Wheeling, Dealing, Shuffling, and Stealing

With a hectic finish to the season its time to use this valuable time to buy and sell players. Since the seasons end and in fact even before its climax there has been plenty of speculation and who is going where. The whirlwind of new manager appointments has added fuel to the already blazing fire. There are plenty of question marks and talking points with several players on the move and it's always a crucial part of how a club's season will shape up next time round. Clubs like Spurs, Arsenal, and the Manchester Clubs look like they are going to have some big decisions to make over the next few months - as well as spending large amounts of money.

Firstly lets look at Spurs. The biggest thing for Spurs and one of the biggest stories of the transfer market is the situation of Bale. He's world class, a ridiculously good player and like Gary Neville said "Without Bale, Spurs wouldn't be in the top 8." How far they can go depends on whether he stays or not because he is irreplaceable. Real Madrid have stated interested in the flying Welshman and are even considering spending around 80m for him - which seems excessive but it will definitely seal his signature. Spurs WILL lose him eventually - they are not big enough to keep him. They should not reject such an offer as I'm sure Villas-Boas would like 80m to spend on his squad for next season. This is a typical domino-like effect in the transfer market which could result in another (and probably the biggest move) this summer...

Man United are hoping that the potential switch of Bale to Madrid could be exactly what they need to speed up their quest to bring back Ronaldo. Man Utd are hoping that Madrid will be more tempted on letting Ronaldo go if they secure the services of Bale. Ronaldo has been linked with the move back for awhile but the retirment of Sir Alex may have changed things. Utd are willing to spend 65m on Ronaldo with Nike apparently willing to help with the fee meaning Ronaldo will don a Nike shirt. its 50/50 and most of it at the moment seems like speculation but if it comes off it will be 2 of the biggest moves in recent history. 

The other massive story is the Rooney saga. I cant see him leaving Utd. He'd be stupid to leave, where do you go after Man Utd? Madrid? I don't think they are interested plus he can barely speak English at time let alone another language so I cant see him going abroad. He's been disappointing for 2 seasons now and he needs to sort his head out. Its all down to Moyes now and whether he can be the man to give Rooney his belief, confidence, and clarity back. He's outstanding and the fact that Sir Alex hasn't flicked him like he had done with the Beckhams, Stams, Van Nistelrooys, and Keanes shows how highly the Scot thinks of Wazza. By September 1st  I'm confident Rooney will still be a Man Utd player. 

For awhile now we have heard that Arsenal have plenty of money to spend with their board announcing they are able to compete for Rooney's signature. This is a big season for Wenger and we seem to be saying that every season and it will continue to be that way until they win something. They need to push on now, they have got their stadium, they got stabilized themselves after the stadium cost and are looking economically the strongest club in England behind Man Utd - so now the time is to spend some well-earned money on big players. It's not like Arsenal are far away from a title challenge, all they need is 20 goal a season striker - which they have money to buy, and some depth. They need to feel the void left by Song and Diaby as well as an experienced keeper. Wenger is a smart man and I don't think Arsenal fans will be waiting too much longer for silverware at the Emirates. 

Man City, with their new manager most likely being Pellegrini, may well have a few players going through both exit and entry doors this summer. Barry is linked with Tottenham while Tevez's future is up in the air. Outstanding youngster Isco is linked to be the next purchase after Jesus Navas and Fernandinho both joined during the week and this could mean the end of their City careers for the likes of Sinclair, Nasri and even Dzeko. City were embarrassing last term but they need to be weary of changing a team too much too quickly. They were poor in the transfer market last season and that can be looked at as the main reason they missed out on silverware so there is no surprise in them acting swiftly this time - even before the manager has officially been announced. Time will tell if he is a successful appointment and how fans will warm to him after many being angered by the sacking of Mancini. 

The next season in the Premier League is going to be one of the most intriguing in it's history with so many teams good enough for the title and top 4. The quality and size of the squads will be crucial and all the respective managers - whether newly appointed or not - will know their decisions on the market could be the difference between success and failure. There are a lot of questions to be answered and plenty of deals to haggle over in the next few months, how long will it take for the first domino to fall? 

Uncle Dysfunktional - Cheers Gaffer

Cheers Gaffer

The Don is stepping down. Father is quitting work for his garden. The Gaffer is taking a back seat.

When Man United got knocked out of the Champions League earlier this season at the second round stage by Real Madrid, it seemed to be a bigger deal than usual. There seemed to be a deeper sadness and heartbreak in the Man United camp – Sir Alex Ferguson more than anyone. He refused to give a post-match interview, didn’t speak to the media for days – something very strange giving the rash sending off of Nani in the crucial second leg. Man United staff claimed that Sir Alex was too upset to speak, and now we know why. Sir Alex, THE gaffer, THE boss, THE legend, THE genius has finally after 26 ridiculously successful years at the United helm has retired. He wanted to go out with a bang, he wanted that 3rd Champions League title but I’m sure he’ll get over it when he looks back at his managerial career.

It’s a strange feeling, and this is coming from someone who has no affiliation with Man United in any way I’m just a football fan, but he’s Britain’s footballing father he’s been around my whole life and that whole time he has been the top dog. He’s had a career that even the most ambitious people couldn’t dream up – he’s had a managerial career like an EA Sports FIFA manager mode. When he took over Man U were a mid-table team struggling to be a big force in England’s top flight and he has turned them into the biggest football brand in the world and England’s most successful club. 13 Premier league titles, 5 FA cups, 4 League cups, 10 Community Shields, and 2 Champions League trophies – all this and he still wasn’t happy as he has claimed many times that the club have not been good enough in Europe and that his biggest regret is that he hasn’t won more Champions League titles. He is the epitome of glory, ambition, and desire for success. Whoever attempts to fill his shoes has got a monster of a task even with them being able to call on Sir Alex advice. For many Sir Alex has been a father figure as well as a teacher of football. Players like Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Ronaldo, the Neville brothers, Hernandez, Nicky Butt, and so on have been with Sir Alex from young ages and have grown into men and world-class footballers under his stewardship – this is a man who is more than a football manager.

David Moyes is the man chosen to take Manchester United into the post-Fergie era and I think he’s the only man for the job. Mourinho and Klopp were considered but this job is a long term job. Such managers will win silverware and then leave – this goes against what has made the club so successful over the years – the continuity of Sir Alex. Moyes is a fantastic manager who is committed, loyal, and intelligent enough to take on the job and build a new long term success. I predict he will struggle at first and I can’t see him winning the league at the first time of asking but he will be a success. However their can never be another Sir Alex, no one will ever have that much success at one club let alone just stay with a club for that long. Club owners these days are too hasty; sacking managers left, right, and centre for success but this is only a short term solution.

For many people around about my age of 21, we don’t know anything else except Sir Alex. He’s been ubiquitous for over 2 decades in which he has immortalised himself with glory. As far as I’m concerned he IS Man Utd and even though that’s only one club it’s like English football will never be the same again. We’ve seen the last of such long term success. From his famous hair-dryer rants at football stars, to his no nonsense attitude with the media, his battering of chewing gum, and tapping his watch to death Sir Alex is a man football will find impossible to forget. Sir Alex Ferguson take a bow, we salute you.