The Contenders for 2012-13: Part 3 By Tushar Sharma @tushsharma

Manchester United F.C

After a trophy less season Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to be back with a bang and he’s kicked off the summer transfer with some good business in bringing on Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund, and Nick Powell from Crewe Alexandra.

Nemanja Vidic will finally be back to captain the side and will be a major boost to United. Defensive slip-ups such as the errors in the 4-4 draw against Everton cost United the title and Vidic will be the man Sir Alex will expect to run a tight ship at the back. Along with a reinvigorated Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans- who brought his A-game in Vidic’s absence last season, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, United looks secure as far as centre-backs are concerned. Rafael Da Silva will be operating at right-back and Smalling and Jones are also adept in that role, with Antonio Valencia also capable of filling in when required. The problem lays in the left-back slot, with Patrice Evra the only senior left back in the squad. Evra’s quality last season suggested he may only have a couple of years left in top-flight football and he recently lost his starting place in the French national team to Gael Clichy. 

Sir Alex will have recognized this as a weak point and reports suggest he is looking to bring in Leighton Baines from Everton. While he is an excellent crosser and a proven threat in set-pieces, Baines’ credentials as being a top European full-back have been questioned. That said, once he plays along-side all the high-quality players in Man United’s side, we might see a new Leighton Baines capable of staking a claim as a truly world-class performer.

In the centre of the park, United has good passers in Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Tom Cleverley and Anderson. The 2012-13 season promises to be a challenge for Anderson, and another disappointing season could end his United career, with some suggestions as early as January if he fails to make an impact.

Darren Fletcher’s career unfortunately looks to be all but over, and without him United lacks a box-to-box midfielder, and barring a recovery from his chronic bowel condition, he may have played his last game for United.

United, while flush with good passers and forward thinking midfielders, doesn’t have anyone in the holding-midfielder role and this may have cost United, especially in the Champions League where the defense wasn’t offered any protection and was at times put to shame by lesser teams. Sir Alex, though will not be looking to bring in a holding midfielder as he insists there has never been room for a midfield tank in United’s midfield.

Up front, Rooney will lead the charge and Kagawa will most likely be deployed behind him linking up passes from the midfield and providing deadly passes in the final third. Kagawa isn’t afraid of taking a shot on goal and had a respectable goal tally during his tenure in Germany. Kagawa’s arrival will also allow Rooney to play as an out-and-out striker, a role in which he has proven to be capable of decimating opposition defenses.  Valencia, Nani and Young will continue to provide quality out wide with Ryan Giggs still capable of turning back the years and playing a role in the midfield. In Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez United continue to have two good strikers with a knack of scoring important goals and with Berbatov’s departure unresolved, he may yet have a role to play, though he will frustratingly find himself way down the pecking order.

Sir Alex recently said he is looking into bringing in one or two new faces, out of which one will definitely be a left back. After losing out on the title just by goal difference last season, he will not be making many drastic changes and United will continue to play in a 4-4-2 formation, which can be modified to a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1 depending on the match day line-up.

Manchester City F.C

The Citizens have surprisingly not flexed their financial muscle in the transfer market so far, and this may be accorded to the fact that they need to cut down on their wage bill before making any more signings. This is pretty much what you get for offering to pay a player his weight in gold.

With Adebayor set to sign for Spurs, and Wayne Bridge moving to Brighton, City are looking to sell Roque Santa Cruz quickly so they can start their transfer dealings.  The futures of Mario Ballotelli and Carlos Tevez can never be said to be certain as they both are continuously linked with moves to Italy.  Edin Dzeko is also attracting interest across Europe and the sale of any one of these players will most likely be City’s cue to table a bid for a certain Robin Van Persie.

Mancini’s side will continue to challenge for top honors next season with his array of superstars capable of beating anyone on their day.