Fergie’s Winter Gamble
With the transfer window due to open in just over two months, Sir Alex has moved to end any speculation that United plan a winter surprise.
When asked whether United are exploring the possibility of bringing in new recruits, Ferguson’s answer left no room for misinterpretation.
“Definitely not,” the manager told the Times. “We won’t be strengthening in January, I can assure you of that. The ones who’ve gone on loan are only going until January anyway and our squad will be stronger by then. I’m expecting Ji-Sung Park back from injury and Hargreaves will be back by that time, surely.
“Gary Neville should be back. Michael Carrick should be back. And the players who have covered for them have done really well. I’m not too worried about injuries. We’ve got enough good bodies to fill the red jersey.”
In moving to quash the mounting speculation linking United with a host of new players, Ferguson may have deprived the tabloids of a circulation boost but also disappointed those observers who can’t quite fathom the manager’s apparent contentment with his squad.
It is true that United have strength in the goalkeeping ranks, in defence and in midfield but it is in attack where Ferguson may lack aces in his hand.
Rooney, Tevez and Saha represent the only capable forward options available to the manager. Frazier Campbell has gone to Hull on loan and Dong Fangzhou, is no-one’s answer to the question: What happens if one or more of United’s strikers are hit by suspension or injury?
The early season was a reminder of the cruelty of football fortune. An injury to Rooney and the unavailability of Saha left Carlos Tevez out of position and desperate for form.
Sir Alex may not be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat as he did last year when swooping to sign Henrik Larssen.
But with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retired, Saha’s fitness unpredictable, Rooney perhaps a stamp away from more metatarsal mayhem and his other strikers either not good enough or still too green, the manager’s decision to rule out further reinforcement could return to haunt him.
