A Lost Bale, Wigan’s Baines And United’s ‘Achilles Heel’…
Is Sir Alex likely to be as pre-occupied with leftbacks as he is with strikers when pre-season training begins tomorrow?
The search for a new goal hero has been well documented and publicly at least, appears no closer to conclusion.
However, it was ex-80’s United star Viv Anderson who first alerted fans to potential uncertainty at fullback. Anderson, himself a stellar rightback in his Notts Forest days and England’s first black player, used an interview with the Sun newspaper last month to propose Wigan’s Leighton Baines, as a replacement for the departing Patrice Evra.
United have been linked with the English Under 21 international in past years. Baines is an important player at Wigan with a rising reputation for his adventure from deep and powerful free-kicks. Baines is ambitious and is said to have attracted a £5 million bid from Newcastle already this summer.
But with Evra coming into a title defence year as one of United’s most improved players, surely some mistake Vivian! So went the initial cry. Then came bemusement. Later, there were questions. Was Anderson’s throwaway line at the end of an interview, just an ex-pro flying a kite in the hope of a headline or a slip of the tongue? Was it an honest mistake or wishful thinking on Anderson’s part? More deliciously, could it have been prime, locker-room intel?
Amid the hullabaloo that accompanied the signings of Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson, it has been quickly forgotten that United failed to land Gareth Bale. The precocious Southampton teenager chose instead, the ‘guarantee’ of Premiership first team action at White Hart Lane.
Sir Alex probably saw Bale as ‘one for the future.’ But the youngster’s pedigree – a Wales international at 17 and something of a free-kick specialist – plus his capacity for accelerated learning, must have encouraged the manager and given hope that the teenager might provide early competition at leftback.
Sir Alex’s interest in the player seemed all the more curious given that he has three seasoned, international leftbacks at his disposal. It appears less so now. Sir Alex’s choices are likely to be reduced in the coming weeks, raising concerns about a potential weakness in the United rearguard.
Take as proof, the current lyrical waxes of Gabriel Heinze, now on international duty at the Copa America. In one breath, the Argentine admits that he is happy at United. In another, he confirms that he is aware of the speculation concerning his United future and hints that he could move on to a “super club.”
“The good thing is the clubs which are being talked about are super clubs,” he said. “I already play for one super club and other ones such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have been mentioned.
“For me to go, the offer has to be good for everyone. I’m very comfortable in Manchester. I’ve been a champion, captain and the fans love me. Everything is perfect.”
Heinze has been touted for a transfer ever since the uneven form which followed his early return from a knee ligament injury, handed the rejuvenated Evra his opportunity. Yet, it is rare indeed that a United player discusses so openly his plans for the future. That the 29-year-old now finds himself linked with a £6 million move to, of all clubs Liverpool, is evidence either of mass drunkenness among the nation’s sports hacks or that Heinze’s P45 cannot be too far away.
The Independent newspaper today describes Liverpool’s bid as “audacious” and claims that Heinze is not averse to the move.
“Liverpool’s manager has identified Heinze as the man to bring resilience to the left back at Anfield and, despite overtures from Italy and Spain for the Argentine, plus the problems in a transfer between the fiercest rivals in English football, is confident a deal worth £6m can be struck.
“Benitez began to explore the first direct transfer from Old Trafford to Anfield in 43 years last week and has been encouraged by the response from Heinze’s representatives to instruct Liverpool’s hierarchy to prepare a formal bid.
“While the Argentina international, 28, has expressed an interest in a move to Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid, and United would prefer him to move abroad, those clubs are yet to register an offer, and Liverpool’s bid will enable Ferguson to reclaim much of the £6.9m paid to Paris Saint-Germain in 2004 and swell his funds for a new striker.”
As mentioned elsewhere in these pages, the prospect of Heinze packing up his kitbag ought to have Mikael Silvestre feeling like Barabas. Few would have given the Frenchman a hope of surviving a close-season cull. However, unless Sir Alex is ready to cut deeply into the ranks of his more experienced defenders, ahead of season in which United have already been anointed Champions League winners, Silvestre’s versatility could earn him a reprieve.
But would this be to the advantage of the team? Silvestre has demonstrated beyond question that he is too prone to errors to be worthy of regular selection. As if in anticipation, Silvestre has mentioned that Lyon or Spain would be acceptable destinations if the United exit opened. Sir Alex might just be ready to do business if an offer of £2 million was received.
In such circumstances, a contest between Evra, John O’Shea and Kieran Richardson, is a prospect sure to provoke insomnia among many a fan.
Evra looked a player-reborn last season as United stormed to the title but this sophomore year is likely to be harder still. Last year, remaining upright and passing to a red shirt qualified as success for the Frenchman. This year, so much more is expected.
O’Shea could do a job on a short term basis. But the fact that Sir Alex has signed two other players for the leftback position since O’Shea broke through, suggests the manager sees limitations in the Irishman’s work or prefers him as a midfield alternative. Richardson is surely to be another manager’s problem before the summer’s end.
The manager has defensive strength in depth and may see Evans and/or Pique as able to offer effective competition for places and provide Evra with the pressure to perform. However, as Chelsea discovered last season when their difficulties at rightback exposed the squad’s shortcomings, United would do well to have specialist or experienced cover available if Heinze leaves, to prevent the leftback position emerging as the team’s Achilles heel.
(On Jul 3rd, 2007 at 9:12 am)
What about the fact that Anderson has (incredibly) stated that his favoured position is Left-back? Though this may be rather a waste of his talents, it does give Fergie a good option there.