Vieira? Why Not Keane Back To United?

Arsenal - Patrick Vieira, 2000-2004
Ever since Vieira left Arsenal in 2005, they have lacked a convincing, muscular presence in the heart of their midfield. Mathieu Flamini gave it a stab for a season before doing one to Italy, but dogged and tough as he was, he was nowhere near as commanding as Vieira. Abou Diaby and even Fabrice Muamba were touted as 'the next Vieira' but that could only be down to the physical similarities. Apart from anything else, a prime-era Vieira would take the heat off Cesc Fabregas for a while, allowing him not only creative freedom but lessening some of the leadership burden.

Wenger did not technically sign Vieira back in 1996, because the midfielder joined before the Frenchman officially took over, but it was at his request that Vieira was plucked from AC Milan's reserves. The combination of Vieira and Emmanuel Petit was a fearsome one until the latter was sold in 2000, and it was only after his ami's departure that Vieira reached his peak. How Arsenal could do with that now.


Aston Villa - Paul McGrath, 1989-1994
With the retirement of Martin Laursen, suddenly the Aston Villa defence looks very thin. Indeed, a look at their squad list reveals only two specialist centre-backs since the sale of Zat Knight, so anyone would do, but if we're playing with space/time here, why not get the best? Laursen - and Olof Mellberg before him - offered more than just heading and tackling. They were leaders, calming heroes that the rest of the side could look to. While his off-pitch problems weren't exactly the best example for young players, McGrath was a prince, nay a king, nay a god on the field.

Discarded by Manchester United as a drunk and a waster, Villa signed him in 1989 and produced some of the most brilliant performances most had ever seen from a defender. Despite his largely disintegrated knee, McGrath made a mockery of his hasty disposal by United, almost helping Villa to the Premier League title in 1993, and winning the PFA Player of the Year award that season too. Never mind Villa, everyone would love to see McGrath back.


Chelsea - Claude Makelele, 2003-2006
After looking at the current Chelsea squad, our initial thought was that they need width, so a 2004/5 Arjen Robben or Damien Duff would be ideal. However, Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear in his pre-season friendlies that he intends to start the season with Frank Lampard at the point of a midfield diamond. But who to play at the base? John Obi Mikel has still to convince, while Michael Essien is better deployed further up field and even Deco has been tried there, which seems like a non-starter. Who better to fill the Makelele role than the man himself?

Chelsea purchased Makekele from Real Madrid in the summer of 2003 after he virtually went on strike when his request for a new contract was given short shrift. This was not long after one D.Beckham arrived at the Bernebeu, and while the Real bean-counters popped the champagne corks, Zinedine Zidane had this to say: "Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?" Quite so.


Everton - Duncan Ferguson, 1994-1998
Everton's two main current deficiencies are at right-back and up front, and since we can't think of any outstanding defenders to have filled that position in recent times, Duncan Disorderly is the man for this list. While Jo, Yakubu and Louis Saha are pretty handy forwards, Everton lack a real focal point to their attack. One can only speculate how Tim Cahill and Ferguson at his aggressive and colossal peak would combine, but it's a pretty devastating prospect.

Ferguson's peak years were at an often fallow time for Everton. Their 1995 FA Cup win aside, Everton largely struggled in the league, escaping relegation a couple of times and rarely threatening the top half. Still, a constant was Ferguson's forceful - often too forceful - presence up front. His goal-scoring record of roughly one in three is decent without being spectacular, but Ferguson's appeal wasn't in his poaching. He was a force of nature with a bullet header, a giant with whom burglars should not mess. Ferguson added to the current Everton side would be a prospect indeed.


Liverpool - Gary McAllister, circa 2001
With Xabi Alonso now with one foot out the Anfield exit, Liverpool need a reasonably tough central midfielder with a cool head and a good range of passing. Who better than Gary Mac in his 2001 pomp? A surprisingly graceful and calming presence in the middle of the park, McAllister was actually very similar to Alonso. People tend to overlook that Rafa Benitez's favoured formation and freedom of Steven Gerrard depends on two deeper-lying midfielders, but also on some creativity coming from that position. Again, step forward (in time) a 2001 Gary Mac.

It seemed like a very odd signing when Gerard Houllier gave the 35-year-old McAllister a contract after he left Coventry in 2000, but boy was everyone very quickly proved wrong. Didn't make a great start after being sent off as the result of some eccentric refereeing against Arsenal, but for once Houllier was correct in the assessment of one of his purchases by declaring McAllister his "most inspirational signing".


Manchester United - Roy Keane, 1995-2001
A look at the current Manchester United midfield reveals a lot of quality, some good passing but not an awful lot of bite. Darren Fletcher is tenacious but not very imposing, Anderson likewise, while Owen Hargreaves is constantly broken. They need someone to grab a game by the balls, to drag the team through adversity. Would United have surrendered quite so limply in the Champions League final with Keane in the side? No chance.

Signed when still raw and wild in 1993, Keane was honed into perhaps the finest midfielder of his generation by Alex Ferguson over the following few years. It's been said plenty of times before, but his performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final against Juventus was extraordinary. Condemned to miss the final, Keane crushed Juve's spirit almost single-handedly. "It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field," said Ferguson of that game. "He inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player." How United could have done with that in Rome.


Tottenham - Sol Campbell, 1998-2001
Harry Redknapp's season of complaints opened with an assessment of his central defensive resources this week. "Jonathan Woodgate has flown out to America to see a specialist about his groin and Ledley hasn't kicked a ball yet this season," said Redknapp. Add to that a struggling (in a number of ways) Michael Dawson, and a centre-half is Tottenham's priority, never mind bringing in another striker. Before his defection to Arsenal in 2001, Campbell was a colossus in the heart of the Spurs defence, and a reliable rock is exactly what they need now. In fact, with Campbell available for nothing, he would be a decent signing now. If only history could be forgotten.

When Luis Figo played his first game for Real Madrid back at Barcelona, as well as assorted missiles being hurled at his person, some Barca fans unfurled a banner that said 'We hate you so because we loved you so'. That could equally be applied to Campbell and Spurs fans. If he wasn't such a vital part of their side when he left in 2001, those chants would never have been sung. Starting out flitting between defence and midfield, with even the odd game up front, Campbell settled in to his centre-half position and by the time Gary Mabbutt retired it was he who was their most important defender. It was the method of his departure rather than the departure itself that irked Spurs fans so, but could they forgive for some quality defensive cover?

Nick Miller