This one is no contest right? Or is Captain Neville getting too old? Is Fergie planning on buying a defender ever again?
Gary Neville
Our captain spent the last two months on the sidelines and was missed. Not only is he a great defender, inspiring and helps keep Rio under control, he’s not bad at going forward and has learnt to cross really well (probably from that Dave B bloke who played in front of him). He needs to work on his shooting still.
He will still be the first choice right-back this season providing he can get fit in time for the season start, but Ferguson must surely be looking towards his long-term replacement.
Wes Brown
Wes has been so unlucky with injuries over the years, it is often thought that his United career will really get going soon. Yet Wes has now made over 250 appearances for United and he is actually a very useful member of the squad and can cover at both right-back and centre-back. Is he young enough to become first choice now, or should we be looking at a long term successor and give him some first team appearances this season?
Phil Bardsley
Is Phil Bardsley the long term successor to Neville? A very good loan period at Aston Villa last season followed a rubbish one at Rangers (where he fell out with the manager). Apparently a target for a £2million transfer to Everton, I hope he will get a number of opportunities this season and we will see if he is really cut out for the 1st team.
Youth and Future
Kieran Lee looks promising and did well in the Stanford Bridge Really-A-Reserve Game at the end of last season. Daniel Simpson was loaned out to Sunderland last season and help them achieve promotion. There is certainly some competition at right-back before you have to look elsewhere for a big money transfer. Or to these Brazilian twins we’ve signed; Fabio and Rafael Silva
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So, it looks like only the dodgy nature of the original transfer to West Ham may scupper the transfer now and I’m sure United can sort that out over the remaining period before the season starts.
I had 2 concerns about United last season and now they have both been addressed
1) Long term replacements for Scholes and Giggs (addressed with Nani and Anderson)
2) Strength in depth up front – Tevez fills this gap.
Not to mention Hargreaves being the defensive midfielder we didn’t seem to even need as the long term Keane replacement.
It’ll be a sad day when Scholes, Giggs and Neville finally hang up their boots, but unlike the Busby era Fergie is bringing in replacements.
Anyone know of a good rightback ?
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All very quiet on the transfer rumour round up. Nothing much going on. I can imagine David Gill has his feet up on the desk, a Friday afternoon game of solitaire on the computer, wondering if he can get off at 4:30 to get a quick one in down the pub. Meanwhile, Fergie is in his office drawing pretty 2-3-5 formations in a final bid to see if he really wants Tevez whilst Sky Sports News tickertapes in the background as Citey unveil the Swedish one. Hang on, what’s this?
Sky Sports – Tevez to seal United loan
United want Tevez signed and sealed as soon as possible, so they have travelled to South America to conclude the deal.
Bit keen this summer, aren’t they?
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Seems that even if United do a deal for Tevez with whoever really owns the player, the Premier League may block the transfer
The Premier League will block Carlos Tevez’s proposed move to Manchester United if they are not satisfied the transfer fee will go to West Ham.
Meanwhile desparate Sheffield United are going to the High Court on July 13th to appeal once again.
Let’s get this right. If United don’t give the money to West Ham then they have lied to the Premier League and don’t really own the player at all. And then what, they relegate West Ham? I don’t think so. I don’t know how they can block Tevez when the allowed Mascherano to goto Liverpool.
This could just run and run until the deal falls apart and United are left without a new striker at all.
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