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Transfer Report Card: Grading Manchester United’s Signings
With the season nearing its end, Goal.com's Chris Myson assesses how the Red Devils’ new signings fared in their first season, and whether the club got it right or wrong in the transfer market.
Mar 30, 2009 7:49:06 PM
EPL: Dimitar Berbatov, West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (PA)
Last season, Manchester United won the Premier League for the tenth time, becoming English champions for the 17th time in total. They were also triumphant in Europe, winning the Champions League on penalties after a dramatic final against Chelsea in Moscow. Only the domestic cups eluded them, so not much needed to change after such a successful season.
One area that manager Sir Alex Ferguson highlighted, though, was the need for another striker. Much of the summer was frustrating for United’s fans, with no signing arriving despite significant speculation. On deadline day, however, Dimitar Berbatov signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75 million plus Fraizer Campbell on a season’s loan.
That brought relief to the Old Trafford faithful, who had spent much of the summer worrying whether star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted an incredible 42 goals last season, would indeed move to Real Madrid after a summer-long transfer saga. Fortunately for them, Ferguson persuaded him to stay.
IN: Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur), Tosic (FK Partizan), De Laet (Stoke City).
OUT: Saha (Everton), Eagles (Burnley), Silvestre (Arsenal), Jones (Hartlepool), Lea (Scunthorpe), Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur, loan), Manucho (Hull City, loan), Simpson (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Heaton (Cardiff City, loan), Brandy (Swansea City, loan), Cathcart (Plymouth, loan), Martin (Nottingham Forest, loan), Zieler (Northampton, loan), Gray (Plymouth, loan), Hewson (Hereford, loan), Cleverley (Leicester City, loan), Chester (Peterborough, loan), Dong (Released).
Berbatov: B-
After his big-money move, the jury remains out on Dimitar Berbatov for a number of United’s fans. The Bulgarian has made a steady start in a Red shirt, ousting Carlos Tevez to cement himself as the regular starter alongside Wayne Rooney in attack. He has scored 13 goals in 33 games – a steady, if not spectacular return. Often, when things are going badly, Berbatov can be an easy scapegoat due to his more relaxed style of play, as unlike Rooney and Tevez, you won’t see him charging down defenders and chasing lost causes – but that simply isn’t his game. A full judgment on Berbatov can be made more easily at the end of the campaign. Will he fire United to more trophies?
Tosic: N/V
Zoran Tosic has hardly featured for United since joining from FK Partizan for a reported fee of £8m. The 21-year-old winger has made just two appearances for the Red Devils, both from the substitutes’ bench, and it seems he will have to wait until next season before being given a chance to prove himself in the Premier League. Then, he will be joined at Old Trafford by former his Partizan team-mate, Adem Ljajic.
De Laet: N/V
The signing of youngster Ritchie De Laet from Stoke City was very much under the radar. The versatile Belgian can play anywhere across the back four and is tipped to have a bright future in the game. In terms of the present, however, De Laet will need to be patient – he is still yet to play for his new side. The exact fee for his services will be calculated depending on his level of appearances and success he enjoys with the European Champions.
Others
Rafael da Silva: B
Rafael da Silva has burst onto the scene at Old Trafford this season, helping to solve what remains a problematic right-back area for the Red Devils. Gary Neville has had major injury problems in the last two years, while Wes Brown has been out for most of this season. As a result, Rafael found himself thrown into the deep end at the start of the campaign but handled it well. He has recently had injury concerns of his own, but has shown enough in his 20 appearances this season to suggest he could be a key player in years to come.
Fabio da Silva: N/V
Unlike his twin brother, Fabio da Silva has found it tougher to make his mark so far. He has not been helped by being injured at the start of the campaign and the fact he is understudy to one of the world’s best left-backs in Patrice Evra. To date, he has made just one appearance, but United’s coaching staff are confident he will be a star of the future.
Rodrigo Possebon: N/V
Rodrigo Possebon was another Brazilian to make his Red Devils debut this season. To begin with it looked like he could play a crucial role, but lost momentum when he had to spend a month out after a horror tackle made by Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz in the League Cup. He has made seven appearances so far this year, but is likely to find it tough to break into the first team in the immediate future, given the resources United have.
FINAL GRADE: B-
After their successful campaign in 2007-08, Manchester United did not need to change much. They were able to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, which was a major boost, before signing Dimitar Berbatov in a big-money deal. While Berbatov is yet to fully prove himself, he was a signing that initially pleased the United fans. Zoran Tosic is a winger with good potential, while youngsters like Rafael da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon have been impressive in the performances they have made.
Chris Myson, Goal.com
With the season nearing its end, Goal.com's Chris Myson assesses how the Red Devils’ new signings fared in their first season, and whether the club got it right or wrong in the transfer market.
Mar 30, 2009 7:49:06 PM
EPL: Dimitar Berbatov, West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (PA)
Last season, Manchester United won the Premier League for the tenth time, becoming English champions for the 17th time in total. They were also triumphant in Europe, winning the Champions League on penalties after a dramatic final against Chelsea in Moscow. Only the domestic cups eluded them, so not much needed to change after such a successful season.
One area that manager Sir Alex Ferguson highlighted, though, was the need for another striker. Much of the summer was frustrating for United’s fans, with no signing arriving despite significant speculation. On deadline day, however, Dimitar Berbatov signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £30.75 million plus Fraizer Campbell on a season’s loan.
That brought relief to the Old Trafford faithful, who had spent much of the summer worrying whether star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted an incredible 42 goals last season, would indeed move to Real Madrid after a summer-long transfer saga. Fortunately for them, Ferguson persuaded him to stay.
IN: Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur), Tosic (FK Partizan), De Laet (Stoke City).
OUT: Saha (Everton), Eagles (Burnley), Silvestre (Arsenal), Jones (Hartlepool), Lea (Scunthorpe), Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur, loan), Manucho (Hull City, loan), Simpson (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Heaton (Cardiff City, loan), Brandy (Swansea City, loan), Cathcart (Plymouth, loan), Martin (Nottingham Forest, loan), Zieler (Northampton, loan), Gray (Plymouth, loan), Hewson (Hereford, loan), Cleverley (Leicester City, loan), Chester (Peterborough, loan), Dong (Released).
Berbatov: B-
After his big-money move, the jury remains out on Dimitar Berbatov for a number of United’s fans. The Bulgarian has made a steady start in a Red shirt, ousting Carlos Tevez to cement himself as the regular starter alongside Wayne Rooney in attack. He has scored 13 goals in 33 games – a steady, if not spectacular return. Often, when things are going badly, Berbatov can be an easy scapegoat due to his more relaxed style of play, as unlike Rooney and Tevez, you won’t see him charging down defenders and chasing lost causes – but that simply isn’t his game. A full judgment on Berbatov can be made more easily at the end of the campaign. Will he fire United to more trophies?
Tosic: N/V
Zoran Tosic has hardly featured for United since joining from FK Partizan for a reported fee of £8m. The 21-year-old winger has made just two appearances for the Red Devils, both from the substitutes’ bench, and it seems he will have to wait until next season before being given a chance to prove himself in the Premier League. Then, he will be joined at Old Trafford by former his Partizan team-mate, Adem Ljajic.
De Laet: N/V
The signing of youngster Ritchie De Laet from Stoke City was very much under the radar. The versatile Belgian can play anywhere across the back four and is tipped to have a bright future in the game. In terms of the present, however, De Laet will need to be patient – he is still yet to play for his new side. The exact fee for his services will be calculated depending on his level of appearances and success he enjoys with the European Champions.
Others
Rafael da Silva: B
Rafael da Silva has burst onto the scene at Old Trafford this season, helping to solve what remains a problematic right-back area for the Red Devils. Gary Neville has had major injury problems in the last two years, while Wes Brown has been out for most of this season. As a result, Rafael found himself thrown into the deep end at the start of the campaign but handled it well. He has recently had injury concerns of his own, but has shown enough in his 20 appearances this season to suggest he could be a key player in years to come.
Fabio da Silva: N/V
Unlike his twin brother, Fabio da Silva has found it tougher to make his mark so far. He has not been helped by being injured at the start of the campaign and the fact he is understudy to one of the world’s best left-backs in Patrice Evra. To date, he has made just one appearance, but United’s coaching staff are confident he will be a star of the future.
Rodrigo Possebon: N/V
Rodrigo Possebon was another Brazilian to make his Red Devils debut this season. To begin with it looked like he could play a crucial role, but lost momentum when he had to spend a month out after a horror tackle made by Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz in the League Cup. He has made seven appearances so far this year, but is likely to find it tough to break into the first team in the immediate future, given the resources United have.
FINAL GRADE: B-
After their successful campaign in 2007-08, Manchester United did not need to change much. They were able to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, which was a major boost, before signing Dimitar Berbatov in a big-money deal. While Berbatov is yet to fully prove himself, he was a signing that initially pleased the United fans. Zoran Tosic is a winger with good potential, while youngsters like Rafael da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon have been impressive in the performances they have made.
Chris Myson, Goal.com