A case for Kagawa

 #LetKagawaPlay

When SAF brought in Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund, it was clear that he had accorded United a creative, attacking midfielder who was on every top team's scouting radar. Kagawa had just completed 2 outstanding seasons as the main midfield maestro in BVB's back to back title winning side. In fact it could be suggested that Dortmund were at that time playing the best football in Europe, making mince meat of their richer and more illustrious arch-rivals, Bayern Munich. Kagawa was the fulcrum of that team especially in the absence of Mario Gotze.


Kagawa is an intelligent player, comfortable on the ball, he is ambidextrous(uses both feet), moves gracefully across the pitch making it hard for defenders to stay with him. He has an impressive passing repertoire which includes both short and long passes, with a sharp often deceptive turn that catches opponents unaware. Shinji has displayed his ability split open defences with well measured passes allowing strikers to have the easiest of finishes. He is also a clever and sure footed finisher, running into the box at just the right times.

So does he have any weaknesses , of course! like any other player Kagawa has some areas he needs to work on; his defending is almost non-existent, Shinji's small frame makes him a push over in a 50-50 challenge and his heading is nothing to talk about. He also seems to tire quicker than most as the game wears on.

Having stated all that, it must be noted that Shinji Kagawa was bought as an attacking player, who can operate across the midfield and upfront mostly as the second striker. Kagawa's goal ratio trumps that of Danny Welbeck, Maroune Fellaini and most notably Tom Cleverly. It has therefore to be asked why these players are preferred ahead of him. It has been suggested that

1) he is not match fit (yet he has gone on to play outstandingly for his country in the same period)

2) he needs to bulk up to compete (When has this ever stopped small talented players from performing. Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Owen,Hernandez, a young Ronaldo, Scholes etc)

3) he does not defend - see the players in 2 above.

The games against Liverpool in which Rooney was missing and City derby in which RVP was missing were perfect moments to bring in Shinji Kagawa to shore up our attack, in both matches United were toothless. However this is not to suggest that Kagawa should only be played when either Rooney or Van Persie are missing, i believe the 3 of them playing together give United their most potent attack. They are all top quality (all better talented than Welbeck and Cleverly) and can not be rated average as some would have us believe. It therefore makes sense that these players would always feature in the big matches when they are fit, with the options of Hernandez, Nani, Zaha, Young and Valencia being the rotational players.

One thing is for sure, the longer Shinji is kept on the bench, the more his form and confidence will be eroded, the more he will be disgruntled and the higher the chances Klopp might succeed to take back to Germany. That would be a sad state of affairs indeed.

It is time David Moyes realised what he has there, trust the little Japanese talisman above the English pair of Cleverly and Welbeck, Let Shinji Kagawa Play

#LetKagwaPlay

The Problem with Arsene Wenger....

There is a river in Egypt, yes that one, it's called de-Nile, Arsene Wenger and some "proudly" Arsenal fans are floating in it. 

The tame performance by Arsenal in the awful capitulation to Aston Villa is the culmination of the simmering rot that has lasted quite some time at the Emirates. It is as if the very stadium itself is the embodiment of the team that promises a delightful experience yet leaves the unfortunate fan with a bad taste in the mouth and empty feeling.

Arsene Wenger can no longer hide behind the construction of the giant stadium as an excuse for his ineptitude in the transfer market nor bury his head in the illusion that financial fair play will suddenly make the Gunners a quality side.

Listening to the professor leaves one wondering whether the French man is managing in the 21st century or is lost in the sentiment of a football world gone, were the likes of Chelsea, City, Monaco and PSG had shallow pockets? The football world has moved on.

The coming of Abramovich's billions saw Chelsea replace Arsenal in the packing order of the premiership and challenge United for the coveted crown. While Sir Alex Ferguson and United responded to the new challenge, Arsene Wenger and his board condemned and refused to acknowledge the shifting market and their response? sell half the team! The departures of Alexander Hleb, Flamini, Robert Pires, Antonio Reyes, Lauren Eten Mayer and Ashley Cole was never followed up with credible signings to compensate. While quality left Arsenal, mediocre players were soon to follow and en masse. 

As if this was not enough City got a new benefactor and like Chelsea before them first claim Arsenal's slot before eventuality landing the title by a breath ahead of United. Predictably United responded, while Arsene and his merry band of "squeeze every profit out of the club" board connived to allow the remaining players of any class such as Nasri and Fabregas to depart for manly clubs. 

Having fallen from the heights of invincibility, Arsene Wenger somehow found a hiding place under the thin veneer of a perennial 4th finish. One would have hoped the Gunners and Wenger would have had a rude awakening in that sickening Champions league double defeat to United when the gulf between the two clubs had become apparent, yet Wenger still somehow managed to keep the storm from brewing.. the cloak of his invincibility was starting to show some few holes.

Even the wake of the growing strength of the 3 teams now inevitably ranked above them, Wenger refused to budge, keeping wages low in a highly competitive market, backing out of any transfer deal that the now "big boys" challenged him and the result, the last day signings of players like Mikel Arteta on the last day after getting him to take a pay cut! It is best not to mention the likes of Squillaci, Djourou, Bendtner and Chamakh. 

It was clear that Arsenal's wage policy was a defiance to a changing world, a defiance that threatened the future of players like Walcott and made their players easy pickings for those willing to spend. The thin veneer having held, it is mesmerising that even the "in Arsene Wenger we trust" crowd could take with an air of resignation the transfer of Robin Van Persie to United! Even a staunch United fan like me was left dumbfounded. 

In the meantime, a similar thing has been festering in the last few seasons with the project at Tottenham Hotspurs gathering momentum and the White Hart lane team gaining ground rapidly on the stagnant gunners and are arguably in better shape now to finish above Arsenal for the first time in history. Of course, the retention of Gareth Bale would be a sure statement of intent.

Just like I heard from a so-called proudly Arsenal fan in Harare's "The Base" sports bar on that fateful day when Benteke slapped the poor boys at the Emirates, it will never happen and "we are a top four team". It left me wondering, has the mental fragility of the team transferred to the fans that they willingly accept, they are no longer worthy to compete for the title against United and are now content with the fight for the champion's league playoff slots against the likes of Spurs? Have they become so satisfied with the loss of their top talent that is continually replaced by players that just over their best(Arteta, Podolski) and purchases of a flurry of young untested players when they already boast a good academy? I tell you it makes very little sense.

Like my beloved Warriors, the gunners seem to be on a rebuilding exercise every year and no more so when it comes to new signings. But unlike the warriors who have a new coach every six months and hence the need to start over, Arsenal boast the longest serving manager in the premier league! 

In what has become typical of the gunners, only a teenager has joined and on a free transfer! And as usual Arsene Wenger has promised they will be significant signings this season, and with a straight face claiming they can afford to buy Wayne Rooney and pay him equivalent wages as United, all this after they asked Arteta to take a pay cut when he was coming from poor Everton! 

The cheeky 40 million plus one 1 pound offer for Liverpool's prized asset, Luis Suarez typified Arsenal warped miserliness and insincerity in seeing through the deal. It tactically provoked an angry response and inevitable hard stance from the Merseysiders, at least now Wenger can say he tried and Liverpool was unwilling to sell, how convenient.

Slowly but surely, some fans are getting restless and want out of that Egyptian river, they stayed away from some games last season and this time round, openly booed Le Professor. Seemingly surprised and lost for words, the professor spewed out what the media struggled to form into an apology to the fans. 

Will we now see more aggressive moves in the market? Will the diminishing quality at the Emirates that has been masked by a playing system in which even mediocre players have managed to stay 2 and 1 point afloat of Spurs in subsequent seasons be improved with true mettle and worthy players? I am not convinced so, Arsene Wenger is stubborn and refuses to bend, but all things that don't bend eventually break.

I pinched myself in pre-season as Wenger declared that his current squad without any addition can challenge for and win the title! Was I witnessing this or dreaming? 

Is it true to say Arsenal's rivals are United, Chelsea or City? No, it is Spurs and a truly re-building Liverpool!

I remain convinced that Arsene Wenger will not budge and that there will be no Rooney or Suarez at the Emirates but some yesteryear stars someone is willing to let go, accompanied by another youth brigade to be groomed for the market, he simply does not have it in him anymore to fight for the current best, be it in signings or the trophies. 

I sincerely hope Benteke gave the Arsenal faithful enough of a wake-up call. Demand more in the market or a new era with a new manager. Nine years without a trophy will easily turn into a decade.

Stand behind David Moyes and BELIEVE!

In preseason, football forums were full of anger against David Moyes because of the draws and losses against mostly Asian teams, where United had decided to go on a marketing tour for more revenues and visibility for the club. 

It was lost to some that David Moyes had not worked with any players of this very large squad except for a teenage Rooney. That he was meeting most of them in person for the first time. It is a mammoth and exciting task for him i am sure.

Most did not want to give consideration to the fact that it was a period to acquaint with the players, to try new things, give chances to young players, that certain players were rested due to prior engagements, that new ideas and combinations be tried.

It was on this premise of inconsequential(being non-competitive) games that some dismissed Moyes. This phenomenon is prevalent in this group to the extent that players like Wayne Rooney are termed overrated even though the facts prove otherwise. Welbeck, Nani, Ferdinand, Evra and Carrick have been ridiculed and dismissed at some point or other.

Players can perform badly, they can lose form, luck can desert them,or maybe in the period of learning, we aught be able to take these things in accessing them, and resist the emotion to dismiss them based on the outcome of one or a few games without looking at mitigating circumstances. Does anyone still, remember the De Gea debacle?? 
Was he not commanding against Swansea? its clear he worked on that side of his game. Let us not be rush especially with young players.

As it stands Moyes has done well in the two games, his team has performed well and gotten good results, however the season is long and the glaring midfield weakness is still apparent, it is early days to put a definitive overall judgement on DM. The same goes for this, his first signing period which transcends him and reflects also on the new chairman as well. Players could still come in before the September 2 deadline although we, the fans, would have preferred them earlier, we must cut the new team some slack, SAF was at United for 27 years and even he did not get every player he wanted!

Siginings or not, we should not forget we have a title winning squad , that is still capable of retaining the title, with capable players, some experienced such as Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, RVP, Rooney, Carrick and some fast improving young players who are coming into their own such as Welbeck, Rafael, De Gea, Evans and Jones. It is well to remember we also have new young players that will need to find their feet in the team; Zaha, Janujaz, Lingard, Keane and Powell come to mind. And others that are to prove their worth, Shinji Kagawa and Young fall into this category. It might be that these player Fletcher included may rise to the occasion and close that gap. 

We are continually outspent by City and Chelsea , yet we retain the ability to compete with a mixture of buying and promoting from the youth and have won 5 out of the last 7 titles , only relinquishig the title to Chelsea by a single point and City on goal difference! We remain the standard by with the EPL is measured and the team to beat. 

As SAF appealed, we must stand behind David Moyes, and as the fans at Swansea showed, it is vital to retain our top player Like Rooney. While we cannot desist from pointing out the errors and where we need to improve, it is well to remember that this season just like the last both Chelsea and City were rated favourites to win the title, yet a season later we stand as champions, and having sat on an 11 point cushion to the effect. I say bring on Chelsea, Liverpool and City in succession, The EPL ends in May 2014 not in September , we are United, we do what we want and this fight has just begun.BELIEVE..... GGMU!