SOCCERVOICE.COM, 12.10.2009
The shirt, power, pressure
or nothing ?

The Man Utd shirt, does it have an impact on performances or is it just a great symbol for the fans
 

Man Utd have over the years won a number of great trophies. The player with number 7 have always played a vital role and often been the difference between failure and success.

We all know how special the Man Utd shirt with a 7 on the back is. George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all played in the number 7 shirt.

Players such as Johnny Giles, Steve Coppell and Bryan Robson are other fantastic footballers who represented Man Utd with number 7.

Giles played in this shirt when Man Utd won the 1963 FA Cup, George Best was a key and very influential when Man Utd won the league in 1967 and the Eropean Cup a year later.

Steve Coppell played a vital part in the 1977 FA Cup final and also had the number 7 shirt in the lost finals against Southampton in 1976 and Arsenal in 1979.

Robson had number 7 during the the 80's and early 90's. He was still at the club when Man Utd won their first Premier League trophy.

The fact that one of their best players of all time was still around and had the powerfull number 7 shirt, could it have been a vital reason for the first league win in 26 years.

When Robson left, Eric Cantona inherited the shirt. He had allready shown his influence in the 1992-93 season and it was natural that he was the next in line to get this shirt.

Michael Owen is the player who wears the number 7 this season, but has the shirt been given to the wrong man.

This shirt is not ment to be warming the bench, it should be out there every week on a player that makes a difference between success and failure.

No offense to Michael Owen, but he is not worthy to wear the number 7 shirt, not yet.

The Man Utd number 7 has a special place in the clubs history, and has Sir Alex underestimated the power of such a special shirt. Could Man Utd lose out on major trophies just because a shirt has been given to the wrong player ?

The fact that Man Utd no longer recognise this shirt by not giving it to one of their best players, makes you wonder.

But a moment of magic has allready been shown with this shirt this season. Owen came of the bench in the derby against Man City and scored the fourth and winning goal 6 minutes on overtime.

The big question is, will Man Utd be left without a single trophy this season, with number 7 on the back of a player that is more of sub than a regular first teamer ?

Man Utd had a bad season in 2004-2005 ending 3rd in the Premier League, runners-up in the FA Cup and no trophies were captured.

A certain Christiano Ronaldo had the famous number 7. He started 25 league games and came on 8 times as sub. He was a young player at the age 20 and only in his 2nd season at the club.

This was also his first season with number 7. David Beckham was the man he replaced and not an easy task for the young Ronaldo.

Ronaldo used a season to be "number 7", but has Sir Alex missed the fact that he cannot give this shirt to a player that is not ready, it will see him miss his trophy hunt.

The perfect way to have been able to lift trophies would have been to have kept Beckham for one more year and given Ronaldo the "number 7" a season after a big trophy hunt.

This shows that you have to give special shirts to special players and that they have to be ready for the  Man Utd number 7.

Michael Owen can with this shirt be given power, strength and belief. The fact that he wears "number 7" could helph him in becoming a legend. But if you look back in history, it has not been the right timing.

If Man Utd lose out on the major trophies, this could also be the answer to why they are not winning.

So the question is, has Sir Alex underestimated the power of this special shirt, or will Michael Owen destroy our prediction and belief that the shirt play a part, given to the right player at the right time.