As debut’s
go, it was not the best start for Manchester United’s David Moyes and Ed
Woodward.
 |
| BAD START: Woodward and Moyes |
The transfer
market, on so many occasions a convenience store for United, was more a
Supermarket Sweep for the club’s new chief executive and manager, not
knowing where to turn next for their prize signing.
The duo,
eager to splash the cash to kick-start the post-Ferguson, David Gill era with a big name, stumbled from
snub to failure until a hair raising deadline-day at least gave them something
to show for their money.
But an
eleventh hour signing of Marouane Fellani, a player who will improve the
champions, wasn’t enough to quell supporters’ anger that more hadn’t been done to
secure a marquee signing, chiefly an architect in midfield.
It was left
to Arsenal, of all clubs, to deliver the final poke in the eye for United when
they swooped for Mesut Ozil – the world’s best number 10, according to Jose
Mourinho – the type of player coveted at Old Trafford since Paul Scholes' legs
dictated he played a deeper role.
United’s impotent summer started back in July when Thiago Alcantara, then a Barcelona
player, opted to join former boss Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich instead of
the Red Devils.
The
narrative at the time was simple: Alcantara says adios to
Europe’s greatest side for the emerging Bavarian super power.
But after observing United’s behaviour since that failed bid, namely the
repeated attempts at prising Cesc Fabregas from his beloved Barcelona and the “derisory” bid
for both Fellani and Leighton Baines, perhaps alarm bells
should have been ringing as early as the Alcantara move.
Has Woodward, whose voracious ability to wring every last dollar, yen and
euro out of sponsors is undeniable, been caught out of his depth when it comes
to getting footballers, not business executives, to sign along the dotted line?
Or was, as Fergie would bark, the market to blame for its bizarre
interpretation of the rule of supply and demand?
The answer is somewhere in between.
The significant signing, or, ironically, non-signing, was that of
Wayne Rooney. Though the striker agitated for a switch to Chelsea, his
refusal to submit a transfer request was kudos to United’s management.
This season’s opening three games revealed how important the
forward's presence at the club is, even if his powers have dimmed.
Rooney still remains a fulcrum in United’s starting 11, and without any
stellar attack-minded signings he is as vital as Robin Van Persie is to the team’s success this season.
Credit must also go to Moyes for allowing interest in Ander Herrera to cool after
reportedly balking at the Spanish midfielder’s £30.5 million price tag.
But leaving the Fellani bid, and a £40 million punt on Real Madrid’s Sami
Khedira as well as rumoured inquiries about Daniele de Rossi and Mesut Ozil, until
late on gave the impression of a scramble, a salvage mission after
promising much but delivering little.
The positive is that Woodward and Moyes should learn to develop a
strategy whereby targets are systemically approached, bids made, signings secured,
weeks before the clock strikes 11 on deadline day.
Out the pairs’ hands is the market itself.
Both bloated and disproportionate, were the transfer market a set of real
market indices, with players listed as the companies, the continuing trend
would be boom, boom, boom.
If one club sells their 20-goal midfielder for £50 million, that must
make your club’s similar asset worth £50 million, right?
Wrong.
Exorbitant fees create a bubble, which is inflated more each time an
over-valued, judged on technical ability, player seals a deal to another club.
No wonder Arsene Wenger has taken so long to stump up his considerable wedge.
Woodward and Moyes moved too slowly this summer and have unintentionally
put themselves in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t position for the
winter’s window.
Damned if they jump straight back into the market, and risk paying a
premium, and damned if they don’t for not making amends for the summer.
One more window like this and the shadows of Sir Alex and Gill would loom
ever larger.
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