It's good to have you back, Gazza

The new Barclays’ Premier League season started the way it ended (and started) last season, with Manchester United winning the trophy at stake through penalty shoot-out thanks to Edwin van der Sar’s heroics (and chokers from the opposing team). Once again, the FA Charity Shield is won by the reigning BPL Champions, Man United.

Man Utd fans would be happy with the performance of the team yesterday as they played well against last season’s FA Cup champions without many of their first-team players. The back-four was as solid as ever, and it is entertaining to see Patrice Evra and Gary Neville bombarding down the flanks. Darren Fletcher and Luis Nani both showed us that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be missed if he was ever to leave the team this, or next season. Paul Scholes has not lost his magical touch despite ageing one year, and John O’Shea vindicated his inclusion in the first team.

One major source of concern would be the striker department. Despite all their hardwork and creative plays, Carlos Tevez and Ryan Giggs are not natural finishers. Wayne Rooney, who was unfit to play yesterday, is more suitable to play off a goal poacher, and I do not think the team can depend on Ronaldo emulating his goal-machine performance last season. Louis Saha is reliable when not injured, but they don’t call “Mr. Glass” for nothing. Frazier Campbell has earned the praise of Sir Alex Ferguson, but he is still unproven. 

A few names have been mentioned to fill in that gap, and none too prominent than the prolific Bulgarian, Dimitar Berbatov. He has proven himself in the Premier League, and he would no doubt ease in to the team. Tottenham Hotspurs, understandably, is reluctant to let him go, considering that they have just sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool. However, we may get to see Berbatov in the famous Red shirt come the kick-off if United match the asking price, and if Spurs sign a new striker,

If the Berbatov deal does not go through, I reckon that Ferguson should sign Roque Santa Cruz. Like Berbatov, he has proven his pedigree in the English league. Plus, he is much younger, and comes at a cheaper price. Paul Ince would however be hard-pressed to sell off his star striker, as he plots the descend of Blackburn Rovers to the top four of the league.

The most shocking news may be that Ferguson is considering signing Thierry Henry. If the deal materialises, the manager can no doubt bring the best out of the aging French striker, just like he did with Henrik Larsson a couple of seasons ago. However, it would be unlikely that Henry will agree to the move. He is a Gunner through and through. Asking him to move to Old Trafford would be like asking David Beckham to move to Liverpool.

There is another mouth-watering option available for Ferguson, Klass-Jan Huntelaar. The player himself has not ruled out a move to Premier League. Considering Ajax Amsterdam’s tendency to sell off their star players (such as Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart, Ryan Babel and Dennis Bergkamp), this deal may likely go through if Ferguson is in for it.

The transfer window is moving agonisingly near to closing to Man United fans, as the team has not made any new major signings. Ferguson has hinted that he would be signing someone possibly this week. Who would it be?