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Over the last few days, all forms of social media have been swamped by the transfer of Schweinsteiger from the Bavarian behemoth to its English counterpart, Manchester United. While United fans (and most neutrals) have been going gaga over this piece of business, I - by birth a pessimist - did not feel a sense of thrill or jolts of excitement course through me.
Were there objective reasons for this apparent expression of apathy or was it simply (as a loyal Gooner) a feeling of innate jealousy associated with a perennial rival getting one over you in the transfer market? The latter didn’t ring true as Arsenal were never in the reckoning for Schweinsteiger.
So, I decided to sit down and make an honest, rational list detailing reasons as to why I don’t view this transfer favourably.
The age factor
Basti turns 31 in another 15 days (at the time of writing this article) which would make him the oldest midfield signing United have made in a long time. To put this in perspective, the average age of United midfielders at the time of their respective signings (at least since the 10/11 season) is 24.3 (The set consisting of Herrera, Angel di Maria, Fellaini, Schneiderlin, Depay, Mata, Young, Zaha and Kagawa).
This would mean the average age of the midfield right now, considering the exits of Zaha and Kagawa, is 26.8. Now add the contribution of the evergreen Carrick and Basti and you have the average inching over 28.
United has always been a team that puts out a young energetic eleven, but this Schweinsteiger signing seems to be bucking the trend. Long since swapping his explosive winger role for a relentless, dynamic and destructive one in central midfield for club and country, one can only wonder as to how much longer he’ll be able to dominate proceedings in the middle of the pitch.
Motivation
8 Bundesliga titles, 7 DFB-Pokals, 2 DFB Ligapokals, 2 DFL-Supercups, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 FIFA World Cup. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more glittering trophy cabinet in the history of football.
In 12 years of senior football, he has won 23 major trophies for club and country. For all the hype about new environments, challenges and styles of play, one has to question his appetite and drive.
The divine Barcelona team that conquered Europe twice in three years was scrutinized by many after Guardiola left realizing that he could no longer lift the team. In all objectivity, a disease that plagued the greatest team of our generation could just as well infect one of the greater players of our generation.
It is in fact puzzling to see Guardiola willing to part with a club talisman and the only conclusions I can draw from this are:
a)Schweinsteiger has lost his motivation to win
b)He is no longer competent enough to play as a holding midfielder for one of the finest clubs in Europe. Either way, it doesn’t sound too good for Manchester United.
The formation at United
A more short-term problem for van Gaal would be the accommodation of Basti in the team; a keystone assumption being Rooney will not be considered for a midfield role. A 4-2-3-1 where he plays as one of the double pivots with Carrick seems like an option, but that would mean only three from di Maria, Depay, Schneiderlin, Young, Fellaini , Mata and (probably) Valencia will get to play.
A 3-4-3 where he partners Herrera seems to be a good bet with Shaw/Young and Valencia/Mata providing ammunition from the flanks and a great combo of Depay, Rooney and di Maria upfront.
However, the downside to this is the complete exclusion of Fellaini, Schneiderlin and Carrick. Rotation may seem like a way out but it could affect the rhythm of the players in the long run.
In addition, fitness (or the lack thereof) has long plagued Schweinsteiger. Van Gaal could, of course, switch to his favoured 3-5-2 with Carrick operating from the base of midfield and Schweinsteiger and Herrera playing ahead of him.
The connotations are endless, but what is plain to see is that United have an abundance of riches in midfield. Probably a bit too much.
Competitors
The man under our microscope is directly competing with a proven performer in the metronomic Michael Carrick, the youthful and tireless Schneiderlin , the technical genius that is Juan Mata and the excellent Ander Herrera.
This is even before Fellaini, a paragon of brutal efficiency, steps in. Schweinsteiger clearly has his work cut out for him. Looking at the competition he’s facing for playing time, one may be forgiven for making the grand assumption that he may (as absurd as it sounds) not clinch a spot in the playing eleven.
Ability to adapt to playing conditions
The blood and thunder of the English Premier League has always been its USP. Its unpredictability implies that teams have to bring their A-game to every single contest. Rough tackles, crunching challenges and liberal referees have been a defining feature of this league.
Toughness has always been one of Schweinsteiger’s stronger suits but one cannot gloss over the fact that he has missed a total of 50 games in the last two seasons alone versus 27 in his previous 6 seasons!
It is sufficiently enough proof I think, to say that his legs have begun to creak and unless he enjoys a late Indian summer a la Pirlo, things aren’t looking too great for him.
Versatility
Half a decade back, Schweinsteiger would have slotted into any position on the pitch. A winger hugging the touchline, an advanced playmaker, a box-to-box, a midfield destroyer, anything.
This could be attributed to his insane work rate, pace, intelligence and impeccable technique. All that remain now are the latter two and, for a team challenging for titles on both the domestic and European front, they are just not enough.
Squad Imbalance
Manchester United, for all their riches in midfield, have been roundly pilloried for their strike force consisting of Rooney, Falcao and van Persie (snigger snigger), more so now that only Rooney remains as a recognized striker (on the increasingly rare occasions where he actually is played upfront).
However, it is their defence that is absurdly comical. Jones, Smalling, Rojo and Shaw are currently by no means Champions League material. Period. Instead of spending money on their already ridiculously talented midfield, United would have done themselves a world of good by signing a proven centre-back.
Hummels and Otamendi being two that I can pick from the top of my head. Given the treasure chest United have, they could have easily used it to sign a couple of great forwards from the plethora of unsatisfied hitmen. Luckily for them, all is not lost.
Now I may have portrayed Schweinsteiger as a no-good has been, but time and time again he has risen, in the past, from physical and emotional trauma, not just to compete but to win.
He will forever be regarded as a champion and who knows, in all probability he will prove this detractor wrong. No one would want to see him walk away in a blaze of glory more than me but facts are facts and judging by what I see, I’d rather remember his magnificent time at FC Bayern Munchen.
