I am sitting here in the cyber cafe...in front of me someone is playing a computer game, EPL match between Arsenal and Manchester United by EA sports. It is so real, well I guess for a fan to vent his frustration this is the closest he can get to replaying the game (last night's EPL clash) and getting a win for his team. Funny I don't see anybody playing a Chelsea game.
For United fans well it does not look good, the gap is just too far, the Premier League is slipping away (yes a good time to play that song by Paul Simon, slip sliding away).When you have Brown, Fletcher, O Shea in the same team it can't be good can it? I mean these guys must be nice chaps, but they are just not Manchester United Calibre. The 0-0 draw against Arsenal practically spells it out for United; "NO CHANCE FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE."
Some people might say that the reason is because of Roy Keane, but the damage was done way before that,slowly but surely mistakes were made :
Mistake number 1) Selling Jaap Stam; this was due to Stam getting on the wrong side of Ferguson for revealing the truth (his book) in Ferguson's "subtle transfer mauneuvring".
Mistake number 2) Selling David Beckham,now some people might say that "Ohh he is over rated, full of merchandising, bla, bla, bla", but the fact is he has played well for Real Madrid compared to the other galaticos. Beckham was a fantastic provider for Nistelroy, the crosses are just not there anymore and those fantastic freekicks. Cristiano Ronaldo brings another dimension to the the game (including his diving) but those vital crosses and long range shots on goal are missing, how Beckham is missed.
Mistake number 3) Selling Nicky Butt. Now this was a shocker considering that he performed well for England in the 2002 World Cup. A bad gamble by Sir Alex Ferguson, he thought he had Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Liam Miller, but all three just never nade the mark, this maneuvre really surprised me because Kleberson and Djemba Djemba have been off loaded and Liam Miller is.....is....Liam Miller. Nicky Butt would have been great when Keane left, it would have been good. Ferguson also relied on Keane too much, he lost his magic about three years ago and at this time Ferguson should have looked at a replacement. Edgar Davids three years ago would have been a great buy. Instead Keane left in controversy, that should not have happened to Keane, he was a great servant to the club but he had to leave after what happened, but it did not have to come to this.
Now we have players who are playing out of their positions, Alan Smith is turned into a forward from a midfielder, to be fair Smith is a Mark Hughes type character, the hustle and bustle forward but with Rooney playing fantastic there, It is hard for Smith to get a position playing as a forward. O Shea meanwhile plays in midfield...BAD choice, his form is just not what it used to be when he broke into the team as a youngster,just can't explain why and he is a defender!Even at that poition he lost his charm.One player who could switch positions well was....
Mistake number 4) Selling Philip Neville...Neville was one player who was comfortable switching positions, he was a utility player and he brought options to Ferguson. The "United boys" or Fergie's furies were sold a bit too early, now the Red Devils'jigsaw puzzle have some vital parts missing and Fergie tries his best to get a piece and fit it in....sometimes the shape is totally different from the piece.
For United fans well it does not look good, the gap is just too far, the Premier League is slipping away (yes a good time to play that song by Paul Simon, slip sliding away).When you have Brown, Fletcher, O Shea in the same team it can't be good can it? I mean these guys must be nice chaps, but they are just not Manchester United Calibre. The 0-0 draw against Arsenal practically spells it out for United; "NO CHANCE FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE."
Some people might say that the reason is because of Roy Keane, but the damage was done way before that,slowly but surely mistakes were made :
Mistake number 1) Selling Jaap Stam; this was due to Stam getting on the wrong side of Ferguson for revealing the truth (his book) in Ferguson's "subtle transfer mauneuvring".
Mistake number 2) Selling David Beckham,now some people might say that "Ohh he is over rated, full of merchandising, bla, bla, bla", but the fact is he has played well for Real Madrid compared to the other galaticos. Beckham was a fantastic provider for Nistelroy, the crosses are just not there anymore and those fantastic freekicks. Cristiano Ronaldo brings another dimension to the the game (including his diving) but those vital crosses and long range shots on goal are missing, how Beckham is missed.
Mistake number 3) Selling Nicky Butt. Now this was a shocker considering that he performed well for England in the 2002 World Cup. A bad gamble by Sir Alex Ferguson, he thought he had Eric Djemba Djemba, Kleberson and Liam Miller, but all three just never nade the mark, this maneuvre really surprised me because Kleberson and Djemba Djemba have been off loaded and Liam Miller is.....is....Liam Miller. Nicky Butt would have been great when Keane left, it would have been good. Ferguson also relied on Keane too much, he lost his magic about three years ago and at this time Ferguson should have looked at a replacement. Edgar Davids three years ago would have been a great buy. Instead Keane left in controversy, that should not have happened to Keane, he was a great servant to the club but he had to leave after what happened, but it did not have to come to this.
Now we have players who are playing out of their positions, Alan Smith is turned into a forward from a midfielder, to be fair Smith is a Mark Hughes type character, the hustle and bustle forward but with Rooney playing fantastic there, It is hard for Smith to get a position playing as a forward. O Shea meanwhile plays in midfield...BAD choice, his form is just not what it used to be when he broke into the team as a youngster,just can't explain why and he is a defender!Even at that poition he lost his charm.One player who could switch positions well was....
Mistake number 4) Selling Philip Neville...Neville was one player who was comfortable switching positions, he was a utility player and he brought options to Ferguson. The "United boys" or Fergie's furies were sold a bit too early, now the Red Devils'jigsaw puzzle have some vital parts missing and Fergie tries his best to get a piece and fit it in....sometimes the shape is totally different from the piece.
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