 The Free Transfer - The Final Piece
I was surprised and excited at the prospect of Nani and Anderson joining Manchester Utd. I wasn't surprised in the sense that these players were not suitable to play for the club - more taken back by the combination of the fee and the inevitable tighening of the purse strings without the expected arrival of a striker that the club craves. Would it not be more logical to purchase one of these players (Anderson in my opinion) and spend the leftovers on a proven striker that can score 20 goals a season and have the expertise and nouse for Europe.
Names have been mentioned with the most popular in the form of Torres, Huntelaar, Ibrahimovic and Eto'o. All of these are in their own right exceptional footballers - but surely Ferguson was already aware of these players and must also except that Rooney functions at his optimum behind the first striker.
I believe he is more than aware of this and I have a theory to the problem striker role.
Acknowledging the fact that the team will play a 4-2-3-1 formation next year with Scholes and Giggs being given extended rests during the season, one striker that is currently on a free transfer would provide a figure head for the other players to prosper.
Mark Viduka. Yes he is in his 30's. Yes he is known for dips in form BUT on his day is one of the best lone strikers with his back to goal in the world. He is strong, skillful, brings people into the game and can finish clinically - with head and both feet. I also believe his qualities will multiply with the combinations he could forge from the likes of Ronaldo, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Giggs etc. With such a formation likely from the boss, I cannot see a better player to play the lone role. His talent is unquestioned and having seen a player of Dwight Yorke's abilities rise to the occasion at Old Trafford from an also-ran club like Aston Villa, wouldn't Viduka stand a similar chance surrounded by the creativeness of United's young guns, if only for a short time?
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