Manchester United - Queiroz holds the key

One aspect of Alex Ferguson’s transfer dealings in recent years has been his buying of players that can take a year or two to integrate. And in some cases are still integrating. Most notable was his success with Cristian Ronaldo who has just got better and better. Posibly also this has coincided with the arrival and influence of Carlos Queiroz. So it may be his lesser purchases will be the ones of most significance as this team seems to grow. He has won the double, so how far is there room for immediate improvement. He admires the Lyon striker Karim Benzema but he has his own dog of war in Carlos Tevez who is a proven force in the Premiership. He still has work to do on players like Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick. And talking of Hargreaves was that not the same courting of a player at distance that United are complaining of from Real Madrid now?

All of which presumes that the two Portugese are still at Old Trafford come August. Queroz would be a big loss if he goes to Portugal. He papers over the cracks that age might otherwise expose in the great man. Like Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, they seem to have hit a stride of working together. If Ronaldo goes to Real Madrid, there is a replacement albeit the unfinished article in Nani. Forty two goals are pretty irreplaceable from any other player let alone winger. But Ronaldo seems to have upset the fans now too and if he is to stay it will have to be another round of redemption via the same kind of silent humble pie after the incident with Wayne Rooney two years ago ie: let your feet do the talking.

More than the goals, Ferguson would miss his mucker Queiroz and the combined effect could be fatal to their Premiership chances. Other cracks in the United armour are that faithful servants like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are not getting any younger in a game that is hungry for the exuberance of youth. They may still have roles to play as impact players or to settle things down but their days dominating the grass is passing.

If the Portugese stay, they will be the team to beat.

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