This article first appeared in Red News. Manchester United's first fanzine.
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It has been difficult to define the Manchester United transfer policy for the most of Fergie’s reign. Value was always a prerogative. But if Ferguson was absolutely sure that a player would improve his side then he was prepared to put it all on the table. From £2.3m for Gary Pallister to £7m for Andy Cole, right the way through to £30.75m for Dimitar Berbatov. United and Ferguson have gone for that “marquee” signing when the time suits.
But he is also not averse to a cheap punt. For better and for worse. Henrik Larrsson was paraded in front of a stunned Manchester press pack in January 2007 having signed on loan from Helsingborg. Jaap Stam; that great big Dutchman was jettisoned for the creaking legs of Laurent Blanc. Going by nearly every account, the King himself was signed during a flash of inspiration while listening into a phone call. Fergie, the horse owner does like the occasional bet in the transfer market. His gambler’s instinct has failed him recently. While Javier Hernandez may have seemed a gamble at the time, he was scouted extensively, Bebe was Fergie ignoring the form and going with a trusted tipster.
Bar anomalies such as Bebe United have certainly become more meticulous when signing players. Researching everything physical (Owen Hargreaves is the exception that proves the rule here) to the mental (Ditto Gabriel Obertan) the club has to be certain that the player will fit in at a place where scrutiny takes on an almost manic zeal.
Reds everywhere were underwhelmed last summer when our business was concluded. Only three relatively unheard of youngsters came in. No Ozil, no Villa and certainly no Snejider. But as the season rumbled on and we stared in disbelief at the deadline day madness, last summer’s business turned out to be mostly inspired.
Soon the rollercoaster of this season will end. A sunny day in May in the city of rain may very well see the champions of England again. But we all accept that changes are needed to sustain this fantastic run of ours. Are there any indicators to what we can expect this summer?
As outlined value has always been important to United with transfers. But there has been a definite stiffening of transfer policy since the Glazers began calling the shots. We heard soon in the aftermath of Berbatov’s transfer that he would be the last of his kind. No longer would a potential transfer be judged by mere performances on the field. “Sell on” value is now key. The Glazer model of prudence is buying youth; Hernandez and Smalling, supplement that with an outlay on established; Hargreaves, Van Der Saar, Carrick and pay for the established using a flow of fringe players. Zoran Tosic, Gerard Pique (A monstrous mistake) Gussippe Rossi and any first team players that still command a fee.
The young players act as an insurance. Take Nani and Anderson. Signed amongst much fanfare in the summer of ’07, both have retained their transfer value and in Nani’s case enhanced it. Hernandez is now a walking dollar sign for the Florida natives. At 22 with a reputation growing by the minute, he has arguably quadrupled in value this season alone. While nobody wants to reign on the parade of devotion to the little pea, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that in a few years he gets itchy feet and heads to Spain. The circle will have to start again.
Faith in youth is bred in United. It is part of the very fabric of the club. It certainly appeals to Ferguson. Anyone who watched him as that great youth side of ’92 began to flower could see the beaming pride of the man. He spoke of the likes of Paul Ince being a great player but how the great thing in football was when a young boy turned a corner and became a man. It is hard to believe that a man who has ruled with an iron fist endorses this particular transfer policy but his continued defence of the Glazers suggests he does believe it is a prudent one.
Back in that season where the double was won with kids, he pondered whether he should give into the fans craving for a big money signing and splash the cash. Darren Anderton was his choice to replace Andrei Kanchelskis but he thought better of it. He would stick to the plan. The masses craving for flashbulbs and jersey presentations would not sway him.
Edwin Van Der Saar was one of the first players signed under the Glazer ownership though the deal was believed to be in place before the takeover and they hardly wanted to rock the boat further by quibbling over £3.5m.
Would the Dutchman be signed now? If such a question was put to Fergie the answer would be a resounding yes. He has control, yet the name continually being linked with United to replace Edwin is David De Gea. The 20 year old Atletico Madrid keeper is an outstanding prospect. Similar in height and build to Van Der Saar and very good with his feet. So physically he is sound. Mentally we have read about his maturity, how he has only been debating whether or not to take the challenge of Old Trafford not because he doubts his ability but if it is the best step for him at this stage of his career, So mentally again United have done their homework. But can anyone seriously say that his age isn’t a factor? All going well De Gea could be number one for ten years and United would still make a profit when he decides to head home.
Is Fergie comfortable having three goalkeepers with no experience in the Premiership? Isn’t that the one area where established must be a given when deciding on a player. We all remember trying to replace Schmichael, the mere notion that a players sell on value is now a factor in deciding our new goalkeeper is a disturbing one.
There has been some argument that now the Glazers have reduced Fergie’s bullets, he must be more accurate when he is shooting. Gone is the scattergun approach of Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson replaced with quality for half the price in Evra and Vidic. There may be some merit in that argument. If restrictions are in place it would definitely focus his mind. It would help to explain his reluctance to enter the market last year, though the monstrous spending of city and Chelsea is perhaps the real reason.
The signing of Dimitar Berbatov may be an era-defying one for United off the field. Having got his man despite the advances of city on deadline day Fergie hailed it as “A terrific bit of business by the club” He wasn’t referring to value just reminding the owners that sometimes you have to push the boat out.
So get the marquee out? Maybe, but only if the numbers add up
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