The Shinji factor: Why Kagawa can solve United's midfield issues.

Shinji Kagawa

The midfield has been an area that Manchester United have suffered in recent years. Ever since stalwarts like Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt all left, ex United manager Sir Alex Ferguson struggled to find replacements and had to lure Scholes out of retirement at one point. It was that bad. Players like Anderson, Tom Cleverly, Darren Fletcher have all tried to impose themselves in the midfield but have fallen short of expectations. Owen Hargreaves was meant to be the ultimate solution but the 2007 arrival from Bayern Munich had a nightmare stint at United, dogged by ever re-occurring injuries. Since then, Ferguson spent over £200 million on players in that position, all to no avail I'm afraid!!! Meanwhile in Germany, a little diamond in the rough called Shinji Kagawa was making waves at Borussia Dortmund. 

Who needs Fabregas when you'v got Kagawa

The diminutive playmaker seemed like the player United needed and in the summer of 2012, he signed a four year contract with the Red Devils. Current United boss David Moyes tried this window to sign Francesc Fabregas from Barcelona but failed. He need not have wasted his time with Fabregas. His solution was right in front of him: Shinji Kagawa.

In his debut season at United, Kagawa did not have a definite position and played on the left, right or through the midfield. That was a terrible mistake. At Borussia Dortmund where he excelled so well, he was their chief playmaker and made a total of 15 assists scoring 29 goals during his two years at the Signal Iduna Park. Even though the numbers may not be impressive, his ability and agility on the ball means he opens up spaces for his teammates and has an eye for deadly passes that may directly or indirectly lead to a goal.

He is an agile player who likes to dance around defenders and pick out impossible pockets of space behind defenders. United saw glimpses of his abilities last season but due to the nature of the Premier League and playing out of position on a number of occassions plus a two month injury lay off, he struggled.

Jurgen Klopp just loves kagawa

Jurgen Klopp, who managed Kagawa at Dortmund, moaned at the position the Japanese was playing at United. '' Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at United- on the left wing!!! My heart breaks. I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji's best position. He's an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goals I ever saw'', a distraught Klopp told The Guardian. True words. 

New United manger David Moyes has a chance to start the Japanese on a new slate. With the upcoming season, Moyes should zero his mind he has no other playmaker except Kagawa. His role should be central midfield. No tinkering, no using him as winger. Just a playmaker in chief. That's all. If the Japanese can keep fit, I can bet at the end of the season, United fans will be asking; Francesc Who?