Fergie's Transfer Market Blind Spot

Tonight’s Manchester Derby is tantalising for various reasons. Possible title decider, local bragging rights and Top Dogs against Noisy Neighbours.

It’s also a great example of Fergie’s long-standing problem, his Central Midfield.

Take a look at tonight’s team sheet and you will see, in black and white, a problem that has haunted United for years and is due to get worse as the years drag on.

Whereas City’s Centre Midfield will look strong and dependable with touches of genius, United’s will look old slow and at least 5 years out of date.

United’s monumental success over the last 20 years has been built on the stability and quality of his midfield schemers. Namely Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. This was supplemented with able recruits Nicky Butt and Michael Carrick.

The sheer force of nature that these two players were almost guaranteed United points and Championships.

Fergie knows he was lucky to have the 2 together for such a long time. However, he has never been able to adequately replace either. Bringing Paul Scholes out of mothballs has worked but can Fergie replace him?

You could say Fergie has never really had to try to replace Scholes and Keane. They looked like they would go on forever and maybe he thought it would never be his problem.

But he has tried, and the evidence shows he has failed miserably. He built brilliant defences, and harnessed the worlds best Strikers all helped by his passion for wingers. In the middle of the park though he has just had to rely on Keane, Scholes and to a lesser degree Carrick.

Just look at the list of brilliant midfielders to have graced the Premiership.

Gullit, Modric, Mata, Parker, Mascherano, Ballack, Essien, Silva, Vierra, Lampard, Gerrard, Alonso, Deco and Fabregas.

At least 2 of them chose not to come to Old Trafford.

United have had to look to the likes of Djemba Djemba, Fortune, Kleberson, Gibson, Liam Miller and Alan Smith to take on the baton.

Only Veron had an impact and that was lessened because of Schole’s and Keane’s grip on play making him a peripheral figure.

Last year United fans knew, just knew that a new Central Midfielder was needed but Fergie passed up the chance.

It’s time for Fergie to bite the bullet and secure his next generation of generals. If he can’t, it may be time to move on and let someone else have a go.

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