No Ronaldo? No Problem For United!

There is no doubting the immeasurable void that’s been left in the United side following the departure of one Cristiano Ronaldo. When you remove a player capable of scoring 42 goals in a single season, there’s bound to be a gaping hole left behind. While Sir Alex clearly had no choice but to allow the Portuguese the chance to fulfil his dream of playing for Real Madrid, our trusty Scottish manager has undoubtedly had a major say on who potentially joins/has already joined the club this summer.

Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan and Michael Owen - the three newest members of the Manchester United squad. OK so the aforementioned signings certainly haven’t got pulses racing amongst many of us but shrewd they are nonetheless at a combined total of around £20 million. The underlying fact is that no one in the world can replicate the unprecedented talents of our former number 7 and that’s been represented in our transfer dealings. Ronaldo simply can’t and won’t be replaced, but my question is…are we really that worried?

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I am firmly of the belief that some of the transfer fees being bandied about during the current transfer window are utterly ridiculous. OK so we are hardly innocent with the £80 million received for Ronaldo but I guess that’s the price you have to pay for the world’s absolute best. I ask would we really be comfortable with the purchase of Franck Ribery for a similarly extravagant price? I certainly wouldn’t. Especially not when we may just have all the ingredients for a successful campaign already in place, right under our very noses.

The stage is set for another Portuguese international to step up to the plate this season. The sale of Ronaldo could just prove to be a god send for Nani and this is his big chance to grab the limelight and prove his fantastic credentials. I wrote an article not too long ago suggesting that perhaps it could be time up for the former Sporting Lisbon man at Old Trafford. Well scrap that, as starting from August 16th, this is Nani’s new beginning.

Antonio Valencia has already shown glimpses on his debut against Boca Juniors yesterday that he could be a very useful addition indeed. Zoran Tosic looks neat and tidy and with a terrific left foot and we know all about the tenacity and work rate of Park and what that brings. While little is known about Gabriel Obertan, Fergie wouldn’t have brought him in if he wasn’t convinced that the Frenchman was capable of developing at the club.

When you put it like that, life after Ronaldo may turn out to be very rosy indeed. Wayne Rooney has already indicated that he’s ready to take on the burden and deliver the goals this season and Sir Alex has appreciated that Dimitar Berbatov could be a much more potent threat if he’s played as the more advanced striker. With the predatory instincts of Michael Owen and the youthful exuberance of Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck, I believe we have enough attacking options without needing to unnecessarily splash the cash.

One of the key components that contributed towards our success last season was the consistency of our back four. Well to my knowledge, nothing has changed in that department and I suppose an added bonus that comes with the sale of Ronaldo is an extra willing worker vacating his place in the midfield. I must also point out that in Ferdinand and Vidic, I am in no doubt that we possess the strongest defensive partnership in European football (with arguably the most promising centre-half in Jonny Evans too).

Although let’s pause and take a breath for a minute. I can’t deny that there is a very small but niggling thought lodged firmly in the back of my mind chipping away at me with every day that passes in the build-up to the new season. I’m hopeful that it will be put to bed by the time we reach Christmas but, dare I say it, what if we head in a similar direction as Arsenal and life after Thierry Henry. The Barcelona star was a similarly massive influence to the Gunners as Ronaldo has been to our cause over the last few years but let’s try not to dwell on that as I’m confident we have the strength in depth to not only cope, but to flourish without the world’s best player among our ranks.

Jose Mourinho CAN succeed Ferguson at United

OK so it’s hardly the best kept secret in European football but Jose Mourinho has admitted that he fancies a crack at succeeding Sir Alex at United. At 67-years-old, Ferguson clearly doesn’t have too many more years of management left in him, but does the former Chelsea boss really tick all the right boxes? I honestly don’t think he’s a bad shout you know.

“I would consider going to Manchester United but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson,” Mourinho told the Daily Mirror.

“If they do, then of course.”

Now I know many of us have our reservations about the Portuguese and his management methods but there’s no arguing with his credentials. First things first, taking over from the most successful manager in the club’s history will prove to be the tallest of tall orders for the eventual chosen one. Just imagine the pressure! Well while Mourinho is undoubtedly as arrogant as they come, that is arguably the principal trait that Ferguson’s successor will need. A manager that doesn’t wholeheartedly believe they have what it takes to match the Scot’s achievements at Old Trafford is probably destined for failure. Jose Mourinho would claim he could surpass Sir Alex’s accomplishments and it’s that sort of egotism that could handle the whirlwind of inevitable pressure.

There have only been three other managers that have tasted Premier League glory during Fergie’s legacy. Kenny Dalglish with Blackburn in 1995, Arsene Wenger in 1998, 2002 and 2004 and Jose Mourinho most recently in 2005 and 2006. My point is that Mourinho has been there and done it in England’s top flight and he knows what sort of ingredients are required to deliver a Premier League title. The likes of Martin O’Neill, Steve Bruce and David Moyes haven’t, which is one of the reasons why I would put the charismatic Portuguese at the front of the queue.

A UEFA Cup and Champions League success with Porto and also a Serie A title with Inter Milan in his first season in Italy only add to Mourinho’s already impressive CV. His record in the transfer market isn’t half bad either with the signings of the likes Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben and Florent Malouda. OK so there have been some pretty terrible acquisitions too but not even Ferguson gets it right every time (Taibi, Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson all spring to mind).

I know many of you will call Mournho’s tactics into question arguing that he would abandon the free-flowing, attacking football we have become accustomed to seeing at the club. Well I’m confident that he would adapt his management style, accommodating the player’s he has at his disposal and I really don’t see a great deal of change in that department. Mourinho isn’t stupid. He will know the likes of Nani and Wayne Rooney are at their best when they are given the freedom to go and express themselves. I’m sure he’d be capable of finding a suitable balance anyway.

The main worry I have for Mourinho would be that he would have to hit the ground running. Every Manchester United fan with half a brain trusts Sir Alex in whatever he does where every decision is supported as we know that he will always have the best interests of the club at heart. Like Wenger at Arsenal, Fergie is part of that rare ‘job for life’ breed and when he does eventually call it a day, the whole mentality of the fans will change. Even the slightest whiff of failure or ill judgement and the majority of supporters will turn against Mourinho. Jose, you’ve been warned.

So there you have it. I’m happy to throw my cards on the table and admit that I would be cautiously optimistic if Jose Mourinho was installed as the next United boss. With the biggest job in football comes even bigger responsibility so do you feel that the 46-year-old is capable of becoming the extra ‘Special One’ at United? I guess that’s a question for David Gill to answer.

As featured on RedRants

Scouting Tips For FM 09

Scouting is fast becoming vitally important in the real world of football. With the somewhat categorical inflation of prices that managers have been experiencing during this summer’s transfer window, the need for scouts to uncover the hidden talents of the beautiful game has never been greater.

Although I’m not here to attempt to justify the desperate need for top quality scouts in football. No, I’m here to attempt to explain how you can assemble the perfect scouting team on FM 09, allowing you to reap the rewards of unearthing that potentially decisive signing.

Knowledge

All non-players on Football Manager will have a certain amount of knowledge relating to specific nations. Be it where they spent most of their professional playing career or perhaps it is their country of birth, knowledge is particularly crucial when deciding where to send your scouts on assignments.

In this sense, if you have a scout who has full knowledge in say Brazil, they will be more comfortable in searching for talent on a Brazilian based assignment. Say for arguments sake they don’t quite have full knowledge of Argentina, but they know more about that particular country than England, you may be best served arranging the scout to scour South America for talent. I hope that made sense!
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Although don’t expect miracles just because a scout has full knowledge of a particular country. This purely means that they will be more likely to work to their full potential in a country that they are familiarised with. The attributes within their profile will have more relevance in their ability to uncover players.

Attributes

You don’t need to be Albert Einstein to work this out but when you are at the stage of appointing a scout for your club, make sure you pay particular attention to the Judging Player Ability and Judging Player Potential attributes. High attribute ratings in these two areas will most likely result in more accurate scouting reports.

Reports and Feedback

When your scout has compiled a report on a particular player, you will be the first to know about it. Depending on the attributes and knowledge of your scout, you will be presented with an accurate and extensive set of details on the player in question that can prove extremely useful in judging whether he is the right signing for your team.

The information at your disposal includes an assessment on the player’s current and potential ability, their personality, strengths and weaknesses and as well as some advice on any potential transfer, your scout will also offer an overall recommendation of the player represented by gold stars.

5 Top Tips

1. If you’re looking for the next generation of top quality talent, be sure to regularly send your scouts to youth competitions such as the European under 19 Championships.
2. When you receive a report on a particular player make sure you consider the transfer information and try and bid as close as possible to the minimum asking price that your scout considers the player to be available for. Should help save you bundles of cash!
3. Don’t always listen to the advice of your scouts, especially if they don’t have decent attributes for Judging Player Potential and Ability.
4. If you’re not totally convinced by the information that one of your scouts has relayed on a player, get a second opinion from another member of your scouting team or even a coach or your assistant manager.
5. Make sure your scouts are always kept busy. If a scout has finished an assignment, you may want to either restart the same assignment or send them on a new assignment. Dated information on a player will get you nowhere!

FM 09 - What makes a good striker?

Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, David Villa, Samuel Eto’o. We can all name them but what is it that makes them rank among the best strikers in the world? Well while I appreciate that different front men bring different qualities to a side, here’s a list of five key attributes that you should definitely take note of when selecting your front line.

5 Key Attributes

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Finishing

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We are all aware that the primary objective of a striker tends to be finding the back of the net so the finishing attribute is clearly of great importance. Those strikers with high finishing will be more efficient in hitting the target and troubling the goalkeeper. Low finishers on the other hand will be more prone to missing the proverbial sitter.

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Composure

While the finishing attribute refers to a player’s ability to hit the target on a consistent basis, composure is all about their knack of keeping a cool head. This is clearly vital when your striker is through on goal with a chance of scoring as a high composure attribute will see them keep their head rather than buckling under the pressure.

Off The Ball

A player’s ability to find space and move off the ball can be just as important as their decisions with the ball at their feet. The ‘Off The Ball’ attribute is associated with a player’s movement which can be vital for a striker that is looking to drag defenders away and create space for themselves and others around them.

Technique

A striker with decent technique is always a good thing. The more technically astute your front man is, the more comfortable he will undoubtedly be with the ball at his feet. A player with high technique will have a better chance of executing that intricate volley or curling shot at goal.

Anticipation

Anticipation refers to how well a player can predict and react to an event. Therefore a striker that can anticipate situations is more likely to be in the right place at the right time to gobble up that goalmouth opportunity. Works particularly well in tandem with the ‘Off The Ball’ attribute.

FM 09 - What makes a good attacking midfielder?

So what exactly makes a good attacking midfielder? Well obviously an abundance of goals, clever through balls and a bucket load of assists wouldn’t be a bad starting point. Although what are the specific attributes you should be looking out for to determine whether player X or Y are capable of being the creative force in your side?

5 Key Attributes

Creativity

If you have an attacking midfielder that is creatively astute, you might just be onto a winner. Creativity is associated with a player’s ability to spot an opening but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be able to execute the telling pass. Combine creativity with decent passing and technique attributes and your attacking midfielder is in a prime position to create chances galore.

Flair

Flair will work well in tandem with creativity and it may be worth giving the attacking midfielder in question a free-role within your team to boot. A flair player will be the type to try the audacious and sometimes outrageous to stamp their authority on a game.

Passing

As I mentioned earlier, if the creative potential of an attacking midfielder is going to be realised, then the passing attribute needs to be similarly elevated. The higher the passing attribute, the easier the player will find it to pick out and execute a range of passes and you may also want to set his passing style to short too.

Long Shots

One of the best things about both football and FM is watching a player cut inside before unleashing a 40-yard effort into the top corner. An attacking midfielder with a high long shots attribute will inevitably attempt more pot shots from range and we all know the age-old cliché that becomes particularly relevant here – ‘if you don’t shoot, you won’t score!’

Technique

Technique is associated with a player’s natural skill and will have a huge bearing on how effectively your attacking midfielder utilises his technical attributes. In this sense, a player with a higher technique attribute will be more capable of executing that tricky, eye of the needle through pass for instance.

FM 09 - What makes a good defensive midfielder?

When it comes to selecting your central midfield pairing it is essential that you consider playing a holding player as well as an attack minded midfielder. Whether he plays as a defensive midfielder with a duty to protect the back four or just simply as a more disciplined central midfielder, you will need a midfield enforcer to help stem the flow of the opposition attacks.

5 Key Attributes

Determination

You’ll no doubt want your whole squad to be a determined bunch but it can be one of the most crucial attributes for a defensive midfielder in particular. The determination attribute refers to a player’s desire to succeed. The higher the rating the more they are absolutely committed to giving their all to the cause. It certainly pays to have a determined individual in that area of the pitch.

Passing

Passing is obviously not the most important weapon in a defensive midfielder’s armoury but it is a useful attribute for them to possess nonetheless. While the traditional role of a holding man is to just get the ball and give it to a perhaps more technically gifted player, some of the best defensive midfielders on FM have proved that they themselves know how to pick a pass.

Work Rate

In most cases, your holding midfielder won’t need to be a box-to-box type player but if they have good work rate they will undoubtedly be able to utilise the attribute through a never-say-die attitude on the pitch. A will to work will result in them never giving up the ghost even if, at times, they are beaten by their opposite number.

Tackling

With a high tackling attribute, your defensive midfielder will be in his element when he is able to get stuck right into a challenge. After all, he is there to protect your back four and the better tackler he is, the more chance he will have of winning possession back for your team.

Stamina

A player that can last the whole 90 minutes game after game is always a positive for you as the manager. When that player is your battling holding midfielder it becomes even more decisive. When the rest of your team may be struggling to find the legs to carry them over the finish line, rest assured that a defensive midfielder with high stamina will keep trudging around the pitch, harassing the opposition for possession.

FM 09 - What makes a good winger?

It’s fair to say that Cristiano Ronaldo has taken the meaning of the word ‘winger’ to a whole new level during the last couple of years. The primary role of the man on the flank was once to create chances for the striker and deliver as many accurate crosses as possible. Ronaldo undoubtedly raised the bar with his flurry of goals from a wide position but the fundamentals still remain the same. If you’re looking to identify some of the attributes you need to be aware of when choosing a winger then you’ve come to just the right place!

5 Key Attributes

Crossing

As much as the role of the conventional winger may have changed over the years, I still like to persist with a winger that has an established crossing attribute. You can be confident that if you have a striker who knows how to find the back of the net, with decent supply from wide positions you can’t go wrong.

Dribbling

Dribbling is evidently key for a winger if you want him to be driving at the opposition full-back whenever possible. A strong dribbling stat will ensure your winger will be apt at travelling with the ball at feet but be sure to combine the dribbling attribute with acceleration, pace, balance and agility if you truly want the best outcome.

Flair

If you’re hoping for flashes of individual brilliance then make sure you have a winger with flair in abundance. The problem with a player that adopts the use of flair is that they will often attempt the outrageous and spectacular rather than just playing the simple five-yard pass. That said, the element of unpredictability should help worry and unsettle opposition defenders.

Technique

If you want to build a successful team at the highest level then you should really have a squad that is littered with technical ability. As a winger, technique is paramount for those at the peak of their game where technically gifted players are able to pull off that difficult threaded pass or extravagant lob over the goalkeeper.

Creativity

You won’t want a winger who is creatively a class apart to be looking to cross the ball at any given opportunity as this will clearly not be executing their full potential. Creative wingers will spot that little opening and attempt to make things happen but technical proficiency is a must for their creativity to have the maximum desired effect.