Threesome

Latest update (as of 9.30pm, 14th July ’09):
Sir Alex Ferguson has announced that there will be no additional signings after unveiling his recent buys - Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan and Michael Owen.
Surprisingly, Michael Owen has been handed the magical No. 7 shirt worn by some of the finest footballers to grace the Theatre Of Dreams (George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent seasons).

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It’s been almost 3 months since the title-defining moment and my fingers have been itching to get back to writing on United. The 3-month break in the Premiership season is surely one of the hardest months to pass by (for English football fanatics, I should say). No matches to catch on weekends/weekdays, no pent-up frustrations to let go and no bragging rights to win (especially when results go United’s way against our eternal enemies, the Scousers and the Gooners). It’s been cold turkey treatment and still 4 weeks away from the start of the new Premiership season. If only it was August right now..darn..

At this point in time, United have (only) signed Antonio Valencia (from Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Obertan (a surprise signing from Girondins Bordeaux, France), and of course, Michael Owen (from Newcastle United). I personally do not know much about Valencia (apart from being good on the wing) or the kid Obertan but what I do know is that Michael Owen would need to work his socks off and stay off the treatment table in order to win us over. Well, some of the fastest (and surest) ways of doing so are to (I call it the ‘3S’ technique):

1. Seriously declare he has a strong inclination towards all things Manchester United and had been a closet fan of United during his Liverpool days.
2. Stay match fit and get on the score sheet on a regular basis (if he can dislodge the pairing, or rather, mis-pairing, of Rooney and Berbatov first, of course).
3. Score the winning goal for United in front of the Kop End at Ant Field (errmm..Anfield) and kiss the United badge during the goal celebration. Not that we look much into the badge-kissing act these days, but the thought of gutting the Koppites at their own turf is simply too hard to resist! The badge-kissing ‘performance’ just rubs more salt into the wounds…hehe..

Anyway, too many hullabaloos have been splashed across the pages over the ‘who will United sign?’ issue which had been gaining momentum ever since the countdown to the new season started. To quote from one of the Manchester United blogs that I’ve been reading, we are, without doubt, light up front (the striking department). In retrospect, the selling of Cristiano Ronaldo had been in the making for some time before the eventuality happened. Honestly speaking, I was glad to see him go. Yes, he might have banged in loads of goals and conjured match-winning performances in recent seasons but there was something about Ronaldo that is both irritating and mesmerizing; I’m sure many United fans could relate to what I’m saying. The dives, and especially the whines and the moans as though Paris Hilton’s pooch was shot, were not a visual spectacle; definitely not when your team is trailing and the referee not giving a damn at all. Yet, despite his on-field prima donna antics, I must say that he was also a joy to watch. Who could forget the cheeky back-heels, the flurry of step-overs and the rocket launchers that epitomized the man? Irritatingly iconic, that’s how I would sum it up.

So, we have ‘significantly’ lost Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to our neighbors Man. City. Two very high profile players not on United’s paychecks anymore and in my opinion, a few more should follow suit. Nani and Dimitar Berbatov easily top my list for United’s need for a summer clear-out. Nani, for sporadically showing his class but a midfield misfit most of the time; and Berbatov, for his overpriced value and his inclusion in the first eleven which is more often than not seen as a ‘liability’ and not the striking swivel United bought him initially for.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Franck Ribery, Klaas Jan Huntelaar - the speculations are endless with each player mulling over a move for United or other big clubs. For me, the solution is simple; if the heart’s not in it, don’t do it. For the Ibrahimovics, Riberys and Huntelaars, United fans take enormous pride in our club and we want (and demand) players who will fight for the cause, not mere passengers in the team. We are always on the lookout for the Eric Cantonas, the Roy Keanes, the Gary Nevilles and the Wayne Rooneys who breathe and bleed red, black and white.

Well, just thinking and ‘speaking’ aloud here. There will be more to come once the new Premiership season kicks-off. My raves and rants; you would most likely be hearing about them soon come August.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for a very successful haul in the new season for United!