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Sir Alex Ferguson was ever-persistant in his efforts to get the man he wanted - Rio Ferdinand - and it all payed-off in the end - especially for Leeds United with their £30m profit. As last-season showed-us, United were lacking that strength in the back-line we once had with the pressence of Jaap Stam, and that we needed someone else to come-in to assist with their strength and experience. And therefore Ferguson saw Rio as the only-man available capable of replacing Stam in a better-way than Blanc did. But while he was so content on getting his man, Sir Alex became unaware of the problems emerging elsewhere in the attack with Ruud van Nistelrooy as the only man available who could actually score goals from the Kick-Off, unlike Solskjaer, and unlike Diego Forlan. After Cole and now Yorke had left, we needed someone else in-order to retain the Title stolen by those French thieves from the L'Highbury.
With the new Transfer Deadline approaching fast, Ferguson rushed-into the £2m 'panic-buy' of unknown Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo, and no-one else.
I've been doing a lot of thinking recently after seeing how are side is falling apart while the Premiership Trophy seems to be drifting further-and-further-away at such and early-stage. Just how different would it all be if United HADN'T broken yet-another Transfer Record in-order to nab Rio Ferdinand from rivals Leeds United?
If Fergie hadn't had his sights-set on a new defender and a new defender only, then I think he would've come to notice the holes that had opened-up in the squad over the summer since the departure of Dwight Yorke, after Andy Cole.
The 2 may not have been on their usual good-run of goal-scoring form playing along-side van Nistelrooy, and Yorke may have even begun to look as round and plump as his son's mother's "busts", but you can't deny the quality and experience of these 2 players who are now happilly back-together, on-form, at Blackburn.
As a partnership, Cole and Yorke did it all for us - especially in The Treble Year. But with the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy, their relationship fell-apart, and so-too did their goal-scoring knacks, even when they were playing.
Without both Cole and Yorke, Ferguson was only left with the option of choosing either "Super Sub" Ole Solskjaer or "No-Goal" Diego Forlan as van Nistelrooy's strike-partner in the first-team. There was also, of course, the reserves to look-into, but how can anyone so-young be ready to take-on the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona on a weekly-basis? His only option would be to buy - and fast before the 31st August deadline.
It was clear to us-all, ever-since Andrew Cole departed for Blackburn, that we were in need of a Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldo, a goal-scorer who could fire-us back-up-to the top. But due to his intentions of getting Rio, Fergie was the only one who didn't see it, and time soon ran-out.
Who says we really needed Rio Ferdinand anyway?
Yes, I know...! We were all saying we desperately needed him at that start of the season, bla bla bla.... But when you look at young John O'Shea for example, a player who has been outstanding in the youth academy during the last few years, and see how incredibley-well he has adapted to life at Old Trafford, playing for Manchester United, you just have to ask yourself if he is the man we've been looking for to act as the replacement for the controversial Jaap Stam.
Judging him on his recent performances - especially in Europe - he's got the strength to hold them off, a bit of pace, the confidence, and the belief in himself that could make him a big-name in World Football during the next 5 years.
I've always had faith in him, and i've been delighted to see him given more than a chance this season, and that he's impressed and amazed us all too for such an in-experienced young talent.
After seeing O'Shea play, I have to say that I think Fergie made a needless mistake in spending the full-£30m on JUST Rio Ferdinand.
He should've opened his Scottish eyes to see we were in need of a new striker more-so than another defender.
This isn't like Sir Alex Ferguson to over-look his youngsters with money...
Where did David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers all come-from??
Rather than trying to buy someone new from abroad he decided to bring in some 'new faces' who you could see were gonna be big after only a matter of minutes into their full-debuts. Why isn't he doing the same now? What's changed?
Maybe Ferguson should have left his post at the end of last season like he had originally intended to? The new manager (whoever he could've been) may have seen sense in acting like the 'Vintage Fergie' and making use of his initial assets available to him first, right infront of his nose.
Fergie was only wasting his time in signing Rio Ferdinand, the answers to all United's defensive problems were lying there, right infornt-of-him, eagerly waiting for their call. That could've been £30m well-spent on a new World Class goal-scorer, and maybe another player to go with it.
Rio Ferdinand may be World Class in his own-way, but why not do things in the same way as Harry Redknapp and find your OWN future international star by looking into the youth academys first?
Too-much chewing and not-enough doing if you ask me!
With the new Transfer Deadline approaching fast, Ferguson rushed-into the £2m 'panic-buy' of unknown Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo, and no-one else.
I've been doing a lot of thinking recently after seeing how are side is falling apart while the Premiership Trophy seems to be drifting further-and-further-away at such and early-stage. Just how different would it all be if United HADN'T broken yet-another Transfer Record in-order to nab Rio Ferdinand from rivals Leeds United?
If Fergie hadn't had his sights-set on a new defender and a new defender only, then I think he would've come to notice the holes that had opened-up in the squad over the summer since the departure of Dwight Yorke, after Andy Cole.
The 2 may not have been on their usual good-run of goal-scoring form playing along-side van Nistelrooy, and Yorke may have even begun to look as round and plump as his son's mother's "busts", but you can't deny the quality and experience of these 2 players who are now happilly back-together, on-form, at Blackburn.
As a partnership, Cole and Yorke did it all for us - especially in The Treble Year. But with the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy, their relationship fell-apart, and so-too did their goal-scoring knacks, even when they were playing.
Without both Cole and Yorke, Ferguson was only left with the option of choosing either "Super Sub" Ole Solskjaer or "No-Goal" Diego Forlan as van Nistelrooy's strike-partner in the first-team. There was also, of course, the reserves to look-into, but how can anyone so-young be ready to take-on the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona on a weekly-basis? His only option would be to buy - and fast before the 31st August deadline.
It was clear to us-all, ever-since Andrew Cole departed for Blackburn, that we were in need of a Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldo, a goal-scorer who could fire-us back-up-to the top. But due to his intentions of getting Rio, Fergie was the only one who didn't see it, and time soon ran-out.
Who says we really needed Rio Ferdinand anyway?
Yes, I know...! We were all saying we desperately needed him at that start of the season, bla bla bla.... But when you look at young John O'Shea for example, a player who has been outstanding in the youth academy during the last few years, and see how incredibley-well he has adapted to life at Old Trafford, playing for Manchester United, you just have to ask yourself if he is the man we've been looking for to act as the replacement for the controversial Jaap Stam.
Judging him on his recent performances - especially in Europe - he's got the strength to hold them off, a bit of pace, the confidence, and the belief in himself that could make him a big-name in World Football during the next 5 years.
I've always had faith in him, and i've been delighted to see him given more than a chance this season, and that he's impressed and amazed us all too for such an in-experienced young talent.
After seeing O'Shea play, I have to say that I think Fergie made a needless mistake in spending the full-£30m on JUST Rio Ferdinand.
He should've opened his Scottish eyes to see we were in need of a new striker more-so than another defender.
This isn't like Sir Alex Ferguson to over-look his youngsters with money...
Where did David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers all come-from??
Rather than trying to buy someone new from abroad he decided to bring in some 'new faces' who you could see were gonna be big after only a matter of minutes into their full-debuts. Why isn't he doing the same now? What's changed?
Maybe Ferguson should have left his post at the end of last season like he had originally intended to? The new manager (whoever he could've been) may have seen sense in acting like the 'Vintage Fergie' and making use of his initial assets available to him first, right infront of his nose.
Fergie was only wasting his time in signing Rio Ferdinand, the answers to all United's defensive problems were lying there, right infornt-of-him, eagerly waiting for their call. That could've been £30m well-spent on a new World Class goal-scorer, and maybe another player to go with it.
Rio Ferdinand may be World Class in his own-way, but why not do things in the same way as Harry Redknapp and find your OWN future international star by looking into the youth academys first?
Too-much chewing and not-enough doing if you ask me!
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Have I missed something here?
Man U's youth scheme played a blinder in the early/mid nineties with Beckham, Giggs etc coming through but since then there has been nothing.
Tuesday's game showed that. Even though they had a reasonable amount of first teamers, Man U got creamed. The "young blood" did almost nothing and simply showed that Man U got lucky with the nineties crop.
After Beckham etc what happened? All the other youth players (bar Chadwick) have gone now such as Healy, Wallwork, Greening (I know he was bought from York but he was a youth player really), Higginbotham etc.
Perhaps if teams like Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea stopped loading their books with foreigners then English football would flourish again.
World Class footballers come from excellent youth systems.
Man U's youth scheme played a blinder in the early/mid nineties with Beckham, Giggs etc coming through but since then there has been nothing.
Tuesday's game showed that. Even though they had a reasonable amount of first teamers, Man U got creamed. The "young blood" did almost nothing and simply showed that Man U got lucky with the nineties crop.
After Beckham etc what happened? All the other youth players (bar Chadwick) have gone now such as Healy, Wallwork, Greening (I know he was bought from York but he was a youth player really), Higginbotham etc.
Perhaps if teams like Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea stopped loading their books with foreigners then English football would flourish again.
World Class footballers come from excellent youth systems.
Shevchenko indeed has played and scored against Lens, however im sure ive seen a quote somewhere stating that Fergie's looking to buy for the prem only.
Yup, he scored on Tuesday night when they lost 2-1 to Lens.
Solskjær wrote:
> AbsoluT Neó wrote:
> "Your saying telling us something we already know -- We need a
> new striker."
>
> OK, but what I was trying to say in the beginning was why we haven't
> seen a new striker come-in to fill Andy Cole's boots, because of
> Fergie's persistance in getting Rio Ferdinand and Rio Ferdinand
> only.
> And that instead of spending £30m on just one play, he may have
> quite easily been able to get 2 players from the reserves to
> fill-the-gaps at the back, including John O'Shea who has already
> shown-us he can do it.
But we indeed did buy a replacement for Cole and it was Diego Forlan - an inexperianced young striker whose never played in the prem and expected to come in and play likes he's plyed at Utd for years, but that didnt matter as we also had Yorke -- but then he goes and sell's him for peanuts?
We know where the problems lie, its not the £30 mill spent on Rio, That 7 mill spent on Diego could have easily been put on someone like Robbie Keane could it not? -- you tell me, would things have been different then or not?
I think they would have, thats why I feel its fergies stupidity and not the Rio transfer which has spoilt it all...
> "He buys a World Class defender in Rio Ferdinand, but at the same
> time Coley wants to Leave because he wants first team
> football..."
>
> Just to point-out, Cole left about half-way through last season.
> Rio Ferdinand only signed in August.
> There's roughly an 8 month gap there.
> They were not "at the same time".
Sorry I meant Dwight, Cole was replaced by Diego who has not fitted in.
> AbsoluT Neó wrote:
> "Your saying telling us something we already know -- We need a
> new striker."
>
> OK, but what I was trying to say in the beginning was why we haven't
> seen a new striker come-in to fill Andy Cole's boots, because of
> Fergie's persistance in getting Rio Ferdinand and Rio Ferdinand
> only.
> And that instead of spending £30m on just one play, he may have
> quite easily been able to get 2 players from the reserves to
> fill-the-gaps at the back, including John O'Shea who has already
> shown-us he can do it.
But we indeed did buy a replacement for Cole and it was Diego Forlan - an inexperianced young striker whose never played in the prem and expected to come in and play likes he's plyed at Utd for years, but that didnt matter as we also had Yorke -- but then he goes and sell's him for peanuts?
We know where the problems lie, its not the £30 mill spent on Rio, That 7 mill spent on Diego could have easily been put on someone like Robbie Keane could it not? -- you tell me, would things have been different then or not?
I think they would have, thats why I feel its fergies stupidity and not the Rio transfer which has spoilt it all...
> "He buys a World Class defender in Rio Ferdinand, but at the same
> time Coley wants to Leave because he wants first team
> football..."
>
> Just to point-out, Cole left about half-way through last season.
> Rio Ferdinand only signed in August.
> There's roughly an 8 month gap there.
> They were not "at the same time".
Sorry I meant Dwight, Cole was replaced by Diego who has not fitted in.
Has Shevchenko already played? Was it one of the last 2 games because he hadn't in the first 3. That's a shame if he has but Fergie needs to open his eyes and realize there's more than just the Champions League to win. Shevchenko would be very good for us in the prem and besides there's always next year he can play in the champ league for us
AbsoluT Neó wrote:
"Your saying telling us something we already know -- We need a new striker."
OK, but what I was trying to say in the beginning was why we haven't seen a new striker come-in to fill Andy Cole's boots, because of Fergie's persistance in getting Rio Ferdinand and Rio Ferdinand only.
And that instead of spending £30m on just one play, he may have quite easily been able to get 2 players from the reserves to fill-the-gaps at the back, including John O'Shea who has already shown-us he can do it.
"He buys a World Class defender in Rio Ferdinand, but at the same time Coley wants to Leave because he wants first team football..."
Just to point-out, Cole left about half-way through last season.
Rio Ferdinand only signed in August.
There's roughly an 8 month gap there.
They were not "at the same time".
"Your saying telling us something we already know -- We need a new striker."
OK, but what I was trying to say in the beginning was why we haven't seen a new striker come-in to fill Andy Cole's boots, because of Fergie's persistance in getting Rio Ferdinand and Rio Ferdinand only.
And that instead of spending £30m on just one play, he may have quite easily been able to get 2 players from the reserves to fill-the-gaps at the back, including John O'Shea who has already shown-us he can do it.
"He buys a World Class defender in Rio Ferdinand, but at the same time Coley wants to Leave because he wants first team football..."
Just to point-out, Cole left about half-way through last season.
Rio Ferdinand only signed in August.
There's roughly an 8 month gap there.
They were not "at the same time".
lalakersrule wrote:
> the sunday papers last week suggested Shevchenko might be coming. It
> is likely as he is unhappy at Milan.
That would be nice, but he's already played in the Champions League this season and I doubt fergie will buy anyone who will not be able to play in that comp. Really doesnt leave many options with all the big teams playing in the champs league.
> the sunday papers last week suggested Shevchenko might be coming. It
> is likely as he is unhappy at Milan.
That would be nice, but he's already played in the Champions League this season and I doubt fergie will buy anyone who will not be able to play in that comp. Really doesnt leave many options with all the big teams playing in the champs league.
garbe123 wrote:
Barthez isn't the best of keepers and to be honest
> I believe he is very over rated for the performances he puts in.
Barthez did indeed look like a clown for most of last season, but over the last few games he has been outstanding. Back to his best and on top form. We would have lost against Fulham for sure had it not been for Barthez.
Barthez isn't the best of keepers and to be honest
> I believe he is very over rated for the performances he puts in.
Barthez did indeed look like a clown for most of last season, but over the last few games he has been outstanding. Back to his best and on top form. We would have lost against Fulham for sure had it not been for Barthez.
the sunday papers last week suggested Shevchenko might be coming. It is likely as he is unhappy at Milan. I think he'd be a good signing but we also need a central defender. I don't think O'Shea is ready yet and Ferdinand can't do it all by himself, it's a shame Ayala never came as well.
I still don't think that so far he has made much of an impression to the Manchester defence. Having the chuckle brothers... or should that be the Neville brothers, Blanc and O'Shea isn't good enough like you said but to be honest I don't think that stability is in the Manchester defence. Barthez isn't the best of keepers and to be honest I believe he is very over rated for the performances he puts in. When the transfer window opens up in January they will have a big named striker lined up, I wouldn't be susprised if Inzaghi or someone came to partner Van Nistel Rooy up front. Although they had already qualified last nights result was a big embarassment even for the team they had fielded, in fact it was diabolical.
Even though they aren't the team they used to be I wouldn't right them off from the premier league just yet, but unless their injury list looks a bit thinner then I can't see them making an impact on the big named teams which they are set to play through December and January.
Even though they aren't the team they used to be I wouldn't right them off from the premier league just yet, but unless their injury list looks a bit thinner then I can't see them making an impact on the big named teams which they are set to play through December and January.
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