I heard Gary Neville talk about how Sir Alex Ferguson would have watched the Germans this week and would be delighted. "Why ? Because Ferguson loves a challenge. He would look at those sides and wonder how he can bring United to that level."
Ferguson has spoken all season about how this is one of the finest United teams of all time. He has statistics to back him up. For most of this year United have been chasing the points record and are the 1st ever side to win 25 of their first 30 games. They were desperately unlucky against Real Madrid because of that rubbish Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir (where does UEFA find these people) and in Ferguson's opinion they possess tremendous depth. Ask any supporter, however, and they will talk about how happy they are to be Champions, but know this season promised so much more.
Defeat to Chelsea tonight means Ferguson has been out-thought by Rafael Benitez for the 3rd time this season. Ouch. They were outplayed by Manchester City in the derby and in the end could not overturn the deficit against Real. The season has gone from treble-hopes to double-hopes to points record-hopes to well, nothing more than the title. This team has been fantastic this year, but compare them to the energy and flair of Bayern and Dortmund, they pale in comparison. Even Barcelona are a step ahead.
Being the best in England means a lot to Ferguson after last season's finale. However, if there is 1 record he covets more than any, it's Bob Praisely's 3 European Cups. He's always spoken about how United should have won more European Cups, and at 71, knows if he wants to equal Praisely's record, he hasn't got much time. This team is the one which has to get him that trophy, he can't build another. The process started 2 years back, when after getting hammered by Barca Fergie realized it was time to move on from his best team ever- the Cristiano Ronaldo and later Wayne Rooney inspired side from 2006-2011. In came the youth of David de Gea, Phil Jones and the relatively older Ashley Young. Next summer came Alexander Buttner, Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa. It's clear to see what's going on. de Gea replaced Edwin van der Sar, the legendary stopper who retired at the end of that season, Jones and Chris Smalling, brought in earlier, are expected to inherit Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic's positions. Kagawa was brought in to provide guile and to give the club the option of playing a specialist in the whole in the 4-2-3-1 formation. The team is in transition, and the fact that it keeps on winning is down to Ferguson's man management and the experience of the likes of Giggs, Scholes, Rooney and Ferdinand etc.
But despite that, the fact that this is a relatively weak United side can be disputed. They continue to win games mechanically, and they possess 4 players from this year's PFA Team of the Season. Yet something feels incomplete. They get outplayed in midfield very often and have struggled at periods in every game this season. You don't associate that with the team of 1994, 1999, 2008 or 2009. Evolution, rather than revolution is needed. Listening to Ed Woodward say this will be a quiet summer is scary considering City will spend heavily this summer and Jose Mourinho will probably return to Stamford Bridge. Woodward is a Glazers man, hence my belief that when he talks about not investing in the team, he means it. Ferguson knows he needs to buy, yet his targets are in the wrong areas. Robert Lewandowski isn't needed desperately, neither is Asmir Begovic or Angello Ogbonna. Midfield is the priority, both in the middle and out wide, where Nani and Antonio Valencia are both expected to leave. Few United fans will miss Nani, while Valencia's form has plummeted and he is a one trick pony. Watching Anderson today made me certain he too should be shown the door, and with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher all but done, it will mean central midfield is a genuine concern at Old Trafford. Man City and Chelsea both overran Michael Carrick and his midfield partner, be it Giggs or Cleverley. A new midfield enforcer is needed, with the likes of Kevin Strootman and Ikay Gundogan (what a player he is !) linked with the club. Out wide Wilfried Zaha has already been snapped up, yet that's not enough. James Rodriguez too should be considered while Angel Di Maria's lack of consistency should rule him out. The biggest wide player wanted though, is a boy from Madeira.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be the heroic signing United fans will happily take in exchange for some level of affection for the Glazers. His name is still sung every week, and is the biggest name on the market and would be a deal perfect for both sides. Ronaldo is someone who needs love and affection and will get that at the Theater Of Dreams. He speaks of it like his own family, while United would get one of the greatest players of all time who will take little time to adjust. The only issue is if his fee would stop Ferguson from plugging in the gaps in the middle.
I don't rate Tom Cleverley as highly as others. He's definitely talented, but is already 23 and I doubt he will ever be as good as Scholes or Keane. He seems like someone who could stay at the club for his entire career and could turn out to be a pretty big star. Yet I believe he loses his way when the going get's tough and doesn't dictate play enough. Better players are available in the market and a midfielder is desperately needed. Next season should also see Jones become more of a regular with Vidic's injury issues and Ferdinand's ageing. Jones and Evans could be United's next great pairing and Alex Buttner deserves more chances instead of Evra. Unless Ronaldo is possible, another striker isn't needed unless Ferguson really wants to let Rooney go. This team showed against Real that they aren't too far from the top, but they need reinforcements in midfield to rise to the standard of Guardiola's (in August) Bayern.
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