Coming back to life

Still lots of van Persie stuff about, plus the odd season preview to get us moist for the weekend (and/or Monday).

We'll start with an article that I spent some time slagging off last night.  It's a piece by David Conn on how bad the Glazers are and on buying van Persie.  It's just the same old debt story, but with added striker.  I realise that keeping the rubbishness of the Glazers in the public consciousness is desirable, but do I have to keep reading the same old stuff over and over and over again, and not only that, must I put up with everyone telling me how great an article is just because it criticises the Glazers?  That doesn't make it great.  It doesn't take a genius, and it's not like the papers are full of "the Glazers are great" articles that need counter-balancing.  Anyway, I made the essential criticisms of the article yesterday, so I should stop ranting now...

In The Sun, Steven Howard looks forward to the new season and points to another reason why van Persie is a good signing for us - he'll take pressure off Rooney:

It is also his role in taking the weight off Wayne Rooney that will be equally decisive in United finishing on top.

For far too long United’s success or failure has hinged on both Rooney’s form and state of mind.

If you stopped him, you stopped United.

It culminated in his famous transfer request a few years ago because Alex Ferguson wasn’t buying the players Rooney thought he should.

The England striker can’t complain now.

He also places Chelsea to finish second above City and, given how much he seems to be looking forward to the new season, must have forgotten that, only last week, he was writing about how rubbish football was compared to those brilliant Olympics.

Then again, everyone does seem to have moved on and the Olympics are just a distant memory, except for Brian Woolnough in The Daily Star, whose season preview piece is all like, "football, do I have to..." -

The Olympics mesmerised us for a fantastic fortnight.

Now it’s back to football. But can it deliver? Somehow I doubt it.

Well piss off and stop writing about it then.

The first quotes from Sir Alex on van Persie are in the papers this morning, and he seems to be looking forward to having him in the team, from The Sun:

He said: “It’s great to have a player of Van Persie’s quality to come into the squad as it is. I’m really pleased.

"Rooney and Van Persie are two fantastic players and it’s tremendous to have both of them.

“What it gives us is more strength and combinations up front.

“Going back to the 1999 season, we had Yorke, Cole, Sheringham and Solskjaer — the four best strikers in Europe.

“We’re getting towards that now, with Wayne, Robin, Chicharito and Danny Welbeck.

“It’s a fantastic collection of players. I just hope that I pick the right combinations.”

Jamie Redknapp offers his opinion in The Mail, looking at Hernandez and Welbeck:

Welbeck and Hernandez might be a bit put out by Van Persie’s arrival but that’s football. They’ve been set a challenge to get in the team and they will do so because football is such a squad game these days.

But Hernandez might have to become the new Solskjaer, making an impact off the bench. A year ago some people, incuding me, were talking about him as the signing of the decade but last season was so up and down for him. He’s the best finisher of the four but his link play lets him down.

 This article in The Independent has some quotes from Rooney:

"Tom was fantastic at the Olympics," Rooney said. "He worked really hard last season to try to get back fit. He started the season really well last season but, unfortunately, got injured. He worked hard to get back fit and it's shown now that the Olympics have helped him.

"He looked fit and sharp last night and had a great game for England. That's only going to be good for us and I'm looking forward to getting him back playing.

"I don't set myself targets of goals or whatever. I just want to be playing and trying to help the team win games and be successful. That's the main thing for us as a team."

Martin Hardy in The Independent has a very optimistic look at our season's prospects:

United with that kind of firepower become a different, more dangerous animal and it is worth remembering that City won the title only by virtue of goal difference. You would be brave to bet on them outscoring their rivals this time, as they attempt to defend English football's top prize for the first time in 44 years, something they have never done successfully.

Rio Ferdinand is also looking forward to the arrival of van Persie:

"There's been many a player that's come to Manchester United and not met expectations. Expectations here are higher than anywhere else in the world – some do brilliantly and some don't fare quite so well.

"I've got no worries about Robin, though. He's a very good professional and that will only work in his favour at this club. I know his main aim won't be a selfish one – it will be all about winning trophies. And if he can score goals like he did last year then we'll all be smiling come the end of the season.

"The manager has always said to me that the transfer window isn't always about who you bring in but it's as much about shaking up the changing room. And I think that's definitely something that's going to happen this time. We're bringing a big name into an environment that already has a lot of big names, especially in the forward department, so it's definitely going to shake things up. But it's going to be great for the squad."

Robbie Savage also has an opinion, though I can't imagine you'd want to read it.