Midfield solutions

Manchester United has done well this year to push Chelsea all the way for the title. However, it is a case of too little, too late. Chelsea are set to win the title this season. A big factor for United's failure to win the title this year is down to their indifferent form in mid season. Much of it is due to United's weakness in central midfield. With the walking out of Roy Keane and the injury to Scholes, United lost 2 of their first choice midfielders. Alan Smith, a striker forced to play in midfield for the United cause, showed plenty of heart but his inexperience in midfield showed as United failed to dominate matches like they once did. United were left with even fewer options when Smith got injured during the Liverpool match. The only options left were Fletcher and Richardson. Both definitely do not have the ability to play for United though both of them are internationals. Fletcher is the captain of Scotland(which says a lot about the Scottish team) and Richardson has a few caps for England(which is reflective of Eriksson's team selection). Only when Ferguson converted John O'Shea (a defender) and Ryan Giggs (a left winger) as central midfielders and played them as first choice, Man Utd began playing like potential title contenders. O'Shea and Giggs have done well but, as Ferguson and most of us know, they are only stop-gap solutions. United need world class midfielders. However, to sign top players, Manchester United need top money and Glazer is in debt( and who knows when he might die of a stroke). Also, United no longer have the influence to attract top players. And Chelsea, bankrolled by Abramovich, will attempt to jeopardise any move by outbidding United. In the face of these difficulties, United will find it hard to buy any top-class midfielders(though i hope they really do get Riquelme). As a self-respecting Man Utd fan, I shall propose a few solutions.

Convert existing players to midfielders.

United have a surplus of players in other positions. Might as well convert them to midfielders. Doesn't cost a single penny as well.

Gary Neville - He's the captain of Man Utd. And many previous captains were central midfielders(Ince, Robson, Keane). It's in that position where captains can exert greater influence on their teammates. As a captain, Neville can better motivate his players playing in midfield rather than at right back. His lung-bursting runs down the flank can be better utilised in the middle. He can be a box-to box midfielder. Wow. Not since Keano have we had a box-to-box player. And Neville can cut down on his mistakes by playing there. Surely, he won't be playing opposing strikers onside in central midfield.

Ferdinand - He's the classiest defender in Man Utd. Too classy, in fact, to play as a defender. His assured touch on the ball, his dribbling and his flair can be better utilised as a midfielder. Not a defensive midfielder( where he played so well that Ince said he can play for England as a DM) but as a offensive midfielder, a playmaker. His ball control and vision can rival Riquelme. Think of all the times he brought the ball out of his own penalty box to the opposing side's penalty box. It's a waste of talent for him to play in the safety-first position of central defender. And he has a flair for doing the unexpected, an ability all great playmakers have. Flashback to all his bloopers, heading back towards his keeper when the keeper is out of position, losing the ball in his own box etc. Lastly, he got something even Riquelme doesn't have. He got guts. Who dares to dribble in his own box except Ferdinand? You need guys like Ferdinand to keep their cool ender pressure. Imagine if it was Ferdinand instead of Riquelme taking the penalty for Villarreal. Ferdinand definitely would have chipped the ball into the middle of the net. Such is his class.

Evra - He's second choice behind Silvestre in the left back position, which says a lot about him. With Heinze returning from injury, he would be third choice. His chances of playing then will be as great as Singapore making the World Cup by 2010. He is already warming the bench now. So well, in fact, that he even managed to sleep on the bench while Manchester United were playing. So Ferguson should kick his ass out of the bench and deploy him in midfield. I know he does nothing but so does Fletcher. If Fletcher can play in central mid, so can Evra. After all, you sometimes do need stealth bombers in your team.

Howard - He can forget about being the goalie as long as Van der Sar is around. So why not give him a try in midfield. We all know about his Tourette's Syndrome. The sudden movements that he can't control. Imagine him then being deployed as a combative midfielder. He can then hack opponents down at will. He can claim that it's his Tourette's syndrome acting up thereby avoiding yellows and reds. Howard the Horror.

Recruit from Kolam Ayer CC

Kolam Ayer CC is a place where the football is played fast and furious. Players there play under Premier league like conditons. Therefore, players recruited from there can assimilate quickly into the team.

Ken Ang Wei Yu - He's the best defensive midfielder in Kolam Ayer. He's been dubbed the new Claude Makelele. Uncompromising in the tackle, he protects the back four like a boy scout protecting the fire he had painstakingly sparked by rubbing stones together. Ankle snapping tackles, career ending double footed tackles, he can do them all. A good defensive midfielder frustrates the hell out of an opponent. He not only frustrates, he drives people crazy with his endless talk on the pitch, most of which is indecipherable. He can also assimilate well into the English culture where booze is indispensable. We've seen great players ruin their careers under the influence of alcohol(Gascoigne, Best), but we all can rest assured that that will never happen to Ken. Alcohol is like plain water to him. He's got a liver made of steel. Even 99.9% alcohol can't seem to hurt him. Ferguson can be assured of a good buy.