Manchester United's ethos has always been attacking football.
Our transfers in recent years reflect this; Veron, Kleberson, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Ronaldo and the attempted signings of Ronaldinho & Robben enforce this belief of atacking football.
It's a value that's worked particularly well for Sir Alex Ferguson over the last two decades, bringing the club a tremendous amount of success, as well as the status of worlds richest club, and not to mention the largest stadium in the premiership.
With most of the old guard on the verge of retirement now, the treble winning team is firmly behind us. And so this brings us to Ferguson's third, and most probably his last Manchester United team.
There's plenty of reasons to be happy about the future of our club, names like; Rio, Heinze, Ronaldo, Rooney and Smith have become firm fans favourites this season. There are also fringe players who may yet make it; Kleberson, Fletcher & Brown amongst them. Not to mention Eagles, Spectre, Pique & Rossi from the youth ranks.
So why is everyone jumping on the 'sack Fergie' band wagon? Perhaps it's a result of his own high standards. We're now staring into our 2nd consecutive season without the premier league title, and without progressing past the last 16 of the Champions League. Quite frankly the FA cup would only serve as a consolation, but, beggars can't be choosers.
Upon closer examination there doesn't appear to be that much wrong with Manchester United. 17 goals conceded in the premiership, 7 of those coming during the absence of Rio Ferdiand & Gabriel Heinze, make our defensive record pretty solid. There's also a run of form since the start of November that's hard to ignore. 52 points from 57. Any other season, you would call that championship winning form.
Our European exit at the hands of arguably the strongest team in the competition should not be taken too hard, a huge percentage of their players are rapidly approaching retirement age, and they should be in the running to win it. If nothing else, it's a great experience for our young team.
Jose Mourinho & Chelsea are deservedly occupying 1st spot in the premiership, with a quite extraordinary first season in England for the outspoken coach from Portugal.
I think the only urgent purchase required is a goal keeper worthy of wearing the Manchester United shirt. It comes to something when your first choice keeper isn't even the first choice keeper of Northern Ireland! Whether it will be Cudicini or Seba Frey or whoever, a consistent goal keeper might just give an aura of confidence that will ripple through the entire team.
Another Central Defender is arguably required, although with both Spectre and Pique waiting in the wings we might just be spoilt for choice soon enough. Keane, Scholes & Giggs all have another good couple of seasons in them yet and I don't think their replacements are as urgent as we sometimes like to make out.
The attack is also as strong as it's ever been! RVN, Rooney, Smith, Saha & Ronaldo are all capable of great attacking football, firmly in keeping with the Old Trafford tradition. It's just a shame injuries this season have prevented us from finding a consistent partnership.
With Ferguson's off pitch feud against Magnier & McManus seemingly behind him, he looks a much fresher man for it. Carlos Quieroz is the best #2 he's had since Brian Kidd and there seems to be a great rapport between the two men. There also appears to be a great belief and team spirit amongst the players, 52 points from 57 doesn't come from a club in decline!
It's all shaping up to look very promising if you ask me. The summer transfers of United, Arsenal & Chelsea will be interesting and should see the 2005/2006 season become the most exciting & closely contended yet. :thumbsup:
Our transfers in recent years reflect this; Veron, Kleberson, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Ronaldo and the attempted signings of Ronaldinho & Robben enforce this belief of atacking football.
It's a value that's worked particularly well for Sir Alex Ferguson over the last two decades, bringing the club a tremendous amount of success, as well as the status of worlds richest club, and not to mention the largest stadium in the premiership.
With most of the old guard on the verge of retirement now, the treble winning team is firmly behind us. And so this brings us to Ferguson's third, and most probably his last Manchester United team.
There's plenty of reasons to be happy about the future of our club, names like; Rio, Heinze, Ronaldo, Rooney and Smith have become firm fans favourites this season. There are also fringe players who may yet make it; Kleberson, Fletcher & Brown amongst them. Not to mention Eagles, Spectre, Pique & Rossi from the youth ranks.
So why is everyone jumping on the 'sack Fergie' band wagon? Perhaps it's a result of his own high standards. We're now staring into our 2nd consecutive season without the premier league title, and without progressing past the last 16 of the Champions League. Quite frankly the FA cup would only serve as a consolation, but, beggars can't be choosers.
Upon closer examination there doesn't appear to be that much wrong with Manchester United. 17 goals conceded in the premiership, 7 of those coming during the absence of Rio Ferdiand & Gabriel Heinze, make our defensive record pretty solid. There's also a run of form since the start of November that's hard to ignore. 52 points from 57. Any other season, you would call that championship winning form.
Our European exit at the hands of arguably the strongest team in the competition should not be taken too hard, a huge percentage of their players are rapidly approaching retirement age, and they should be in the running to win it. If nothing else, it's a great experience for our young team.
Jose Mourinho & Chelsea are deservedly occupying 1st spot in the premiership, with a quite extraordinary first season in England for the outspoken coach from Portugal.
I think the only urgent purchase required is a goal keeper worthy of wearing the Manchester United shirt. It comes to something when your first choice keeper isn't even the first choice keeper of Northern Ireland! Whether it will be Cudicini or Seba Frey or whoever, a consistent goal keeper might just give an aura of confidence that will ripple through the entire team.
Another Central Defender is arguably required, although with both Spectre and Pique waiting in the wings we might just be spoilt for choice soon enough. Keane, Scholes & Giggs all have another good couple of seasons in them yet and I don't think their replacements are as urgent as we sometimes like to make out.
The attack is also as strong as it's ever been! RVN, Rooney, Smith, Saha & Ronaldo are all capable of great attacking football, firmly in keeping with the Old Trafford tradition. It's just a shame injuries this season have prevented us from finding a consistent partnership.
With Ferguson's off pitch feud against Magnier & McManus seemingly behind him, he looks a much fresher man for it. Carlos Quieroz is the best #2 he's had since Brian Kidd and there seems to be a great rapport between the two men. There also appears to be a great belief and team spirit amongst the players, 52 points from 57 doesn't come from a club in decline!
It's all shaping up to look very promising if you ask me. The summer transfers of United, Arsenal & Chelsea will be interesting and should see the 2005/2006 season become the most exciting & closely contended yet. :thumbsup:
