This isn’t a season-has-ended-time-for-a-summary-post.
The season hasn’t ended yet for Manchester United as they still have (arguably) their most important match left to play. But, having just won the Premiership Crown (on points, too) it seems like a good time to give some thoughts and a look ahead to the 21st.
When Ronaldo won the PFA Player of the Year I wrote about how he’s matured into a player that deserves respect both for his play and his maturation. He’s just too good at this point for anyone to say that his success is based on anything other than talent and drive. He scored some tremendous goals for the club this year, and if anyone else was in his place I don’t think that United would have walked away with winner’s medals. I have to say, it’s always nice not to have to hate someone anymore. I still wouldn’t rock his jersey though, but that has more to do with loyalty to Ole than anything else…This year, the team supported Cristiano, as he willed another Crown. Argue otherwise. Please.
Speaking of the Solskjaer, it was tough this season not seeing his out there for the first time in a decade. It’s definitely going to be hard to get used to…
Along the same lines – I was very pleased with the maturity and leadership that certain players demonstrated in the absence of Gary Neville. Vidic and Ferdinand became defensice leaders and were phenomenal all season – toughest duo in the EPL. Scholes barked orders all season and Giggs – well, Giggs gets a whole ‘nother paragraph.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first – Giggs is not the player he used to be. Fine. But, Giggs has the potential to become a great contributor to the team for at least another season, and perhaps more. The role he played yesterday was vital to the win, and I’m not even talking about his goal. In Moscow he will become the most capped-player in Manchester United history and it is that experience that gives him the composure that United will continue to benefit from. He may not have the pace or stamina for a full 90 minutes, but he can play to role of the super-sub (and perhaps make me miss Ole a little less.) Oh, and about his goal yesterday: Fitting. That’s a Semi-final winner for Scholesy and a trophy-clincherl for Giggs – couldn’t script this stuff better.
We also played the year short of a true striker. Let’s be honest, Rooney and Tevez are amazing but neither is a van Nistelrooy type of player. We very much benefited from Ronaldo free roaming but I fear the days when one or more of Tevez, Rooney, or Ronaldo is out. I’ve completely written off Saha at this point. Sir Alex isn’t an idiot (no matter what you may think as a supporter of any other club) and he’ll pick up another forward during the transfer window. Berbatov maybe? Finally?
The mid-field was dynamic, to say the least, this year. I suppose what we were witnessing was a changing of the guard – Scholes will be making way for Anderson and Giggs, increasingly, for Nani. It’s the sad but predictable reality of professional sports. What isn’t always so predictable, or possible even, is a seamless transition. Yet Fergy has managed to ruffle very few feathers with his squad selections and it appears that the players understand their roles. The odd man out, however, appears to be Carrick and his role is the only one that I don’t fully understand at this point. I wonder how he feels…
There’s talk of this squad becoming a Dynasty and I can understand why. Chelsea will look a lot different by opening day next season with many big names rumoured to leave. Arsenal is still too young and inexperienced, and Liverpool is, well, just a fourth place team at this point. Manchester United will be looking to build on this success by filling in gaps that they were already able to work through. There’s depth and a favourable mix of young and old. One more defender and another goal-poacher up front, and we’re laughing.
I know this is predominantly a Toronto FC blog, and I thank your indulgences when it comes to United. There’s one more game to win, yet, so there’s more to come. In between now and then, expect a post about my new, adjusted expectations for TFC’s season.
If they didn’t want me to expect them to win it all, they shouldn’t have started to only drop 2 of the past 12 points….
