For Whom The Bell Tolls …
After the debacle at Roots Hall, Sir Alex Ferguson toasted Southend for their success but stressed that he would not be panicked into snap decisions.
He said: “There will be no suicides, no mass sackings, no need for counselling after this. But there will be some recrimination.”
In the aftermath of victory, Southend’s players reported that the hairdryer is still in excellent working order despite its advancing years. It is likely that the ‘recrimination’ of which Ferguson speaks will be aimed mostly at United’s midfield and forward line with the exceptions of Ronaldo and Rooney.
Alan Smith, completely out of touch in his two full appearances this season, may be given more time to show his true worth. Gabriel Heinze, an international defender, who was given the run around by Southend’s lively winger, should also earn the benefit of the doubt.
Both should be aware that they are now being spoken of by the manager as being ’squad players.’ This might come as no surprise to Smith, a sometime forward and midfielder who now interests Championship leaders Cardiff but must be a shock to the Argentine Heinze who now has even more reason to curse his cruel luck with injury and the opportunity this has afforded Patrice Evra.
However, the Carling Cup defeat may sound the death knell for Kieran Richardson and David Jones as United players. Clearly, as captain Wes Brown has indicated, United’s fringe players may struggle now to get a game this season,.
“We didn’t penetrate their defence enough, even though we had a few opportunities” Brown confessed. “It was just a very disappointing night. We are all gutted because it was an opportunity for some of the younger lads to play more games and now we are out.”
Kieran Richardson has been drinking in the last chance saloon for some time now and rarely impresses in United’s colours. This has not stopped the midfielder from being picked for the England squad but perhaps the time has come for Richardson to try his luck elsewhere. The player has talent but has squandered the opportunities to make a name for himself at Old Trafford.
Patrice Evra, newly recalled to the French international squad, has shown this season that it is possible to change perceptions through hard work, ability and desire and should be the poster on the wall of all United’s squad players finding their way barred to the first team.
Given a run of games in a less demanding environment, Richardson migfht flourish as he did at West Brom. But in United’s red, Richardson cannot seem to get his game going. Many fans and commentators have long since lost patience. How soon before Sir Alex does likewise?
David Jones is another who might see salvation in an exit from Old Trafford. The player has been championed in these pages and it was hoped that he would use the Carling Cup opportunity as a aspring board to the first team. Some good early touches against Southend seemed to augur well for the young midfielder but he faded markedly as the game wore on. Granted, Darren Fletcher, the more experienced partner in United’s engine room, also struggled to impose himself on proceedings but Fletcher has more than a 100 first team games under his belt and has less to prove to the manager. Jones, on the other hand, has it all to do and time is running out.
The midfielder has already been loaned to other clubs and is aware that a moment of truth will arrive in January next year. United have given every indication that a new midfielder is top of their spending priorities. Owen Hargreaves is the preferred candidate, which at a stroke would bring both youth and energy to United’s midfield. A new United centre featuring Hargreaves,25 and Carrick 26, would be the midfield pairing of choice for years. That should leave Jones with enough professional motivation to move on. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
