Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography recently revealed that Wayne Rooney, much to the Scotsman’s annoyance, told him he should have signed Mesut Ozil. “It was none of his business who we should have gone for,” wrote Ferguson.

On top of that, current Manchester United manager David Moyes admitted yesterday that he could have signed Ozil before Arsenal did.  “We didn’t need that position at the time. I didn’t even say it was an interest, it was put to us and it was just something at the time we didn’t need,” said Moyes. “We we had Shinji Kagawa and Wayne Rooney and people of a similar ilk so it wasn’t quite what we required at that time. We were looking at different positions.”

Rooney, who played most of the 2009/10 season as a lone striker, felt that he lacked creative support in the final third and a specialist no. 10 – and quite a good one too – like Ozil could provide him that. Ferguson, on the contrary, was planning to convert Rooney into that missing no. 10, not as creative as Ozil, but good enough to link attack and midfield and still able to provide a second striking option. Ferguson was the manager, so his decision stood. Instead of Ozil the playmaker, Javier Hernandez the poacher was snapped up and Rooney was converted to a ‘second striker’.

Three years have passed since then. United’s squad has changed, their coaching staff has changed, even their manager has changed. But the formation remains the same. United still play two forwards up front, one deeper than the other. Rooney’s importance in that no. 10 role might have lessened towards the end of last season, but Ferguson’s final Premier League title was largely engineered by the performances of both van Persie and Rooney, who were often played together. David Moyes must have felt that that continuing with that successful blueprint would be the right way to go.

And then there is Shinji Kagawa who, when signed in the summer of 2012, was believed to herald a new tactical era at Old Trafford. The sense was that Ferguson would finally break away from his philosophy of playing two strikers up front, fielding Kagawa, a proper playmaker, behind Rooney. It is true, however, that following the loss of Park Ji-Sung (who left United in the same window), some suggested that the signing of the Japan international was simply an effort to continue carrying favor in the lucrative market of Asia. But this opinion was quickly rebuffed by most who argued that Kagawa, who, having racked up 17 goals and 10 assists in a historic double-winning season at Dortmund, was bought for “footballing reasons”.

Yet, with the passage of time, the cynics’ view seemed to gain more and more credence. All those notions of Kagawa being the first out-and-out trequartista in the Ferguson era soon faded into obscurity. Rooney continued to play as the deep-lying forward, behind the newly signed Robin van Persie, while Kagawa was frequently dropped or fielded in an wide left position, where he looked uncomfortable more often than not. While it’s true that Kagawa did get a few games in his favored “hole”, particularly towards the end of last season, it was more down to Rooney’s lack of form or fitness than Kagawa’s merit.

Some people opined that van Persie’s ‘unplanned’ recruitment made it difficult for Ferguson to give Kagawa his preferred role. According to them, Ferguson originally planned to field Kagawa behind Rooney, but van Persie’s sudden availability lulled him into launching a bid for the Dutchman, which in turn made him play Rooney in the no. 10 role that was initially reserved for Kagawa. But Ferguson’s autobiography dispelled such ideas. The Scotsman wrote that United had actually began negotiations with Arsenal way back in April and he even mentioned that the Glazers were prepared to go for Lewandowski or van Persie in the summer. Ferguson, thus, had not really decided to part ways with his favored two-strike partnership. Then, why did he go for Kagawa in the first place? To sell shirts? Or to use him merely as a squad-player?

Whatever be the reason, his situation at United has not really improved even after Ferguson’s retirement. Yet to start a game this season in his favored position, Kagawa continues to play a bit-part role at the club. He was impressive when he was shifted to the hole midway through the game against Real Sociedad in midweek, and he would have to hope that such cameos as this forces Moyes to reconsider his plan of playing two forwards. And an Ozil-less United would ensure that he would be the first person in the manager’s mind if he ever considers playing a genuine trequartista.

Moyes’ decision not to sign Ozil would please the young Adnan Januzaj too, another playmaker who is trying to establish a place for himself in the first team.

Ozil would certainly have been a luxury signing in any case, but let’s not pretend that luxury signings do not improve a team. Van Persie, for one, did improve the Red Devils significantly enough to help them win back the league from their neighbors. And considering that Ozil garnered more assists than any other player in Europe’s major five leagues in the last 5 years, you probably would not bet against him making an impact if Moyes had signed him, and had played him in the no. 10 role…or in other words, in Rooney’s place. So, the question remains: should United have signed Ozil this past summer? Rooney’s answer would at least be no.

Editor’s note: Read the latest Red Devils news, opinion and analysis on our Manchester United team page.

Here are five observations from Manchester United’s 2-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion in gameweek 20 of the 2012-13 season:

1. United manage to get a clean sheet: You read it right. The league leaders have been ruthless when it comes to finding the back of the net but the clumsiness in defense meant they were often left to chase the game this season. But the story was quite different at Old Trafford thanks to a solid if not spectacular defensive display from Fergie’s men. United carved out the lead first and it remained unscathed until it was doubled. What made the difference? A man from Serbia made the starting line-up only for the second time this season since his last knee operation. How much difference did he make? David de Gea had only one shot to save in the whole game.

2. The Baggies’ failure to get something out of set-pieces: West Brom’s spirited display in the second half deserves praise but there was hardly any end product from open-play. Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie showed glimpses of threat at times but could never really open up an otherwise fragile United backline. Yet they could have still returned from Manchester with something had they made better use of their set-pieces. Chris Brunt, their ‘go-to’ man in such situations, did whip in a dangerous-looking ball in one instance that had to be scrambled away by Nemanja Vidic, but his deliveries were mostly disappointing. Uncharacteristic of him.

3. Ferguson’s gamble pays off:  The Scotsman made several changes to the team that clinched a last-gasp win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day. Unsurprising. Ferguson likes to use his squad heavily in the hectic festive period. The routined rotation saw an unusual front two of Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck being named in the team sheet. United fans had every reason to worry because the former was making his first appearance since October while the latter has rarely started in a central role this season owing to the extensive competition he has been facing from Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. The fear did not translate into reality as the 19-time league champions, though largely laboured in the second half, managed to hold onto their slender lead till substitute van Persie doubled it at the stroke of full-time.

4. The resurrection of Ben Foster: De Gea was not the busiest of the players on the pitch but his opponent no.1, who once honed his skills in the opposite goal, expectedly was. Ferguson formerly saw Van der Sar’s successor in Foster but the Englishman’s lack of consistency led to United parting ways with him. What a player he has been for West Brom this season. Playing in the stadium which once happened to be his ‘home gound’, he was equal to most of the challenges that were thrown at him. Foster pulled off some great saves and if it were not for him, the scoreline might have looked more painful for the Baggies’ devotees. Wasn’t England looking for someone to rival Joe Hart for a place in the England starting line-up?

5. The Robin van Persie factor: United were struggling to hold onto their narrow lead in the second-half as West Brom kept pushing for an equaliser in a soggy pitch. Until van Persie intervened. Who else? The ex-Arsenal man fired a left-footed curler in the 90^th minute that stormed past the resilient Foster, preserving the Red Devils’ handsome-looking seven-point lead at the top of the table. He scores when he wants.

Barcelona’s influence in the soccer world is not just about the aesthetic quality produced by the La Masia nurtured technicians. They have reopened the eternal debate of how the game should be played. Their mystical football has given us pleasure, but at the same time has influenced a significant number of clubs and countries. For the greater good, perhaps.

Soccer has evolved, and the voices speaking of its effect in English soccer have been resounding. Several pundits have been saying of late that the English game, which is traditionally known for its physical approach, is becoming more technical and less physical thanks to the revolutionary role played by the Blaugrana.

Teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool now try to play more proactive football with a lesser direct approach. And question marks are now being raised over the place of an Andy Carroll in the team.

But Everton manager David Moyes thought otherwise when the Toffees faced a Manchester United side where returning captain Nemanja Vidic and midfielder Michael Carrick were entrusted with the central defensive duties.

The Scotsman deployed the sturdy Marouane Fellaini in the hole behind Nikica Jelavic, with long balls aimed at him continually throughout the game. A tactic that was hugely successful in the 4-4 stalemate between the same teams at Old Trafford last season. And the story wasn’t much different this time round either.

The Belgian produced an impeccable display of physicality and technique that wreaked havoc on the United defence. Winning virtually everything in the air, he stood tall like an indefatigable pillar that was never really going to be broken down.

Fellaini’s performance was not only about his physical supremacy but also his technical brilliance. His ball control was superb as he successfully used his hold-up play to create chances for himself and his team-mates. Covering a lot of ground, and of course, heading home the 57th-minute winner, Fellaini was at the heart of everything Everton did.

United never really had any answer to the spirit and aggression of the 24-year-old. The Red Devils had technically more superior midfielders in the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Paul Scholes, but none could match the ex-Anderlecht man’s dominance.

So what does really matter at the end of the day? Physique? Technique?

Earlier this year, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez, one of the shortest footballers in Europe at just 1.70 metres, voiced his opinion in this context.

“Talent is the decisive factor in football, much more than physical presence. I’m convinced that it’s technical quality that makes the difference,” Xavi told Sport.

“Back in 2002-03, people told me that I wasn’t suited to play in the centre of the pitch as you needed to be physically strong. I have shown you don’t need you be a physical player to be a top midfielder.”

How right he is. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that it is technical quality that matters the most. A physical side wins nothing without sound technical ability. A team based on physicality can run kilometres and work hard, but it must also possess the ability to move the ball around well to create doubts in the minds of the opposition.

And when you possess both technical deftness and physical prowess, it becomes a devastating combination. Be it as a player or a team. Fellaini exemplified that yesterday.

The English game might be becoming more technical but that does not necessarily establish that it has to become less physical. Technical and physical ability can co-exist. And when they do, you might become unplayable. Just like Fellaini was.

A day after the footballing world was enthralled by the mesmerising exhibition of skill, movement and technique produced by Spanish supremacists in Kiev, European football’s governing body acknowledged the best player of Euro 2012. And the man who has been bestowed with that accolade was none other than the magician from La Mancha, who has spellbound the spectators with his extraordinary artistry throughout this amazing tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

It was a fitting tribute to Andrés Iniesta. His closest challenger, Andrea Pirlo, deserves special approbation as well. The 33-year-old playmaker has been a colossal figure for Italy on the way to the final. Outstanding player, great role model. But all hail to the man from Albacete who has been nothing short of a commander for the Spanish force, guiding La Roja to a historic treble of international honours, in the most eloquent fashion that one could ever fathom.

He wasn’t on the scoresheet on Sunday. But it was he, and unsurprisingly, his Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernández, who ran the show inside the OIympic Stadium. It was Iniesta who produced the defence-splitting pass for Cesc Fàbregas, who scurried through the Italian defence before cutting the ball back for David Silva to begin the goal fest in the 14th minute.

A resounding reminder of Iniesta’s enigmatic ability to torment defences could be found in two of the enduring images of the tournament. Two virtually identical photographs, showing Iniesta in action, against Italy and Croatia, with the little man encircled by a cluster of defenders. Two portraits of a genius, speaking long and loud about the esteem in which oppositions hold him and the efforts that are sometimes needed to thwart his silky skills.

Those pictures bring back the magical memories of the renowned snapshot from 1982 World Cup – a photograph in which Diego Maradona is seen in full flow against a swarm of Belgian defenders. Indeed, it took numbers to curb the divine footballing abilities of the Argentine wizard. And quite evidently, nothing less has been frequently required to deal with Iniesta in the Slavic nations.

It is not only Iniesta’s sublime technique but also his sharp thinking that separates him from the rest. While most of his team-mates in Barcelona and Spain move the ball fast with a feather touch, Iniesta moves with the ball, holding it, drawing as many opponents in as he could, before releasing the ball or himself in the blink of an eye when the right juncture arrives. “He is the enlightened one,” Sergio Ramos said of Iniesta. “He is a great player. It is as if he has been touched by a magic wand,” he added.

Iniesta, like Xavi, is very much aware of the pains of being in the same era as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The exploits of the two diminutive midfielders have been often overshadowed by the goal-buckets of the Argentine and the Portuguese superstars, who are widely believed to be in a league of their own. It is a pity that neither Iniesta nor Xavi has been fortunate enough to bag the prestigious Ballon d’Or in an otherwise decorated career so far.

Yet Iniesta is ascending the ladder to eternity. Slowly and steadily. He will be there.

As Pep Guardiola once famously remarked: “Iniesta doesn’t dye his hair, he doesn’t wear earrings and he hasn’t got any tattoos. Maybe that makes him unattractive to the media but he is the best.”

Truly, the pale-faced and unassuming midfielder gives us a highly contrasting portrait of a modern footballing superstar. Iniesta has a unique blend of humility and devastating creativity. His approach may be quiet, but he has a knack of delivering on the biggest stage. Dramatic late goals. Killer passes. He has been always there when his team needed him.

His 116th-minute strike against the Netherlands two years ago that took La Roja to their first ever World Cup glory is still fresh in our memory. Few months ago, Iniesta popped up to bag Barcelona’s third goal against AC Milan that helped the Blaugrana reach their fifth consecutive European Cup semi-final.

In May 2009, we all remember how Chelsea were cruising into the Champions League final, leading the semi-final tie against Barcelona 1-0. It was injury time and Barca fans were full of desperation rather than hope. 94th minute and the drama unfolded. In came Iniesta, smashing the ball past Petr Čech to score the crucial away goal that was enough to steer them into the showpiece in Rome. The Stamford Bridge faithful were in utter shock and disbelief. The Barca devotees glowed with a sense of pride and sheer ecstasy.

His team needed him again on Sunday. Spain kept knocking on the Italian defensive door. The Azzurri fought on. They hassled and harried for possession. They resisted as much as much they could. And then, inevitably, came Iniesta to find Fàbregas to send the Spanish fans into raptures. What a player. What a tournament.

England’s quest for the first major trophy since Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup in 1966 suffered a late blow as Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was ruled out for rest of the season and the European Championship.

“Wilshere will not go to the Euros, that’s for sure,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following Arsenal’s disappointing home defeat to Wigan on Monday night.

Wilshere, the 20-year-old, was touted as the ‘Next Big Thing’ in English football following his inspiring performances for Arsenal during the 2010-11 season.

Blessed with fantastic technical abilities and a keen football brain, Wilshere was expected by many to be one of the first names on the team-sheet at Euro 2012 despite holding only five England caps. The Arsenal midfielder, who made his debut in August 2010, was expected by many to shoulder his team’s responsibilities in the centre of park at the tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

Wilshere brought the much needed creativity in the England midfield that had been lacking for years. It was even remarked that his emergence had lifted the burden on Wayne Rooney as the most creative player in the national team. Under such circumstances, the news of his unavailability comes as a massive blow for his country.

With Wilshere ruled out of the European Championship, who will ‘replace’ him? Scott Parker is almost certain to hold onto his place  at the heart of the midfield following a string of strong performances for the Three Lions during the Euro qualifiers, which earned him the captain’s armband during the friendly against Netherlands.

Now the question is: Who will partner Parker? There is the old guard of Gerrard, Lampard, Barry and Carrick. But, unfortunately, none of them is as technically gifted as Wilshere.  Gerrard and Lampard can bring you goals but they can neither retain possession nor can dictate the pace of the game. Barry and Carrick lack adventure. They can play simple passes and also protect the back four but they have struggled in the past whenever they faced quality midfield. The images of Barry against Germany in 2010 and Carrick against Barcelona in 2011 highlight their limitations.

The versatility of Jones and Milner is an asset for their country but they are preferred in more defensive and wider positions respectively. Jordan Henderson still seems to be in the learning phase. While Huddlestone and Rodwell have already been ruled out, Cleverley, who has missed a large part of the season due to fitness issues, is yet to play his first game for England.

But there is an Englishman who could be the messiah for the Three Lions in this hour of crisis. He revitalized a struggling Manchester United midfield and was pivotal in flipping Manchester United’s season around following their early season hiccups. He is, of course, the evergreen Paul Scholes.

Scholes, following his shock return to football in January, brought creativity, composure and experience in the United midfield. He forged a strong partnership with Michael Carrick and that partnership was instrumental in the toppling City from the top spot.

Paul Scholes’s extraordinary ball control, accurate long balls, short quick passes and audacious flicks remind us why football is called the beautiful game. When someone like Xavi describes him as the best midfielder in the last 20 years, it tells you a lot.

But will he really end his international exile and make a shock return for his country provided he gets an offer?

Perhaps, yes. Scholes had earlier revealed that he regrets rejecting Capello’s offer to join the national team in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And if he gets an offer this time round, he might decide to have one last shot at a major international tournament.

Signs are also good for that to happen. Harry Redknapp, who still remains the favourite to be the next English manager despite Spurs’ poor form at the back end of the season, once revealed that he would love to have Scholes in his team.

Scholes can take inspiration from France legend Zinedine Zidane who famously came out of retirement to help France qualify for the 2006 World Cup and also led his nation to the final.

However, it would be senseless to predict with certainty that Scholes will produce the same impact in the England team that he did to Manchester United this season.

England’s situation is far worse than that of United. While United has a strong squad and the able guidance of a visionary like Alex Ferguson and, England lacks direction and game-plan in the absence of a full-time manager and key players.

England winning the Euro will be nothing short of a miracle considering the resources of the likes of Spain and Germany. The dark cloud surrounding the former world champions is likely to end in acid rain that would destroy the nation’s hopes yet again but Paul Scholes could be the silver lining for them in this hour of adversity.

Following the 6-1 humiliation at Old Trafford, a shock exit from the Champions League and defeats to Newcastle, Blackburn and Wigan, there were five players central in turning Manchester United’s season around:

5) Michael Carrick

He still remains one of the unsung heroes of Ferguson’s squad but that never seemed to bother him on the pitch. The fact that he has played just under 1600 consecutive minutes of Premier League football this season highlights the faith Ferguson has in the 30-year-old. That run includes 19 league fixtures in which Carrick holds a passing accuracy averaging 90 per cent. Calm and composed at the heart of the midfield, Carrick plays simple passes and keeps things ticking over. After United lost Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Darren Fletcher to injuries, Carrick provided stability in United’s midfield which has been vital in the Red Devils’ title run-in.

4) Paul Scholes

After United’s early exit from the Champions League, those demanding Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric began voicing their concerns. Ferguson stunned them all when Paul Scholes was named as a substitute in the FA Cup tie against Manchester City. Critics dubbed the move as an act of desperation from Ferguson. The connotations of a lack of finance and academy talents did little to dissuade his detractors. Not that it bothered Scholes as he proved his class on the pitch. The former England international brought much needed creativity in the United midfield as well as experience. He orchestrated United’s midfield – rarely losing possession yet always available to make a pass. There was a sense of positive force working around Old Trafford that made them more determined than ever in toppling City from the top spot.

3) Wayne Rooney

A team’s talisman is often judged by how they respond to adversity and Wayne Rooney could not have done more. United have moved five points clear of City with four matches to go largely on the back of Rooney’s terrific form. The former Everton striker has found the back of the net 24 times this season. In truth however Rooney’s contribution is far more than mere goals and assists. His work ethic often sees him drop back whenever the situation demands. Coupled with his clever movement and link-up play, Rooney has been a central figure for United as they looked to secure the Premier League title once again.

2) David De Gea

Nothing highlighted David De Gea’s transformation than his performance at Ewood Park recently. Of course credit must also be given to Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans – their partnership flourishing in front of the 21-year-old but it’s De Gea’s metamorphosis from a timorous, shaky goalkeeper to a confident custodian that proved to be the turning point for the defending champions. Among the goalkeepers with at least 10 Premier League appearances this season, De Gea has the best saves-to-shots ratio at 79%. A solid goalkeeper often lays the foundation for success and De Gea has done exactly that for United.

1) Antonio Valencia

Arguably the most ruthless attacking player at the back end of the season, Antonio Valenica has become a potent weapon for Sir Alex Ferguson. Since his return to full fitness, the Ecuadorian has run riot down down the right flank with his pace, movement, strength and accurate crossing. Despite playing only 20 league games, Valencia (along with David Silva) leads the Premier League in assists with twelve. Valencia has also netted 4 times, including an stunner at Ewood Park that gave United three priceless points. The former Wigan man has been pivotal in the ten point-swing at the top of the table which appears to be enough to guide the Red Devils to a record 20th league title.