Sporting Thoughts
Manchester United's 2nd consecutive disappointing quarter-final exit from the Champions' League has sparked a veritable flood of punditry and summer transfer speculation.
The most obvious reason for
United's comparative lack of success this season is the fact that they lack a real world-quality striker. The debate rages on about Cole's ability as a finisher, but the fact is that he - and all four of United's front men - are not capable of running at players.
While all their forwards are accomplished finishers that is all they are. If Shevchenko, for example, gets the ball on the edge of the box he is able to create the space for a shot - none of the United players seem capable of this.
Indeed this criticism could be applied to virtually the whole of the United team. The only players who you see regularly beating men are Giggs and Barthez. As most Premiership teams try to press the United midfield, this is not a problem as they can oftem take advantage of the resultant space by destoying sides with passing moves.
In European games however teams tend to defend far deeper and offer the United midfield much more time on the ball. As a result the onus is much more on the forwards to create the chances with either clever runs or a moment of brilliance. There isn't a United forward who looks likely to produce either of these.
Another factor for United's defeat against Bayern is simply that the players are not on great form. They have got very good at winning against the poor teams, but haven't played really well since their extraordinary 6-1 demolition of Arsenal. The midfield hasn't looked as sharp as it once did - Beckham and Scholes have been, by their own high standards, decidedly average this year.
So what can United do to change things round and win the Champions' League that Ferguson desires so greatly in his final season as United boss? Obviously the squad needs strengthening, but who should they sign? I would tend away from the huge names who would come in with excessive expectations and wage demands. Perhaps the answer lies not with big name foreigners but with young Englishmen.
Matt Jansen has had another superb season for Blackburn, Seth Johnson is one of the country's best hard-tackling midfielders and Frank Lampard is the best passer of the ball in an exceptionally gifted young Hammers' midfield. All three could be picked up for about 20 million, nicely complementing the 19 million purchase of Van Nisterooy.
Perhaps all this debate is effectively academic, for the chances of United's domination of domestic football continuing after Fergie leaves is open to question; how much money is Martin Edwards willing to release to give his manager a special final season?
17th May 2001