Let Heinze go. He does not fit in with the recent injection of speedy and pacier players in Man Utd with Nani, Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney, and even Heinze’s understudy, Patrice Evra.
The rivalry between the two clubs just got raised a notch with the Gabriel Heinze affair which is now spiraling into a confrontational lawsuit as Heinze himself is assembling a team of lawyers that have worked with Liverpool to force a transfer to Anfield. This pits him directly against Sir Alex who has been adamant in his refusal to accept the Liverpool offer. His contention is that he was made publicly available for transfer to clubs if they met Man Utd’s fees. Privately, Man Utd officials says that the exception was other PL rivals.
The 2005 player of the year is damaging his standing with fans making it virtually untenable for him to stay on at Man Utd. He is already been accused of being an ingrate by Sir Alex who reminded him that they went out of their way to treat his knee last season. Heinze’s concerns are that he is losing his first team place to Evra who shone last season with his pace. A sizzling Evra run with a superlative cross scored Rooney’s emphatic header past a stranded Lehmann in the Arsenal Man Utd rematch.
Frankly, I don’t think Man Utd is losing too much if they lose Heinze. I followed him in the Copa America matches and except for a brief moment of alacrity against Mexico, Heinze looked slow, indecisive, and afraid to tackle. He was particularly bad in the final against Brazil. Zanetti looked leagues sharper with his well time tackles and forays up front.
And it is just plain ridiculous to hang onto a 43 year record since a player crossed over to the other club. Heinze might just mirror Phil Chisnall’s dreadfully ordinary career at Anfield. As for Heinze, he is finished at Man Utd. Its not a West Ham situation where they desperately need Carlos Tevez to save them from relegation.