Sir Alex has something up his sleeve, I’m sure
Sir Alex Ferguson’s stance that he won’t be delving into the transfer market during this August window just doesn’t quite ring true with me.
With Cristiano Ronaldo already out for the opening month or so of the season, the last thing Sir Alex wanted was to see any more of his squad sidelined for the start of the new campaign.
Now that nightmare scenario has come true, and in drastic circumstances, with Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick picking up this mystery virus from a pre-season tour of Nigeria, and as many of six more first teamers struggling to be fit for next weekend’s big kick-off.
New Dimensions
I’m amazed, quite frankly, that Sir Alex hasn’t freshened things up this summer and I’ll be even more surprised if he doesn’t act in the next 10 days or so with so many of the squad on the treatment table. I think all big clubs should add to their squad at the end of every season to add new dimensions and keep the first team regulars on their toes.
United have been linked with many this summer with Dimitar Berbatov the obvious top target. Berbatov would be the final piece of Sir Alex’s jigsaw and I just get the feeling that, despite his comments yesterday, the United boss has something up his sleeve.
Bed of Roses
One manager in a completely opposite situation to Sir Alex is David Moyes at my old club, Everton, where life is far from a bed of roses.
With chief executive Keith Wyness suddenly resigning a fortnight ago and now the proposed new stadium looking set for a public inquiry and further delay, problems off the field are adding to those on it, with Moyes openly admitting his five or six players short of a team to start the Premier League season. The club have struggled to bring players in and this week lost Andy Johnson to Fulham.
That is a slippery slope for a club like Everton to be and if the season doesn’t start well enough for Moyes, then he could find himself under pressure.
This Saturday sees the start of the Championship season – a fascinating league given the equally-matched sides on show. This season, I’m sure, will be no different, but despite strong London challenges from QPR and Crystal Palace, I’m tipping Birmingham to come out on top.