Snow White and the seven dwarfs…

By tdf, May 4, 2014

Everyone has had their say on the european exit, and there remains only recycling efforts to sustain the flames, which should be left alone. Instead, we should focus upon the phoenix that will rise from the ashes.

Which begins perhaps with the dwarfs…or by his other name(s) Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha. To most he is known simply as Nani.

The explosive winger was close to a move to Juve at the end of the January transfer window, yet time and his physical ailments thwarted the transfer. However, since receiving treatment in Bologna in February, it appears we have moved forward with the proposal and if far from legitimate sources are to be believed, Beppe has pulled another Tevez out the hat; agreeing a very reasonable fee with bonuses on top to be paid for appearances.

We picked up Carlitos for a wonderfully cheap figure around 10mEU, with added gold nuggets for his/ our achievements. Considering that Nani has played merely 11 premiership games this season, it is believable that the transfer fee could well be considerably lower than many would expect.

Considering the shocking results of Moyes’ tenure at the club, a major renovation of the Man U squad will certainly be taking place in the near future, and it makes sense for Nani to be eager to join a club where he will find regular champions league football as well as domestic titles.

Injuries have kept him out of contention for a fair portion of the current campaign, yet so has former Man U manager David Moyes’ lack of love for the Portuguese flank wizard. It was a similar story the season before, and we must go back to the 11/12 outing to find his output for the season reaching 51 games for club and country, offering 12 goals and a phenomenal 18 assists.

I know the player well, given my long-held support of the premiership and enjoyment of Manchester United under Ferguson. Nani has in abundance the ability to trick, to channel brilliant guile, dribble, shoot, dazzle with his quick feet and exciting acceleration. All of which we lack in the final third. Has he recovered fully from his injuries?? I assume so.

Should we be less than enthusiastic about signing what could be seen a premier league reject?? I cast aside out of hand such pessimism. In fact, I think we are taking, if the transfer emerges on the shores of reality (which I believe it will), a carefully calculated risk. These are the transfers we are forced to ponder and decide whether to invest a small amount in, and hope for the best. Unable to compete for the obvious stars with the billionaires we must look to the players presently off the radars of our rivals in the elite pack as well as those who have shown brilliance, yet strayed from the path of success in recent times are find themselves in need of redemption.

Nani at his best is useless defensively, but top drawer in the final third. He would prove not only a very interesting signing, but a clear signal of the club’s desire to improve our potency in areas where we presently struggle.

We lack natural dribblers, player always eager to take on opponents with the ball at their feet and capable of moments of brilliance. On these scores, Nani fits the bill.

He would not be our major signing of the Summer. That will be (I hope) Alexis Sanchez. As well as one or more of Lulic, Romulo, Pereyra, Menez. Which seems a sensible and very possible list. However added to that could well be Cerci. As well as one of Ranocchia/Paletta/Hummels. Rubinho will leave and a youngster will arrive as third choice, someone such as Kevin Trapp. Who can be tutored by Buffon, Storari and coach Filippi.

Nani would be a very promising start to our efforts to improve the squad and allow Conte to adopt different tactics, which incorporate more quality on the wings up top. Others of a similar pedigree need to be added. And they will. Yet for now, let us look forward to the expected Scudetto party tomorrow evening in Turin and smile at Beppe’s fancy footwork in the transfer market..

In other news…Our primavera have qualified for the league finals. We earned our second spot finished courtesy of an own goal bringing us a draw in a worrisome 1-1 home tie against 3rd placed Novara. Cevallos missed a penalty, our goalkeeper Vanucchi was sent off and we maintained our position due to the Sampdoria’s awful 1-3 loss away to Bologna. We now have a few weeks to sort out a shocking defence, unhinged midfield and average attack. Grosso has performed well enough since taking the managerial reigns from Zanchetta, but overall, it has been a very disappointing season, with only the league title left to aim for after been dumped out of all other competitions. Still, we are in the mix, and if we can claim the title, much will be forgiven, although Grosso will not be the manager next season. It will probably be Della Morte (coach of our U17s).