Bleacher Report - Articles by will evans

Manchester United's New Kit: Hit or Miss?

will evans — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:28:44 -0400

For this coming season, many Premier League sides have opted to wear a kit that is more like the outfits of old.

United, of course, followed this retro trend.

Obviously, their kit is red, but this year they've decided to add a black "V", or chevron, to reminisce about their first FA cup success back in 1909. It's a century of fantasy football from a fantastic club.

However, opinion is divided on the new kit. Is it good? Is it bad? Is this the best Nike can come up with?

Personally, I like the new kit. It's modern but classy, and it has some historical significance, so that every team Manchester United plays will remember just how good the Devils are—and more importantly—how good they have been.

Debate rages still about the new away or possible third kit, with pictures having been leaked on the Internet.

While nobody really knows whether this is the real thing, it seems like it is, as it appears under the same circumstances as the red one. This kit seems to be causing some unrest because of the colors used. It is black, but with a light blue chevron. Why would United put City's color on its kit?

Again, I like the kit, but unless the Blue is darker than it appears, I would be a little shocked, to say the least, that United had done it!

Anyway, I'm more curious what the greater Manchester United Community has to say on it. Good? Bad? Awful? Fantastic? You be the judge.

What Is Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira's Best Position at Manchester United?

will evans — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:28:28 -0400

He didn't have the best of Champions League finals, but he still is our midfield magician.

Okay, favoritism aside, I want to take an honest, unbiased look at Anderson, the 21 year old Manchester United midfielder and figure out just where exactly Sir Alex might utilise him best.

Anderson is probably the fastest player on Manchester United right now. How fast? Well, just faster then the player next to him. He has the ability to beat anybody for speed, and like when teams raise there ability to the opposition, Anderson often finds an extra gear to beat the speedier players. This is an advantage that would make him useful anywhere on the pitch, especially in the attacking third.

Anderson can't shoot to save his life. Everyone knows this. He has proven time and time again that he is about as far from a fox-in-the-box as a fox is from a box. But he is a fantastic penalty taker.

Overall, though, Anderson is probably not the player Sir Alex will rely on to recreate the goals that Ronaldo's departure has lost. This would probably cause Anderson not to be best as a forward.

Anderson is a great passer. He has shown that he may well be the spiritual heir to Scholes with his accuracy, with both his short and long range passing. Similarly his crossing is good. This would make him either an efficient center midfielder or winger/wide midfielder.

Defensively, Anderson is also very sound, although this is mostly due to his speed and strength. On that note, Anderson is one of the most physical, strong players United have. He would be able to help out the defense.

Technically, Anderson is a typical Brazilian. He has the flair, while not going over board, a-la-Ronaldo. He can beat a man, and then do something with it, all in an entertaining fashion. Although shown in rather limited glimpses, looking back at his Gremio and Porto years, along with the times he got a good run of games, one can see Anderson's technical ability is very good.

Taking all these into consideration, I tried to pinpoint where exactly Anderson would be best utilised so as to get the most from the player, while continuing his already startling development.

Anderson is clearly an attacking player, but through a mixture of Sir Alex's intent to make him into a more complete player and his natural physique, he could help in the defense significantly.

In the midfield, United would best operate with an attacking center midfielder and a defensive one. So, for Anderson to play one of these would subtract from his total skill set. But he can't play up top, so that only leaves the wing, where Anderson, in my opinion, would prosper immensely.

He has the pace, strength, and skill to take players on. He has the ability to help out on the defense as well, covering for any of United's fullbacks, all of whom love to overlap. Placing him on the wing, if he played as a typical winger, would allow him to pass and cross—things he excels at, while reducing the burden to score, something that Anderson, in all honesty, is absolutely dire at.

So these are my thoughts. Tell me where you think he could play best, wings, center, up top, etc.

Why Leonardo Araujo Is a Sign of Good Things to Come For Milan

will evans — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:13:38 -0400

So Milan have lost there long standing captain, their star player, and rumors persists about the remaining players.

There is one reason to be happy: Leonardo Araujo.

This man is taking Milan in the right direction, and I have no doubt that under his guidance, Milan can make its long awaited recovery.

The reason I can make this drastic claim is because of Leonardo's first actions as manager. He bought a defender, and released Kaka.

While the sale of Kaka is controversial to say the least, in the end it was definitely a good move. It allowed for a huge sum of money to help strengthen an aging side.

While they will no longer be able to boast one of the top players in world football, the team as a whole should strengthen significantly in a lot of positions where previously aged or incapable players played. I'm looking at the defense.

Which brings me to my second point: Leonardo brought in Onyewu.

While it's hardly a signing to cause more then a quiver to go around the globe, the signing of Onyewu was a fantastic acquisition.

Onyewu had a fantastic Confederations Cup, where he almost single handedly kept team USA in the cup.

He is a tall, strong, surprisingly quick, no-nonsense, dedicated defender, and he is exactly what Milan needs. Especially since their back line no longer boasts Maldini, while currently containing the likes of Senderos, who is not up to scratch at Milan.

He could prove a great defender, especially considering his age.

Yes, his age. The man is 27, and while not young by any means, his addition breaks a rather annoying habit of Milan's, which was to purchase players only after they pass their prime and are on the wrong side of 30.

Onyewu, at 27, still has a few good years in him in which he will hit his prime.

So, with the combination of the selling of Kaka for an amount of money which will allow the Milan team to strengthen as a whole, and the addition of a physically capable defender in his prime (and not past it!), Leonardo should be a manager that Milan fans can and should expect great things from.

In any case, he is a welcome change from Ancelotti.

Manchester United's Midfield: As It Stands Now

will evans — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:33:49 -0400

With so much attention focused on Manchester United's attacking line (or the apparent lack thereof), I started thinking about the aspect of United's game where I feel they are actually the weakest—the midfield.

This is actually somewhat surprising, considering how weak United's midfield appeared last season. In fact, almost all of United's losses came down to losing the midfield battle (unfortunately the Liverpool game and Barcelona game come to mind).

Apparently, in world football, a strong midfield, and not a forward line, is where a lot of games are won and lost.

So, taking this into consideration, how does United's midfield stand now?

Note ahead of time that I'm only covering the middle of the pitch and that I'm not going to cover Scholes or Giggs, who, despite being two of my favorite players and playing good games last season, shouldn't see much playing time next season.

I'm going to start off with Michael Carrick, the one player who consistently puts in good shifts.

Well, Carrick is a smart player. While not necessarily a hard worker, Carrick covers a lot of ground. Part of the reason he doesn't run all over the pitch in a Tevez fashion is because a) he can read the play and intercept the pass, rather then making Keane-esque tackles, and b) because he rarely loses the ball.

He is a playmaker, who's at his best playing further up the pitch where he can play the killer pass, yet this past season, Carrick was forced to play in a much more defensive role due to the lack of a proper defensive midfielder.

If United were to acquire a defensive midfielder, then Carrick could play in his natural, and more dangerous position. While not the most brilliant of players, Carrick is nevertheless invaluable to United as he is the one who, especially in the absence of Scholes, controls the tempo of the game.

The next midfielder is Owen Hargreaves.

Assuming of course that Hargreaves makes a full recovery (which in itself is very hypothetical, but one can hope!), he is one of the best in the business at what he does—filling that hole between the defenders and the midfield.

Hargreaves is one of the best in the world at the defensive midfielder position, a role that United seriously missed last season. It was mainly due to his absence that Carrick had to drop back into an unnatural position, inhibiting his and United's attacking prowess.

Hargreaves is also a fantastic crosser/passer, and his stamina is second to none, making him excellent cover for the wide positions. Hargreaves is also more then capable of covering in defense.

If Hargreaves returns fit, then that would be fantastic for United, as his return alone can help them vastly in defense. However, his injury woes remain, so United may need to look into a replacement, if not cover for him.

Next up his Anderson.

Now, personally I'm a huge fan of Anderson, but I'm going to try to take an objective look at him.

Anderson had a decent first season, followed by a hit and miss second season. First, I'll cover Anderson's flaws. He's not the best shooter on the team (being generous), some of his passes are rather erratic, and his positioning is a little off.

However, Anderson is one of the most physical players United have now, and this could be a huge boost to them in the upcoming season. Physically very strong, Anderson also boasts the ability to outstrip anybody on the pitch. He's the type of player you don't know how fast he is, just that he's faster then the guy next to him.

Anderson is also very technically capable. While it has only been shown in glimpses, Anderson boasts potential to be one of the best dribblers in the world. His passing can be brilliant, and while I have already stated that it can be erratic, with Scholes and Giggs mentoring him, he can become a fantastic passer with time.

And that's another great part-time. The lad is only 21, so time is definitely on his side.

Anderson, I feel, should be given more playing time, so that he can become one of the best midfielders in the world (he isn't dubbed the next Ronaldinho for nothing!).

The next player is Darron Gibson.

I have mixed feelings about Gibson. The lad clearly has talent, as he showcased last season. He could be the next Paul Scholes, as his passing, vision, and long range shooting is reminiscent of Scholesy.

However, Gibson is a bit old. I know he's only 22, but he's going on 23, and while undoubtedly talented, he may be a tad to old to completely showcase all of his potential.

Gibson has put in some strong performances with the "reserve side", or the Carling Cup side, and he deserves at least one season where he play 20-30 games with the full squad, in more important games, so that he can try and prove his merit.

Finally, the last player I'm going to cover is Darren Fletcher.

I'm not going to lie, before last season, I was not a huge fan of Fletcher.

But he put in some fantastic displays, especially at the beginning of the season, and continued to do good work right up until he was unceremoniously and falsely red carded against Arsenal.

However, I think Fletcher may have hit his peak last season. He's in his prime, so we can't expect much more from him. If he delivers, that's absolutely terrific, but if he doesn't, it wouldn't be surprising.

As it stands, I don't think he is good enough quality to start most games. He is a hard worker, and fantastic cover for Hargreaves, should Hargo not be fit and SAF fail to find a replacement, as well as being able to cover in other positions out wide and in defense.

So, Fletcher should remain as a useful substitute, that plays enough games to remain happy, and is used for some big games where a slightly more defensive team is needed.

So, these are my thoughts. As it stands, I would like to see Carrick and Hargreaves as our main center midfielders for most games, with Anderson a substitute for Carrick, and Fletcher on the bench as cover for Hargreaves or any other number of positions where he is more then capable. Fletcher may also be opted for on European nights, where his talent seems to be magnified.

Anyway, give me your thoughts. Should United add any more talent? If so what kind, where, etc. I want to see what fellow United enthusiasts or haters think about our midfield situation, as it stands now.

Who Should be Manchester United's No. 1 Keeper Next Season?

will evans — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:51:21 -0400

Next season we will likely see the last of Dutch legend Edwin Van Der Sar.

So, who should be United's number one next season?

Obviously, the first option is Van Der Sar, himself.

The man went on a record-breaking run between November and March, breaking English, British, and European records along the way.

However, the man is getting a bit older. That doesn't say much, as he was supposedly past his prime last season during which he set the records, but he likely won't be around for much longer.

So, should United look to the future and give some other players a chance to start, or use the Flying Dutchman one last season?

If they look to keep using Van Der Sar, then let's look at the pros.

1. Van Der Sar is one of the best five goalies in the world, and neither Kuszak nor Foster is in that elite bracket yet.

2. Using him as a starter would allow SAF to continue to nurture Foster and Kuszak in a manner that would help them to grow to be great players.

3. It wouldn't disturb the harmony between the back five. I don't know how much changing the keeper would affect this, but there is always the chance that replacing Van Der Sar would harm the chemistry that has been established on defense. \

As witnessed last season, a strong defense wins trophies.

Now, the next option is Ben Foster. Pros:

1. He is much younger, and having just put pen to paper on a new four-year deal, he appears to be SAF's preferred option. He also appears to be very loyal.

2. He is English. That may not seem like much of a pro, but with Platini, who knows.

3. He has very, very good reflexes. Many comparisons are made to Gigi Buffon. That may be a little extreme, but if Foster continues to grow, then maybe he can be that great.

4. Game time may accelerate his development. If given a proper season, then he could easily become one of the best goalies in the world with a combination of raw talent and experience (the one thing he lacks).

The next option would be Tomasz Kuszak. Pros:

1. Like Foster, age is on his side.

2. He regularly gets first-team football for the Poland national side, and a combination of this with first-team football for United could see him develop at an alarming rate.

3. While his reflexes aren't at the same level as Foster's, Kuszak is more of a Casillas-type keeper (extreme again, I know, but you get the point). His positioning is his strong point, and with practice and the opportunity, he could hone his reflexes.

So those are the three big choices. Should SAF stick with VDS and nurture the two younger keepers for another season, or should Foster or Kuszak take up the mantle as United's number one?

Of course, another option would be to go out and spend money on another keeper, but if so, who would be an ideal purchase?

Don't Get Ahead of Yourself, United: Rooney Will Disappoint

will evans — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:45:47 -0400

Let me start out by saying that I'm not slating Rooney at all. In fact, he has been my favorite player in 2004.

His passion, aggression, heart, and all around ability combine to make Rooney a fantastic player and a crowd favorite among United and England fans.

So it's only natural, with Ronaldo's departure and the subsequent lose of 25+ goals a season, that fans place the leadership responsibility on Rooney. I know I initially did.

Fans are expecting Rooney to have a breakout season next year. I have no doubt that this next season will see the best of his career.

But fans are anticipating far too much.

I have no doubt Rooney will have a 20+ goal season, but actually expecting him to replace Ronaldo whilst scoring his own tally is ridiculous. Sure he will probably be United's top scorer next season, but he won't be able to make up for the loss of Ronaldo.

The expectations placed on his beefy shoulders—not only by fans but himself—are creating a mindset in which Rooney is the savior who will guide United to the promised land.

This is unreasonable, and won't happen. It is simply too much to ask. Rooney will have a memorable campaign, but it won't be legendary, as people seem to anticipate.

So sit back, get excited for next season, and anticipate a new and improved Rooney who will hopefully play in his natural position.

But don't over-expect. The man is human, and as mighty as he may be, unreasonable expectations simply lead to disappointment.

Is Adebayor What Milan Need?

will evans — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:34:05 -0400

Now that Milan have a transfer kitty almost equivalent to Real Madrid's (not really, but you get the point), I was wondering who they would get.

One would think that, due to the majority of the players being well over thirty, defenders would be constantly linked to Milan.

No. Instead, Arsenal's large forward from Togo is the player who, for two seasons now, has been linked with a San Siro move.

Is he what Milan need though?

If all remaining players stay, then Pato and Dinho are the two senior forwards remaining (excluding Inzaghi).

Will Adebayor fill the hole left by Kaka? Probably not, but he can help.

Adebayor is the perfect foil for the small, speedy Pato. While not the most technically gifted player, Adebayor does have an eye for goal when he is in the mood, as shown by his performances for Arsenal between 2007 and 2008, when he scored over 30 goals in all competitions.

Also, small players tend to do well playing in the hole off a tall forward, so Adebayor's introduction could help Pato become the world class player we all know he can be.

However, Adebayor does have some flaws.

First and formost are his wages. They are inflated at Arsenal, where he earns over 100k a week. Not going to happen at Milan, especially for a new player.

Second, he is a very moody player. This past season with Arsenal, he appeared sometimes as though he had his heart set on Milan, and his play suffered.

Adebayor chalked up a rather meager 17 goals in all competitions, while amassing an incredible 44 offsides. Taking into consideration Adebayor's injuries, this shows that he can be a rather lazy player.

All in all, Adebayor is a great player when in the zone, and a not so great one when he's not.

He would fit in perfectly at Milan if two things happen: first, his transfer fee goes down. No more £35 million bids. Look for a £20 million at best. Second, his wages go down.

Were he to accept this, with his undoubted natural ability and goal scoring prowess, Adebayor would be a great signing.

Kaka Will Always Be a Rossoneri Legend

will evans — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:52:16 -0400

It was a sad day when money bought humility and loyalty.

That's what Madrid got when they spent an immense amount of money on Kaka. They managed to take possibly the most true and good player in the world, and, via financial methods, force him to leave his home and play for them.

In Kaka's interview where he spoke about his transfer, he defended the club. Yes, the club. The club that he loved, which in turn sold him. He stated that his transfer was best for the club because it helped restore some of the financial security that Milan have been lacking.

Kaka's transfer was Milan's sacrificing him for the greater good. Like many, I had always envisioned Kaka one day captaining Milan, possibly as soon as next season—unfortunately that will never happen.

However, don't doubt for a second that Kaka is a Milan legend. He gave six years of devoted service to Milan, during which he almost single-handedly won them the Champions League in 2007 before shutting the transfer door in the face of Manchester City, who were offering to pay Kaka an exorbitant amount of money.

He is aware that he got sacrificed, and he is okay with it because, even though he no longer gets to shine in the sacred red and black strip, he did what was best for the club that he loved. And so, even though he now plays for a rival club, don't doubt for a second Kaka's status as Rossoneri legend.

Manchester United's New Problem: Who Will Take Free Kicks??

will evans — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:35:20 -0400

Ronaldo's gone and the ramifications are more than most realize.

While pondering about how Ronaldo's departure could help some players, I started thinking about a role that, until now, was unconditionally Ronaldo's... free kick taker.

The question is, who takes them for Manchester United now?

Well, the first candidate is Hargreaves, who scored THAT goal against Arsenal. On top of it, he scored another earlier that season against Fulham and many more in his Bayern days.

Unfortunately there are a couple problems with Owen's taking freekicks.

First, there's the fact that he may not actually be able to play until around January. Depending on which stories you believe, the earliest seems to be late September.

Second, while he is absolutely fantastic at getting the ball up and over the wall allowing him to be accurate at close range, he doesn't usually get the power neccesary to strike from distance.

Of course, he could cross the ball from distance as he is a great crosser, but that's not what the question is about.

If not Hargreaves, second would be Rooney. Perhaps it's a bit surprising Rooney hasn't taken more freekicks as he scored with one on his debut (a great one at that).

Rooney would be a good choice because he could get the accuracy for close range, and he has some of the strongest shots in the world (ask Frank Lampard). Distance shots wouldn't be too big of an issue.

Then there is Nani. If Nani is given the chance to prove himself in a steady run of games, he could find himself a regular, and thus the free kick taker.

He is more like Ronaldo, able to dip and move the ball in very interesting ways. He could probably be a great freekick taker if given time.

So these are probably the three most likely. There are others able to take them, but I doubt SAF would allow Rafael, Carrick, or Vidic to take them. Let me know your thoughts.

Hold Your Horses: It's Nani Time

will evans — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:10:22 -0400

Ronaldo's gone. Get over it.

This is exactly what all United fans and Manchester United have to do. A fantastic player in almost every aspect, Ronaldo was undoubtedly one of the best players to grace the Red Devils in a long time, but he's gone.

It's like The Soprano's: it's over. Find a new show.

A host of world class names have been cast around as potential replacements. The problem is, how exactly do you replace a player who scored more then 60 goals over the last two seasons?

Answer: team work.

Place more emphasis on the forwards and allow them to do their job, instead of baby sitting and cleaning up for the Portuguese Maestro.

As good as Rooney and Berbatov undoubtedly are, I doubt they will be able to replace Ronaldo's prolific goal scoring rate. The answer then is to find a replacement for Ronaldo who not only allows the forwards to be the goal scorers, but also chips in with a decent haul of goals himself. How can the Red Devils do this? I'll tell you how, and Sir Alex Ferguson can do it without spending any money.

How? Nani.

Nani had a sensational first season at United, which he followed up with one of the most disappointing follow up seasons seen in a while. Was he a one hit wonder? I Don't think so.

I would say, Nani was trying far too hard to be Ronaldo when Ronaldo is a completely different player to Nani. Both are fantastic dribblers with unparalleled trickery, both can produce fantastic shots on goal, and both are wingers.

However, the similarities end there. Nani, even after a very poor season, is much better then Ronaldo was at a similar point early in his career (seasons at United wise, not age wise).

Nani prefers to dribble and play the ball towards the middle either by crossing or passing of some other method. Ronaldo cuts in and shoots. While one hurts the development or ability of the forwards, the other helps them.

Next season, during which I feel the team will be based around Rooney and Berbatov, Nani is the one to help them reach their full potential.

While I acknowledge that Nani had a poor season, he wasn't given a fair shot or a good run of games to gain confidence. Give him this, and watch as the two big faults of his character (selfishness and bad decision making) disappear. In Nani hands, United will once again be a team, and a dangerous one at that.

Watch out, its Nani's time.

Anticipating Equality

will evans — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:27:53 -0400

I know this is very premature, but looking ahead, I can't help but anticipate a much more equal premier league.

This season, Manchester United were never in much doubt of winning the league, with Liverpool being the only genuine contender. With all the stars seemingly attracted to Spain because of the weather, Real's wealth, or Barca's success, a lot of attention is being taken of the EPL.

However, I feel that next season is shaping up to be jaw dropping and salivating.

Lets start with the champions, Manchester United. Last season, they were never in much doubt of winning. Sure they had some hiccups near the end, but nothing too serious.

This summer, though, they have already lost their marquee player. Whether they will successfully replace Ronaldo or start playing in a manor that doesn't require a superstar, we can only speculate. They could be Barca when they lost Ronaldinho. They could be Arsenal when they lost Henry.

As it stands, United seems to have dropped a little bit talent wise.

Second place, Liverpool, on the other hand, are on the rise. They weren't quite at United's level last season because they didn't have the strength in depth, but they did have the most fearsome duo probably in world football: Torres and Gerrard.

Also, the acquisition on Glen Johnson and Alonso's break out season are seriously helping the Mersey side outfit.

However, they seem to be spending money on positions they don't need to. Their lack of strength in depth could be their downfall. I expect them and United to be very evenly matched.

Third place, Chelsea, is just as hard as United to predict because, honestly, nobody has any idea whats going to happen next season. New manager, new times. If they keep the same aging squad, they could finish fourth or even outside the top four.

However, if they freshen up as it seems Roman is hungry again, they could win the league if the right talent is bought. They are approaching United and Liverpool's level.

Finally, fourth place Arsenal seems about to embark on a meteoric rise. I'm not an Arsenal fan, but last season seemed like a massive disappointment. However, that's down to a few reasons.

One: Massive injuries.

Two: Massive lack of experience.

Three: Massively unbalanced squad. Overloaded attacking wise but defensively broke.

However, all of these problems look like they could be fixed next season, with all the young players having gained the experience this season, Wenger's more than likely signing of experienced players, and Wenger's signing of defenders.

He's already signed Vermaelen, and while nobody can account for injuries, one can only hope they will be alleviated slightly next season.

So there it is, the top four seem much, much more evenly matched. I know this is a very premature article, but these are just some thoughts I thought i would share. I could easily be proven wrong tomorrow, but as it stands, this seems likely.

On top of this, there is Tottenham with their golden leader Redknapp, Villa, and Everton with their best of the rest about to break the nest attitude, and Man City, with their mountain of billions. Enjoy.

Was Tevez What Manchester United Needed?

will evans — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:20 -0400

Now that Tevez is definetly not returning to the United squad next season, me and my mates decided to ask ourselves: Was Tevez really the answer?

Obviously Tevez has clearly been a devoted servant to Man Utd for the past two seasons—no Devil's fan can deny that. But with his exit, can United fans, once captured by Tevez's habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve, honestly answer this question?

Well, I tried. Basically I went back and watched some old United games (when i say some I mean around 20) and focused a lot of my attention on Carlos. Now, I'm just going to state that i always felt Tevez was given a bit of rough treatment this season, especially after his heroics last season. What I saw, though, somewhat surprised me.

Before I start, i would just like to make sure everyone knows that I am not slating Tevez, as I can only respect a man that has given so much to United and helped us win so much.

Obviously Tevez's greatest aspect is his work rate. In this area, Tevez is exactly the player that United needs: He is a lion. Like Rooney, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and any fan of any team appreciates this, especially when he is compared to Berbatov and Berba's frugal approach to football.

However, after all those hours of watching old football matches, it became obvious that this was Tevez' only real United quality.

Tevez lacks technical ability. Of course he has moments of brilliance, like against Middlesbrough, but often his first touch lets him down. On top of that, Tevez really lacks the ability to dribble. While he is able to fight players off, he doesn't have the control that any of our other forwards have.

Another aspect where I wouldn't consider Tevez world-class is in his finishing. Admittedly, all United forwards were quite bad last season, but Tevez's five Premier League goals just about sums it up. He has a tendency to take wild shots, when a pass would be a much better option.

Finally, the part of Tevez that really stands out is his selfishness. He would constantly shoot when passing to an open teammate was the much better option. Although I'm not yet a huge Berba fan, there were countless times Tevez had me on my feet, yelling because of his habit of going for glory.

Admittedly this may have been part of his attempt to get a contract, but it definitely went against him. I know that forwards are supposed to be greedy, but not overly so.

We had Ronaldo last year as well, who was also quite selfish, and maybe had Ronaldo not been on our team then maybe Tevez would have had a reason to be selfish, but we only had room for one selfish player, and Tevez doesn't compare with Ronaldo.

I'm still very sad that Tevez won't be at United next season. He clearly loves the club, and its very sad to think that he may sign for one of our rivals. Whereever he goes, I wish him luck, but I feel that the £25.5 million that Kia wanted was much to much for a player that is lacking in too many important departments to be considered world class, which is what we now need.

The New Style of Manchester United

will evans — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:13:04 -0400

As the transfer season approaches, rumors are starting up quickly. Obviously, the most current incident involving the club is the sale of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. And while this isn't the main focus of this article, I feel it's best to start by offering my naive take on this.

First off, Ronaldo has admittedly been the best player at United for the past three seasons. However, as much as United fans like myself had denied it, United was becoming dependent on Ronaldo far too much, and this was evident in the team's results.

In '07-'08, Ronaldo was unstoppable, and so was United; however, come '08-'09, Ronaldo had a very start-stop campaign, and United's season was also very unpredictable, as there were some memorable highs (Chelsea anyone?) while also some outstanding lows (Liverpool what?).

Another part of Ronaldo's domination was that I feel his development came at the expense of other team members, such as Rooney, who was forced numerous times to cover for Ronaldo's lack of defending, and at the price of overall morale.

Simply put, with Ronaldo now gone and 93 million euros in the bank, I feel the team will be back to being just that- not just a one man effort, but a team effort.

Now on to the topic.

In my opinion, the new team SAF is building should be based around Rooney, if not for the simple fact that all Devils fans know of Rooney's undoubted loyalty, and therefore we don't have to fear his leaving. Furthermore, Rooney is exactly what every team dreams their star players are- unselfish.

Now, I mean no offense to Ronaldo when i say this because i have nothing but respect for a man who devoted six years of his life to this club, but I actually feel that Rooney is a more dangerous player when played correctly, as shown in October and for the English National Team.

The difference between them, in my opinion, is passion and Rooney's ability to involve others in the play.

I'm not saying that Rooney is more skillful then Ronaldo, because that's simply unreasonable, but I believe he is more effective, and his link-up play is second to none, as shown with Ronaldo for United and Gerrard for England.

With Rooney as the central focus, I feel that the team will play much, much better together simply because Rooney gets everyone involved, and I'm pretty sure I'm correct when i say that this can only help the teams morale, which has noticeably dropped.

This brings me to my next point: Berbatov. This man is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. He disappears for long stretches of the game before appearing with a piece of magic.

He appears not to try (or care, depending on your attitude), yet he had an acceptable first season, not to mention he is a fantastic team player like Rooney, and a player I have no doubt that SAF plans to build his next team around, simply because Berba, like Rooney, gets others involved, while never giving the ball away.

However, the problem with Berba is that his first season was simply acceptable—as one of the two remaining senior forwards, he needs to step it up, and in my opinion, he needs to play in what I believe to be his natural role, the No. 9, which is the position we bought him for, not the center midfielder he has been forced to play.

Admittedly there are other reasons for this, such as the midfield's lack luster season, and other players' (like Tevez) lack of passing to him (watch old games, how many times is he open and other plays play the harder pass or take ridiculous shots?), while also possible instructions from the gaffer.

If allowed, I see him and Rooney providing for some of the most brilliant link-up play we've seen in a while, and more goals should subsequently be scored.

Let me make sure I'm being clear: I fully expect the style of Manchester United to change. When Van Nistelrooy was here, we played very direct because of his uncanny ability to score at will.

With Ronaldo, we played a free flowing game to accommodate his tendency to drift and his lack of defending. However, the problem with styles of play is that they become predictable, and Manchester United this past season was very predicable. Ronaldo wasn't as effective and the team as a whole appeared not quite as capable.

Opposing teams simply new how to deal with us. So next season, with a team more then likely to be focused around Rooney and Berba (as it is very unlikely that SAF will buy a brand new star like Messi or even Villa to be the focal point), I can see United playing a slower, more team oriented game with players having more defined roles.

In this respect, I can see Ferguson buying more traditional wingers to replace Ronaldo, players who like to cross or play it inside instead of having Ronaldo's tendency to cut inside and shoot. Other then that, it's a crapshoot who United acquires.

So this is just my opinion on what the next United team will be like. Please feel free to comment, critique, or just simply bash my thoughts. Thanks for any input!