Rob Critchley gives his take on the state of Manchester United’s midfield…
Robin Van Persie looks like a great signing for Manchester United and Shinji Kagawa looks like he will be able support, once he adjusts to the Premier leagues physical nature. Nick Powell and Alexander Buttner have both impressed in their limited playing periods.
A relatively successful transfer window for Sir Alex Ferguson, right? Wrong!
It is becoming all too obvious the importance Paul Scholes still exerts on the centre of the field. The man has retired once, and as good as he is, he can not dominate a game the way some of his younger adversaries in the centre of the park can.
Spurs dominated the United midfield at the weekend, and in midweek Cluj didn’t have to work as much as they would have against a side with more power in the engine room.
Alex Ferguson has repeatedly stated that he feels that there is a lack of value for money in that area, which is why he is biding his time and waiting for the right option at the right price to come a long. How long can he afford to wait though?
From an outside perspective, it seems that United are always a step or two behind others when it comes to grabbing the next big thing. Is this because when it is United, the price suddenly rises, or is it because United’s information and scouting network is just not comprehensive enough, and not picking up these players early enough?
Newcastle in particular and other “lesser’’ sides such as Fulham and Everton have midfielders who United fans covert and would slot straight into the side.
It’s no coincidence that the two games the reds have lost so far this season, players like Fellaini, Dembele (who has been value for money for Fulham, and looks like he will be for Spurs too) Sigurdsson and Pienaar have all performed.
It is hard to see what Ferguson is waiting for. As good a player as Kagawa is, he is not what most observers would have considered top of United’s priority list, and for the amount of money they have paid for him, it is possible that there could have been more value for money signings elsewhere.
Southampton, for instance signed Gaston Ramirez for a reported £6m less, and he looks as good a bit of business done in this transfer window.
This season United do not have the legs in midfield to compete with the very best. Giggs and Scholes, as good as they have been can’t do it game in game out, and haven’t been able to for a couple of seasons now.
Anderson, when he is fit has not developed as expected, Carrick is not good enough, Nani is not interested and wants out and cleverly is still learning about what playing in the centre of the park for Manchester United is all about.
Darren Fletcher is only just coming back from a career threatening illness and Ashley Young is not fit again. Only Antonio Valencia, who has been one of United’s best players over the last 18 months, is contributing fully to United’s midfield cause.
Talk of Wesley Sneijder arriving at Old Trafford will not go away, but this is the position that Kagawa plays in. Although the Dutchman is quality, he would be another luxury and certainly not the value for money signing that Ferguson is craving.
A Dutchman that would have been more required, and was available was Nigel De Jong, who was deemed unrequired at Manchester City. Whether the two clubs could have done business is another question but a £4m transfer fee for the 27 year old would have suited United’s budget and needs.
When the transfer window comes round in January, United’s league season could be all but over, if they continue to drop points at regular intervals. Assuming they progress through the group phases of the Champions League the majority of best players will be ineligible, so Ferguson will have to go with what he has.
What he has in the middle of the park at the moment is not good enough to have a concerted attack on the major prizes. Unless there is a major transformation of form in one of the players already at Old Trafford, it will be a second trophyless season in the red half of Manchester.
Do you agree? How urgent is the need for a new central midfielder?
image: © Marcel Sigg
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