Man United’s long, cool summer

July 21, 2008

Summer in Manchester is usually more eventful than you might imagine. International airlines jet in and out containing men worth millions of Euros, their agents and beautiful girlfriends (or stereotypical Mediterranean mothers).

While the weather is typically drab, the flurry of gossip about potential targets, the burning hot phone lines thronging with fans’ renewing season tickets or scrabbling for the chance to go to pre-season friendlies are usually more than enough to heat things up.

This summer, however, Ferguson and the board have been noticeable by their tranquillity. Of course, Ramon Calderon’s incessant pursuit of Ronaldo will rumble on and on, but United’s handling of it has been typical of the rest of their dealings this summer.

Euro 2008 passed off without any concrete stories linking tournament stars with Old Trafford, instead all the talk was concerning our number 7’s future. United’s response was to state their stance: Ronaldo will not be sold. A stance that will not change, despite the winger’s vague and regular quotes in the press. Other than an unsuccessful report to FIFA about Madrid’s very public courtship of the World’s best player, United have remained very dignified in their approach to the very unsettling experience, simply stating that the forward will not be sold.

In terms of big summer arrivals, it was only last week that firm interest in Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov was brought to our attention. Again, United have remained, to the press at least, very quiet on the matter. Before jetting off to Africa for the club’s latest pre-season tour, Ferguson gave an interview confirming he had made a bid for an un-named player. This un-named player was of course Berbatov, but Ferguson refused to confirm the name. However, The Sun took the liberty of putting words into the boss’s mouth, and in an article on Friday morning they reportedthat Ferguson had confirmed the player to be Berbatov. This of course led to Spurs’ ‘different’ Chairman Daniel Levy’s well-timed report to the FA about United and Liverpool for tapping up their two star forwards.

Ferguson and Gill have responded typically nonchalantly to the affair, merely stating that they’ll co-operate with the FA, and that the quotes did not come from Sir Alex.

The whole summer seems to be struggling along for everybody. Chelsea are trying to keep hold of Lampard, Arsenal are trying to keep hold of Adebayor and Liverpool are still trying to wrestle Gareth Barry from Villa for a few pennies less. While all of these sagas rumble on the teams have been fairly quiet in their pursuit of other players, aside from a few foreign full backs and a couple of rumoured world record bids.

The summer tour is on, with a 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs under their belt United will go on to play two more fixtures before returning home for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s testimonial. Tickets for which are still on sale, as is the case for the visit of Juventus. Most noticeably, however, is availability of season tickets so far past renewal date, as it was last season. So available in fact, that I’ve just booked mine, my first season ticket *does a little dance*.

The news of season tickets still being available for Old Trafford is shocking to many outsiders. However, it is no real surprise considering a lot of those renewing had made the long, expensive trip to Russia less than two months ago, coupled with the fact that United demand all of the money upfront, with no staggered payments possible.

Money seems to be being kept in check around Old Trafford. Last season we were treated to the expensive arrivals of Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves, as well as Carlos Tevez on some sort of loan deal. This season, however, Ferguson (or Malcolm Glazer, perhaps) seems content with our squad of players, and has decided that one target will be acquired in the quest to retain both Premier League and European titles.

It has led to a very quiet summer on the gossip and arrivals front (aside from 16 year old Davide Petrucci’s arrival from our friends in Rome), which has left the fans with little to concern ourselves with, after growing tired of the Ronaldo saga around the 1st of June.

With less than a month to go until the start of the season, and with Ronaldo out of action until October even if he does stay, Olympic call-ups cutting Ferguson’s options, Nani suspended for his idiocy against West Ham and only one potential new name to adorn the back of the replica shirts coming through the door the start of the visit of Newcastle on August 17th might come too soon.

But after last season’s torrid start we could be forgiven for not being too worried about the long run, and of course, a late Summer trip to Monaco will always go some way to appeasing the fans.

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