Does Fergie Need Another Winter Larsson?
Does Sir Alex need another Henrik Larsson to fire United to glory in 2008?
The Swedish striker was the sensation of last winter, scoring three goals in 13 matches during 3 months at United.
Press gossip suggests that Ferguson could be preparing a January transfer swoop - despite his declared satisfaction with his squad - because of persistent worries about the fitness of his strikers. Indeed, one newspaper published an absurd rumour yesterday that concerned a swap deal with Barcelona which would see the departure of Louis Saha and £5 million in exchange for Samuel Eto’o. The Cameroon star was valued at £40 million just four months ago.
Whilst newspapers make mischief, fans are left to reflect on the warnings offered already concerning the ease with which a season rich in promise and emotional impact could be derailed by injuries to key players.
The first alert came with the first day foot break suffered by Wayne Rooney. It was a shattering blow to United and was followed by a series of tepid team performances and mounting disquiet.
Those fears subsided once fellow striker Louis Saha, himself no stranger to the treatment room, was fit enough to reignite United’s season with the atacking intelligence that he demonstrated so frequently in the first half of last season.
But in another echo of last term, Saha strung a few games together before returning to spend more time with the physio after injuring himself during the warm-up at Wigan.
Sir Alex might have sighed at the grim predictability of fate but was buoyed by Rooney’s return from injury and the goal-scoring burst that followed.
But sure enough, it was short-lived. With United increasingly reliant on the forward to see them home, Rooney injured an ankle during a training session and is now gone until December.
With the season only three months old, both Rooney and Saha have known more delight and despair than the average half hour soap opera script and indeed more comebacks than Rocky Balboa.
Speaking on Manchester United radio earlier this week, Saha again sounded the arrival of a new era.
He told Manchester United Radio: “I get fed up always talking about my return, so I’m very happy to be back on the pitch. The team are playing good football, scoring goals and are up for the challenge of maintaining this form for the rest of the season.
“I’m pretty happy right now and I couldn’t ask for more. I like to see the team playing well and scoring goals, so if I can be part of that I’m happy.”
Whilst Saha was broadcasting his joy to fans, United’s medical investigation into Rooney’s susceptibility to injury continued. That inquiry, revealed by the Times newspaper, is unlikely to reveal anything more than bad luck.
But with both strikers seemingly cursed by ill-fortune, can Fergie still trust in Rooney and Saha to remain fit throughout the remainder of the season? If he is not convinced, should Ferguson seek another hitman as added security for when the season reaches its ‘business end?’
Many fans hark back to 1999 and the four hitmen that helped deliver the Treble. But with Solskjaer retired and Dong sheltered from ridicule in the reserves, Ferguson can do little more than rely on Rooney, Saha, Tevez and rosary beads.
With Rooney on crutches and Saha’s preferred as a ’super-sub,’ the January transfer window could yet offer the manager a possible solution.
