United 2009 - 2010 Season Preview

Now with the various pre-season matches and Charity Shield firmly under our belt, it’s time for a quick peak at the 2009-2010 squad and schedule.

First and foremost, let’s start simple, shall we, and acknowledge our collective joy at having no silly, mid-season jaunts to Japan for the lads. Almost makes up for that night in Rome – yeah, right. Two fewer inconsequential tournaments makes this year’s fixture list an improvement over the 60+ game haul last season, even if it did inspire The Boy Wayne’s all-night singing-binge at Japanese karaoke bar, only to be caught by Sir Alex, nonetheless. Priceless, that Special1TV.

My analysis of the changes this past summer includes the old cliché “addition by subtraction”, as I spent time mulling over and reflecting about the implications of the departures of Manucho and Frazier Campbell (What was your favorite Manucho moment, btw?!).

All sarcasm aside, losing Ronaldo and Tevez definitely counts as a serious body-blow to this campaign, but there’s a grain of truth to the old adage, one that’s not lost on the current squad surely.

Both players ultimately displayed their true colors with, oddly, Tevez looking much the worse for wear near the end. We loved you, our man from Argentina, now go try and crack the City squad on a weekly basis.

Ronaldo’s departure casts an all together different shadow, something so obviously irreplaceable. Pundits pose the same line repeatedly in the media: How does United replace a ninety goal-scorer over three years from the wing?! You can’t, but you can move on.

Fergie rightly points out the clubs’ numerous and successful transitions after huge departures, including the Number 7 specifically, made under his adept tutelage. You can feel the delight in SAF’s eyes when he sees the hunger from the youngsters and the desire to achieve on a new stage from the transfers, as he’s largely satisfied with the current lot.

Think about it: what a massive opportunity for Owen, Macheda, and Welbeck specifically up front and for Nani, Tosic, Park, Valencia, and perhaps Obertan, out wide. Nobody replaces Ronaldo. Nobody. But you just can’t help but feel one or two from this group will emerge to become incredibly special now given the chance. That’s precisely what makes this campaign so compelling and intriguing – as if pursuing a fourth straight title wasn’t enough – wondering what will emerge after the last call of Viva Ronaldo.

The hangover’s gone and the Reds go marching on, on, on!