Well it’s that time of year, the time when gifts are exchanged and the New Year brings new promises, hope and a time for change. The holiday season, or Christmas as it’s known over there, is a time to wish for gifts and hope that Santa (known as the Glazers over there) brings them to you.

So who do I wish for and why?

Well I have several wishes, and one is that ex-United players stop pussyfooting around Sir Alex and say what they really think. It’s not because I value their insights, I mean Nicky Butt and Paul Ince hardly set Old Trafford alight over their tenure, but if you’ve a genuine opinion then say it. We do have the right of free speech after all (over there and over here).

Secondly I wish for some players in and some players out.

Out with the old means releasing players who just aren’t going to make the grade, either as first team players or vibrant squad players and I list the people who should go :-

1) Darron Gibson – he is a Mike Phelan look-a-like in terms of how he plays. Drifting around midfield, with a killer pass and tremendous shot but ultimately, like a Chinese meal, he leaves you wanting at the end. It’s time to say goodbye.

2) Dimitar Berbatov- his laconic style is frustrating to watch and even when playing well, and we have seen too little of that, he doesn’t really set the stadium on fire. Style over substance isn’t what made Man Unitetd great, and grade A players aren’t A+ and we should demand the best. Cut the cord Sir Alex and deliver this Bulgarian elsewhere!

3) Federico Macheda- he has played many games since that day againgst Aston Villa when he came on and saved us. We have seen no prospect of a repeat, he doesn’t do enough to justify his place in the squad, he lacks impact and sub’s need to impact games. He isn’t Ole and never will be, and that’s what Sir Alex is seeing him as, it’s not working. Cash in.

So who might we want?

I list them in order using the Premier League as the source:

1)  Luka Modric – Fantastic player and the only one who comes close to David Silva.

2) David Silva – What a left foot, vision, and skill!

3) Leighton Baines- The best left back in the country, and boy do we need one.

4) Kyle Walker- Better than Glen Johnson in my view, reliable defender, great attacker.

5) Moussa Dembele- This guy has power, pace and guile. He’s a seriously good player who will grow and is good enough.

6) Jack Wilshere- tenacity, pace, passing ability and winning mentality.

7) Luis Suarez- As much as I dislike him, he is Dalglish-like in his ability to turn defenders and although his shots on target ratio is on a par with Andy Cole’s, he is always a threat and imagine him with Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck.

8) Danny Sturridge- This boy is a very good player and would be a great buy.

9) Gareth Bale- If only Spurs would sell at a sensible price, he is a wonderful talent

10 Yaya Toure- He controls the midfield for Manchester City and is a modern-day Patrick Viera, a great player.

Out of these Santa, please gimme the fullbacks and two midfielders at least, they would help shore up our spine which is a bit weak at the moment with our injuries.

It shouldn’t cost more than £100m I think…

..I know it’s a lot but you know it’s worth it!

By Steve Burrows CBE @ifollowsteve