Striker Watch: What Are United Up To? …
What explains the farce of the Anelka-to-United transfer that wasn’t?
Every major newspaper reported that United were considering a bid for Bolton’s French striker, who returned to prominence last season with 13 goals in the Wanderers’ march to Uefa qualification.
The Daily Mail seemed as well informed as its rivals when reporting on 1 June that “United chief executive David Gill met Bolton representatives to underline the Premiership champions’ interest in the 28-year-old France forward.”
The details of the story were delicious. In the past, Sir Alex has spoken approvingly of the maverick Frenchman. Anelka is a highly talented striker with a difficult background, who could bring speed and goal power to United’s title defence as a direct replacement for the injury-prone Louis Saha. United’s need for a new forward is acknowledged publicly by everyone bar the club’s decision-makers. Their interest in a forward of such pedigree was further confirmation that Sir Alex’s eye and touch in the transfer market has returned with a vengeance, after the wilderness years symbolised by the acquisitions of Miller, Djemba Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion etc.
United garnered excellent headlines and even seduced the striker into admitting that whilst he was not agitating for a transfer, he couldn’t turn down the champions if offered the chance of a contract.
As fans conjured images of Red Anelka, Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and United’s Chief Executive David Gill, allowed three full days to pass, before United’s apparent disinterest in the player escaped into the public domain.
What happened to stymie the deal? Did Bolton get cold feet, fearing the threat of disintegration after the departure of Sam Allardyce? Did United baulk at the fee or terms? With Machiavellian grandeur, was Anelka no more than a tethered goat, used by United to flush out a more inviting target?
Both club’s emerged from the transfer storm in a tea cup relatively unscathed. Anelka however, is left looking slightly foolish, like the boy who said ‘I love you’ first. He is now forced to play on for a team he joined less than a year ago, when the club’s fans know he would rather be elsewhere. Perhaps, for Bolton, it twas ever thus but Anelka has too often been tagged as unstable, looking to move on in the blink of an eye. This latest episode does the player’s reputation few favours.
One theory behind United’s strategy is the belief that the club is employing the same transfer tactics as last summer. The Portuguese Petit and the Brazilian Senna must know how Anelka is feeling, having been used by United as cover by the club after the World Cup whilst it pursued its primary midfield targets.
Then as now, Sir Alex left Gill in possession of a list of options, which the chief executive pursued until the right player became available at the right price. In this year’s context, United entering talks about a one player or another, be it Samuel Eto’o or Anelka, is just that – talk!
It is also believed that whilst United may be keeping their options open and alerting Bolton and Barcelona to their interest in Anelka and Eto’o respectively, a striker may not be a top priority for Sir Alex. His team is set for a tactical change next season, with 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 likely to be the fruit of Owen Hargreaves presence at Old Trafford. With Ronaldo and Rooney automatic choices, Sir Alex needs just one other attacker. He might conclude that a rapprochement with a fit again Louis Saha and a newly contracted Alan Smith, supported by the returning Giuseppe Rossi, are a sufficient range of options from which to choose.
Fans might hanker for new blood but the manager has no need to rush into a decision just yet. Indeed, he might have other considerations in mind. Much depends on the post-op report from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s surgeon, the form of Ryan Giggs and the speed at which the new £30 million duo of Nani and Anderson adapt to life at Old Trafford. If Giggs can maintain last season’s form and the new recruits defy the odds and fit in easily and quickly into the hurly burly of Premiership football, Sir Alex’s need for a striker could lessen still further.
So, whilst Anelka may be crestfallen, recognising that his yearning for a big Champions League English club is likely to remain unrequited, United’s tactics appear spot on.
(On Jun 5th, 2007 at 8:38 am)
much ado about nowt