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29/09/05
More Man U blues…by The Fanatic - Our Man In the Stands
Even the most un-embittered of Manchester United-haters wouldn’t have failed to smile when Ferguson and his side were booed off at Old Trafford following their defeat to Blackburn last week. But instead of the derision being directly levelled at the Scot or his formations, I think it had more to do with the fan’s realisation that in September, their title challenge is already in pieces.
United simply cannot compete at the moment and, to make matters worse, they’re not even trying. Let’s look at this season, Chelsea spent over £50 million buying Essien, Wright-Phillips and Del Horno, and what do Manchester United do? Sign a 34-year old keeper, who they should have signed years ago when he was back in his prime, and a little known Korean. Despite United having some promising youngsters who are on the up and up, you’re hardly going to bridge a 18-point deficit from the previous season like that.
Arsenal did even worse in the summer selling their own ‘Captain Fantastic’ Patrick Viera and not even trying to replace him. It’s almost as if the powers that be at Man U and Arsenal have decided that at the current time they can’t compete with Chelsea so why even bother? After all, both know that they’re still good enough to share 2nd and 3rd spot so why not just bide they’re time till Ambramovich’s spending levels off and then start to think about winning the title again?
Well, it’s a tragic plan of action and one of the main reasons the league is suffering. And if you’re a fan of either side, paying 500 quid on a season ticket, it’s a bit much to take. You don’t need to spend a fortune like Chelsea to challenge for the title but you do need to spend something. And it’s not like either of them don’t have it. United are crying out for a world-class stopper to play alongside Ferdinand, a younger midfield and a bit more depth in key areas as the injury to left-back Gabriel Heinze has proven.
Having said all this I wouldn’t write Ferguson off for one minute and nor will a certain Jose Mourinho. He’s done a better job and for longer than Busby, Shankly or Stein and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t add another Premiership or Champions League title to the Old Trafford trophy room before he’s finished.
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