The reason why Chelski won the league is clear. Look at their team, and there isn't really one player you'd remove if your objective was to screw them up. OK, maybe I'd choose Lampard, as he ties the play together, but if you take Drogba, you have Anelka. Take Anelka, you have Kalou. Take Kalou, you have Malouda - each one can turn the game in a second. Now, with Utd, the choice is clear - Rooney. I'm not saying that we're a one man team, because we're not, but the fact is if you remove Rooney, the team just isn't the same.
That needs to be addressed in the Summer. Berbatov has to be sold - the amount of chances he missed was just stupid - had he put half of them away, we would've finished the season at least three points clear. Rooney needs to be given some support - a striker that will complement him, not become a duplicate. Tevez/Rooney worked beautifully - selling Tevez was a huge mistake - and to think Berbatov was meant to be Tevez' replacement. :doh
Also, some guile in the midfield is needed. A central playmaker to replace Scholes, who can't go on forever, a wide man to replace Giggs (ditto Scholes)
and someone to really tie the play together in midfield. Chelski had that in Lampard, whereas we didn't, not really. Darren Fletcher has turned into a bit of a midfield general, adding some real steel to the midfield and of course (well hopefully), Hargreaves will shake off his injuries.
Defensively, we're looking good - Neville aside - he needs to be replaced. Evans has improved leaps and bounds and in time will form part of the centreback partnership. Goalkeeper: Van der Sar, like Scholes and Giggs can't go on forever. Foster's not good enough, neither is Tomasz Kuszczak - he's not in Van der Sar's league.
So, there you go Sir Alex! There's your manifesto to win the League back next season, and maybe the Champions League as well. All you have to do is sign the right players.
I'm not too worried to be honest - we only finished one point behind and as we've already discussed, we had some very bad results - such as being beaten at Burnley - any one of which would've turned the season in our favour. It's not like a few years ago, where Chelski walked the league (indeed, one year, we didn't even finish second) - even taking into account Chelski's unbelievable home form, we were right on their coat tails. And Sir Alex has said he's going to rebuild the squad - God knows where the money's coming from - maybe he knows something we don't regarding the Red Knights...
MasterBlaster76 added 1 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...
Theres some things Fergie needs to address for next season:
- We need more attacking power in the midfield, the combo of Fletcher and Scholes is too defensive imo.
- Nani has improved this season but still lacks the ability to finish plays off (goals/crosses)
- Berbatov.. Get rid of him whilst we still holds a bit of transfer value.
- Is Neville are best right back by the time next season comes?
- We need some more firepower up front, we've got Chelsea with Anelka and Didier Diveba slotting goals for fun yet we've got Rooney and nothing else. We need another quality, proven striker. If we lose Rooney for a while, where will our goals come from?
- Oh and where is Hargreaves?
Nani's goals are beginning to come now - he's going to have a great season next year, I am sure of that. Agreed about the midfield and of course, up front. Neville, like the rest of the 'Fergie Fledglings' is coming to the end of his career, and I don't think the Brazilian twins are ready to fully shoulder the load yet - neither of them. Evra looks good in his position however.
Edit: Remember Anderson is to come back, and he was beginning to show some good form. Either way, at least one 'marquee' signing is required, alongside a few other ones. Milner, and Ashley Young from Villa would certainly be on my list - maybe Agbonlahor as well - I would love to see him pair up with Rooney. Maybe Defoe from Spurs, or Bent from Sunderland. All are English, so you know what you'll get from them. Come on, Sir Alex! Let's clear Villa out...
