As the hysteria surrounding Robin van Persie’s proposed move to Manchester United reaches fever pitch, there’s already been murmurings of where the Dutchman would rank ability wise within Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad. Would it be he or Rooney that take the title of most talented?
But however good both are as footballers, neither can take the title of United’s most important player. That belongs to Nemanja Vidic. As the big Serbian returns to the fold after a season decimated by injury, his teams’ title hopes have been boosted as much as any impact Van Persie may potentially have. It’s game on back in Manchester.
It’s difficult to look past the 6-1 demolition job Manchester City inflicted on them back in October, as United’s darkest day in recent times. But where as the pain and the symbolism of that day may take a lot longer to exorcise, it was events on a brisk Wednesday night in Basel, which had a more defining effect on their season. United were sent crashing out of the Champions League after an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to FC Basel, failing to reach the group stages for only the third time in 17 years. But that wasn’t the worst of it.
As Swiss striker Marco Streller flew into a challenge with Nemanja Vidic towards the end of the first half, you didn’t even need to listen to the Serbian’s cries of agony to gauge the seriousness of what had just happened. Vidic’s knee twisted at a horrific angle as it got caught under Streller’s body weight and the damage was significant. The diagnosis was a ruptured cruciate ligament and the result was his season curtailed in early December.
Some can point to the fact that United came as close as they did to lifting the title and suggest that maybe he’s not quite the be all and end all of Manchester United. And to an extent, that’s correct. To loose the title on goal difference alone, suggests that some of the critique aimed at Sir Alex Ferguson’s defence was perhaps misguided. Considering how much praise has been heaped upon the much vaunted-pairing of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott at Manchester City, there are massive inconsistencies in the hammering of a defence that finished level on points with them.
But the point is that it could have been so much better for United. Jonny Evans has evolved and matured into the player that many doubted he could be last season. But he still isn’t Nemanja Vidic.
What Vidic brings to the United defence cannot be defined by simply wheeling out results and statistics. He brings a solidity, an air of invincibility to the team. He is a truly formidable competitor and an absolute bedrock for Sir Alex Ferguson. Like all great defenders, Vidic has a presence about him; when he plays, others raise their game and it’s impossible to speculate as to how different things may have been, had the Serbian been available.
Titles are won and lost on the presence of players like Vidic. It seems ironic that as Vidic spent a season on the sidelines, Manchester City charged to Premier League glory with the emergence of their very own version, in Vincent Kompany. And it’s not as if Kompany suddenly morphed into such an outstanding defender overnight. But as City won games, they began developing the sort of winning mentality that defines teams as champions. And similarly to the way Vidic is viewed by his peers, the sight of Kompany on the team sheet became a symbol of solidity.
But Vidic was needed more than ever last season. With the retirement of Edwin van der Sar, Ferguson had to replace a key component of one of the best defences in recent Premier League times. The immersion of a new goalkeeper was always going to be difficult and David de Gea’s entry into a new league and new style of playing was a baptism of fire to say the least. Although to loose the lynchpin of your defence in December did De Gea no favours whatsoever. Maybe Vidic wasn’t firing on quite all cylinders just before his injury, but he could have gone a long way to easing De Gea into his first season of English footballs.
Although two games in particular, seem to stick out as turning points last season. The games against Wigan away and in particular, Everton at home must have had the Serbian throwing his crutches at the television. It seems almost inconceivable that had Vidic been playing, United would have blown a 4-2 lead at home and potentially the Premier League title with it.
The lack of concentration at the back cannot be solely attributed to inexperience- indeed, the waning Rio Ferdinand has more appearances to his name than Vidic and still he played his part in simple mistakes. Jonny Evans showed so much promise last year, but he’s not seen out Premier League titles before. Vidic has. Nothing can be taken away from Manchester City, although they know all too well how much Vidic’s loss weakened their rivals. When Kompany saw out his four-match suspension back in January, City teetered as Stefan Savic struggled to come to the fore. Had that been for four months instead of four games, their destiny could have been very different indeed.
Of course, it’s pointless speaking hypothetically about the impact Vidic could have had. The most important thing is that he’s fit, hungry and raring to go for the new season. And all the indications coming out of the United camp during pre-season, is that it’s all systems go for Vidic.
No one was ever in any doubt of Vidic’s importance to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, but last season was a pretty brutal demonstration to anyone who thought to the contrary. It’s a classic adage, but the best footballers aren’t always the most important players. Vidic may not be capable of ghosting past four defenders and putting it in the top corner but that doesn’t make him any less important than what Robin van Persie is/was to Arsenal.
Signing Robin van Persie will be a major coup for Manchester United. But however nice it’ll be to see him in a United shirt, it’ll feel just as good for fans to see Vidic pulling on the number 15 again.
Is Vidic’s return enough to see swing the Premier League tide back into United’s favour? Let me know what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me how you see it.