What we have seen at Old Trafford this year, and all around the world, was not really the United we have come to know and love. With the exception of Macheda’s goals I can think of very few moments from the past season when I sat on my chair and thought “this is United, this is why I followâ€Â.
We had the look of a dogged team, there were a few flashes of extravagance, mainly from Ronaldo, but nowhere near enough bravado to stand comparison to the heroes of yesteryear. I felt at times this United team was the can of spam compared to the Sunday roasts we have been raised on. It is churlish to complain, of course, when you are winning trophies but something is missing.
In particularl with the Carling Cup and the Club World Cup, it was almost as if we were collecting them rather than winning them. The spending in recent seasons has put our squad out of sight of even Chelsea in the quest to challenge for honours but there is something amiss in team spirit.
It is a United tradition, stretcing way back to the days of Billy Meredith, to have at the core of the side a maverick. A divinely gifted player who riles the opposition, outclasses them and has a bond with the supporters borne of having a “roll-your-sleeves-up†attitude and a touch of arrogance.
Although not arrogant in any way Robson’s sleeves were so far rolled up they met in the middle and the guy would have died for the shirt. Cantona and latterly Keane were heirs to Meredith’s tralblazing. During the sixties Denis Law’s attitude to authority made Marlon Brando look like a convent nun.
Where is that player now? We have the supremely gifted Ronaldo, but he seems to wind us up as much as the opposition, although he always, always wins me over with his football. Rooney is the closest I suppose but the x-factor is not quite there. Tevez’s dispute with the club breaks my heart as he could be the true talisman of the team.
What is without question is that we currently lacks a character, somebody mildly psychotic, to fire them up in the heat of battle. We were slaughtered in Rome, absolutely murdered and I couldn’t see anywhere on the park where it was going to turn around. How I longed to see Norman Whiteside trot on, a la Anfield 88, and start making things even.
He is not there, in fact, there are no Big Norms at the moment. The problem, I think, is because we are getting the players so young now they are indoctrinated into the United mythology before maverick tendencies can develop.
I would suggest we missed a trick here. If Ballack had come he would have been a hero for us, nobody really likes him but he is brilliant- a perfect fit for United, shame he didn’t. Looking around world football I cannot see that attitude too obviously anywhere. It is that attitude that I crave to see again on the pitch. For all of the merits of the current heroes, there is something slightly lacking in charisma.
Nonetheless, our shortcomings are far less yawning than those of our rivals and major surgery is not required over the summer months. I do, however, expect changes we may not see coming. Ronaldo, Tevez and Ribery will occupy most of the column inches over the next 10 weeks but be ready for something you don’t expect. The one maverick we definitely do still have is the manager, and he still has a few tricks left up his sleeve.
That is so true mate…. Im still in mourning mode after the drubbing at Rome. Every other fan was optimistic before the game… i didnt wanna jinx it… but i had that gut feeling we were in for a hell of a night (mind you writing this down is so difficult) I hope we find some talisman… keano was no magician with the ball but when he had the ball… it was like he was running with the man united flag on his back ushering these tired soldiers forward… Beckham would play in right back, right wing, forward, goalie, defender, everything minus the ref and linesmen when he came on… that i miss about becks (not so much the glam and hair though) maybe its because our one left maverick… cant tolerate another maverick…. what do you think?
I am not sure. It is possible none of the players really like Ronaldo, but if I worked with a guy that good, who got us out of trouble that much, I would forgive him everything.
Yea mate, I agree. I would really hope the lkes of Rooney & Hargreaves to take that maverick role that we’re craving very soon.
We do not need a talisman to be brought in as we”ve already have those in the ranks, the lads just need to realise that and start to work on it. Let’s hope the coming season we’ll them realised.
im gonna be bold and say let ronaldo go. his whinging is bringing the team down. young players like macheda, rafeal and others look up to him and all he does is whinges and moans and speculates.
united are a club of history and what the players wear is not just a crest, its a fellowship of the millions of fans around the world. they represent us on the field. and i dont want a whinger and a moaner representing me. yes he has got oustanding skill. but his heart lies at madrid. and i respect that. its like a relationship, you cant force your partner to stay with you if there is no love.
everyone has a price. and 70 million pounds atm is darn goood.
A good player needs to act like a good player. Skills and how good he is, are not the best measure of a player. No one player is bigger than the club. If Ronaldo wants to, let him, 70m pounds is more than enough for use to reinforce our squad. I wont speculate on which player we should get, ill leave that to the forces that be (fergie). Plus i think taking Ronaldo out might just be the remedy to let Wayne bloom to that talismanic role. he has the drive, the skills, the ferocity and the first time they gave him a new contract and he signed it without hesitance, now thats one hell of a player for me. But is this a sign for things to come? are we gonna train the best players and sell them off to real for a deal? What if rooney ends up player of the year next season…. do we sell him too????
Cool! Now Ronaldo is on the verge to Real. I can understand that 80m pounds is hell lot to deny.
Either way, I do appreciate the lads contributions and all the goals. I do really hope that we’ll have a new no.7 by the start of the season and that rested on the gaffers shoulder.
Well no man is bigger then the club so here goes another. I hope finally Rooney gets a chance to shine and come out of the shadows.
If the deal goes through, (which I finally feel it will, damn) hoping for new and exciting era in the horizon.
Glory Glory ManUtd!!!
dude… write something about this ronaldo thing… everyone is saying we’re lying when we say we are a little bit relieved he’s leaving… im not a hundred percent relieved and i know he;s gonna be missed… but a small part of me thinks “thank god! ive had enough of the drama”