The announcement by veteran Manchester United striker Michael Owen that he’s seriously considering hanging up his boots at the end of this season adds another name to the likely exodus from Old Trafford. It will force manager Sir Alex Ferguson to give his squad an almighty shake up not seen for many years. Owen says if he does quit, he would love to do it by winning either the Champions or the Premier League “It would not only round off my career, but put it to bed.” he said.
Owen will join a long list of senior squad members which could very easily include the long expected retirement of veterans Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar. Then there’s number two keeper Tomasz Kuszczak who has already made it known that he will be very likely looking elsewhere in an attempt to get regular first team football
The long awaited return from injury of Owen Hargreaves has still not materialised leaving his future very much in doubt. That will make a total of seven departures but there may be even more. The United careers of Wes Brown, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Darron Gibson and Park Ji Sung appear to be on shaky ground to say the least which will leave a hell of a gap in the 25 player list that Ferguson has to furnish to the Premier League. The frequent injuries which has kept captain Rio Ferdinand off the park so many times raises yet another large question mark.
It’s not all doom and gloom however thanks to the long term planning which Sir Alex has become so renowned for. He has a bunch of talented youngsters waiting in the wings just itching to step up to the plate. Cory Evans, Tom Cleverley, Richard De Laet, Magnus Eikrem, Danny Welbeck and so many others are very likely to join youngsters like Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Federico Macheda, the Da Silva twins, Gabriel Obertan and Chicarito who have already been given considerable playing time in the senior side.
Ferguson will obviously be looking to supplement his playing staff with one or two major new signings but overall, next season promises to be a brand new look Manchester United which could become the final team built by Sir Alex before he himself brings down the curtain on his own, success drenched career.
Are you worried about the exodus or looking forward to so many new faces?
Don’t forget Ravel Morrison!
Bit extreme don’t you think?
Owen, Scholes,Giggs,Neville,Van der Sar,Hargreaves,Brown,Gibson,Anderson,Carrick,Park,Kuszczak and
possibly Rio??? No chance!!!
I agree there’ll be a shake-up but the above doesn’t make much sense!
Yes Simmo, that would be a worse case scenario but all with varying degrees of possibility. The veteran four’s retirement has been expected for a while, Owen has admitted the possibility and Kuszczac has already announced his intention to look elsewhere because he wants regular Premier League football. The continuous injuries to Hargreaves and Rio have been well documented, Brown is reported to have had an almighty bust up with Ferguson while the performances of Gibson, Anderson, Carrick and Park have not been exactly impressive. Finally, there’s a wealth of young talent waiting in the wings.
You can’t just put a whole lot of youngsters out there and expect them to win any trophies. All these young players will not be up to par for another two to three years. Few may not be of any quality to succeed at Man Utd. Macheda, Wellbeck, Obertan and Diouf are not good enough to succeed at United. Michael Owen will be gone by next summer, so he will possible need another striker also, maybe Andy Carroll or Benzema. For attacking midfielder/playmaker, I would go for Douglas Costa. To replace Hardgreaves, Defour, but there are others. The youngsters will feature here and there.
I thought I saw somewhere that Giggs and Scholes had been offered another 1 year contract??? other than that I think many of the older players in the squad will leave next summer.
The need for a drastic shake up has become paramount because we have not invested properly for the past 3 years.
Not necessary to offer Giggs and Scholes another i year contract.
The midfield is in the horrors already! Will need to bring in
top class midfielders to compete with the clubs that squads are
already improving. We are struggling to get a draw against the small
clubs now, how we going to beat any of the bigger clubs.
If SAF was smart, he would now start Bebe on the right wing in Valencia’s position. He has pace, desire and killer instinct. Play Nani up front
to partner Berbatov as Nani is hungry to score goals. When Rooney comes
back, you can put Nani back on the right wing and Bebe on the left wing.
The team needs some pace and fire up front. Hernandaz, although he is
scoring goals, will continue as my super sub and in some games he will start.
michael owen should get out from man utd asap! useless injuty prone player and idiot bastard traitor!
Can’t help but think that sai came here as a bitter Scouser fan.
i think so as well…but owen is good. he has the highest goal time ratio. he scores when given the chance.
If fergie listened to some of the advice on offer here United would be relegated! Draft Bebe into the first team?Get shot of Giggs & Scholes asap? Play Nani up top? Lol.
PS. Where can I buy these crazy pills?
“bitter scouser” bit overboard to be honest. Man Utd are on the slide its clear to see. The player upheaveal stated above combined with crippling debt (Rooney has done nothing to help demanding 200k+ pw). The situation up the road at LFC is one Man Utd would do well to take note of. They have finally come out of the bad times and now are one of the most financially sound teams in the league and will for sure invest in Jan.
I can see nothing but a downward spiral for Man Utd no cash and old players are being relied on to heavily. With the exception of Chicartio there isnt any stand out youngsters of premiership level.
Youve had your run now its time for a bad spell…………
With a name like Herbie Simms I think your always going to come out a bit fruity arent you?
Meltdown awaits…….ha,ha,ha!!!!!!!!!!
In Ibadan,western Nigeria,here.I’ve been following of my dear club.The bitter truth is that thos old leg should have been replaced long time ago.
United second undoing was the transfer mess ups,CARRICK,BERBAFLOP,OWEN,HARGREAVES are all transfer bullshits.
Thirdly,we have too many average players on over £100k+PW,the likes of Oshea,and the old players like scholes,Giggs and nevile.
Here is the solution,UNITED must let go the old star to have more cash.
The £50m given to Fergie must be used to sign DeGEA,Tom Huddlestone,Defour,Aale and Ibrahim Afeelay.They have talent and age is on their side.
Sell Berbatov,Carrick,Oshea,Anderson and giggs,gary and Scholes(before their contract expires incase they have suitors) to raise funds for transfer.
Finaly,should call the youngsters tell to knw they are to deliver FA CUP AND CARLING CUP to united.Make them premier league game subtitutes at 80 minutes to build their confidence.
About financial crisis,man united will have crisis and the owners will be rejected and a new rich multibillionaire wil buy man united.
I agree that Anderson,Carrick and Park need to go, but we have too many fans in Korea for Parky to go.Who on earth would want the other two?we are cryin out for a World class midfielder but Fergie seems blind to this problem.Fergie has guided us thru bad times before so lets see what happens this summer.