United in danger of emulating Liverpool

There was a time in the 1970s and 1980s when Liverpool was the biggest club in the world. Under the likes of Bill Shankly and then Bob Paisely, the Merseyside club was picking up trophies, one after the other, just for fun. Even Joe Fagan came in to replace Paisely and won a European Cup as well.

Perhaps the only team that could live with them in Europe at that time was the dream team of Ajax Amsterdam, led by the prodigiously talented Johann Cryuff. But as the history of the world has showed us, every dynasty is destined for a fall – it happened with the Greeks, the Romans, the Mughals and it happened with Liverpool as well.

And if you are a Manchester United fan, the one man you would like to think as the main reason behind the Merseyside giants’ fall from grace is Sir Alex Ferguson. Over time, the Great Scot built his own dynasty at the Theater of Dreams before handing the reigns over to his heir David Moyes, who he had groomed for quite some time at Everton.

But Moyes has had his work cut out in his very first season in the Old Trafford hot seat. The only way to maintain success in football is to spend money. There is also the Liverpool way where a club spends millions of pounds on absolutely rubbish players and end up sliding down the league instead of going up. Manchester United is in danger of following the same path, but for a different reason; they are not prepared to open their wallets and blow the competition out of the water.

Just take a look at what Chelsea and even Tottenham Hotspur have done this summer. If Moyes is eager to win the league and then add the European crown to his resume, he needs to buy players, and not just any player; he needs some big name signings. There are some very average players in the team. Tom Cleverley is akin to Jordan Henderson and three of the defenders are coming to the end of their illustrious careers.

If the club is serious about sustaining the level of success they have had under Sir Alex, they need a few quality signings. Two midfield playmakers are an absolute must for the side as well as a left back and if possible, a defender. To be honest, Moyes is in dire need of a marquee signing, just to get the fans off his back and get them satisfied with the squad as a whole.

The first two imminent targets are Fellaini and Baines, and they are not going to get them cheaply, as Moyes is already fully aware of. Another world class midfielder is absolutely necessary, with bids for Fabregas already rejected, it is certain Moyes has got his sights on a player or two. Whoever the world-class midfielder is, we are talking about a price tag around or in excess of £30million, before the season gets well and truly under way.

Liverpool and Manchester United meet on tomorrow, and the result is a crucial one for both teams. Are Liverpool ready for the next step up? Can Moyes follow in Ferguson’s footsteps? Who is coming to United? United fans can only hope that it is not Joe Allen and Jose Enrique.

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the FootballWorld fraternity and represents the personal views of the writer and not of footballworld.co.in.
Posted by Subham Mitra on behalf of FootballWorld.

Premier League: The Week that was

Star Player of the week: Fraizer Campbell

Fraizer Campbell did make a good start to his first full season in the Premier League with Cardiff City FC and gave Winston Reid, the West Ham United defender a really difficult time. Although he did not have a shot on goal, he had a brilliant game.

But on Sunday against Manchester City, spurred on by the lively home crowd at the Millennium Stadium, the former Manchester United trainee was on fire, scoring twice as the Bluebirds stunned the former champions 3-2.

The former Manchester United man has had a lot of loan spells and has suffered from a lot of injury problems. If he manages to stay fit, having put on some weight and looking strong enough, he could be the key man to Cardiff’s survival hopes.

The Trio who were pick of the week

A) Sami Hyypia played 464 first team games for Liverpool in a career that spanned over a decade. Not many people saw him as a future manager but he has made a spectacular start to life as a manager with Bayer Leverkusen.

On Saturday they beat Borussia Monchengladbach to record his ninth successive win, a run which started at the end of last season. They are joint top after three games with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

It wouldn’t be surprising to anyone if he lands a big job in England or elsewhere by the time his career as a manager is over.

B) Arsenal v/s Tottenham has been a perennial fourth place battle in the Premier League over the least four or five years.  And from what Liverpool have produced so far this season, their name can be thrown into the hat for Champions League qualification easily.

Having played two matches and won two, Liverpool has a tough task on their hands with Manchester United the visitors next weekend. If they can hang in by the skin of their teeth for the initial exchanges, and coupled with the return of Luis Suarez, they could easily give the North London rivals a run for their money.

Liverpool finished 12 points off the final Champions League place last season, scoring more goals than Manchester City and conceding the same as Manchester United. 

They’ve been close and with quality like Daniel Sturridge showed at Villa Park, this is the season they can get even closer.

C) Malky Makay was a revelation against Manchester City. His team fed off the chants from the stands at the Millennium Stadium and played a high tempo pressing game.

They were aggressive and energetic and City were short at the back. Cardiff exploited that.

They will need more days like this at home to be safe.

The big game tonight

Jose Mourinho lost just once against Sir Alex Ferguson during his first stint as Chelsea manager. They may have shared a nice bottle of red wine and there was unquestionably respect between the two, but Jose held the upper hand over his illustrious rival.

In his nine games against Fergie at Old Trafford with Chelsea, Mourinho won five and drew three and he would take a draw when they visit United tonight with the Red Devils under a new manager in David Moyes.

Chelsea and Manchester City have freshened up their teams but Manchester United, packed with champions, still have the one player Chelsea cannot lure. Not Wayne Rooney but the prolific Robin van Persie.

With back-to-back leading goalscorer awards behind him, RVP is still the biggest single difference between the clubs.

This Chelsea, minus Didier Drogba, do not have the threat of Mourinho’s former team.

Fernando Torres should start against United, unless Mourinho gambles with the youngster Romelu Lukaku.

Either way, United are the greater threat.


DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the FootballWorld fraternity and represents the personal views of the writer and not of footballworld.co.in.
Posted by Subham Mitra on behalf of FootballWorld.