RVP: some initial thoughts

One of the many long, projected transfers of the summer looks set to be completed. Earlier this evening, it was announced that Manchester United have agreed a deal with Arsenal for striker Robin van Persie with a medical due to take place over the next couple of days. A strange summer for United fans, takes yet another twist. Left-back and central midfield are the areas that many have been crying out for renewal for while now and the last place many would have expected the club to strengthen would be up-front.

Wayne Rooney managed 27 goals in the Premier League last season, his best return for the club and indeed the most prolific season of his career, his regular strike-partner Danny Welbeck scored nine league goals in his breakthrough season for the club. Javier Hernandez managed 10 goals, while Dimitar Berbatov found the net seven times in his five starts and seven sub appearances. The squad as whole scored 89 goals in the league but they didn’t manage to outmuscle rivals, Manchester City who scored 93 goals last season to win the title on goal difference on the final day of the season.

With the signing of van Persie (29), Ferguson has broke his own rule of signing players over-27 for a fee, but the Dutch man is the Red Devils biggest signing since Berbatov back in 2008. For many, the move is a strange one, particularly from Manchester United’s point of view. In footballing terms, it makes sense. van Persie and Rooney will form the most potent strike-force in the league; between them they scored 57 league goals last season and 72 over all competitions. However, one of the main criticisms has been that van Persie is “injury prone” – he has still managed to make on average 24 appearances per season over the last eight seasons – his lowest being 15 in 2007-08 and highest last season of 38.

In his time at Arsenal, van Persie has just one piece of silverware to show, a FA Cup win from 2005. Seven years have elapsed since then and the 29-year-old has seen many team-mates leave in that time. In July he released a statement saying that he would not being signing a new contract at the Emirates as he: “in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.” The Dutchman is nearing the autumn of his career, for a striker, and is looking to fulfil his aim of winning trophies (yes, he will probably earn more wages, too)

United, having lost out on the title last season will be keen to respond this season as Ferguson usually does. If van Persie stays fit and there looks to be no immediate concerns about his fitness, despite many trying to suggest otherwise then he will add another element to United’s attack. There will be debate as to where Rooney will play of where Kagawa slots in also, but one thing is for sure, Van Persie, Rooney, Kagawa, Valencia, Nani and Young is a fearsome six for any team. An exciting season lies ahead at Old Trafford. Could there be more transfers to come?

Season Preview: #8 Manchester United

“Red wine helps” said Sir Alex Ferguson when reflecting on the Red Devils losing out on the Premier League title on goal difference last season. In many respects, last season was expected to be a transitional one for Manchester United, particularly after the departures and retirements of some experienced players. Defeat in such circumstances, as title number 20 looked to be in the bag, will probably never happen again – but failing and dropping points in such a manner, having been eight points clear was what made losing the title all the more galling for United fans.

As has become customary with Manchester United under Ferguson, it is the response that follows that is the most dangerous as Arsenal and Chelsea have found over the years having won Premier League titles, the Red Devils are always out for revenge. Last season was the club’s first trophyless season since 2004-05. Many critics out there seem to be writing United off for the season ahead, which is a dangerous thing to do, certainly as long at Ferguson reigns supreme at Old Trafford.

It was been a strange yet interesting summer at Manchester United, particularly in terms of off the field issues. Talk of IPO’s and MANU beginning floating on the New York Stock Exchange in order to raise funds, as murkier details of the Glazers ownership and how they intend to move forward. Even Ferguson struck a nerve with fans when in an interview he stated that “real fans” would see the Glazers are not damaging the club.

Just two summers signings have been made by United, both of which are very exciting signatures; 18-year-old Nick Powell from Crewe and Shinji Kagawa from Bundesliga side, Borussia Dortmund. There have been plenty of links for other players; Brazilian Lucas Moura who was linked with move to Old Trafford has decided to join PSG in January, 2013, United have already had two bids rejected for Arsenal striker, Robin Van Persie, yet remain in poll-position to sign the Dutchman before the window closes at the end of the month. Despite speculation, no move has been made for Everton left-back, Leighton Baines and despite Patrice Evra’s sharp decline in form; Fabio da Silva has been allowed to join QPR on loan. It also looks unlikely that United will sign a central-midfielder which they continue to cry out for.

Fergie doesn’t look to be near retirement just yet, but many would suspect that Manchester City are now presenting him with his final challenge. They will be under pressure to retain their title this season, while United will continue to do what they have always done but with so many genuine title contenders this season it could be very tight at the top of the Premier League come the end of the season.

Opening five fixtures: Everton (A), Fulham (H), Southampton (A), Wigan (H) and Liverpool (A).

Speculation and appreciation: The Glazers, RVP and Lucas Moura

It has been a strange week to be a Manchester United fan. In recent years, the summer transfer window has seen Sir Alex Ferguson – when not citing there is “no value in the market” – go quietly and efficiently about his business in preparing the squad for the coming season.

Somehow, things have changed this summer. Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa have been signed, presented to the media and made their first appearances in Manchester United shirts. However, it is two other names that have dominated the back pages over the last week or so and have even seen Ferguson publically admit that the club are chasing and have put in bids for Robin van Persie and Lucas Moura. A far cry from the usual behind-closed-doors attitude to the transfer window, United have displayed their hand to the media and have left fans questioning is there an ulterior motive?

These very public admissions of interest by Ferguson have, coincidentally, at the same time as his praise of United’s American owners, the Glazer family: “They have always backed me, whenever I have asked them” – we are also made aware of the fact that the Glazer family “have been great” for the club. So great, in fact: they spent £250,000 per-day over nine months up to May 2012, on the buyback of bonds and the making of interest repayments – they have burdened the club with debt and threw £553m up the wall on debt repayments, interest repayments et al and still have a club that remains £423.3m in debt. Great owners, eh? They’ve turned Manchester United from club that was debt free and making healthy profits (albeit, the club still does make healthy profits) to one that has been mortgaged to the hilt. If and indeed when, this £423m of debt is cleared, the club will have paid out close to £1billion for the esteemed pleasure of having the Glazer family as owners.

Of course, real fans, as Ferguson says in his defence of the American owners: “will look at it realistically and say it is not affecting the team” and to a certain extent, success in the form of four Premier League titles and one Champions League title is attributed to the Scot’s genius as a manager and in spite of the Glazers as owners. Though United’s net spend since that Glazer family took control of the club is considered to be frugal for a club of its size, they have spent close to £70m on purchases of Phil Jones, David De Gea, Ashley Young last summer and Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell this summer.

So, why the public display of affection? Why the batting of eyelids from and lifting up our skirts to passers-by? Why? Well, the upcoming IPO is certainly one reason and it would certainly go some why in explaining the Van Persie and Moura bids. Looking at it cynically, one might think it is a ploy to demonstrate that United have the financial muscle to compete with the big boys, while Ferguson’s public praise of the Glazer family is another chance to portray the club in the most positive light possible, in order to attract potential investors, to clear the club’s debt because despite all the denials from David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson and seven years after taking control of the club, it has finally been identified that “our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and competitive position”.

Perhaps the most galling comment of the past week is Ferguson saying that those who criticise the Glazer family and their ownership of the club are not ‘real fans’ and a kick in the teeth those who fork out money for seasons tickets (ticket prices have risen 40% under the Glazers) and travel to games – the notion that ‘real fans’ should sit quietly and nod their heads while the owners continue to drain the club of money is absurd. Ferguson has given the club 26 years of exceptional service and unrivalled success but that doesn’t mean his public judgment of the Glazers is not deeply flawed. Without the Glazers Manchester United was successful, with the Glazers the club has continued to be successful.

Questions remain – Will the IPO be successful and help in clearing the debt? Will Manchester United sign either Robin Van Persie or Lucas Moura? With a couple of weeks still to go before the new Premier League season kicks-off it will almost certainly be punctuated with these questions along with plenty of usual mind-numbing transfer speculation.

This piece was first published on Old Trafford Faithful. You can  follow them on Twitter here.