Open Letter to Sir Alex Ferguson Concerning Mesut Özil

Dearest Alex,

Oops!

Apologies in assuming we’re now on a first name basis. I do in fact know a few other individuals named ‘Alex’, I should have distinguished you from them, or should I have said them from you? 

Let’s see, there’s Alex Turner (another hero of mine), Alex DeLarge (nothing but trouble), Alex Trebek, and lastly, the Alex P. Keaton a young Michael J. Fox portrayed all those seasons ago on Family Ties. All very different yet important to me at one time in my life for one reason or another as you are as well. I digress, so from here on out and for the duration of our conversation, I’ll respectfully refer to you simply as Sir Ferguson.

Shall we proceed?

How are the Manchester United pocket books looking these days? Do checks bounce or do they fly? Filled to the brim or approaching empty? Likely somewhere in between I bet. I seem to be hearing low murmurs emanating from the north west of England these days, some of which will turn out to be nasty rumors, some will hopefully pan out as new additions to a squad that hopefully won’t finish two points from a nineteenth title. Ouch! I didn’t mean that as disrespect Sir Ferguson, maybe it was a Freudian slip. What I meant was, maybe another new addition besides the ones you’ve already compiled will strengthen the squad. Strengthen Sir Ferguson, strengthen an already strong,…

OK Sir Ferguson, I’ll meet you in friendship halfway. I’ve been seeing a few exciting young prospects approaching the gates of Old Trafford recently that seem to pass fit and have buckets of potential. In fact, they seem to be overflowing. They overflow like a glass of your finest wine after a famous European night Sir Ferguson, you understand. I won’t touch on each one of them for the sake of time, but have you recently peered over the list of your already talented midfielders as of late? Think of it as a review of what’s on offer if you will. Remember Sir Ferguson, proper planning prevents poor performance.

Here’s what I discern upon my review of your already established midfield men: some solid men, some talented ones, some Goliaths and some legends. As age seems to be catching up with a few of them, doth thou deem it appropriate to strengthen in the center of the pitch? Notable newbies upon my count include, a defender and a few strikers, one of them almost totally unknown. If you answered unequivocally yes to my question, I may have the man for you. Can you guess who? Didn’t you watch him recently at Craven Cottage? The World was a buzz with his name this past summer. Did you by chance catch any Germany matches at the World Cup?

It is of course the young Mesut Ozil. Aged 21 years and approaching the end of his tenure at German club Werder Bremen as a grander European platform beckons. The time is now Sir Ferguson to systematically pluck young Ozil from the Bundesliga before his stock continues to rise and you and your round table are outbid next year by the evil, the tortuous and the expansive Real Madrid. They have riches, they have ambition. Yet their appetite is often their downfall. Where would they play young Ozil? Would he languish on the bench for a year or two at Madrid or rivals Barcelona instead of linking your deep-lying midfielders with Sir Rooney? Would he not be a better fit at Old Trafford than the ridiculous demands of the Bernabeu? A sure fit he could be in La Liga, but not at this time, not under the current situations.

Imagine the speed, imagine the pace up front: Rooney, Ozil, Hernandez, Nani, Valencia. It’s attack, Attack, ATTACK!

Hmm, something to ponder. Time, Sir Ferguson, is of the essence. Your true and loyal ginger-headed servant cannot and will not continue to spray passes the way in which he has done for all these years. At some point, his skills along with Father Time will pass by him like a fleeting memory. He’ll retire a legend, but who will replace his precision in the middle of the park? Who will have that extra something when ye ole’ chips are down at the end day?

It’s Ozil Sir Ferguson. He is the man. He has skill and pace and an attacking prowess and overall footballing abilities to take your beloved United into the next decade. He’s as deft as Sir Giggs and has the footwork and ball control of one Leo Messi. He’s a full international with continental experience. His type, Sir Ferguson, is the player of the future. Slight and quick on the turn, smart but also lethal in front of goal and even from distance. Pass, control, excitement and WOW-ness Sir Ferguson, Ozil possesses all these things. Sign him, purchase him and buy him up. You won’t regret a single penny.

In closing Sir Ferguson, I only wish to reiterate the points I’ve already touched on. Time could very well be running out on Ozil’s tremendous ability and availability. Now is the time to spend and spend wisely. If not Ozil, then whom? Your path has now been laid out before you and has left my hungry hands. It’s your choice Sir Ferguson, it always has been. But will you take the path to Ozil?

Sincerely yours,

Jesse