Plan B And The Striking Deficit
A team runs into good form just before the start of a major tournament. The manager makes light of the lack of attacking players at his disposal, trusting instead in the might of his midfield and the sturdiness of his defenders.
An expectant fan base goes along with the theory until the team’s main striker suffers injury. There is no real replacement. The lack of goal power is evident. The team limps out of the tournament to the sound of ‘I told you so!’
This is England under the unlamented Sven Goran Erikkson in the last World Cup. But heaven forbid, it could be United too, now that the transfer window has shut with Sir Alex Ferguson unable to recruit the attacker that would give his side greater cutting edge in the Champions League.
United’s league form hardly supports the view that a new attacker is necessary. The side has rattled in an encouraging 11 goals against four Premiership teams. Impressively, seven team members have contributed to this excellent return. Goals give confidence and United will embark on their quest for European glory with a real sense of purpose.
That resolve will face its first test when Sir Alex Ferguson’s men come up against the canny defences the Premiership witnesses all to rarely.
Sir Alex is conscious of last season’s failure in front of goal and must have been disappointed that the summer pursuit of Fernando Torres came to nothing. In turn, fans are mystified at the manager’s apparent decision to do nothing since about his striking quota and indeed to reduce the number of goal-scorers at his disposal by loaning Giuseppe Rossi to Newcastle.
Wayne Rooney, extremely well qualified to give an opinion on the scoring ability of others, has great faith in the Italian American youngster. ‘He is perhaps the best finisher at Manchester United and he will only get better,’ Rooney said. ‘Giuseppe is a great player and one to watch out for.’
Sir Alex might agree but didn’t rate Rossi as being experienced enough to contribute to United’s European adventure this year. Instead, the manager will rely on his old guard to score, supported by a crop of midfielders with irregular goal habits.
‘If you could have given me someone who would guarantee us 25 goals then we’d have been interested but there is no-one,’ said the United boss.
‘There is no point in worrying about it. There are options for us. Apart from the recognised two of Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha, you have Alan Smith, who will revert to the centre-forward position. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s form has been terrific.
‘I have other options. You can use Ryan Giggs, you can use Paul Scholes, and you can use Cristiano Ronaldo. You could use Ji-sung Park. I don’t care where goals come from. Over the years we have had good contributions from midfield players and way back, we got 19 goals from Steve Bruce.’
Rooney will return after suspension to add subtly and spontaneity to United’s attacking movements, with Giggs, the best United player so far this season, reverting to his left wing berth. If Scholes is preferred to O’Shea in midfield, United will field in Europe a youthful but experienced team with significant goal potential.
Sir Alex’s Plan A looks fine, if the Premiership is any guide. But a loss of form, an injury or a dismissal would call for Plan B, at which point, the United manager and fans may have good cause to rue the striking deficit. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
