Sir Alex has never really replaced like for like. in case of ronaldo, it wasnt even possible to do so. We could have signed more than 1 player but at which position. CM, imo was pretty well stocked. Scholes, even though nearing his end, was performing in most games and along with carrick and fletch and an upcoming anderson were a group of 4 really good midfielders.
Well i admitted he couldn't replace Ronaldo, but you simply cannot only sign one winger, as a replacement for all the attributes ronaldo brought. He should have signed another striker, or a goalscoring midfielder. He didn't and imo it cost us the title that year.
See i don't agree that Fletcher or Anderson at that time can be put into the very good midfielder category. The bottom line was they were not as good as modric, who was bossing midfields at international level reguallry and was available for only 15m. This is my point Varun, we have simply made do, when we should have acted and since City's emergence it is nowe harder than ever to sign the quality of player we need. We did not act quickly enough back then and we are paying the price for that now.
Regarding our business this summer, i dont think we'd have gone for Jones had other clubs not stepped in. Much like the rooney transfer. Just too good a talent to let go of. Ideally, i think he'd have wanted him at blackburn for another year. Likewise, to a smaller extent, with smalling. HAd we not gone for him, he'd be an arsenal player now. Considering Evans shaky(to say the least) form and Rio's injury record, it'd have been suicide to not buy either of them when we were selling brown and oshea at the same time.
I agree completely Varun, but i fail to see how the logic used in the defence scenario is somehow not applicable to the midfield. Not signing someone before this summer has left us in this position, suicide did u call such inaction with regards to our defence, i say the same regarding the midfield.
As i said, he did want to strengthen this summer. for some reason or the other, his primary targets couldnt be acquired. instead of wasting the 30mil on a panic buy, he decided to keep it for the upcoming windows. the sensible thing to do imo. I'd have been very disappointed had we gone out and got a henderson for 20mil. I'd rather wait for a window and get quality in rather than waste the cash because unlike the likes of Real, City and Barca, we dont have the luxury of flunking cash every window and getting rid of failures that cost huge amounts.
For me we have already waited too many windows, squeezing ever bit of blood out of Scholes instead of just signing someone. We have not strengthened the one area that could have improved us dramatically, and for that reason we have stood still. the problem with standing still is that you can be overtaken, which is what city appear to have done this season.
With their money and ever increasing possibility of success, signing the best will be harder than ever, and imo if City do win the title this season we will only have ourselves and our lack of action to blame.