Please not Sneijder

These days a lot of Man United supporters - and maybe even Sir Alex Ferguson himself - are looking for a creative central midtfielder to put into United's XI, and find that creativity in Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder. But despite the Dutchman obviously is world-class and surely could have done an OK job at Old Trafford if given the chance, I don't think this man is the solution to solve our 'lack of creativity'. Here's why I think we should splash the cash on someone else:


by @Nicopoleides


I - Suffering strikers
The main reason of my wish to aviod seeing Sneijder in the red shirt is where he's going to play on the pitch. Usually we've played 4-4-2 in the Fergie era, and the first pre-season game could have been a hint of what we could expect to see in the upcoming season as well: Two strikers. In Inter, Sneijder has enjoyed the luxury of two men doing the running behind of him, and that's clearly demanded in the Premier League too, if he arrives. That means we need to change or formation to 4-2-3-1, play Rooney up-front and leave Berbatov, Chicharito and talents like Welbeck on the bench or in the stands. In other words, this will mean very hard conditions for our strikers (apart from Rooney) to perform or make progress. Berbatov will possibly be the one to suffer the most, as he's definately better with a partner than as a lone striker. In my mind we could just sell him if we sign Sneijder, as he's way too good to be played out of position or to sit on the bench. Only one man up-front at a time will also mean a heavy - and maybe too heavy? - challenge for Mancunian Danny Welbeck to make it into the first team. As I think local lads is important in football, and particularly at Man United with such a tradition local-wise, at least he deserves a proper chance to show if he's good enough. And 'proper chance' doesn't mean playing for the 'reserves' against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carling Cup.

II - Unchanged central midfield
As I mentioned, a Sneijder would require two men to do the running for him, so he could perform at his top level, focusing on the offensive aspects of his game. These guys to do the running is going to be the likes of Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, and Giggs. I dont think Cleverley will be played in a defensive duo (but he could be in a flat 4-4-2), and Jones seems to be challenging for a spot in the back four. Basically, this means that we have lost one man (Scholes) - and two if Gibson leaves - in this position. In other words, there's here we need a new signing. Bringing in Sneijder will leave the central midfielder unchanged, and we remain with this 'grey' and 'boring' duo in the upcoming season as well. The main point is that Sneijder doesn't make any difference to our CM, because he isn't playing in this position. The Dutchman will play instead of a striker, not instead of a midfielder.

III - Juan Sebastián Verón
United have played some really entertaining football in the Fergie era, but we have never had success with a player like Sneijder. The central midfield has usually been crowded by the likes of Robson, Ince, Keane, Scholes, Butt, Fletcher and Carrick - all hard-working heroes giving their all to destroy the opponents' game, and some of them (mainly Robson and Scholes) having abilities to create chances and score goals for United as well. The central midfield has with an obvious degree of success been used as the powerhouse and the engine of the team. The players with success in this position has been the ones with fighting spirit and ability to win the ball, not afraid of going into a heavy challenge. CMs with more abilities on the opponents' half, like Kleberson and Veron, have struggled to fit into the system and to make the required impact in this part of the field. Sneijder is this kind of player, and I can't see why he should be able to do what Juan Sebastian Veron didn't. Neither can I see why Fergie should risk the same tactical issues, criticism and lack of fitting into the Prem once again - for a fee that could approach more than £10m more than the Argentine's.


But Scholes did...?
By now, I hear some of you mentioning the Paul Scholes of the last 2-3 seasons, and the fact that he actually fitted into 4-4-2, despite his low running-rate. The fact is that despite he had unique, world-class skills on the ball, he was mainly used as a holding midfielder to cross the ball out wide when in possession. In this role, Scholes rarely opened space behind of him. Sneijder will play a lot more offensively if used in a 4-4-2, and leave his CM colleague running into his death, because of all the ground he will have to cover. In addition, when Scholes retirement was looming, he accepted that he could mainly perform at his top level against weaker sides at home. Sneijder would obviously demand a lot more than that, which I think is unlikely in 4-4-2.