Obviously I couldn't do a review for every player at United but honourable mentions go to Rafael da Silva, Kiko Macheda, Danny Welbeck and Darren Gibson. If Rafael works on his defending and positioning, he could be a long term success at United. We haven't seen enough of his brother to say a lot about him but how I wish the two could break into the first team proper in a few years' time. Macheda, for me. deserves a Premier League medal. I thought that he contributed as much as anyone as far as our title challenge is concerned. His two late winners against Aston Villa and Sunderland dug us out graves we had dug ourselves. The Villa goal in particular was probably the most important of the season as I think that had we failed to win there, then Liverpool would have wiped out our seven point lead in the space of three games.
For all his successes in his prime, Ran Giggs, the premier league's most decorated payer, never won the PFA Player of the season award. This past season though, he won it! It was more of a case of seeing a genius at work. He reinvented himself to play a sort of attacking midfield role in which he blossomed. His best game for us of the season was the 3-0 victory over Chelsea at home in which he was named man of the match even without scoring. His leadership has also helped the otherwise young squad to mature. The one aspect I enjoyed about Gigs last season was his delivery from set pieces. Vidic scored most if not all his headed goals from corners or free-kicks delivered by the Welshman. I really hope somebody in the team can take up the mantle of best deliverer especially now that he is departing soon. He should still be squad player next season though.
Paul Scholes has not had as good a season as Giggs has had but the Ginger magician has done the job whenever called upon. His best game was the Fulham game at home where he rolled back the years for 90 minutes. Just as he confessed earlier, I think his legs are failing him abit so he can't play as many games as we would all like him to. For Scholes, it's a case of the mind willing but the body weak. That he has been sent off twice this season for handball offences virtually at the goalline means that his body is not supporting his brain-work. Nonetheless, it is having such experienced old heads in our team that makes us a cut above the rest of the Premier League!
Darren Fletcher has made the most of the absence of Owen Hargreaves by making himself a regular in our team. His ability to win the ball for us and challenge for everything in the midfield has made him one of our players of the season. That we badly missed him the Champions League final is testament to his growing importance to Manchester United.
Now a lot has been said about Park Ji Sung's energy and drive that he gives to the United team and I dare not dispute that, but for me, I think the lad needs to score more goals to justify his place in the first team. Often times the lad has had an open net to score but somehow has failed to find the net. I appreciate the fact that he contributes a lot to our team play but you see, Park plays in such a position that more often than not he will have a goal-scoring opportunity. We need to have a team that can get goals from anywhere on the Park. In the 2006/2007 season, United had 20 different goal-scorers by the end of the season. Everybody on pitch was getting on the act--including defenders. The one reason as to why Ronaldo is what he is today is because he took it upon himself to shoot on sight. Park needs to try the same (don't know about his power though). I'm I being too harsh on the player? Well I wouldn't if chances weren't falling for him. The thing is, Park is has that gift of being in the right place at the right time. He has time and time against found himself in scoring positions but I think he has missed most. A case in point was in the Champions League final when twice he had an open goal to tap in the ball but due to mis-judgement and quick reactions, the chances went begging! On the plus side, he does create a lot for the team upfront so that almost makes up for his incompetence in front of goal.
