Manchester United: What's Next for the Champions of Europe?

The European league seasons are over and the European Championships have just started. This means that we will not have to wait long to see the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben pit their wits on the national stage.

At the end of the season, one thing is quite crystal clear: Manchester United are undoubtedly the team to beat next season, both in England and in the Champions League.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who many thought might retire at the end of 2003, shows no signs of losing his love for the game. His insatiable thirst for success has driven him to delay retirement and build a completely new, young team at United.

He has let the likes of Beckham and van Nistelrooy leave the club and has brought players like Nani, Anderson, and Owen Hargreaves. I must say that when United brought these three players at the beginning of this season, I was a little skeptical.

Hargreaves, okay, he won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and he has long been a target of United. But with Nani and Anderson they were investing in raw potential.

But the big question is, what lies ahead for the English domestic and European champions?

Continuity has been at the core of United's success right through Sir Alex's reign at Old Trafford. One needs only to see that the team that dominated in the Premier League through the 90s and the early part of this century had the same core set of players (the Neville brothers, Beckham, Butt, and co.). I would be very surprised if Fergie makes changes galore for next season.

Having said that, United do need to make some investments and, dare I say, clear out some of the so-called squad members in the team. For parts of this season, United have lacked a real out and out striker. Tevez and Rooney have a habit of running the channels and lying deep, and Ronaldo (despite his 42 goals this season) is more a winger than a striker.

They need someone in the mould of van Nistelrooy who will sit in the penalty box and dispatch any opportunity that comes his way. Louis Saha is there, but with his record of injuries the probability of him stringing together a decent run is less than Austria's chances of winning a single match at Euro 2008.

With Gerard Pique moving back to Barcelona, Fergie needs to bring in some cover for the irrepressible Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Joleon Lescott would be a really good buy. He is tall, quick, and dangerous from set pieces.

United are pretty spoilt for choices in the holding midfield position, with Carrick, Anderson, and Hargreaves battling for at most two places if not one. So there is no need for change there.

Joao Moutinho would be a fantastic buy for United, although price might have gone up that tad bit higher after his superb performance against Turkey the other night.

Miguel Veloso, I am not so sure about him. To me, he is too defensive minded and lacks pace.

In the striking department an out and out striker is desperately needed. Huntelaar and Berbatov would fit the bill perfectly, as would Santa Cruz. But only buying players and enlarging an already large squad would not be a good idea.

Some of the squad players need to go. I have always been a firm believer that if you are not challenging for a first team spot week in week out, you do not deserve to play for big clubs.

John O Shea, okay he is a really useful and versatile player. But he is 27 and at a time when he should be at his peak, he struggles to even make it on the bench. I am sorry. He has just got to go.

So does Darren Fletcher. Honestly did Fergie buy him for his quality? Give me a break! He bought him because he is Scottish.

If Ronaldo does go to Real Madrid (and he seems hell bent on doing this despite his mother's view that he will stay) then maybe Fletcher should stay and provide backup for whoever comes in.

David Odonkor would be a really good replacement for Ronaldo. He is lightning quick and has better crossing ability than Ronaldo.

I expect Nani and Anderson to really step up to the plate next season and there is no need to change the philosophy of the club. After all, why change a winning formula and a winning mentality?

By Shadlee Rahman

Dhaka,Bangladesh

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