Like I wrote in my previous blog post about Sneijder, I don't think that kind of creative midfielder is the way to go for the engine room in our team. What I miss is the complete opposition, which has never been fully replaced after the departure of one of the greatest fighters in Premier League history: Roy Maurice Keane.
by @Nicopoleides
What I'm pointing at is the obvious leader, warrior, fighter and captain in our central midfield, to carry the team on his shoulders on bad days. I miss the player who would raise the level of his teammates' performances just by his presence, exactly like Keano did for us through so many years. I'm looking for the player who can raise his game into the sixth gear when the team is struggling, simply by running faster/longer, tackling harder and shouting louder, to make a goal or two down turn into a goal or two up.
Has been covered
Between 2006 and 2009 the absence of such a player could be covered by the flair, skill and matchwinning goals of a completely different player, named Cristiano Ronaldo. When we win, people usually don't mind our weaknesses, even if they're there. Ronnie made us win a lot of games, and by doing that, he covered the lack of such a warrior in the midfield, even it actually was possible to spot that a natural leader and warrior wasn't there. When the Portuguese left to join his childhood love Real Madrid, the absence of a Keane-esque player became more visible and easier to notice. No Premier League club has ever won the league with seven defeats during a 38-game season, neither did we in 09/10. The high amount of losses is for me a sign that the team struggled to turn a goal down into a goal up at such bad days. This is for me a clear indication of the need of such a warrior on the centre midfield, and there was no Ronaldo to score us a goal or two.
Needed for 4-4-2
The lack of this player have also done impact on Fergie's choice of tactics. Over the last couple of years, we've been using three midfielders (a DM + 2 CMs or 2 DMs and an AM, depends which way the triangle) in important games/away games, compared to two like we used to do. In other words, Fergie used to belive that two players (like Keane and a younger Scholes) could do the working in this crucial games, but in recent years, he'd spot a need for a third man to contribute. I know that the football is due to a change over time, but I think we play most entertaining with two men up-front, and United's philosophy should be that other teams should suit the tactics to match us, not vice versa, which has been the case in recent years. I think we could be more focused on playing our own game if we had a player like Keane (not Keane himself, obviously!), which would allow more space for or wingers/strikers to do what they get paid for: Attack! As things stands, Fergie isn't trusting his two men enough, and needs to play safe, turning a duo into a trio. In my mind, our attacking play is suffering because of this, and that's why I want to play 4-4-2. And to play 4-4-2, we need that player to allow extra space for our offensive lads.
Who do you think this man could be?
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