Red Rants |
- Nani poised for Serie A switch?
- Moyes’ winter is over, but will LVG bring an everlasting summer?
- United handed unexpected boost in Vidal’s pursuit
| Nani poised for Serie A switch? Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:57 AM PDT
Italian broadcaster Sky Italia reports that the Rossoneri have made the 27-year-old one of their targets, after their pursuit of Torino winger and Italy international Alessio Cerci has stalled due to Torino’s refusal to sell the former Fiorentina man, whose performances last season earned him plenty of admirers.
The report suggest Nani could be available for around €8m – £6.5m – a fee unlikely to discourage Milan, but the Portuguese’s £90,000-a-week salary, however, could represent something of a stumbling block for the seven-time European Cup winners, who have implemented strict austerity measures over the last couple of seasons, with the Silvio Berlusconi’s free-spending era well and truly over. Nani’s inconsistency and petulant attitude have long been cause of complaints for United fans, with the Portuguese failing to live up to his potential since arriving at Old Trafford and, perhaps even more worryingly, struggling to kick on from the outstanding performances he delivered during the 2010-11 season. Having signed a five-year deal last summer, one of countless David Moyes’ masterstrokes, Nani went on to make a mere 13 appearances in all competitions, registering a single goal and looking his usual inconsistent self. His advocates claim that he might benefit from Van Gaal’s arrival, but after failing to shine at the World Cup – where, admittedly, he got on the scoresheet as Portugal drew with USA – Nani’s United career could be coming to an end. With Alex Buttner and Federico Macheda gone and Bebe’s transfer to Benfica imminent, United look to be making good progress in shifting out some of the deadwood they desperately need to clear ahead of next season. |
| Moyes’ winter is over, but will LVG bring an everlasting summer? Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:17 AM PDT
So when news of Moyes' sacking filtered through the twitter-verse, it seemed rays of sunlight were finally filtering through the oppressive clouds gathered over Salford. The Glazers finally realised that the the fans greatest fears of Moyes being dwarfed by such a gargantuan club had come horrifyingly and nightmarishly true. He was a child in a sweetshop, a man at the foot of Christ the Redeemer. Fearful, timid and overwhelmed. In hindsight, the Scotsman never stood a chance. And so after a wasted year, we come full circle again. The magnificent, but creaking, cruise-ship of Manchester United needed a captain up to the task of redirecting her safely away from the all-too threatening rocks of mid-table. The club needed a modern manager with the panache and guts to take on the job, and few will have been considered ahead of Louis Van Gaal. Enigmatic, belligerent, genius. All these cliches, and more, have been heaped upon the Dutchman. But what do we, the fans, expect and hope from the former Oranje man? What is immediately obvious is that the Glazers couldn't have picked a man who was more the antithesis of Moyes if they tried. Where Moyes was obtuse and stubborn, sticking religiously to his solid 4-4-2, LVG adapts and innovates. Where Moyes was timid and nervous upon taking the job, LVG couldn't hide his ego if he tried (which, of course, he wouldn't). But, most importantly, where Moyes seemed to work one week at a time, LVG has the long-term master plan for success. If Moyes was the seaman desperately clinging to the tiller, navigating unexpected rocks desperately, LVG is a captain fully aware of where the waters might get rough. But how will the Dutchman's plans materialise on the pitch? This summer has seen a fundamental shift in the spine of the team with an exodus of defensive stalwarts. To counter the panic that a defence marshalled by the erratic Phil Jones could spread, there have been rumours of United switching to five at the back, a growing trend amongst football's fashionistas.
In midfield, Ander Herrera becomes the first proper midfield signing since Queen Victoria was still on the throne, perhaps signalling that, perish the thought, LVG might finally be taking on the age old problem of United's rickety midfield. Further up the field, Robin van Persie, Van Gaal's pet student, is certain to play a central role, perhaps leaving Rooney to sulk around the edges yet again, while it’s not hard to believe Van Gaal will make Manchester United more watchable than they were under Moyes which, to be fair, is hardly an onerous challenge. However, whether we will be welcoming the rash, all out attack of the 2010 Bayern Munich vintage or the more restrained approach of the Holland World Cup team or a compromise between the two remains to be seen. Despite the changes and the optimism, with City, Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid still gathering fresh, glittering jewels around them like insatiable magpies, immediate success is a little unlikely. What's more there are several questions looming large in Van Gaal's in-tray. Can he transform United's insipid winger corps? Will Rooney revert to type and becoming a sulking teenager again? Will Van Gaal's abrasive approach ultimately lead to United spontaneously combusting? These great unknowns remain dark clouds on the horizon. But they do not block the sun yet. There is once again hope and excitement buzzing around Old Trafford. No-one can hazard a guess at what will come to pass this season, but there's one thing every fan knows; it can't be as bad as last year…can it? Ollie Phelan |
| United handed unexpected boost in Vidal’s pursuit Posted: 15 Jul 2014 02:19 PM PDT
Earlier today, various news outlets had claimed United had baulked at Juventus’ demands of £34m for the Chilean midfielder and were set to move onto other targets, after Louis Van Gaal had allegedly instructed the club to look for alternatives to Vidal, who has strongly been linked with a move to United over the last couple of weeks.
Conte, however, unexpectedly resigned earlier this evening, despite winning three Serie A titles in as many years, and the Italian press wasted no time in trying to find explain what brought the now former Juventus manager to take such a drastic decision. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Conte had grown disillusioned with Juventus’ recruitment policy this summer – the Turin club are set to complete the signings of Patrice Evra and Juan Iturbe from Verona, but missed out on Alexis Sanchez and look unlikely to sign Juan Cuadrado, reportedly one of Conte’s main targets – and the lack of an official response from the club over Vidal’s potential departure looks to have been the final straw for the Italian. Reports in the Italian press suggest United are now ready to table a €44m – £35m – for Vidal, who earlier today admitted he’d feel “relaxed even if a move to United fell through” leading to speculation that the club had opened talks to lure the Chilean midfielder away from Serie A ahead of next season. Conte’s departure, of course, might be motivated by other reasons, namely a growing disagreement between him and the Juventus’ board who, according to the former Juventus manager, were guilty of expecting the Serie A champions to succeed in Europe despite the lack of adequate investments. At the end of last season, when Juventus clinched their third consecutive Serie A title but were eliminated in the Europa League semifinal by Benfica, Conte claimed that it was unfair for the board to “expect Juventus to dine in a fine dining restaurant when they only had €10 to spend” alluding at the need of adequate signings to compete in the Champions League. |
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