Patrick Madden
WITH the English football season now well and truly put to bed, the inevitable hive of activity in the transfer market is in full swing. Website blogs and rumour mills are innudated with playground-like gossip of the latest in and out goings.
The biggest spenders so far are the champions, Manchester United. With £50 million spent on Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, and the impish Nani, it seems Fergie is preparing for life after the class of ‘92, and is ready to build another great team.
Scholes, Giggs and Neville are products of United’s youth system; Neville and Scholes members of the class of ‘92, Giggs a few years their senior. They’ve been pivotal in United’s success throughout the last decade, and have been the mainstays of the team throughout this period. They’ve played amongst different company as well.
Rebuilding a team, or rather shaping a new one, is something Manchester United are used to. It happened when Neville and co first arrived on the scene, it happened pre treble, and throughout the 00’s, where familiar players, namely Roy Keane, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Andy Cole and Phil Neville all left.
Since the turn of the Millenium, United have won two league titles, yet it’s been somewhat a misty time for the team. Numerous poor signings, namely Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson and Diego Forlan, and the lack of sillverware, led to unjustified calls for Sir Alex to leave, as the Chelsea money machine kicked into gear and won consecutive titles.
Most of these calls came from the prawn sandwich-eaters and the fairweather fans who, A) didn’t really have a clue and had no idea what a bad time constituted, B) failed to see that what was happening was part of a natural cycle in the world of football, due to a lack of patience and, C) failed to recognise things weren’t actually that bad.
The 2007 season however was vintage United and Ferguson. United regained hold of their trophy, in emphatic style, not once relinquishing their lead after Christmas. Despite now being the veteran members of the team and well into their 30’s, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville (when fit) were imperious, rejuvenated and energised, and along with the ‘new guard’ of Ronaldo, Rooney and Vidic, United looked as good as ever.
The new signings, Anderson and Nani, seem to be replacements for Scholes and Giggs: Anderson a powerful playmaker, Nani lightfooted and nimble. Johnny Evans, the Northern Irelander, has done his time in Antwerp and was pivotal in taking Sunderland to the top tier. He looks the man to fill Gary Neville’s boots. The next few years will very much be part of a learning curve for these players, but they have the best in the business to learn from.
In the modern, TV driven, money-crazy game, the one club man is very much a rareity. Giggs, Scholes and Neville are some of the last of this dying breed. They have been supreme, excelling in Europe and domestically, and are some of the greatest ever to grace the Premiership.
They can’t play forever though, despite at times it’s felt like they could do. The team sheet will look a forlorn sight without the familiar names, but they’re not gone yet. Here’s to a few more years. A few more years of top class football. Here’s to a healthy retirement in the knowledge their dynasty will be in safe hands. It just goes to show, the best things in life are free.
Patrick Madden is 15 years old, and lives in Cheshire England. He was with The Mayo News on work experience.
