1. David De Gea
After a shaky start, the Spaniard passed the mental test at Anfield and the physical test at Britannia, but still struggled from time to time in 2011, making some errors like the one against Blackburn at home. And after he retained his position as United's shot-stopper when main challenger Anders Lindegaard went out injured, he looked way more confident and delivered a quality second half of the season, maybe peaking at Stamford Bridge in the 90th minute. Now he's established himself as United's No. 1 and hopefully he'll carry on from where he finished in May. However, there are many weight-lifting sessions to come at Carrington, to improve his physical presence to handle the Prem.
3. Patrice Evra
The former skipper of France's national team hasn't really found his form after the World Cup in South Africa two years ago. He's struggling to mark his man and keep up positionally when in defence and on the other half, there is a lack of end product, considering he's almost involved every time United enter the oppositional half. His main challenges for the upcoming season is to improve the mentioned areas, as well as maintaining his work rate, which is great, as he's tracking up and down the left wing in literally every game of the season. Sir Alex' challenge regarding Evra is to find back-up or an equal competitor to offload him, or actually a replacement. But no matter what, a player who has entered his 33rd year can't play 50 games a season and perform top-notch on a regular basis. The central midfield department aside, this position is the one where we are in serious need of additions.
4. Phil Jones
The Preston-born former Blackburn player immediately became a Chuck Norris-esque cult figure for United fans in his first half season at Old Trafford, seemingly succeeding wherever he was played or whatever he was doing. A top notch work-rate, good tackling, the fighting spirit of a true warrior and solor runs penetrating through the midfield made the Megastore staff work equally hard to keep up with everybody who wanted Jones on the back of their replica shirt. The second half of the season did unfortunately keep up with the high standards and expectations. Too weak in the air as a centre back, too poor close control as a central midfielder and too unaccurate crossing as a fullback left Jones exposed to his weaknesses and unable to get a consistent run of good form. Personally I'd like to see him focus on fighting into the midfield duo, as I feel his never-say-die attitude is something rarely seen in that department of ours, especially when Fletcher is out. As well we have more natural centre backs than him, and if we are planning to keep Rafael, which looks likely, we have no option but to play him at the right back slot. Jones' main challenge for the next season is to work with his mentioned weaknesses and try to focus on one position.
5. Rio Ferdinand
The 2011/12 campaign was Rio's best and most consistent in a couple of years, adding experience into an inconsistent back four struggling with a massive lot of injuries, young players and frequent changes in terms of personell. Still, I feel his past his peak, and I feel that this might be the final season for United's No. 5. He's getting less pacy and slowly turning from more of a panther to more of a robot in terms of body control. This means other players will have to offload him on the pitch by covering up for his old boys style. His old and injury-prone body might be able to carry on for one more nine-month marathon, but then I think it's the time for him to call it a day. In my opinion RioFerdy5 should be far off an obvious choice in the line-up, and he'll have to perform just like any other, as the likes of Jones, Evans and Smalling have quicker feet and are younger and with an unrealized potential. As well the quicker ones makes the defence able to move the defending line even higher up the pitch, which obviously makes it shorter to the oppositions goal when gaining possession.
6. Jonny Evans
After a 2010/11 campaign below expected performance level, the Northern Irish defender showed major improvement throughout the entire just-finished season. The 24-year old Academy product did what he could to reduce the missing of skipper Nemanja Vidic, delivering games on a higher level than most people had expected. In my opinion Evans is one of the best players of the season, alongside fellow scapegoat Michael Carrick. He showed more physical presence and ability to cope with so-called tank-centers, and he'll have to carry on. As a natural all-round defender with a great understanding of the game and excellent ball-control and long-range passing for a defender, his challenge for the upcoming season is to add more cutting edge and expertise to his game. That might be needed to keep the likes of particularly Vidic and Ferdinand away from his slot in the heart of the defence.
8. Anderson Oliveira
Last summer I wrote a piece named "The Anderson make-or-break", pointing at the gifted Brazilian's oportunities awaiting in 2011/12. Sadly it came out as more of a break than a make, and this summer might be the time for Anderson and United to part company. Five years after his arrival, he's still yet to perform consistently (maybe apart from his first season in red) over a season, and as well he remains injury-prone. In April he celebrated his 24th anniversary, and at that time of the career, one should be on the edge of being an established and reliable first-teamer, and the latter adjective can't be used to describe our midfield magician, which is very sad, as I love the player and what he adds to our side when being in form. If we should sell him as something close to a future prospect, a deal has to be tied up this summer; I think an eventual transfer fee will drop dramatically if we keep him for another twelve, inconsistent and injury-prone months. The lifeline of his United career may be all the question marks on his midfield colleagues Fletcher and Cleverley, as well as the age(ing) of legends Giggs and Scholes. This might by some degree force Ferguson to keep him for another season, but it obiously will depend on the eventual transfer activity in this part of the squad.
9. Dimitar Berbatov
An uncertain future lies ahed of the über talented Bulgarian, but with only 11+10 apperances over the last twelve months, his future seems to be elsewhere than Old Trafford. His contract status and the "clause of a twelve-month extension" (if it even does exist) is not confirmed, but it will be a major surprise if he remains on board. Hopefully he'll leave for a club which treats him the way he deserves and plays him on a regular basis. Maybe a reunity with the Bundesliga is looming?
10. Wayne Rooney
The obious star man of this club at the moment is wearing the No. 10 shirt, and as Shinji Kagawa's transfer is done and dusted, Wazza is likely to moved back into the traditional No. 9 role up-front, with the Japanese playing behind him in what we have known as "the Rooney role" this season. My prediction is another 40-50 games for the scouser this season, which means he'll almost certainly be played when fit.
However, there is one thing I miss by this man. Some years ago he used to be all over the pitch running and tackling like a madman, dominating games like no other players. This season that Rooney has been more or less absent. He's turned from more of a warrior to a more natural and clinical poacher. Obviously it's a good thing to be efficient in front of the goal, but I have to say I miss the old Rooney from time to time. Where is the fire inside him, glowing in his eyes, driving him into that extra run and that extra tackle? These days he seems more laidback without the same level of never-say-die attitude. Maturity might be a reason, but do we have to choose between the goalscoring poacher and the fighting beast?
11. Ryan Giggs
This season far off Giggsy's best, with his top level rarely on display. Always looking for the genious killer pass, he might be a victim of overrating his own effectivity, as most of his passes ends up at oppositional feet or in the keeper's hands. Every now and then he comes up with an assist (or even a winning goal, like that beautiful moment at Carrow Road), but he simply has to focus on passing with lower risk, especially against better sides, when it's harder to retain possession after losing the ball. This aspect of his game is something which really surprises me, as his experience should help him to make the best decisions; at the moment that is not what we see on the pitch.
Another annoying Giggs-related issue is his lack of covering space on defence. Ferguson has stated that he's not fit enough to play out wide, as he can't do that lot of running anymore, but why on earth is he then playing in the middle of the park, where such a lack of running is close to suicidal?! We've seen it over and over again; we can't keep up with the opposing team's quick feet in midfield, and a slow Giggs who's barely contributing in defence is doing everything but making the situation better. In my opinion he should be played out wide to aim pin-point crosses into the box or play behind the striker to have to players covering up for his lack of running behind him. Hopefully a legend or two will call it a day, crowned as champions for a final time in May 2013.
12. Chris Smalling
After an impressive first season at United, Smalling opened the new campaign in a good manner and as a part of the "gung-ho" side with an all-out attacking philosophy. The cockney played regularly until January, but then struggled to make his way into the United line-up, and injuries will have to take some responsibility. Among the three hottest prospects in the centre of the defence (Jones and Evans obviously the other ones), I feel that he is the most natural centre back, possessing aerial ability literally above the two other ones. Yet he makes a decent right back as well, which adds set-piece strength upon the two other centre backs and comes in handy against team with loads of aerial skill in their pockets. His main challenge is to grow some muscles, gain even more body strength and obviously he needs to remain fit.
13. Ji-Sung Park
The 2011/12 campaign was maybe the poorest one displayed by our South Korean after his arrival from PSV back in 2005. Known as a big game player with match winning abilities, he failed to contribute in any of the big games, and it's likely that Park has past his peak. He's never been any particularly technical player by Premier League standards, but has succeeded due to his running capacity and fighting spirit. And level of age with buddy Evra ('81-born), his fitness will not improve in the future. I think it's time to look for better options quite soon, but his contract expires in 2013, and I reckon he'll stay put for another season as a fringe player. Hopefully we won't ever see him as a central midfielder in a duo again, as he doesn't have the game-reading ability in that part of the pitch, but he can still do a job for us out wide.
14. Javier Hernández
The little fella from Mexico delivered and extremely efficient first season in red. This season went to differ a bit, not playing as much and struggling to impress on the pitch. 12 goals is obviously acceptable for a second choice up-front (behind Welbeck in the pecking order), but his main weakness is lack of ability to provide something outside the box. His first touch is far off what we're expecting from a Manchester United striker, he's not particularly good at dribbling and his passes are mostly heading backwards or sideways, rarely creating oportunities for other players. Yet I've not forgotten when he came to the rescue and secured points at Anfield and Stamford Bridge, with those gamechanging abilities, he'll hopefully still make a handy impact player from the bench. His main challenges is to remain clinical and work on his creativity and technical skills, to add x-factor to his game.
15. Nemanja Vidic
With the entire season ruined by injuries, the skipper barely contributed in his ten games, whose one included a dismissal and one the horrific knee ligament injury. My biggest worry for the future is his pace, as he is ageing and slower centre backs forces the defensive line to remain deeper, which makes it harder to put opposition under presssure. Hopefully he'll get back into from and proves his position as one of the best defenders in the world.
16. Michael Carrick
In a midfield department dominated by unpredictableness, lack of top-notch performances and lack of stability, Michael Carrick has stood out as the best contributor throughout the season. The great football mind of Carrick, with maybe the greatest understanding of the game in the squad apart from Scholes, has rarely been seen playing badly, and in difference of other recent campaigns, he has added an offensive threat as well. Who can forget Giggs' solo goal against Arsenal in the disguise of Michael Carrick at Loftus Road?
17. Nani
There isn't one player in this United squad more frustrating than Nani when he's off, and (maybe apart from Berbatov) neither a more impressive and technically gifted when he's on. After an impressive 2010/11 campaign, I feel this one has been a short step back for Nani. There are three main reasons for this, I think. 1) Injuries have taken its toll, just as in any other department. 2) 1-6 for Man City meant a way more defensive approach after that game, which obviously made it harder for the attacking players to deliver the goods. 3) He's played on the left, as Valencia only can play on the right. Nani is well capable of doing great things on the left as well, but I think his best performances have come from the right-hand side. As long as Valencia is playing - and there's no reason why he shouldn't if playing like the second half of this season - Nani won't play on the right.
As the 25-year old obviously has improved his physical attributes over the couple of last seasons, his next main challenge is to remain constistent. Not just in terms of delivering assists and goals, but as well by making the right decisions throughout enitre games. Just slight adjustments on his tactical skills would improve his end-product dramatically.
18. Ashley Young
After a very promising start as a Man United player, he's performance level dropped heavily and he remained struggling from September to December, when he picked up an injury. The former Villa player didn't actually manage to retain form until the final couple of months of the season. What I find a bit annoying when watching him is the lack of creativity and confidence in his pace. When getting the ball on the left-hand side, he's always looking for an opportunity to cut inside and pull the trigger with his right foot in an attemt to curve the ball around the goalkeeper. Yes, he has scored some nice goals - like against Arsenal - but he needs to add unpredictableness to his game. Though I've seen him for England this summer, and both against Italy and Norway (friendly) he has tried a fake shot and go around the defender (which he did extremely successful against Norway, scoring a very decent goal after sailing past Fulham's centreback Brede Hangeland.) Ashley Young's main challenge for the upcoming season is to be a bit more offensive-minded, challenging hi fullback more and have confidence enough in his quick feet - as they're quick enough to run past most right backs in the Prem.
19. Danny Welbeck
There was an obvious question mark in front of Wayne Rooney before the season started, but Ferguson had most belief in local youth, leaving Hernández and Berbatov on the bench or in the stands. Many would've fancied Chicharito up-front at the start of the season, but as Welbeck has better first touch, close control, dribbling skills, link-up play as well as being able to aviod the flag, I feel Ferguson made a wise choice to focus on the Mancunian, despite the Mexican is considered as a better finisher. Welbeck's main challenge for 2012/13 is to decrease the number of shots needed to find the net. The brilliant backheel strike for England against Sweden was an obvious step in the right direction.
20. Fabio
10+3 appearances is the hard numbers for the former Fluminense defender, which is a surprisingly small amount of games as main competitor Evra has been quite poor throughout most of the season. After being substituted by Fryers against Crystal Palace in November, on his 50th appearance in the red shirt, he only played a single game throughout the rest of the season, as a sub for Evra against Wolverhampton three and a half month later. The more composed of the twins does clearly need to be played on a regular basis to take the next step of his career, and Fergie has hinted at a loan move. As long as he won't play at United no matter how Evra plays, and he not ends up like Macheda on a bench somewhere, that is a good thing. Hopefully he'll be loaned out to a club quite close to Manchester, to avoid splitting up the twins more than neccesary.
21. Rafael
Making his second appearance of the season against Crystal Palace on 30th November, and then he went exactly a month before he made his third - as a central midfielder! We all know how that ended, so let's hope Blackburn was the final team to ever face Rafael in the middle of the park. In other words lack of time on the pitch (mostly due to him being injured), ruined his first half of the season. From january onwards he appeared twelve times, and made the right back slot his own in the end of the season. However he's still struggling with the same issues as he's always has; lack of ability to remain composed and in the right position, and in the end it did cost us a massive lot, as he lost his marking against Everton, allowing them back into the game.
Rafael has played more or less regularly for United since 2008, and the excuse of being young does fade away with time. Four seasons and struggling to improve on his weaknesses make me think it's time to actually improve by learning how to defend - or move on.
22. Paul Scholes
A brilliant comeback by an excellent and naturally gifted player was a fact when the Ginger Prince returned against Manchester City in the FA Cup. An unlucky start where his misplaced pass was intercepted, leading to a City goal was followed up by an extremely pleasant second half of the season, where he bossed midfields to pieces like no other United player is capable of. However, I would've fancied to call it a day in May 2012, as his lack of tempo isn't fitting into the way United should play against better sides. He's not longer what he used to be, and he's too slow and struggling when facing opponents who put him under pressure and he has to move his feet quickly. Scholes does work out against weaker sides parking the bus at Old Trafford, where he can be a maestro and deliver inch-perfect crosses out wide, but against better sides, we need something more modern and more able to contribute defensively. As well half a season is something completely different than an entire seasonal marathon, and the more fatigued version of Scholes is playing far off the level of a fully fit one. I mention the difference between his 2012 campaing and 2010/11 after August. He should've retired once and for all now, as we remember him for what he is - a genius - but now both him and Giggsy are running the risk of playing on for too long, just like Gary Neville. As well they're too slow to play a modern kind of football with a high defensive line, quick feet and movement able to keep up with the best sides in the Prem and the world.
23. Tom Cleverley
The former Leicester-, Watford- and Wigan loanee started off the season by impressing everybody, as a hard-working central midfielder with an excellent ability to manage quick one-touch play. Then he left the pitch against Bolton, and hasn't actually been his true(?) self ever since.
The most important part for him is to getting into the form he was, and the most important part for us fans are to accept that he'll make mistakes every now and then. The Basingstoke-born 22-year-old is still unexperienced at Premier League level, and there is no reason to consider him an established player on the top level, capable of performing on a weekly basis.
24. Darren Fletcher
Another player whose season is ruined by lack of fitness, and in Darren's case, the virus might be a serious threat of his entire career. As far as I know, the virus is a challenge to deal with even in normal life off the pitch, so as a natural pessimist, I fear the 2-2 draw against Benfica, where he scored, was the final time we saw Fletcher for United, sadly. Nevertheless his brilliant strike against Manchester City was the goal of the season for me.
25. Antonio Valencia
What a comeback by Tony V! Opened the season with lack of time on the pitch, and when he played, he lacked confidence and ability. God knows what happened since, as he turned out on a level we've never seen him on before, using his strength, acceleration and crossing for all it's worth, making left backs cry themselves to sleep on a saturday night. If he had played like that for the entire season, he'd been the player of the season by a mile. His challenge is - as always - to improve his left foot and become more unpredictable, adding some x-factor to his game.
27. Federico Macheda
This was another season in the dustbin for Kiko. He got some games and scored a goal before Christmas, but remained unable to put his mark on games, just like he's used to do. The former Lazio youngster has barely played a single good game from start to end in the United shirt. His goal against Crystal Palace was the first (out of five) he has ever scored when not coming on as a sub for United, leaving me unsure of whether he possesses MUFC quality. His loan spell at QPR was a failure and was topped off with an injury at the end of the season. Obviously the lad has had his unluck so far in his career after the flying start, but he needs to play regularly in the next season to reignite his career - at Old Trafford or elsewhere.
33. Bébé
The aren't many transfers stranger than when Ferguson signed Ralphie Milne, but the Tiago Manuel Dias Correia is for sure. I'm still scratching my head wondering how Jorge Mendes nailed the £7,4M deal upon the wall and what on Earth Fergie was thinking. However it's important to mind Bébé is to blame for nothing, as he's doing his best. As well as Macheda, he suffered an unlucky loan spell. Let's hope he's played on a regular basis throughout a 2012/13 loan spell, preferably in England.
34. Anders Lindegaard
Before Christmas he was played every once in a while, and then he got some couple of games in a row. That was maybe his chance to become Manchester United's regular between the sticks, and the chance was ruined by an unfortunate ankle injury, leaving Ferguson with no choice but to play David De Gea, which he did brilliantly. Nonetheless Lindegaard seems quite confident and extremely determined to fight for every opportunity to get back into the goal, but with De Gea's performances in mind, that will be a very hard challenge for him to overcome. The Dane is obviously a good allround goalkeeper with mental strength, despite a little lack of expertise comparable to the Spaniard's reflexes. Only time will show how long he'll accept the bench on a weekly basis, as he's good enough to play for a mid-table side in the Premier League. The best second-choice goalkeeper in the league.
Goodbye Anderson, hello Gaston Ramirez. Disagree about Scholes and Giggsy. They are still useful I remember vs Arsenal Nani had a bad daythen Giggs went left: Assist to Valencia. Great crosser
ReplyDelete