IT would be churlish to read too much into one defeat.
Manchester United were playing away from home against a team second in the table, a team assembled on the back of limitless funds, a team with only one player out through injury and a team who’d kept six successive clean sheets.
There is no disgrace in losing to that team 1-0, afterall it could well be United’s toughest match of the season.
Options
But as always a United defeat is seen as a crisis and when that defeat comes against title rivals it is portrayed as the changing of the guard. Reverses to Fulham and Southampton were simply put down as bad days at the office and it would seem fair to put yesterday’s match in the same category.
But while a solitary defeat signifies little more than three points lost, there was one message that came across loud and clear at Stamford Bridge. Against a well-organised defence protecting a lead, United look short of options.
True, Chelsea could defend a lead against almost any side, but United have never been just any side. Under Sir Alex Ferguson they have at times been thrilling, scoring three times in Turin, twice in a minute at the Nou Camp, five in a half at Spurs and eight against Nottingham Forest.
At Stamford Bridge they would have settled for one after Frank Lampard’s first half penalty, but they never even looked like getting that. One chance in an hour – it was not the United of old.
The Reds clearly lacked a link between midfield and attack, a creator-in-chief to unlock Chelsea.
Such players are a rarity. United let one go when Teddy Sheringham returned to Spurs, while they are perhaps still suffering from a failure to sign Paolo Di Canio and of course no-one came close to Eric Cantona in the withdrawn role.
Open to offers
In Paul Scholes United have one player capable of fulfilling the role, but he’s far happier arriving from a deeper midfield role and is far too good a square peg to play as a round hole.
And while Sir Alex Ferguson juggles his pack to try and eek out a bit of extra unpredictability from his forwards the man who could solve all their problems is kicking his heels in Milan.
Rivaldo has just been released from his contract with the Champions League winners and would relish a move to the Premiership – afterall he was linked with Newcastle so he’d hardly be likely to turn down Manchester United.
Vastly experienced, Rivaldo has been a name to whisper around the halls of Old Trafford ever since he scored a sublime hat-trick against the Reds in the Champions League.
At 31, he should still be in his prime and a move to United could be just what he needs to re-ignite his career. Although his wages would be huge, the lack of a transfer fee makes it almost a no-risk transfer. If he produces his old magic, United will almost certainly finish as Premiership champions and might regain the Champions League.
If he flatters to deceive there are still likely to be Premiership suitors willing to provide United with a handy profit.
Balance
Signing Rivaldo could also help restore United’s midfield balance. Efficient though he is, does anyone really believe that Phil Neville’s place is down to anything more than process of elimination.
With Paul Scholes injured and only new signings to call on, Neville has been the Jonny on the spot to benefit, but his inclusion has put too much pressure on Roy Keane to create.
With Scholes back, United could pair him with Roy Keane in the centre, put Ryan Giggs back to the left and Ole Solskjaer or one of the young wingers down the right.
Then, with Rivaldo playing just behind Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Reds will be THE team to fear once again.
Should United sign Rivaldo? Have your say.
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ye we should sign rivaldo cant we get him on a free or something? if we can why not he is a top class player he will play well with ruud and with scholes and solskjear coming back well nok chelsea of top! we really want scholes and solskjear back beacuse fortune and p.neville arnt good enough in midfield
I absolutley agree. Rivaldo has to be our key target in January. Every top player in Europe who is fit is now ineligible for the Champions League - except Rivaldo. His pedigree is unquestionable, his talent and skill would refresh the current United team as we clearly need a creative spark. He wont be cheap but if he starts to win us matches - which he more than capable of doing he will easily justify his wages and as he is a free transfer we really cant lose.
Rivaldo could play for at least 2 or 3 years and with kleberson already here would have someone to help him settle in.
Plus our younger players would no doubt learn plenty from the Brazilian maestro. He takes a pretty mean free kick aswell.
It would be criminal if he ended up at one of our big rivals this January when we could put his skills to very good use ourselves.
Rivaldo would be great behind Ruud. I think he would be the perfect link between midfield and the attach. That was sorely missed against Chelsea. Let's not forget, though, that he has played for Milan in the Champions League this year, so we couldn't use him there.
First time i've heard the idea of signing Rivaldo and its really good. Fergie shd sign him.
There is no question we should go for Rivaldo - it wasn't that long ago he was the best player in the world, and hopefully would provide some much needed imagination up front..
Of course they should, but they should also be looking at getting another striker. Anelka, Viduka or Smith any of them, the fact is that there all twice as good as Forlan and would help us put up a good defence for our championship. How comes this happens every year, we never seem to buy correctly during the summer.
No he shouldn't sign Rivaldo. He's not physical enough to deal with the premiereship. He's great when he's got a bit of space and a nice slow game - like Veron - but with premiereship defenders snapping at his ankles, I'm not sure he would be that good. He's also got an attitude problem, bit of a primadonna, and doesn't have that Man U never die spirit. Sign Pablo Aimar and Jemaine Defoe
Ah, the line-up he suggested seemed perfect, but we all know that won't happen. If SAF signs Rivaldo I'll eat my shorts (I'll be happy though).
It is without doubt that united need a foil for RVN and Rivaldo could do that but it will not happen, Fergie is determined to build a team that can play together for at least the next five years and in the long run i think he sees Van Der Vaart as the foil for RVN although it will not happen untill summer so i would expect the january signing to be more like a Defoe than a Rivaldo. Scholes can play there and Kleberson actually put in a good performance in the hole against Blackburn. no doubt we need to get rid of the two holding midfielders and bring in a pro-active player next to keane and think that will be Kleberson with Scholes in the hole untill next year at least.
Forget Rivaldo. Hes a big time charlie and would want more than he's worth in wages. He's not been at his best for ages.
We missed out by not signing Duff during the summer. I could not understand why Fergie showed no interest at all, especially as United would have been his first choice.
Is it not the case that when a player is not attached to a club he can be brought in outside of the transfer window? If Rivaldo has been released from his contract, wouldn't we not have to wait until January to sign him? I'm sure I heard that ruling somewhere. I have to say, as soon as I heard he had been released I thought we had to sign him. He is a quality player and I don't believe a player can ever truly be classed the best player in the world unless they prove they can adapt to different conditions (Serie A, Premiership, La Liga).....Now could be Rivaldo's chance to prove he really is one of the best on this earth?...
Yes, we need a stronger squad, we have young players for the future like klebby and fletcher and ronnaldo
rivaldo will do well with ruud
rivaldo is one of the most over-rated players in history. Tell me what he has achieved at club level. Not a great deal. There's a reason managers fall out with him. Remember his disgusting antics in the World Cup - going down holding his face after being hit in the leg by a ball, after a five second delay, and getting someone sent off. I do not want him EVER playing for United. I'd honestly rather come third in the league and retain some integrity. And while we're on it, why do people think we have a divine right to win EVERY year? Can you short-sighted people not see that coming second or third every so often, and allowing a young team to develop, is not a bad thing?
It's no doubt that we need a Cantona-type of player. Eric the King's spirit is still amongst those players who played with him during his spell at Old Trafford - a period that made Old Trafford to the Theatre of Dreams.
Now we need a new Creator of Dreams. I shall not deny that the name of Rivaldo has crossed my mind, thinking about what player(s) could and maybe should be brought in midseason. Rivaldo is one of those who might be capable of making an imidiate impact, and he could also be an inspiering figure for the younger players in the club. But Rivaldo is no certain key to succsess. He hasn't been able to reignite his career, despite changing club lately. If Rivaldo would accept a short-term contract - out this season with intention to sign a new contract if he becomes a succsess - and he doesn't blow the wage-structure apart, then we should have a go at Rivaldo.
For the more permanent solution, I think that we should try to get our hands on players like Ballack, del Piero, Raul, Zidane, Viera or van der Vart.
TO Gaz... DO you really believe Kleb will be good enough to unlock a italian defence in europe (i think not) so Kleb in the hole or Rivaldo, i ask you this there both Brazilian but one is by far the better player. I agree with the comment below Van der Vaart is fergie's long term target but we all know what happens United hang around and some one else will step in and bye him. We shou;d sign him now and leave him in Ajax keeps all parties happy till the summer. Rivaldo on a free yes plz sell for a mill or 2 in the summer when Van der Vaart arrives.
TO Gaz... DO you really believe Kleb will be good enough to unlock a italian defence in europe (i think not) so Kleb in the hole or Rivaldo, i ask you this there both Brazilian but one is by far the better player. I agree with the comment below Van der Vaart is fergie's long term target but we all know what happens United hang around and some one else will step in and bye him. We shou;d sign him now and leave him in Ajax keeps all parties happy till the summer. Rivaldo on a free yes plz sell for a mill or 2 in the summer when Van der Vaart arrives.
I know I am only a bird, but ....I can not believe some of the garbage on this comment board. Have half of you actually seen Rivaldo play recently? Erm, no. He will have to drop his wages anyway to play anywhere. Maybe to as (little) as 50k per week. He is a cheat - the face thing mentioned below. Why has he been sat on the bench for the last year? Honing his skills?
SAF surely will not go for him. Rivaldo has left because he needs to be playing club football to get into the Brazil national team for his final World Cup. He will want a guarantee of playing every game and having the squad virtually rotate around him. Never gonna happen at United - or the premiership. Yeah he was the man in his day and is quality - but could he adapt to the pace here? Think of Seba.
And, please get over yourself. Its not a matter of SAF couldn't be bothered buying - if he can't get the player, he can't get the player. Kewell was cheap and is a good player - he wanted to play for the club he has supported since childhood. Good for him (he went up a little in my estimations for Australians until he mentioned the swing of power moving from OT to Anfield again). Van De Vaart has already expressed an interest in Barcelona (I think). I would love Shevchenko but if we can't get him, we can't get him. The United players do rate Louis Saha. There are a lot of things for players to consider when coming to United
1 - The weather in Manchester
2 - It's not the capital (flights etc)
3 - Some players couldn't cope with SAF
4 - Do they want a guaranteed start?
5 - Are they good enough?
6 - Do they have the right attitude?
And many more reasons.
But to finish with Rivaldo, NO for me thanks.
I agree with an earlier comment. We do not have a devine right to win every year. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Why not give Rivaldo a try. I remember when utd signed some bloke called Cantona....most Utd fans were dead against that. He is surely worth a try. He is better than Forlan, and he could well be what we are lacking. Van Der Vaart would be a fantastic signing, as would Shevchenko, Ronaldo, Raul, Vieri, Aimar etc....but it aint never going to happen. So for what its worth, which aint much!, lets see what happens.
To Keiran. I actually said that we would play Scholes in the hole and Kleberson in centre midfield but the point i was actualy making was that fergie would not buy a short term solution like Rivaldo, I am expecting him to buy a young striker like Defoe who will not play every week so be prepared to see scholes back in the hole untill next year. Totally agree we should wrap up Van Der Vaart a.s.a.p and maybe we could get them to take Forlan as part of the deal. (although only if they havn't seen him play much.)
In my opinion Manchester would do great buying Rivaldo. A player with such quality is what they really need. He's the kind of player that can change a game on their own (eg Zidane, Henry, Ronaldinho). Lets not forget what he did to Manu home and away when he played them in the 99 champs league. He is still capable of creating magic, it's just that the shitty ancceloti never gave him a chance. I'm watching him play for Brazil in the world cup qualifications , and he's doing great. With that left foot of his, Manutd will be able to score goals from outside the penalty box (not relying on scholes all the time). He is also quality when it comes to set pieces. What about Sneijder? the 18 yr old guy who plays for Ajax? is'nt he any good? And why not buy D'alessandro? Aimar? Tevez? Vaart? Ronaldinho (doubt it though)?.
IB4m reading this forum alot, but hardly make my comment. but now i feel the need to make some
points. Yes United need a new striker, but who should it be ?
From my point of view it should be one who could make an immidiate
impact. Not many topstrikers are available at this time of the year, but one who are impressing me and have done for some time now is Djibril Cisse from Auxerre. He could be the man. He is strong, has much pace, can dribble and are holding up the ball well. He is also good in the air. I think he could be serving United well for many years.
We don't want him. He is not a team player and hasn't impressed for years. His performance at the world cup is something we don't want at OT.
i WOULD BE SURPRISED TO SEE A TOP PREMIERSHIP CLUB PICK HIM UP.
As much as I dislike him, I would prefer Anelka and I see the pout has already started to show in bluesville.
RIVALDO?!? NAH! PAST IT. THAT BIRD MADE SOME GOOD POINTS THOUGH(JOANNE). PLAYERS WITH INTEGRITY ARE PART AND PARCEL OF MAN UTD.
We definately need one or two top class strikers to help RVN.But were not winning anything with a midfield of Giggs who plays ten minutes a month,Keane who's over the hill,Neville who is good but lacks any flair,Fortune is very average,Things have to change in January or forget it.