the channels well. Berbatov style of play really hampered Rooney, in the half season or so when they played together. Rooney prefers to play off a mobile quick strike partner who pushes the opposition defence deeper and gives him more space. It'll be interesting to see if Van Persie can adapt his game to play more in the style of Welbeck or Hernandez, or whether or not Rooney can adapt his game to having less space and another striker dropping into his space. Whatever happens I think that Man U could've spent 24 million (and an extra 40 million in wages) much better. Credit to Manchester United for trying to keep running with the pack; I really did think that the interest in Van Persie was mere posturing to convince others and themselves that they still belong at the top table; all that notwithstanding, it's a dramatic departure from a stated policy to buy younger players and it certainly has more than a hint of Veronesqueness about it. The acquisition of the brilliant Kagawa, the return of Cleverley, who missed nearly all last season but who shone for Great Britain at the Olympic Games, and for England against Italy today, plus the acquisition of van Persie, which gives Ferguson the option of using Rooney in midfield, together go a long way to solving United's midfield problems. United have a potent attacking force. It's the defence that's more troubling, although the return of Vidic, also missing most of last season, will