Archive for the 'Position Debate' Category

The Great Position Debate: Right Midfield

Published by
Paul
at July 31, 2007 in Position Debate. 0 Comments

I’m assuming a 4-4-2 formation (or at the very least a 4-4-1-1) formation but I think United’s lineup is going to be increasingly fluid this season. Last season’s most effective formation appeared to be Saha up front (or Smith when Saha was injured) with Rooney, Giggs and Ronaldo operating loosely around him. With that in mind, I’m looking at the right sided attacking position more than a midfielder. However, there really is only one option here.

  • Christiano Ronaldo. Last season the Boy Wonder came of age. After the World Cup and the Rooney incident, it was predicted Ronaldo would leave or wilt under the pressure of the media and opposition fans. Instead he grew. I was at the Reading game fairly early in the season. Reading were leading 1-0 and the crowd around me were happy. However, my friend Terry wasn’t. The home fan’s were constantly booing Ronaldo and he thought this was only going to make him angry. He wasn’t wrong. Ronaldo took the ball and turned the Reading rightback inside out and put the ball in the net. He single-handedly saved a point for us. He also won the game away to Fulham in similar circumstances. He is our key match winner. My only criticism is that he needs to bring that level of performance up in key Champions League games.
  • The Backups. The legend that is Solskjaer can fill in right midfield but his contribution can be no more that a bit part now and he may contribute more as a late substitute. Nani is mostly a left sided player but could swap over with Ronaldo. Brazilian wonder kid Anderson again is left sided and in fact is more of a central player so probably won’t feature much on the right. Youngster Chris Eagles may have the chance this season to feature in 5-10 less important League and Cup games. If he can shine this season, he may get the chance to push Ronaldo more next season, but really he won’t be able to break through. However, he has the talent to take advantage of any long term injury to Ronaldo.
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The Great Position Debate: Centre Back

Published by
Paul
at July 12, 2007 in Manchester United and Position Debate. 2 Comments

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have formed the best centre-half partnership since Bruce and Pallister.  They say opposites attract, but it can’t be truer in football than with Ferdinand and Vidic.  When paired with someone like Silvestre, Ferdinand plays like Calamity Rio.  But with a solid man like Vidic (and Terry for England) Rio has played out of his skin.  

When Vidic first signed, fans initially were sceptical, but I never doubted he would be a star.  He just looks so hard.  He did make some mistakes, but gave away fouls by blocking the player instead of making a worse mistake of letting them through.  Gradually he adapted and became so strong.

The main reserves last season when either Rio or Vidic were Wes Brown and to a lesser extent, Heinze.  Neither exudes confidence in this position.  Wes is a sort of Mini-me of Rio, incredibly talented, but prone to make terrible mistakes.  Heinze’s style of complete commitment and throwing himself towards the player and ball to make a great tackle is good for full-back when the centre-back can cover, but at centre-back it is just too scary (see the Milan semi-final 2nd leg last season for a example.

No, I’d look to our future for players next season, Jonny Evans and Gerard Pique now need first team experience to progress.  I’ve not seen enough of either of them, or reserve team captain, Craig Cathcart to judge them further.

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The Great Position Debate: Right Back

Published by
Paul
at July 10, 2007 in Manchester United and Position Debate. 0 Comments

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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The Great Position Debate: Goalkeeper

Published by
Paul
at July 4, 2007 in Articles, Manchester United and Position Debate. 1 Comment

Edwin Van der Sar

The best since Schmeichel but a wobble at the end of last season in his form and the up and coming Foster means that 1st choice isn’t guaranteed for the Dutchman. Maybe it was the effects of Robbie Keane’s knee that put him off slightly, and a rest will bring back his calm cool to the pitch. I sense one great season left in him.

Tomasz Kuszczak

The Polish understudy to Van der Sar has signed permanently now, which is odd considering the great season Foster has just had. Of the few starts he had, he looked competent at best, but nothing special. Which is just what you want from a reserve. Gave away a penalty against Arsenal but subsequently saved it.

Ben Foster

Young Englishman Foster came to prominence last season with a great season at Watford. Perhaps the Watford defence made him look good by keeping him busy, it is the opposite at United where he will have nothing to do for 80 minutes and then Rio will fall asleep and poke a backpass towards your net. Will he be able to step up to both United’s and England’s first team?

The Verdict

Hasn’t been much better in terms of keepers at United. My vote goes to Edwin for this season and Foster to emerge next.

All Posts in the The Great Position Debate Series

  1. Leftback
  2. Goalkeeper
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The Great Position Debate: Left Back

Published by
Paul
at July 3, 2007 in Articles, Manchester United and Position Debate. 0 Comments

This series investigates who will play where next season at Manchester United. I look at each player that can play in each position before deciding who will star next season and who will be out the door. We’ll start the debate at left back as there is continued speculation over the future of Gabriel Heinze.

Current Players

Patrice Evra After injury struck down Heinze, Evra became the number one choice at left back. Whilst others don’t rate him, Sir Alex certainly does. After a horrendous first game in a dreadful Manchester derby, Evra struggled in his first season. However, last season he really came good and put in some top class performances, keeping Heinze out of the side. Evra’s great strength is his attacking ability and he makes some great surging runs and combines this with strong tackling. Only seemed less than good when he came back from injury too soon at the end of the season.

Gabriel Heinze A fully committed defender, putting himself where other (cough… rio) would fear to go. Therefore a big fan’s favourite. However, got a really bad injury, came back too soon to play in the World Cup for Argentina and looked pretty poor at times last season. Will always give 100% and if he can reclaim the form of his first United season will be pushing for first choice again. Transfer speculation abounds and the latest is a possible move to Liverpool but like others, I don’t see that happening.

Mikael Silvestre Not very affectionately known as Easter Island Head, the French full back’s greatest contribution to the title chase last season was to tumble over the top of an opponent, breaking his collarbone and putting himself out of contention for the rest of the season. Whilst everyone cheered when Vidic returned from a similar injury, the kept on cheering when Silvestre didn’t do the same. Fergie doesn’t want to get rid of him though but he wasn’t in the new squad photo and the latest rumour is that he is off to Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux

Kieran Richardson For the love of God, NOOOOOOOO!

Transfer targets

With Garath Bale signing for Spurs there doesn’t seem to be anyone else coming in. And if Heinze stays we don’t need anyone.

The Verdict

Evra will start at left back next season, Heinze will stay as more than useful backup, perhaps reclaiming his form and pushing Evra out. I hope that Silvestre and Richardson see the wrong end of a Fergie Flying Boot and make a sharp Old Trafford exit.

What do you think? Evra or Heinze? Any reserves coming through, or transfer targets that are better than Evra or Heinze?

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