a player get more first team appearances than playing in Chelski. But what we need more than ever is a player in the Keano mould who can take control of the midfield. Striker is a good to have, not the biggest priority. Senna's been in the news lately but I would prefer if SAF got a younger player who would form a part of the core team in the coming years. Else, next season the hunt will start again.
3. The usual problems: If you followed ManUtd over the last few seasons they did two things consistently which didn't help their cause:

a>Poor start to the season, too many draws or near losses

b>Losing points against teams in the bottom five while beating the top five.

If this goes on this season too, they can kiss their chances goodbye.

4. SAF is human: Here's a guy who had got us the treble. He might not be enjoying his last few years I would personally give him this year to bounce back. The team he had in 1999 is difficult to replace and atleast he's laying the foundation for a team as good for the future. We need to understand that since the club became private his hands have got tied. Rooney was our biggest signing before we became private. The fact that Chelski can pick up players at will and at any cost hasn't helped us.

To summarise, ManUtd might not have the depth in reserves as Chelski but we still have it in us to give a bloody good fight to any top team in the world. If injuries are not a problem and we still lose at the end of the season, then a few heads should roll. Till then lets give the team a chance to prove that they have got it in them to be title contenders. Don't write them off even before the season begins! :)

Crossposted at BlogFC