13 Sept 2012

Fabregas Is The Perfect Replacement For Scholes

When Paul Scholes retired from Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson focused his attention on replacing the Old Trafford legend with a player who mirrored the same attributes.

Its no hidden secret that the reds made a serious and lucrative offer for Inter Milan midfield play maker Wesley Sneijder, the deal never happened and United suffered without that touch of calmness and class in the centre of the park.

A sensational derby day comeback in January from retirement by Paul Scholes proved that Sir Alex was regretting not adding a touch of class to his midfield department, sensing that maybe there was too much weight of expectation placed on United youngster Tom Cleverley's shoulders for him to be expected to take the baton from Scholes and hit the ground running.

Scholes could have another season left in his tank depending on how Sir Alex uses him, but one thing has certainly become clear, United will need to replace him when he finally brings down the curtain on his illustrious career for the second and final time!

I'm sure it has not gone unnoticed by Sir Alex that a certain Cesc Fabregas is currently struggling to register any playing time on his Barcelona staff key fob at the Camp Nou, a player the United manager knows all about from the Spaniards playing days at Arsenal.

Reports in the Spanish media have also recently indicated that the player is unhappy at his lack of first team opportunities, Fabregas was quick to deny these rumours this week claiming that he is happy at Barcelona and is prepared to work hard and fight his way back into the Barcelona team.

It was Pep Guardiola who signed Fabregas, Guardiola left his post with the Catalan team at the end of last season and it remains uncertain if new manager Tito Vilanova sees the player as part of his future plans.

Fabregas would be an interesting and realistic target for United and at 25 years old would definitely prove value for money as you know exactly what you would be getting from him, he is a proven Premier League player who provides and scores goals, he also knows how to play a pass, in many ways he is a similar player to Scholes.

We will have a clearer indication regarding Fabregas' future at the Camp Nou in January or next summer, by then he could be back in the first team frame at his boyhood club, but if there was the slightest hint he was unhappy and wanted first team football and a return to the Premier League I am sure United would launch a bid to land his services.

If Barcelona were happy to recoup the £25million fee they payed Arsenal for his services it would prove to be a shrewd bit of business when you consider the kind of transfer fees clubs pay for players in today's crazy transfer market, Jordan Henderson cost Liverpool £20million!

The recent signing of Robin van Persie could work in Uniteds favour and make a move to Old Trafford seem more appealing to Fabregas following their playing days at Arsenal where they were good friends and team mates, players are often instructed and encouraged by their club managers to put in a word with players they are interested in, van Persie could surly be used to contact Fabregas if the club were given the green light to start negotiations?

It remains to be seen if Fabregas would want a move away from his boyhood team after such a short spell, but one thing is for sure, if he ever become available he would be the ideal candidate who ticks all the boxes when Manchester United look to replace an iconic and legendary midfield player named Paul Scholes. 

3 Sept 2012

Simply Vantastic !

It was the Robin van Persie show at St Mary's, as the £24million Dutchman displayed a masterclass in finishing to leave Southampton's players and supporters shell shocked.

Its games like this that are a great advertisement for the English Premier League, Manchester United twice fell behind in this match but responded the only way they know, to keep attacking until the final whistle.

After falling behind 1-0 to a Lambert header, United responded in the 23rd minute when a cross was beautifully brought down by van Persie on his chest which opened up the angle, everybody inside the stadium and watching knew what was coming next as the Dutchman sent the ball ferociously back across goal and into the bottom corner.

Into the second half and the reds again fell behind 2-1 after another free header from Schneiderlin found the bottom corner after Patrice Evra lost his footing on the St Mary's turf.

6 minutes later Sir Alex Ferguson changed things by bringing on Paul Scholes and Nani for Cleverley and Kagawa respectively, it was a change that totally changed the dynamics of the match as Scholes started to dictate Uniteds play in the middle, spraying positive passes in the attacking half of the field.

United were handed the opportunity to level the score when Jos Hooiveld scythed down Van Persie in the box, the Dutchman stepped up in front of the travelling away supporters and seemed to make a last second decision to try and gently guide the ball over the Saints keeper who read the spot kick well and at full stretch tip the ball around the post to a huge roar from the home supporters, it seemed it would just not be Uniteds day.

The score remained 1-1 and in the 71st minute Danny Welbeck was replaced by Mexican Hernandez, this was the last throw of the dice for United who were now pouring forward at every opportunity, Southampton were struggling to cope with Uniteds wave of attacking football, they were ready to be knocked onto the ropes as Rio Ferdinands header hit the post and van Persie tapped the ball in to level the score 2-2 in the 87th minute, United sensed they could still land the knock out blow in this tie.

United continued to flood forward and you sensed that there was going to be one more chance created in this game, in the 91st minute United earned a corner and Nani swung the ball in, Southampton's zonal marking meant that van Persie was able to run into space and head home in front of the travelling fans who erupted in to wild rapturous celebrations.

It was by no means convincing as United looked shaky at the back, they will not get away with playing the kind of football they displayed at times in this match against stronger opposition, its only early days but the reds will be delighted with the 3 points.

van Persie was devastating in front of goal, we seen it so many times last season for Arsenal and he seems to have hit the ground running at Old Trafford which will delight the manager and supporters, the Dutchman was apparently purchased to take some of the expectation and responsibility off Wayne Rooney, at St Marys van Persie showed he is happy to lead the team and be the talisman figure he once was at the Emirates.