A Man Utd Web site Viewpoint.
Time for the nonsense to stop and the football to begin.
So, all the idle talk and gossip is nearly over. It is now time for the journos to actually start reporting facts rather than scribbling down whatever anti-United sentiments their agenda dictates. The summer months are a dream for your average hack: every day they are faced with a blank canvas and told to write a few hundred words on whatever comes into their tiny minds. I doubt very much the transition to real life event reporting will be an easy one.
Back at the ranch United have enjoyed an exceptional pre-season on the pitch. Since my last article Cristiano Ronaldo has faced the mob at Oxford and risen to the occasion with two goals, before starring again, against a backdrop of adulation, in the 3-0 win over Sevilla. Nine wins, one draw and one defeat later and United have enjoyed one of their best pre-seasons in years, not that you would know it from reading the papers.
The Red Devils go into the new campaign in decent shape and, in my humble opinion, have a realistic chance of topping the Premiership for the first time in three years. The only problem is that much the same could be said of Chelsea, liverpool and Arsenal. All four teams have some wonderful players and, whilst Chelsea are deserving favourites, all four also have weaknesses that could undermine a title challenge.
Chelsea, on paper, have by far the strongest line-up. However, beneath the surface signs of weakness are starting to appear. For the first time since the Abramovich revolution began some players are starting to realise that endless pots of money don't always make you happy. When you are flavour of the month at Stamford Bridge Mourinho and Chelsea treat you like a king, but fall out of favour and suddenly a player can find himself out in the cold. Duff, Wright-Phillips, Del Horno and now William Gallas, the club's best defender, have all now experienced the truth behind the Chelsea "family". All is not rosy at the Bridge.
Mourinho has also changed tack this summer. Instead of buying players to fit his system the pressure to win in Europe has seen the dawn of a new Galacticos policy, but this time without the Pavons. Suddenly the players are more important than the system and this could be Chelsea's downfall. It was clear in the Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool that Shevchenko, Ballack, Lampard, Robben and Drogba were shoe-horned onto the pitch in a 4-3-3 system which lacked width and creativity. The result: a defeat to Benitez's well-organised side.
Also, for the first time, Mourinho appears to be looking nervous. He got his excuses in early before the Liverpool game and there is clear evidence in his demeanour when interviewed that for the first time his position is under pressure. Should Chelsea not win the Champion's League in May there is a real chance Abramovich may usher him out the door and try someone new.
Chelsea not only have tactical problems: the strength of the squad also appears weaker than usual. Mourinho's desire for more quality and less quantity has resulted in a lop-sided player pool with only two goalscoring forwards, two central defenders who actually want to be at the club and, as I write, no left back that Jose is actually willing to play. Wayne Bridge is another learning how Chelsea treat some of their players.
The upshot of all of this is that, with luck on their side, Chelsea could triumph again, but a few key injuries and an obsession with the Champion's League could just let their rivals in the back door.
So to Anfield, where Rafa's revolution continues apace. In have come Craig Bellamy and a raft of squad players, giving the journo's darlings Liverpool greater depth and a proven second striker. Once again they will be strong at the back and full of quality in midfield. The question marks, as usual, remain over their strikers, with Cisse and Morientes ushered out of the door. With Bellamy replacing them, he, Fowler and Crouch make up a front line lacking in depth and goals. Not one of those players is likely to score twenty goals and the pressure will again be on Steven Gerrard to regularly hit the back of the net from midfield.
Undoubtedly there is quality at Anfield and in Rafa Benitez Liverpool have perhaps the most tactically astute manager in England. Liverpool look powerful but, as with Chelsea, injuries could derail them; should Gerrard or Bellamy be lost for a long period the goals just won't be there to win enough games.
The third challengers could be Arsenal. I thought long and hard before including them as, for me, they have the weakest case for success. However, something in the back of my mind tells me that you just cannot write off Wenger and Henry.
The famous "Unbeatables" are no more; Campbell, Bergkamp, Pires and Vieira are gone and Ashley Cole and Jose Reyes have one foot out of the door. With all but Vieira leaving this summer Arsene Wenger, hands tied by the Emirates Stadium development, has brought in only Tomas Rosicky. At the back Arsenal look set to start the season with no fit left back, Toure and Djorou their only available central defenders (Cygan doesnt even count as a footballer), the most lightweight midfield known to man and Henry their only top quality forward. On paper they have no chance.
The problem is that by August 31st Cole and Reyes will probably have left for obscene money, Gallas may have joined, Wenger could have waved his magic transfer wand and the Gooners will be back in business again. I'm desperately trying but I just can't write them off yet.
The quartet of challengers is completed by my beloved United, despised by the press and even some of my fellow Reds it would seem. Ruud has left and in have come Carrick and a reserve keeper who's name I cannot yet spell with any confidence. Many expected more.
Despite the relative transfer inactivity United have grounds for optimism. I truly believe that a title challenge is possible. Without question Alex Ferguson has the strongest group of keepers and defenders in the league at his disposal. Silvestre, despite his limitations, makes a pretty useful fourth choice centre back and third choice left back!
In midfield the addition of Carrick and probably Senna as well as the return of the Ginger Prince make United far stronger in that department than at any point in the last three years. The continuing development of Park, Fletcher and Richardson mean that Fergie has greater options than he has recently enjoyed.
The only cause for concern at Old Trafford is up front. Whilst United have security in numbers there is a nagging doubt that behind Rooney and Saha, Smith, Solskjaer and Rossi may not have enough goals in them. Injury, age and inexperience respectively are at the root of these doubts and the season may, therefore, hinge on whether Wazza can avoid suspension, Super Louis' glass legs can avoid shattering and the reserves can overcome these impediments when called upon.
Many will disagree, but I honestly believe United can lift the Premiership trophy in May. Unfortunately, I can also see Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool doing the same. In the end a little bit of luck with injuries and form may be the key to success, as could the potential distraction of the Champion's League; an early exit for any of the challengers could boost or undermine their domestic form. Let's just hope that it is United who get the breaks and that the tabloid hacks and broadsheet writers record what they see on the pitch and not the agenda-driven bile they think sells newspapers.
*** Apart from the dubious " media darling's " quote, I thought this was a balanced Man Utd view for the season ahead. After reading it I thought it was worthy of viewing and assessment ***
thoughts ???
Time for the nonsense to stop and the football to begin.
So, all the idle talk and gossip is nearly over. It is now time for the journos to actually start reporting facts rather than scribbling down whatever anti-United sentiments their agenda dictates. The summer months are a dream for your average hack: every day they are faced with a blank canvas and told to write a few hundred words on whatever comes into their tiny minds. I doubt very much the transition to real life event reporting will be an easy one.
Back at the ranch United have enjoyed an exceptional pre-season on the pitch. Since my last article Cristiano Ronaldo has faced the mob at Oxford and risen to the occasion with two goals, before starring again, against a backdrop of adulation, in the 3-0 win over Sevilla. Nine wins, one draw and one defeat later and United have enjoyed one of their best pre-seasons in years, not that you would know it from reading the papers.
The Red Devils go into the new campaign in decent shape and, in my humble opinion, have a realistic chance of topping the Premiership for the first time in three years. The only problem is that much the same could be said of Chelsea, liverpool and Arsenal. All four teams have some wonderful players and, whilst Chelsea are deserving favourites, all four also have weaknesses that could undermine a title challenge.
Chelsea, on paper, have by far the strongest line-up. However, beneath the surface signs of weakness are starting to appear. For the first time since the Abramovich revolution began some players are starting to realise that endless pots of money don't always make you happy. When you are flavour of the month at Stamford Bridge Mourinho and Chelsea treat you like a king, but fall out of favour and suddenly a player can find himself out in the cold. Duff, Wright-Phillips, Del Horno and now William Gallas, the club's best defender, have all now experienced the truth behind the Chelsea "family". All is not rosy at the Bridge.
Mourinho has also changed tack this summer. Instead of buying players to fit his system the pressure to win in Europe has seen the dawn of a new Galacticos policy, but this time without the Pavons. Suddenly the players are more important than the system and this could be Chelsea's downfall. It was clear in the Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool that Shevchenko, Ballack, Lampard, Robben and Drogba were shoe-horned onto the pitch in a 4-3-3 system which lacked width and creativity. The result: a defeat to Benitez's well-organised side.
Also, for the first time, Mourinho appears to be looking nervous. He got his excuses in early before the Liverpool game and there is clear evidence in his demeanour when interviewed that for the first time his position is under pressure. Should Chelsea not win the Champion's League in May there is a real chance Abramovich may usher him out the door and try someone new.
Chelsea not only have tactical problems: the strength of the squad also appears weaker than usual. Mourinho's desire for more quality and less quantity has resulted in a lop-sided player pool with only two goalscoring forwards, two central defenders who actually want to be at the club and, as I write, no left back that Jose is actually willing to play. Wayne Bridge is another learning how Chelsea treat some of their players.
The upshot of all of this is that, with luck on their side, Chelsea could triumph again, but a few key injuries and an obsession with the Champion's League could just let their rivals in the back door.
So to Anfield, where Rafa's revolution continues apace. In have come Craig Bellamy and a raft of squad players, giving the journo's darlings Liverpool greater depth and a proven second striker. Once again they will be strong at the back and full of quality in midfield. The question marks, as usual, remain over their strikers, with Cisse and Morientes ushered out of the door. With Bellamy replacing them, he, Fowler and Crouch make up a front line lacking in depth and goals. Not one of those players is likely to score twenty goals and the pressure will again be on Steven Gerrard to regularly hit the back of the net from midfield.
Undoubtedly there is quality at Anfield and in Rafa Benitez Liverpool have perhaps the most tactically astute manager in England. Liverpool look powerful but, as with Chelsea, injuries could derail them; should Gerrard or Bellamy be lost for a long period the goals just won't be there to win enough games.
The third challengers could be Arsenal. I thought long and hard before including them as, for me, they have the weakest case for success. However, something in the back of my mind tells me that you just cannot write off Wenger and Henry.
The famous "Unbeatables" are no more; Campbell, Bergkamp, Pires and Vieira are gone and Ashley Cole and Jose Reyes have one foot out of the door. With all but Vieira leaving this summer Arsene Wenger, hands tied by the Emirates Stadium development, has brought in only Tomas Rosicky. At the back Arsenal look set to start the season with no fit left back, Toure and Djorou their only available central defenders (Cygan doesnt even count as a footballer), the most lightweight midfield known to man and Henry their only top quality forward. On paper they have no chance.
The problem is that by August 31st Cole and Reyes will probably have left for obscene money, Gallas may have joined, Wenger could have waved his magic transfer wand and the Gooners will be back in business again. I'm desperately trying but I just can't write them off yet.
The quartet of challengers is completed by my beloved United, despised by the press and even some of my fellow Reds it would seem. Ruud has left and in have come Carrick and a reserve keeper who's name I cannot yet spell with any confidence. Many expected more.
Despite the relative transfer inactivity United have grounds for optimism. I truly believe that a title challenge is possible. Without question Alex Ferguson has the strongest group of keepers and defenders in the league at his disposal. Silvestre, despite his limitations, makes a pretty useful fourth choice centre back and third choice left back!
In midfield the addition of Carrick and probably Senna as well as the return of the Ginger Prince make United far stronger in that department than at any point in the last three years. The continuing development of Park, Fletcher and Richardson mean that Fergie has greater options than he has recently enjoyed.
The only cause for concern at Old Trafford is up front. Whilst United have security in numbers there is a nagging doubt that behind Rooney and Saha, Smith, Solskjaer and Rossi may not have enough goals in them. Injury, age and inexperience respectively are at the root of these doubts and the season may, therefore, hinge on whether Wazza can avoid suspension, Super Louis' glass legs can avoid shattering and the reserves can overcome these impediments when called upon.
Many will disagree, but I honestly believe United can lift the Premiership trophy in May. Unfortunately, I can also see Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool doing the same. In the end a little bit of luck with injuries and form may be the key to success, as could the potential distraction of the Champion's League; an early exit for any of the challengers could boost or undermine their domestic form. Let's just hope that it is United who get the breaks and that the tabloid hacks and broadsheet writers record what they see on the pitch and not the agenda-driven bile they think sells newspapers.
*** Apart from the dubious " media darling's " quote, I thought this was a balanced Man Utd view for the season ahead. After reading it I thought it was worthy of viewing and assessment ***
thoughts ???
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