Dark Savante
03 Aug 2006, 10:24 AM
Reports are coming in that Gerard Pique will be sent on loan to Real Zaragoza in the Primera Liga next season where he is guaranteed to play 20games (contractually) for them.
Now, a move to Spain for Pique is bad, imo. He is, imo the most technically complete defender we have at the club after Rio. Almost stereotypically, his passing, dribbling and so on is what you would expect of a Spaniard who is comfortable playing DM or CM, yet, is a centre back by trade.
I don't like the idea of him going to another league and unlearning all the things we've taught him, especially with regard to the aggression and physical presence he will need to get on in the EPL. Why have we not loaned him out to a PL team? There would be no shortage of takers and the kid's development would progress in a way that is beneficial to us. Even if he is exceptional in Spain there is no inkling to how he is likely to do in England. Spanish strikers are as far removed from English ones as possible in Europe, imo. It's such a clean league e.g the number of Harewood's, Saha's, Drogba's Ashcroft's, Dickov's etc, etc are minimal. I don't mean to say what we have here are dirty players (sans Dickov) what I'm saying is that strikers here tend to be fast, powerful and very aggressive; head-on, shoulder to shoulder aggressive. Pique will get none of that in Spain even though he will be up against some of the best strikers in the world. How does that benefit us?
Bringing him back here after a period might cause a culture shock as well, when Ronaldo has been away from us for any period of time he comes back having unlearnt all the things that make him beneficial to us, is this going to happen with Pique as well? It says a lot for the kid that a decent side in the top league in Spain is willing to contractually oblige themselves to starting him in 20games, but I wonder if our plan is to sell him if he is outstanding over there.... perhaps I'm reading to much from a wierd move... *shrugs
As for Rossi, is it better for him to go on loan and probably start every game at the right PL club or stay here and get half chances whilst learning from some of the best in the league? I'm in two minds about this. A half season or a season on loan for this kid could really convince the manager to treat him as a genuine threat to the 1st xi. I don't know what standing SAF regards Rossi in at this moment in time, perhaps he has the rotation with Rooney and Saha theory set, or, for worse, Rossi would be the 4th or 5th choice after Rooney, Saha and Smith..
If we could send him to a side that actually plays football, on the ground, who are in the PL, a loan may be what helps Manchester United the most in the long term i.e looking to January 2007 or even the league campaign 07/08. This again goes back to how highly SAF holds Rossi (genuinely/privately, not the splurge he says to the press) in regard to this term. I still believe we will go for a new striker, but that could mean a Rooney, Saha, ??? and Rossi rotation.
There is absolutely no guarantee Smith comes back the same player he left as and if truth be told I'd much rather see him used as a RM then a striker. I put no stock in Ole's position. There's no way to tell if he can cope with the demands of the league or how the two years out will have affected him...or whether he breaks down again. It's good to see him back, but he truly is a wild card. He may come back as good as ever, but it'd be foolish to expect or demand it. We can't turn to Ole and demand anything from him, imo. I'd have more expectation on Rossi to deliver than Ole this season, for example.
Would you keep Rossi here, or would you loan him out? And what about Pique, is a loan to a Spanish side good for him?
Now, a move to Spain for Pique is bad, imo. He is, imo the most technically complete defender we have at the club after Rio. Almost stereotypically, his passing, dribbling and so on is what you would expect of a Spaniard who is comfortable playing DM or CM, yet, is a centre back by trade.
I don't like the idea of him going to another league and unlearning all the things we've taught him, especially with regard to the aggression and physical presence he will need to get on in the EPL. Why have we not loaned him out to a PL team? There would be no shortage of takers and the kid's development would progress in a way that is beneficial to us. Even if he is exceptional in Spain there is no inkling to how he is likely to do in England. Spanish strikers are as far removed from English ones as possible in Europe, imo. It's such a clean league e.g the number of Harewood's, Saha's, Drogba's Ashcroft's, Dickov's etc, etc are minimal. I don't mean to say what we have here are dirty players (sans Dickov) what I'm saying is that strikers here tend to be fast, powerful and very aggressive; head-on, shoulder to shoulder aggressive. Pique will get none of that in Spain even though he will be up against some of the best strikers in the world. How does that benefit us?
Bringing him back here after a period might cause a culture shock as well, when Ronaldo has been away from us for any period of time he comes back having unlearnt all the things that make him beneficial to us, is this going to happen with Pique as well? It says a lot for the kid that a decent side in the top league in Spain is willing to contractually oblige themselves to starting him in 20games, but I wonder if our plan is to sell him if he is outstanding over there.... perhaps I'm reading to much from a wierd move... *shrugs
As for Rossi, is it better for him to go on loan and probably start every game at the right PL club or stay here and get half chances whilst learning from some of the best in the league? I'm in two minds about this. A half season or a season on loan for this kid could really convince the manager to treat him as a genuine threat to the 1st xi. I don't know what standing SAF regards Rossi in at this moment in time, perhaps he has the rotation with Rooney and Saha theory set, or, for worse, Rossi would be the 4th or 5th choice after Rooney, Saha and Smith..
If we could send him to a side that actually plays football, on the ground, who are in the PL, a loan may be what helps Manchester United the most in the long term i.e looking to January 2007 or even the league campaign 07/08. This again goes back to how highly SAF holds Rossi (genuinely/privately, not the splurge he says to the press) in regard to this term. I still believe we will go for a new striker, but that could mean a Rooney, Saha, ??? and Rossi rotation.
There is absolutely no guarantee Smith comes back the same player he left as and if truth be told I'd much rather see him used as a RM then a striker. I put no stock in Ole's position. There's no way to tell if he can cope with the demands of the league or how the two years out will have affected him...or whether he breaks down again. It's good to see him back, but he truly is a wild card. He may come back as good as ever, but it'd be foolish to expect or demand it. We can't turn to Ole and demand anything from him, imo. I'd have more expectation on Rossi to deliver than Ole this season, for example.
Would you keep Rossi here, or would you loan him out? And what about Pique, is a loan to a Spanish side good for him?