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29 March 2024

Yaya Toure, Guardiola to save Man United

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia (left) challenges Manchester City's Yaya Toure during their English Premier League smatch at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on April 30, 2012. (FILE)

Published
By Staff

It’s a moment of reckoning for Manchester United and Manchester United fans. 

More importantly it could be a watershed moment for Manchester United management.

The threat from the neighbours is here to stay. And may linger longer than even the Jose Mourinho-Chelsea era.

Click to read Man Utd renew bid for Powell

The youth policy that brought in the D’silva brothers, Anderson, Tom Cleverley and the near-departed Paul Pogba, among others, will not do.

What is needed is a big buy. Not big necessarily in terms of money, but certainly in terms of proven potential and track record.

United need an experienced 27-year old to anchor their hopes of wresting the title back from Manchester City, not a clutch of young blood.

Click to read Spurs target Vertonghen

The decision not to bring in Wesley Sneijder now looks fatal.

The fact that City have the spending power to derail any United bid only serves to augment the challenge Old Trafford faces.

Eden Hazard may well be City-bound and Luka Modric may choose Chelsea.

Click to read Arsenal to steal Dempsey

Most for Sir Alex Ferguson’s targets are young guns in the tried and tested United formula – buy them young, make them great, sell them for a profit.

That may not work anymore.

It is time for United to lay down a marker in the mould of Manchester City and perhaps, to some extent Chelsea.

Click to read Chelsea's Drogba heading for China

Dither any longer and United face an Arsenal like meltdown, or worse, a Liverpool-style banishment.

If City could steal Samir Nasri from Arsenal, then Patrick Viera, what can United steal from City.

The one man that United need that City have is Yaya Toure.

He has, for all practical purposes, won the title for City.

There are two answers to Manchester United’s ills.

Both have a Barcelona background.

Both have proven pedigree.

Pep Guardiola and Yaya Toure.

It is time for Sir Alex’s bravest move of all.

To make an audacious bid for Yaya Toure and pave the way for Guardiola.