If ever you wanted to compare football to theatre, then look
no further than the deadline day. Yesterday was no different as fans of the
Premier League were blessed with a day filled with footballing drama, shock and
debates. Some clubs finish the transfer window highly satisfied; whilst others
are have been highly let down.
I can’t help but feel that the let-down team – both to
themselves and their supporters – is the team I follow so passionately. I
understand that it’s a new era at Old Trafford and that as a United fan, I
should be giving nothing but complete support and backing to our new manager.
However, when you look at how United have gone about business in the last few
weeks you’ll understand just why it’s become so frustrating to give that
backing to David Moyes and – perhaps more importantly – Ed Woodward. The
pointless pursuit of Fabregas who was neither for sale nor interested in
considering offers from clubs; the senseless double bid for Fellaini and Baines
considering both players have a respected value of their own; the childish
deadline day chasing of Ander Herrera which was ultimately dismissed as “an
unofficial bid”. A failed attempt to bring in Coentrao on a loan deal seems
desperate, needy and lazy. Firstly, since when do United look to bring in s
tar
players on loan? The last loaned in player I remember is Henrik Larsson.
Secondly, showing such a heightened interest to bring in Baines and Coentrao
will do nothing but harm Patrice Evra’s morale. Evra – voted as United’s Man of
the Match on the weekend – has to sit back and watch his place potentially in
threat when it simply doesn’t have to be; a complete lack of respect for one of
United’s noble servants of the last decade. To claim that the current squad are
strong enough to compete and yet chase down players right up to the wire – the
way I like to do on Football Manager 2013 – is a worrying contrast. Daniel
Taylor rightly stated that Moyes was fooling no one when he was adamant that
Man Utd had played great football in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. I’m very glad
that we’ve bought in Fellaini who will add a great sense of physicality to an
otherwise lacklustre centre midfield. His combination with Carrick and link up
play with Van Persie is something I’m looking forward to greatly. However, why
wait right until the deadline to offer the price that Everton were after? If
Moyes and Ed were adamant on him, which they were, why not meet the release
clause and get a better deal? Perhaps the addition of Marouane would have
bolstered United’s chances against both Chelsea and Liverpool.
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| taken from manutd.theoffside.com |
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| Taken from manutd.com |
I’m still a huge supporter of the Moyes regime and I’m not
going to jump on the #MoyesOut bandwagon so soon. I’m fully convinced that our
team ethic is a huge bonus that both Chelsea and Man City may struggle with in
the latter stages of the season. You can’t forget that we still have RVP,
Rooney up top followed by an in form Danny Welbeck and a consistently dangerous
Javier Hernandez. Furthermore, the experience of Giggs, Carrick, Ferdinand,
Vidic and luckily, Evra will prove decisive when the time comes to put in that
extra foot to achieve results. My personal hope is that Nani finds his feet
again to become a handful for defences and keepers alike. I can’t see much
happening with Tom Cleverley and as much as I love his story, I think that he’s
been given an opportunity too much to prove himself on a technical level. In
all honestly, I think we’ll beat City to reach 2nd place but would
do very, very well to beat Chelsea to retain our title.
Not only United, but Arsenal and Everton were victims of the
deadline day drama and it just makes you wonder why. Why leave it so late to
bring in a player like Ozil to your team? Why pile on that extra load of work
upon yourselves and waste three key opening Premier League matches? There’s
only so much I can say with the knowledge that I have but common sense
prevails, it really does Here’s hoping that the sole signing of Fellaini is
enough to outshine the likes of Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Negredo, Willian,
Eto’o, Soldado, Erikson, Lamela, Ozil and all the other top signings from top
teams in the Premier League.
