Legends of their respective clubs and of the Premier League era, Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry have put pen to paper that has heralded their second comings during a truly bizarre start to the January transfer window. Add to these signings the loan deals of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, with Everton and Aston Villa respectively, and the peculiarity of the winter signings become all the more conspicuous. Is it a matter of much needed influx of experience, a case of shrewd purchases, a complete lack of quality available in the market or do the moves smack of sheer desperation?
SCHOLES TO THE RESCUE?
Manchester United’s midfield predicament has been thoroughly discussed in this space, and by pundits around the globe. The problem is so obviously ominous that even the most deluded of United fans wouldn’t doubt the claim that 2009 onwards, United’s midfield has been their Achilles’ heel. Recently, Michael Carrick has come to the fore by providing some much needed stability, but since his partner has become a lottery draw – much like most of the United lineup – the English Champions’ midfield has become a hotchpotch of uncertainty.
From 2006-2009, Carrick and Scholes formed a formidable midfield duo. The duo wasn’t quite as robust, or indeed dynamic, as some of the more legendary midfield twosomes; but considering the fact that the era coincided with the Ronaldo (and Tevez) era, the on-the-ball skills of Carrick and Scholes meant that it was like having two very competent quarterbacks orchestrating the show from the middle of the park; allowing Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez to expound their flair and score goals.
Like for like replacements are rare in football; despite the fact that one regularly hears pundits say that player X is yet to be replaced, and the void of player Y is still tangible. The fact of the matter is that when influential players leave, more often than not the managers resort to a new system. Carrick was never Keane’s replacement; he was a very shrewd purchase which resulted in the most successful era in United’s history. The Red Devil brigade might label it blasphemous, but having Keane in the 2006-09 seasons wouldn’t have had been as successful as having Carrick in the middle along with Scholes.
Similarly, when Ronaldo left in 2009, Valencia was never a direct replacement. The signing of the former Wigan man connoted that United were going to resort back to the 4-4-2 of the late 90s – with two proper wingers on either flank – and hence United needed either a goal scoring midfielder or a midfield destroyer to complement that. As of now, even with Scholes arriving, they have neither.
Carrick can do the holding midfielder’s job quite competently – not quite of the Didier Deschamps or the Claude Makelele mould – but his reading of the game ensures that he doesn’t have to make last ditch tackles. But with that you need a goal scoring midfielder – a la Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard of their halcyon days – in front of him. Having Scholes partner Carrick would be a throwback to the two quarterback days but without a fluid interchangeable frontline to make the overall composition of the team as menacing as it was back then.
VA VA VOOM
Receive a decent through ball, take a touch, compose yourself, locate your spot and bury it with effortless ease. Thierry Henry, 34 years young, makes it look oh so simple, while some other forwards in the league with a combined transfer fee of umpteen gazillion pounds aren’t able to buy a goal at the moment. Henry’s return – and instant impact – not only generated a vigorous nostalgic sensation at the Emirates, it also seems to have solved the ‘if not RVP then who’ puzzle.
As mentioned in this column a couple of weeks back, Henry’s return is not only a masterful footballing deal, it is all worth it even for the ‘feel good factor’ only. Since Arsenal, unlike United, are calling on their old war horse to solve a minor chink in the armour, hence this move is more likely to bear the desired fruits. Both moves imply that the respective manages aren’t going to delve into the club’s exchequer – and since United’s fix is more long term, the picture looks pretty gloomy for them. This two-month loan deal is going to work wonders for Arsenal, and the youngsters would be gaining invaluable experience from the man who was the cornerstone of the club’s illustrious past.
LIVERPOOL’S problem
Liverpool’s achievements this season – whatever little they might be – have been formed on the foundation of a solid defensive display. Their win over City in the Carling Cup first leg – the second successive home defeat for the league leaders in 2012, after going the entire 2011 unbeaten at home – was again based on a solid defensive show. While City’s problems are coming to the fore as the season unfolds, Liverpool’s lack of goals has been a problem throughout the season. And it doesn’t look like they’d be taking a plunge into the market. With Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all vying for the coveted fourth spot, if Liverpool can solve their goal scoring riddle, they would do their chance of Champions League qualification the world of good! Considering the recent comeback trend; Robbie Fowler anyone?
