Should Manchester United purchase Fabregas or Gundogan? This is a guest article from Mike Geddes.
Since Keane left in 2005 the United midfield has been missing an enforcer.
The emergence of Ronaldo and the acquisition of Tevez for a time glossed over the issue as their brilliance and ability in collaboration with Rooney meant that United could turn defence into attack with speed and penetration. Losing Ronaldo and Tevez turned United into a workmanlike team grinding out results rather than destroying teams as they once did.
Ask any Manchester United fan and they’ll tell you that for the last 7 or 8 seasons the team has been missing a midfield “general”, a combative, creative footballer that can pick the team up by the scruff of the neck and drag it kicking and screaming to victory.
Scoring goals has never been a major problem for United, seldom do you see Man U failing to put the ball in the back of the net, what they have struggled with over recent years is conceding goals early on and having to come back from a deficit. Most fans can see what is missing; control, a player in the mould of Robson, Ince or Keane; players that break up play in midfield, help out at the back and get forward to support the attack.
So is Fabregas the answer?
No doubting his quality, but the answer to United’s midfield needs or just a marquee signing to announce Moyes’ arrival and to pacify fans?
Fabregas offers creativity, he has vision, he can unlock a defence and he scores, but those qualities could be used to describe Rooney or Kagawa. I’m sure all Manchester United fans would love to have Fabregas, but will he address the team’s midfield issues?
The latest name being mentioned in conjunction with the club is Ilkay Gundogan of Borussia Dortmund, here for me is the type of player United are desperately in need of, Gundogan is a controlling midfielder that sits in front of the defence and breaks up play, the perfect foil for Kagawa to work alongside.
No doubt Klopp will do everything to stop Manchester United securing the services of Gundogan, but that seems the norm at the moment as no club seems to want to do business with the new management.
There is a growing sense of concern within the ranks of the faithful, the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson (and Gill) was always going to cause anxiety. The failure to appoint a proven manager with Domestic and European pedigree increased that. The new management team’s failure, so far, to secure any of their top targets coupled with a number of the existing big names indicating a wish to seek pastures new could turn concern into panic.
We all know money talks and now is the time for the club to start talking and securing the players needed to move Manchester United forward.