What Has Fergie Learned From United’s Far East Tour?
Redville
In the last few days of United’s far east tour, Sir Alex has begun to postfix most interviews with the point that “we will be pleased to get home now to be honest.”
Whilst it’s been a great work out for the boys, the United players are clearly starting to miss their mums. Nevertheless, the tour has been a huge success and although United’s popularity in Asia is well publicised, it is still remarkable to witness the manic support that the squad generates half way across the world. That United’s support, in China alone, equates to the population of England, is hard to conceive until you see it with your own eyes.
The official club channel, MUTV, has covered the whole event and although the opposition has been meek and the squad somewhat depleted, it’s still been an insightful fortnight.
Here are the main tour lessons:
1. Nani can play
You don’t pay £8m rising to £17m for someone that you are unsure of. Nani is still on a learning curve but is probably closer to the finished article than when Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford. He may not improve quite as much as his countryman but he has pace, skill and most importantly, footballing intelligence. Too many promising ‘wing wizards’ have been found out in the Premiership because they don’t have the guile to go with their natural talent. Nani needs to bulk up a little but he is exactly the sort of player that will thrive under Fergie’s tutelage.
But surely he must be allowed to perform the goal celebration Sir AF? We aren’t living in a dictatorship quite yet!
2. No more false dawns
Players coming through the youth channels haven’t been up to scratch in the last decade. It’s hard to live up to the Beckhams and the Nevilles but few United youngsters have stepped up to the plate in recent times.
Not so this year. Chris Eagles has been more than a cog in the machine, scoring two excellent goals in three 45 minute cameos and showing real drive. Similarly, Darren Gibson has been anything but overawed and looks like a Carrick/Keano combination of a player.
The pick however, has been Lee Martin. He has only played an hour on the tour, due to injury, but he has the physique and maturity to suggest that he will be the man to profit most from United making substitutions after an hour of games that they are winning comfortably next season. Scored a 30 yard goal and has a bit of the Bentley and a bit of the Beckham about him. These three can certainly expect to do better than most youth team products of the recent past and provide real strength in depth should United suffer similarly on the injury front in 07/08.
3. Ronaldo is better than Best
After learning his trade for a couple of years, there are now few superlatives left for Ronaldo. Master of all trades and jack of none, Roni started pre-season like he had never been away. He has added efficacy to his phenomenal talent and improbable as it seems, he will be even better this season than last. Anyone who bets against him getting ‘European Footballer of The Year’ next season doesn’t know football. Even Kaka and Ronaldinho won’t be able to stay abreast of the next Maradona.
4. Paddy Crerand will eventually lose his job
No one wants it to happen. You can tell he’s a nice bloke and loves United but Paddy constantly flirts with controversy with his archaic ways and it’s only a matter of time before he goes too far. Not only does he call virtually every decision wrong on MUTV (as replays regularly prove) but he makes comments which border on colonialism. On being asked about China in general and the stadium for United’s final match, he said something along the lines of ‘it’s a great country and stadium, which proves you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers.’ What do you read in the papers about China Paddy? Are you reading The Express or The Sport?
More generally, MUTV surely need to address the pundit situation. Literacy and intelligence levels amongst United’s great players of the past must be sadly lacking if they have to give Clayton Blackmore a run out.
5. Even the cynics must be feeling excited
It’s going to be a season where United fans can’t work out what they did without the new signings. After a dodgy few years in the market Fergie has bought 8 good outfield players in a row. Rooney, Evra, Vidic, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani and Tevez will form the backbone of the new United and there has never been more talent at Old Trafford. We thought it was good but it’s going to get even better. Fergie should be cryogenically frozen at the full expense of Manchester United FC and be brought out of storage if United ever lose their way.
