David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze...who's next?

Over the years, Real Madrid have bought many players from Manchester United. In reality, their main reason for this must have been to try and match the recent success of the English club.

David Beckham was at the peak of his powers when he left Manchester United, a household name with global marketing power. Who come's knocking on the door? That's right, money-hungry Real Madrid. I suspect that the David Beckham transfer was simply about publicity and increasing revenue, although there's no denying that David Beckham was a great footballer and a true professional.

Next, Real Madrid tried to buy United's success through the transfers of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gabriel Heinze. Needless to say, this attemp failed as well. Both players seemingly disappeared of the map after their respective transfers.

Then came a transfer that everyone saw coming, but no-one expected. Real Madrid came calling for the gem of Old Trafford, Mr Ballon d'Or himself, Cristiano Ronaldo, for a record 80 million. As we all know, this bid was accepted and Ronaldo is now plying his trade in Spain. At the same time, Real Madrid secured the services of Kaka, a previous Ballon d'Or winner, Xavi Alonso and Karim Benzema. Once again they tried to buy success...and once again they failed. Their only real chance for silverware this season is the league, and lets face it, Barcelona aren't going to make it easy for them.

Now it seems as if Real Madrid have their eyes firmly set on another United player, or two. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are the latest United players to be coveted by the Spanish outfit. Haven't Madrid realised that success cannot be bought, I mean 200+ million couldn't even buy them a place in the Champions League quater-final. Why don't Real Madrid try investing in youth (look at the ages of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney when United bought them, or try developing their own young talent (David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, etc).

Real Madrid need to stop buying United's superstars, and start making their own...maybe then they can be successful. Look at it this way, how many of Barcelona's first team started in their youth academy??    

Could David Beckham's injury open the door for Adam Johnson?

With David Beckham's suffering from a ruptured achilles tendon, it looks in all likelihood that he will miss this year's World Cup.

As sad as this may be, it may have opened the door for an up-and-coming winger, the likes of which England do not currently have. Adam Johnson, a very gifted, left-footed winger, came of the bench yesterday to give, a very poor-looking, Manchester City an injection of creativity and rescue them a very unlikely point.

Those of you lucky enough to see the goal will have no problems admitting that we have a new contender for "goal of the season", and that the goal was truly something special...any lower and it would have been headed clear, any higher and it would have hit the bar.

With Aaron Lennon and David Beckham currently injured (coupled with the largely eratic form of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Theo Walcott), a spot has opened up for a new superstar to emerge. Although Aaron Lennon still has a chance of making the World Cup, having both he and Adam Johnson on the wings could represent real problems for any opposition.

Stuart Downing would have hopes of being called up to play on the left wing, but with the form Adam Johnson is in, I can't see another player more deserving of a call-up. 

In my opinion, Adam Johnson at least deserves a place on the England bench. He is a very technically gifted player, he is quick, has a good turn of pace, can go past defenders, has good vision and, like David Beckham, he can deliver quality crosses. He also has an eye for goal. More importantly, he is left-footed and will provide natural width on that side of the field. This opens the door for Steven Gerrard to take up a more cental role, where he is most affective, and support Wayne Rooney upfront.

Also, I believe that England should take up a 4-5-1 formation with Rooney alone ufront man, Gerrard coming in from midfield to support the attack, and Adam Johnson and Aaron Lennon (hopefully) on the wings to deliver qaulity crosses for the ever-dangerous Wayne Rooney.

Please, have your say. Will Adam Johnson make the World Cup sqaud?