Fergie set to target key areas

April 11, 2005

SIR Alex Ferguson's summer plans to restore Manchester United's Premiership and European challenge is on ice while he deals with salvaging this campaign at Cardiff on Sunday.

But the groundwork is well in place and the Reds' boss's worldwide scouting connections, headed by his brother Martin, are already piling up a mountain of air miles and paperwork on possible recruits.

Fergie it seems, unless chief executive David Gill and Co can conjure up a substantial kitty, will have to wheel and deal in order to assemble the necessary cash for serious activity after May.

Worryingly, however, the candidates for shipping out are unlikely to generate the kind of lolly Fergie will need to encourage the success graph back on an upward curve.

If the board can chip in with a war chest of substance then United will be looking at new goalkeepers with Roy Carroll and Ricardo exiting when their contracts end in June - a midfielder of significant inspiration, and possibly a left winger if Ryan Giggs gets the hump and a contract extension of more than a year isn't forthcoming.

Tottenham's Paul Robinson, who moved from cash-strapped Leeds to White Hart Lane last May, has climbed the list of goalkeepers linked with the Reds but Barcelona are said to be keen on a '7m move for him.

Meanwhile, Lyon's Michael Essien is still considered the favourite addition to bolster United's engine room.

His team-mate Florent Malouda, who plays on the left flank, is also coming under consideration to be a challenger and potential future replacement for Giggs. Racing Santander's Uruguayan left flanker Mario Regueiro is in the same category.

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red cabbagehead, salford (11/04/2005 at 10:22)

Fergie and his bro can target as many areas as they want! It won't matter because its clear the PLC are more intent on spending money on the expansion of the ground so they can get more "customers" thru the gates while alienating the Die-hard support with Price hykes and "taxes"and more importantly doing nothing to encourage youngsters!

Lot, SGP (11/04/2005 at 10:26)

ehh... we don't actually have a titanic war chest.

and given the recruits we had, it's high time, we change the scouts...

Django, Hampshire (11/04/2005 at 10:29)

I hope Fergie isn't relying on the same scouting network that brought us the delights of Forlan, Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Miller, Ricardo and Darren Anderton ( sorry, Louis Saha ) etc.

Brother Martin and others seem to be part of the problem rather than any likely solution.

olabisi, malta (11/04/2005 at 10:37)

Manchester needs a lot of people in the middle field and in the attack we can have scout on an agentina player tevez is young and good i think myself scout being a man u fan will be given a consideration thanks

khaled mahmood, bangladesh (11/04/2005 at 10:47)

War chest? He needs a Court Marshall Comittee to get rid of Kleberson, Phil Neville, Miller, Richardson, Bellion, O'shea etc. Just what does Fergie see in Phil Neville? He is the most ordinary, talentless, negative footballer ever. He didn't even tackle on Saturday, and evrytime he tried to pass forward, he was pathetic, as always. He could just about justify him as left back cover, but Fergie has promoted him to midfield (a position where you have to have SOME footballing ability). If Fergie thinks he's good enough for us, then for the first time EVER, I think his 18 glorious years should come to an end. I can't believe anyone else would play Phil Neville. The trouble is we can't even offload him because he's on B#42,000 a week (obscene), AND NO OTHER CLUB WOULD PAY HIM HALF THAT.

Paul, Birmingham (11/04/2005 at 11:01)

As a United shareholder the words "Martin Ferguson, United's chief scout, has been watching...." petrify me. If Robinson is good enough now, why didn't we sign him two years ago when he cost about B#2m? It's time for both Ferguson's to be shown the door

fred the red, Manchester (11/04/2005 at 11:12)

How much will season tickets have to go up for 2006/2007? I am delighted(yeah right!) that the chuckle brothers (Alex and Martin Ferguson) are scouting for new player's. For god's sake Gill show some bottle! Let's have the clear out we need!

Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (11/04/2005 at 11:28)

Hitherto I have always backed Fergie. However saturday's idiotic teamsheet makes me wonder if he has lost his previous drive and determination to keep United at the top. I seriously question his judgement in making his brother chief scout, and one of his sons, an allegedly favoured agent. In recent years signings have been dire. Players who may have been outstanding in their own leagues have simply not had the character or the special extra to succeed at OT. I include Forlan, Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Ricardo, Taibi, possibly Howard, and so on. If Fergie does intend to stay and make United unquestionably Number 1 again, he has to get the best staff and connections for the job, not indulge in what smacks of nepotism. The board must stand up and tell him this. And till him to stop all these stupid npn-speaking arguments with the likes of the BBC who must be allowed fair comment on the likes of his professional relationship with his agent son

Manc Abroad, OT (11/04/2005 at 11:30)

OK, we have a mass clearout. How much would we get. Nothing serious that we could go into the market and buy quaillty. I think Kleberson should be given more time to prove himself. Some of the rest should take photo's of themselves and keep them as the highlight of their career. playing at OT. Don't be deluded into thinking that the season ticket price increases will be going to SAF for new signings. No the increases will be going to the shareholders, since profits are tumbling.

Louis, Malta (11/04/2005 at 11:40)

With Brother Martin doing the scouting we're in for more of the same come next summer. Why does the richest club in the world have to rely on the services of a person who recommended so many misfits and mediocre players in the past? Let's have some fresh blood, Mr Gill.

red john, urmston (11/04/2005 at 11:47)

i expect united to beat a poor newcastle team and go on to scrape a win against blackburn in the final! however this should not be enough to save the manager,who sadly is showing signs reminiscent of matt busby at the end. the parallels are frightning keane/charlton,best/giggs,crerand/scholes! the board must act now and even if it means stalling on stadium development give the new manager funds to start rebuilding. a new keeper 2/3 midfielders and removal of the makeweights in the squad; bellion miller kleberson saha neville p howard carroll ricardo. greatest of all keane who when tested against the best chelsea in the premiership and milan in europe was sadly found wanting! as to replacements, i would like to see mark hughes back where he belongs;there would never be a team he managed as uncommited as this present one!

ted knott, droylsden (11/04/2005 at 12:58)

I dont think they'll be a problem on Sunday for United against Newcastle because man for man Fergies men are far superior and I can forsee a 3-0 victory after all Newcastle are very average,it looks like a Utd - Blackburn final and thats good for Lancashire.

de Meester, Amsterdamned (11/04/2005 at 15:00)

SAF should hold a meeting with all the players and ask who wants to be a Red, who wants to go further and who has the heart because a clean up is what's needed by all evidence.
Do they really believe that they only have to turn-up to win the cup?!.
That is the impression that is being given.
That they do not get to the final is unthinkable, that we do end the season with empty hands is though, very possible!
Come On You Reds

Trond Nilsen, Amsterdam (11/04/2005 at 15:02)

Gattuso from AC Milan apparently wants a new challenge and is keen to join United. Nobody replaces Keano but he would certainly do in midfield, as I think he proved against us!

de Meester, Amsterdamned (11/04/2005 at 15:10)

ted knnott, are you missing something
United are very ordinairy at the moment and seriously need to start earning the support that they afford.
If we don't start - again - playing with passion then we shall habve empty hands this season.
Oh that means another half-dozeen games, i don't think it's possible!
As for the great martin, does he know that football is played with a round ball!?
Come On You Reds

Khey, London (11/04/2005 at 15:17)

If only Fergie would come out and say, 'Replacing a legend is difficult enough, replacing TWO is impossible. Therefore I'm going to have to sign another potentially good goalkeeper and have him and Howard fight it out. Competition is healthy for the team. I am also signing Mr X here NOT as a straight replacement for Roy Keane but to build our midfield for the future.' By doing that, he immediately removes all media pressure on new players as the 'New Schmeichel or Keane.' Is it that complicated or am I being too simplistic? All new keepers since Schmeichel has had this pressure, and D-D and Miller as well. We need one winger (Rossi should be promoted), one midfielder (a free van Bommel) and one goalkeer, whoever that might be. Hopefully Solsjkaer would be back next season

Baker, Kampala (11/04/2005 at 15:35)

Why is it that players come to OT, put on an excellent one or two games and promptly become "injured" when they were virtually injury free before? I think the main consideration for new players should be fitness, proneness to injury (seems we were mighty lucky with Ruud until now) and ability to integrate. Players now knocking teams that rejected them out of Europe- out of play, out of fitness, injury. Buy Essien and the giant midfielder at Fulham or some other giant just to make our midfield look menacing (I think Barca suffers from this size thing too), keep Carrol and rotate him regulary with Tim. Retire with honours Keane, P. Sch, Giggs, (tears) and sell P.Nev, Oshe, Bellio, the lad from Celtic and then feed all the remaining lads a bit, they look rather frail when compared to the Chelsea/Arsenal/Tot/Erveton, etc. lads and don't request them to think too much, except the Goal Keepers.

Steefon Johnasen, Orlando, FL (11/04/2005 at 16:10)

Scott Parker, Emre, Graveson. ANy opinions?

Ronaldo, Manchester (11/04/2005 at 17:12)

i think essien and Robinson would be excellant signings. the obvious problem is getting the money, well rumour has it that the board are going to give him a massive transfer kitty, considering they have to compete with chelsea and all their money. the board are willing to give him the money, also to stop them getting way ahead. with this. we get essien+robinson+maloda+creative midfielder. i think with these players we would do a lot better.

Kings, Bristol (11/04/2005 at 17:57)

i think SAF should give 1more season for Tim Howard to prove himself, get Steele back from Coventry as his substitue. Theres no problem with the backline so it could stay the same next year. In the midfield we have to get rid of P Neville and Kleberson(a must!) as they are too crap to be United player. Get van Bommel for free from PSV to fill Keane's place. Giggsy is still a top-class winger so i don't think buying Maloda is a good idea. In the striker force we should sell Alan Smith and he might be worth up to 6M. If we have sold Smith, P Neville and Kleberson we could probably get 10M to buy a creative midfield (Emre or Rosicky)

Mike, Jerusalem, Israel (11/04/2005 at 18:01)

So the same heroic "Reds' boss's worldwide scouting connections, headed by his brother Martin, ---- piling up a mountain of air miles and paperwork on possible recruits," that brought you Veron, Djemba, Forlan, Kleberson, Bellion, Miller and Saha, are now scouting the globe for the next generation of Verons, Djembas, Forlans, Klebersons, Bellions, Millers and Sahas.

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (11/04/2005 at 18:17)

SAF must tell the board that he has made too many mistakes since he won the treble and offer his resignation. The scouting network in place at OT has also been a failure and must be replaced immediatley. The board must then bring in Martin O'Neill who is the right man for the job. He will then have the first major task of weeding out every single current player who isn't good enough to wear the famous red shirt. Players like P.Neville, O'Shea, Fortune, Bellion, Miller, Fletcher, Solsjkaer (too many injuries, sadly), Carroll, Ricardo, Richardson, and (unless he can show us he is good enough) Kleberson. These players are the reason we have struggled badly in the premiership and europe for the last 3 seasons. He then must tell the likes of Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Silvestre and G.Neville that they will become our squad players from now on, that their place in the 1st team will no longer be automatic and that replacements for everyone of them will be brought to the club this summer. Players like Casillas, Van buyten, Ballack, Essien or Gattuso, Joaquin and Figo should all be added to the squad. Imagine starting next season with the following 1st team, Casillas-Heinze-Ferdinand-VanBuyten-G.Neville-Ronaldo-Essien/Gattuso-Ballack-Joaquin-VanNistelrooy-Rooney and having a back up squad of, Howard-Pique-Silvestre-Brown-Spector-Giggs-Keane-Scholes-Figo-Saha-Smith. God the mind boggles at just how strong and how many options O'Neill would have just from that squad of 22, never mind the other youngsters like Rossi, Eagles etc to fall back on too. Maybe this all sounds too extreme but to me it's been long overdue and the Norwich game was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. The sooner we let go of the past, the sooner we can build a bright future again. Live the Dream.....

Super Red, Malta (11/04/2005 at 19:01)

OUT:-
Neville G
Neville P
Bellion
Fortune
Saha
Silvestre
Brown

IN:-
Duff
Gattuso
Toldo

Probation:-
Ferdinand
Miller

The other big names can be made to perform with the right tactics.

Fredrik Lake, Boston, MA (11/04/2005 at 19:02)

The number one key area is the managerial position followed by the scouting network. If nothing is done about this then it doesn't matter if the board gives Fergie 40m or not.

chris v, old t (11/04/2005 at 19:30)

yea steefon mr. usa i have an opinion... they are all $h!+.

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