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Celebrating Fergie’s 100% record in transfers

There was a time when Manchester United fans were mocked for their manager’s dealings in the transfer window. If the point had been about spending money, we could have handled it. But the accusation was that the manager had signed players unfit for United, and it stung all the more because they were right.

However, since summer 2005, every single player the gaffer has brought in has proven their worth as a valuable squad member. Fergie has a perfect record in transfers for the last 2 seasons, and yet no one seems to have pointed this out as a contributing reason for United’s success in the last 2 years.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Summer 2005

Park Ji-Sung

The Korean Energizer bunny gives Fergie the option of resting his wingers for crucial games as well as cover for them in times of injury. Not worthy of a starting position if everyone is fit but a valuable squad member.

Ben Foster

Touted as a future England #1 and considered by Watford fans to be the reason they were promoted in the first place. As EVDS gets older, expect Foster to be a front-runner for his spot.

January 2006

Nemanja Vidic

He’ll fuckin’ murder you…nuff said.

Patrice Evra

Has the rare ability to turn critics into top fans. Along with Vidic, the final piece of the defensive puzzle that allowed United such a great defensive in the Premier League in the last 2 seasons.

Summer 2006

Michael Carrick

Expensive? Yes. Quality? Oh Yes. Critical to the 06/07 title? Hell Yes.

Summer 2007

Owen Hargreaves

Anyone with questions needs to go and see Hargo’s performances against Roma and the two goals he’s scored for United this season.

To put this into proper perspective – Hargo is EXACTLY the type of player Arsenal don’t buy – proven, experienced, quality, expensive, English – and EXACTLY the type of player the need to turn them from outside hopefuls to genuine contenders. Few players have the ability to give that much to a side – he’s a strong defender, a leader on the pitch, model professional off it, great at set pieces and can run up and down the wings all day if needed.

Nani

Not just one for the future but a player who has had a great impact this season as well. Has settled in quite quickly as well.

Anderson

A player with the arrogance to take on the best midfielders in the Premier League (Gerrard and Fabregas are his more famous victims, although young English stalwarts like Nigel Reo-Coker have felt the Anderson effect as well) and the outrageous talent to get the better of them.

Tomasz Kuszczak

Pole in Goal – quality backup keeper, solid whenever he’s been called upon. Not as good at commanding his box as EVDS or Foster, but good enough keeper to trust in the biggest of crunch matches.

Carlos Tevez

The Argie hobbit is United’s second-best striker and a quality player. He would improve any team he’d get into in the Premier League at the moment.

Manucho

Unknown quantity in the sense that he’s yet to play a competitive game for United, but according to all indications he is the 3rd / 4th striker United have been after ever since Smith and Rossi left and Saha proved that he couldn’t stay fit to save his own life. As squad players go, he seems to be good enough.

Verdict

11 players, 3 backups, 8 first-teamers (or potential future first-teamers). Fergie has rebuilt the squad in the last 3 years and he’s done it in style. Apart from Manucho (who still needs to play in the Prem to prove himself), every single player has been a good signing for United.

Fergie’s 10 for 10, with Manucho looking a sure hit as well (if he’s as good as Park (with better finishing, obviously) he’s good enough).

Looking at all this, 2 points are self-evident:

As long as United go after quality talent they’ll be able to get money for the transfers (that’s as far as I’ll go in mentioning the owners).

As long as Fergie is looking for strikers, we can be sure to get a quality player up front next season. Who that’s going to be is uncertain for now, but I’m sure we’ll have a good idea by June.