English Premier League: Ferguson with yet another challenge on his hands
With Rooney’s departure imminent, Sir Alex Ferguson is dealt another hand in this poker like scenario of club football. In his interview with MUTV, Ferguson finally revealed to the fans that Wayne Rooney is seeking a move away
from Old Trafford. Whether the move eventually comes through or not the fact remains that Ferguson now has a large task at hand perhaps the greatest challenge he has seen during his tenure at Manchester United.
Whatever money Rooney’s sale brings in for Manchester United will be crucial for the Red Devils as it has been proven time and time again this season that Sir Alex’s team desperately needs some reinforcements. Ferguson’s summer
gamble to buy young and build for the future has backfired because of the Rooney saga now, he planned that over the next two years the likes of Obertan, Nani, Bebe, Hernandez and Macheda would come of age and then play under an experienced Wayne Rooney. With
Rooney out of the equation now, the tables have surely turned.
From being UEFA Champions League finalists in 2009 to the current mess that they are now, United have only themselves to blame for this current fiasco. Yes, no one could have foreseen the act that Rooney has pulled off on his employers
but now is the time for immediate and decisive action. Yet another rebuilding job waits for Ferguson and this time with Glazers at the helm, things might not be as smooth as they seem.
Manchester United are already under a heavy debt burden of around 750 million pounds. So it remains to be seen how much money will be available to Ferguson but one thing is for sure if Manchester United want to maintain their status
as the numero uno club in England, they will have to splash some cash on new players. Let’s take a look at United’s current squad; their main players of the current squad are Wayne Rooney, Luis Nani, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Edwin Van Der Saar, Paul Scholes,
Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney already seems destined to leave whereas Van Der Sar, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are living off their last days as professional footballers. Their quality isn’t in question but these players are all at the wrong side of
35 and thus it is virtually impossible for them to play on any further than they already have. Nani and Berbatov along with Vidic and Evra will have all the responsibilities on them now, United’s faithful fans will be looking at these players to take up the
mantle of leadership after Rooney leaves for his favoured destination.
Not only that, Ferguson will have to rebuild by attracting some big name players to Old Trafford. On paper one would think that given United’s size as a big club and their global appeal, superstars of football will find it hard
to resist the temptation to join the theatre of dreams. However, things are not as they seem, United are clearly in decline so how does Ferguson convince these top rated footballers to join Manchester United when his own superstars are not happy enough with
the club.
One thing is for sure, that after Rooney leaves in the January transfer window, United’s season will be as good as over. They are already struggling with their current crop of players and have looked weak in midfield and uncertain
in defence against the likes of Everton, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion.
Heavy reinvestment is needed; heavy overhauling is needed not only in financial terms but in psychological terms as well. United had based their team around Rooney’s capabilities as a footballer and with those absent their game
plan will need to be altered. If there was ever a time for Ferguson to stay at the club for five to six more years, it is now. If there was ever a time for the Scotsman to prove that he is still the greatest of all time with a hunger for success unrivalled
by his opponents, it is now.
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