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Here's the thing... I'm thinking that SAF bought two wingers with Anderson and Nani. How that fits in with what we've got now, well, here are my thoughts:
1. This team was outstanding at creating chances... but we needed a Van Nistlerooy-clone up front as the target man. Saha always looked like he was floppin' around and I think he's not strong enough. Smith WAS/IS strong enough, but he is not greedy and passed the ball when he should have just shot. Thus, Huntelaar looks like the perfect match for us -- good in the air and a great anticipator. We MUST have this type of striker for Champions League. You cannot win it all without one.
2. I think Neville is through. When I saw that injury, I thought it was a compound fracture. When they said sprain, I was very surprised. But we need a new right-back as Neville is getting on in years.
3. Rooney's season was under-rated. I feel he should have gotten more praise than he did. He DID have an awful spell in Jan-Feb., but the rest of the season was magical. He's an under-rated creator too. He needs a garbage-man up fron to play off of him.
4. Giggs & Scholesy had great years. BUT, we'll be lucky if we get thru the next season with both not being hurt for an extended period of time. It was painfully obvious that without those two, we could not *easily* create chances. I do not want next season to rest on the fragile constitution of those two.
5. VDS has at least two more seasons left. His positioning is faultless. Yess, he is not Petr Czech, but he may be the smartest keeper in the league.
6. Heinze/Evra offer fantastic options at LB because they are so different. Critical for CL.
7. I think SAF will be with us until 70. He just sees too much potential in this team and he was so excited/happy/energized by the challenges this season.
Based on above, we have bought, Anderson, Hargreaves and Nani. These purchases addressed some needs and certainly were looking towards the future. However, watching the Anderson highlights, I feel like he should be playing on the left wing, much like Ronaldinho does. I know that technically, Ronaldinho plays off the striker, but when Barca is really rolling, both him and Messi are on the wings. Also, Anderson does not look to be a distributor, but more of a creator. So, not a real replacement for Scholes. Nani looks like he is playing on the right, which is Ronaldo's spot (yes, I know he was equally deadly on the left, but he is a better creator on the right). Won't comment on Hargreaves, because his role is obvious.
So, we did not really address our most glaring need in CL -- a RVN-like striker with great anticipation. This is crucial for CL where you sometimes have to grind out wins and chances sometimes come few and far between.
For RB, I assume Wes and Pique will provide the cover we need. I think Brown is better in the air than Neville and plays well with Ronaldo, so I support this move.
Therefore, my prediction: Premiership Champions, FA Cup (we'll win it this time) and a quarters exit in CL.
IF we purchase a striker (Huntelaar would be perfect), then we would have a real chance at a finals appearance in CL.
For that to happen (purchasing a striker), we would have to sell Saha and Richardson. Question is: who would take Saha at this point other than for a nominal fee?
1. This team was outstanding at creating chances... but we needed a Van Nistlerooy-clone up front as the target man. Saha always looked like he was floppin' around and I think he's not strong enough. Smith WAS/IS strong enough, but he is not greedy and passed the ball when he should have just shot. Thus, Huntelaar looks like the perfect match for us -- good in the air and a great anticipator. We MUST have this type of striker for Champions League. You cannot win it all without one.
2. I think Neville is through. When I saw that injury, I thought it was a compound fracture. When they said sprain, I was very surprised. But we need a new right-back as Neville is getting on in years.
3. Rooney's season was under-rated. I feel he should have gotten more praise than he did. He DID have an awful spell in Jan-Feb., but the rest of the season was magical. He's an under-rated creator too. He needs a garbage-man up fron to play off of him.
4. Giggs & Scholesy had great years. BUT, we'll be lucky if we get thru the next season with both not being hurt for an extended period of time. It was painfully obvious that without those two, we could not *easily* create chances. I do not want next season to rest on the fragile constitution of those two.
5. VDS has at least two more seasons left. His positioning is faultless. Yess, he is not Petr Czech, but he may be the smartest keeper in the league.
6. Heinze/Evra offer fantastic options at LB because they are so different. Critical for CL.
7. I think SAF will be with us until 70. He just sees too much potential in this team and he was so excited/happy/energized by the challenges this season.
Based on above, we have bought, Anderson, Hargreaves and Nani. These purchases addressed some needs and certainly were looking towards the future. However, watching the Anderson highlights, I feel like he should be playing on the left wing, much like Ronaldinho does. I know that technically, Ronaldinho plays off the striker, but when Barca is really rolling, both him and Messi are on the wings. Also, Anderson does not look to be a distributor, but more of a creator. So, not a real replacement for Scholes. Nani looks like he is playing on the right, which is Ronaldo's spot (yes, I know he was equally deadly on the left, but he is a better creator on the right). Won't comment on Hargreaves, because his role is obvious.
So, we did not really address our most glaring need in CL -- a RVN-like striker with great anticipation. This is crucial for CL where you sometimes have to grind out wins and chances sometimes come few and far between.
For RB, I assume Wes and Pique will provide the cover we need. I think Brown is better in the air than Neville and plays well with Ronaldo, so I support this move.
Therefore, my prediction: Premiership Champions, FA Cup (we'll win it this time) and a quarters exit in CL.
IF we purchase a striker (Huntelaar would be perfect), then we would have a real chance at a finals appearance in CL.
For that to happen (purchasing a striker), we would have to sell Saha and Richardson. Question is: who would take Saha at this point other than for a nominal fee?