Manchester United’s defeat at the hands of the proposed best team ever, Barcelona FC, has shown the frailties that were even evident before our midfield were delivered several critical blows by Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.
If we had not played the attacking 4-4-2, we would have probably not seen that type of meltdown in our team’s engine room but it is hoped that this has lit a fire in the pit of Sir Alex Ferguson’s stomach that will mean an exciting summer transfer wise.
Before we look at our potential players and the players that I would like, I will show you the players that we are purported to have signed and how they will impact the club and our future signings.
David De Gea
De Gea maybe behind Reina and Victor Valdes right now but it is already being stated that he could be the long term replacement of the Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas in the national team.
At the age of 20, he has drawn comparisons with the recently retired Edwin Van Der Sar due to his height, reflexes, composure and his experience having played and won a Europa League and Super Cup medal at his tender age. As he will be coming to Old Trafford to effectively replace the Flying Dutchman, it means that time has finally run out for the second-choice goalkeeper, Tomas Kuszack.
Anders Lindegaard has come in and is likely to be a part of the team and therefore allows our young English goalkeeper, Ben Amos to slot in as the third-choice goalkeeper.
Raphael Varane
The Lille-born centre-back was subject to increasing interest from Arsenal and Manchester United but our deal to sign him is very much in the same category as De Gea. He is exceptionally tall for an 18 year old at 6ft 3in with an athletic build but also quite agile with electric pace.
This has been his first season with Lille’s first team and was thrust in at the deep end on the 10th November 2010 when he made his professionally début for the club. What has caught the eye of both English clubs is his tactical and technical ability, something that the club’s youth coach has often commended him for. Although he is known to play as CB, he is very versatile and can play as a defensive midfielder and at a push as full-back, definitely a snip – €5m (£3.7m)
Ashley Young
He has been receiving praise from all corners of the English media for his performances at International level, however, he has been powerless to help Aston Villa, who despite making an inside sprint to finish 9th, spent much of the season near the relegation trap door.
Rumours have all but confirmed that he will be wearing the famed colours of United next season after his versatility, pace, crossing ability and set-pieces took him to Birmingham after showing promise as a Watford first-teamer. The problem with this signing is that he is a buy where he adds quality to the squad but not the first XI.
Nani can do what he does and better, Valencia and Park have different dimensions to their game which allows them to start the big games for Manchester United and Giggs can fill in at his more comfortable left-midfield.
This leaves Young in lurch as he is already passed the age where he can be classed as developmental thus he has to start performing consistently on a bigger stage, which I have for one have criticised him for. To get to the top, we have to start signing players who are going to push for the starting places, who are going to add a different dimension to our squad and who have a unique ability which isn’t found in players we already have.
These three signings show one for the right now/future, one that can grow into a great player and one to add depth to our squad. These matters aren’t what is most pressing at the moment. The best signing of the three for me is De Gea and that’s only because the situation has been forced on us by the retiring of the great Van Der Sar.
According to David Gill, we are in for a much busier summer than usual. Last season we signed three players and this summer we have already been linked with three so I assume there will be more on their way on top of these 3.
This piece is taken from new United blog ‘Expertise On United‘
Completely agree about Young. For £15M+ I expect a player who can at least compete for a postition in the starting 11, which Young can’t. IMHO, the only reason for us to sign him is if sir Alex is considering cashing in on Nani.
Think United need to sign players that are better than they already have. Young is ok, but he is no Sanchez, or schnieder which are other options for midfield. I would like young if we got rid of park, giggs, valencia and nani. then young, sanchez and our youngsters would be good. thats not going to happen and i fear a rather boring summer of signings that wont help produce a side that is capable of competing with the best in europe.
Your on the internet already, could you not at least google how to spell sneijder
Was thinking the same myself..
“Your on the internet already…” should be “You’re on the internet already…” Could you not at least check your grammar?
after going through the red summer signing, i think all are the bestest choice….whom we need know is Wesley Schnidger…plz Sir Alex sign him….because he only knows to destroy the tactics of Xavi and Ineasta….we r neva done with Barcelona…i luv Messi but i dnt much like “PEP”….LETS MEET AGAIN NEXT SEASON PEP…TRAIN YOUR BOYS WELL N SHAKE IT LIKE SHAKIRA……
Got to have a world class midfielder in the mix for next season!modric or sneider are the two being talked about.rumour we are talking to pato rodriguez from argentina are hopefully not included as replacing scholes!
time,get rid of valencia?
are you real.
please try to have world class midfielder ,who has the ability to success scholes like modrich and snider your focus must be on mid field and goalkeeper man utd has not any problem in wing ,defence and attacking
Fergie said one massive signing and those 3 players aren’t massive if im going to be honest, the likes of Sneijder and Sanchez are big so those 3 are signings that would improve the squad which in the future they will need for replacements such as Scholes,ferdinand and Van der sar and giggs.
That is what I also believe. Young is at best a squad player for United but hopefully Pato Rodriguez shegs the Young deal.
I think what we need now is how strenght our midfied, charp striker, and replacement of Van dar sar.
One midfield to replace Paul Scholes is needed. Modric or Sniejder are two options. Sign one of them.
‘Expertise on United’? How about expertise with the English language and basic grammar? Yet another wanna be sports journo mangling the language in his vain attempt to sound informed. Do you actually know the difference between ‘past’ and ‘passed’, or does highlighting that single point still leave you scratching your head in confusion? Take a look at the rest of your piece for the litany of disastrous English usage permeating the content. That or get a proper editor to point it all out to you.
It is funny how you are trying to sound so smart using words like ‘permeating’. How about you write an article and we will see how your’s measures up to mine? Alright, Timbo?
And can’t you just look past the mistakes and just comment on the content because just wanting to find faults in someone’s post is really quite sad.
HAHA..Timbo got owned!
To be fair Timbo his use of the word ‘passed’ is not incorrect he ‘passed the age’. If he was to use the word past it would be more fitting in the sentence ‘ already gone past…’.
Thanks for the input though