Manchester United yesterday, and probably for the next few weeks at least, became the laughing stock of the Premier League and it had many a Manchester United fan sitting in front of their television, head in hands, wondering what on Earth was happening. It’s the events of this last transfer window, culminating in last night, that have led me to write this piece because I feel these issues desperately need discussing and I’m going to start by discussing the issue that is most fresh in the memory:-
The debacle that was deadline day:-
On a day where even the usually frugal Arsenal splashed the cash, albeit on just one spectacular player, you’d have expected other cash-handy clubs to have splashed the cash in abundance and things certainly looked to be going that way with United as with three hours to go until the deadline, United looked to be spending upwards of £60m on two top-class central midfielders (say what you want about Herrera’s statistics, he’s top class either way) then with an hour to go, everything started to fall apart. A yet to be clarified situation at the Spanish League offices meant that United wouldn’t be signing Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao and a last minute transfer request from Marouane Fellaini meant that his move from Everton would go right down to the wire whereas there was no news of a move for Leighton Baines. To cut a long story short, Fellaini signed and everything else hit the fan. I’d love to give you more details but I can’t because seemingly no-one has any idea why the Herrera deal fell apart. Guillem Ballague of AS said that the United representatives were imposters whereas others didn’t seem to know what was going on; either way it was a stinking big mess and it makes you wonder how did United get it so wrong? The Herrera deal is rumoured to have fallen apart because of tax issues, no official confirmation has been given but as far as the fans are concerned, the blame falls squarely on Chief Executive, Ed Woodward’s shoulders. All summer long United have been knocked back in every single pursuit and even in the pursuit they succeeded in with Fellaini, they were outdone by their own ignorance – completing the deal for Fellaini just masked the club’s failings this summer because at least they came out with something to show for it. The club’s actions this summer stank of inexperience and it doesn’t bode well for the coming months as the failure to strengthen what is an inferior squad to their title rivals right now could cost them very dearly over the next few months. And that brings me onto my next topic for discussion …
The Champions’ start to the season:-
On the face of it, it wasn’t that bad a start – a win away at Swansea, a draw at home to Chelsea and a loss away to Liverpool – but it’s when you start delving deeper into the results that you see that the score doesn’t tell the whole story. Beating Swansea at the start of the season was a surprise to some but it shouldn’t have been too much of one when you consider that they’ve hardly been playing at 50% of their potential since they won the League Cup back in February and even then they still managed to push United throughout the game, but at least United had the cutting edge to get through the game. From then on in though they didn’t even have that as against Chelsea and Liverpool that deserted them despite the fact that United had the lion’s share of possession and territorial advantage in the game, they just couldn’t cut through. If there is a single reason United won the league last season it’s that they had the cutting edge when it mattered and their rivals did not but if they don’t have that cutting edge this season then where does that leave United in terms of the overall standings? Don’t get me wrong; I know we’re only three games into the season right now but with the uncertainty surrounding the way the club is going to be run now Moyes is there, a shaky start is the last thing the champions need.
One of the best teams in the world?:-
Whenever I hear people say this it just makes me a bit uneasy, and I’m a United fan myself so don’t think of me as someone trying to take a cheap dig but we stopped being one of the best teams in the world a couple of years ago as far as I’m concerned. I remember Jose Mourinho saying a month or so ago that United only won the league last year because everyone else allowed them too by playing so poorly and the reaction of the media was as if he was being disrespectful and I guess he was in a sense but does that make him wrong? I don’t think it does; Mourinho is absolutely right in my opinion and it takes much more than an article on the matter to be able to tell you why that is but just think about it, when was the last time you can honestly say that United did what the best teams do and play their fellow top teams, the Real Madrids, the Bayern Munichs, the Barcelonas, the Chelseas and so on off the park?
Summary:-
Don’t get me wrong, I still see United doing well this season and I think a top three finish is very much still achievable, but the Champions are really going to have to get it together if they’re to climb any further up the table than that! I think the signing of Fellaini is definitely a move in the right direction because, as some people forget, he is a natural holding midfielder and is exactly what I think is needed to strengthen this team’s chances because he’s a big presence for the midfield and will break up the opposition play, giving the creative players of the team the confidence to go forward and do what they do best; Fellaini could be the key to seeing the best of Shinji Kagawa! One thing’s for sure though guys, whatever happens, myself and the Fortitude sports team will be right on top of all the action so make sure you stick with us here to keep up to date with it all!