As the season draws to its close and the transfer window beckons once more, the rumours will begin to circulate about who Louis van Gaal will add to his squad. Of course this will be dependent on where Manchester United finish in the table but at present the prospect of a top four finish, and a return to European football, looks more than likely. If they reach the promised land of the Champions League, van Gaal will surely look to a tilt at the Premier League title in 2015/16. This could mean heavier spending and a further streamlining of the current squad.
Many players have been already linked with a move to Old Trafford and in the coming weeks we will undoubtedly hear of plenty more. The same questions will be asked. Which position do we need strengthening? Do we go for proven talent or a prodigious young gem? The beauty of the transfer market is the intensive debate it sparks amongst the fans. Once the season is completed the debate will intensify.
Van Gaal and his team will have their shortlist of potential signings, and departures, ready for the summer window. Ed Woodward is probably already putting deals into place as we speak. It will be an exciting time as always for United fans. We’ll all be checking the internet on an hourly basis for news and progress on transfers in and out of the club.
There are two players whose Manchester United career is in limbo. Yet both could make a substantial impact at the club next season. Javier Hernandez and Nani have spent this season away from Old Trafford on loan. Their fortunes have been mixed but both have previously played a huge role in past successes.
Nani has had a very impressive loan spell at his former club Sporting Lisbon. Scoring 11 goals in 30 appearances, has certainly shown that the Portuguese winger is slowly recapturing the form which saw him being named ‘Player of the Year’ by his teammates in the 2010/11 campaign. He burst onto the Manchester United scene shortly after signing in 2007, memorably scoring a dramatic winner against Spurs in front of the Stretford End. His trickery, pace and wonderful control whilst moving at speed meant that he had all the hallmarks of a great winger. The problems that would ultimately see his United career stutter were with consistency. Nani struggled to assert himself in the 2008/09 season, and despite a couple of spectacular goals, he found game time hard to come by. The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 saw, initially anyway, Nani become stuck in the shadow of his compatriot.
A turning point in his United career occurred at the Emirates Stadium in January 2010. He produced a performance that showed what a truly fantastic player he could be. The first goal he scored was one of immense skill and fearlessness. It was goal you’d try on the training pitch but wouldn’t dare attempt in front of 60,000 supporters. Nani’s match winning ability was also displayed in the second goal in the 3-1 victory, running half the pitch with the ball and laying on a goal for Wayne Rooney with a delightfully incisive through ball (he repeated the feat with an incredible pass against AC Milan later in the month). After that game, his performances gradually improved, until he became a vital cog in the United machine and one of the first names of the team sheet.
It was in the 2010/11 season that Nani really came of age in the red of Manchester United. He had grown from a young boy with special gifts to a young man who knew how to use them. He added goals to his numerous assists. Thoroughly deserving of the recognition he received, he initially brought his fine form into the following season. If inconsistency had been a previous problem for him, then injuries were to be a thorn in his side especially in 2012/13. It looked as though he would leave that summer but he signed a new deal under the management of David Moyes. His impact in under Ferguson’s successor was also halted by injury and the constant squad rotation. Nani is a player that needs confidence and game time, more so than most. He never really got this under Moyes but in fairness his performances didn’t necessarily warrant more.
Nani’s last game for United was in the opening day defeat to Swansea City. A loan move to his first club, back home, has proven to be exactly what he needed. He’s gotten game time and grown massively in confidence. He’s scored some magnificent goals and contributed enough that van Gaal must be considering recalling him to the squad next season. He still has three years to run on his current contract and has plenty left to offer his parent club. With the current formation and style of play back to the pacy and counter-attacking football that Nani is suited to, we may well see him in a United shirt again next season.
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez was another former star who found himself unwanted by the new manager in the summer. The Mexican secured a rather glamorous move to Real Madrid, on a season long loan. Unlike Nani, he hasn’t had much joy in Spain. He’s failed to force his way into the first team ahead of Karim Benzema and hasn’t even seen much game time from the bench.
It’s a shame to see such a charismatic player blatantly unhappy with his lot and his career stuck in an awkward limbo. During his four full seasons at Old Trafford there were few players as loved as Chicharito. He played with a smile on his face and enjoyed being here, pulling on the red shirt and scoring for the fans. And he scored goals for fun. His goal scoring impact from the bench led to inevitable comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In his debut season he became the first player to score 20 league goals in their first year since another striking legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who achieved the feat back in 2001/02. It was that 20th strike which was arguably the defining moment of his impact at United. His cool finish past Petr Cech set United on their way to a 2-1 win over Chelsea and subsequently a record 19th league title. If Sir Alex’s team needed a goal, they called upon Chicharito. At £7 million his transfer was looking like an absolute steal.
The following two seasons, Chicharito continued his impressive goal-getting record, netting 12 and 18 goals in 2011/12 and 2012/13 respectively. Again his influence and ability to score vital goals was evident particularly when United won a 20th league title. He scored a hat-trick at Villa Park which saw his team claw back a 2-0 deficit in typical fashion. He also finished the scoring for the season with the final goal of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, in the incredible 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Under David Moyes, Hernandez would find himself in and out of team with the latter being the most common. It was pretty clear toward the end of Moyes’ short reign that he wasn’t trusted or particularly wanted by Sir Alex’s replacement.
Louis van Gaal, like Moyes, has obviously not taken to the Mexican. Although he isn’t the most technically gifted player or doesn’t retain possession as much as would suit the van Gaal philosophy, you cannot argue with the fact that Hernandez scores goals. His movement, speed and finishing ability is second to none. Even in his last season at United, when he was mainly used as a substitute, he still managed to score 9 goals in 35 appearances.
Similarly to Nani, the team’s style of play would undoubtedly suit a player with such outstanding movement and pace. Real Madrid have the option to make the loan move permanent at the end of the current season. This, however, looks unlikely to happen with a transfer not really suiting either the club or the player. Does this leave the door open for a potential return to United? It depends on the futures of fellow strikers Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao and also on possible new recruits. But Javier has experience and a proven track record in the Premier League. We might yet see the ‘Little Pea’ celebrating in a United shirt once more.
Comments.
Loading comments…