Ah, well, just as things were beginning to look up United has let themselves down once again. A 3-3 draw with Galatasaray this past Wednesday means United are all but officially eliminated from the EPL. The struggling United side will need an unlikely favor in the form of a draw from Copenhagen and Galatasaray on the final match day. While, simultaneously beating Bundesliga leaders Bayern München at home. Unfortunately, United will more than likely be out of the UCL in the group stage once again. But, the teams UCL struggles are just a fraction of the struggles this team has faced all season.
The league form to begin the year was absolutely abysmal but somehow, someway, United is actually the inform team in the EPL since October and are currently only 10 points off the top of the table. Although, their form certainly did not start that way and even with their current form the ‘eye’ test tells you this is not a team playing good football at the moment. But, there are several reasons why this team is struggling at the moment and I’m here to give you those excuses…I mean reasons, as to why this team is underperforming and why it may actually be a much better team than people think.
Injuries…and suspensions?
This is far and away the most important reason contributing to United’s struggles. I’m absolutely positive that if there had been no major injuries to the team this season they would have already qualified for the knockout round in the UCL and at least be top 4 in the league.
It’s easy to use injuries as an excuse for any team. Although, this is an incredibly crazy season when put into perspective. Some players that were injured are now back, thankfully, and some that were healthy are now injured. Let’s just make a list of the players that are or were injured thus far this season. This list will also include those players who have gotten themselves in trouble off the pitch. In no particular order, here’s the list: Kobiee Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Johnny Evans, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Amad Diallo, Rasmus Hojlund, Antony and Jadon Sancho. I’m sure there are more that I could just be blanking on. But this is a literal potential starting 11 out injured or suspended.
Key Individuals Missing
The players that have been missing may not have made such a huge impact to the team individually. But the lack of possible squad rotation can even impact a squad. In all fairness to Eric ten Hag, he has yet to play with his ideal starting 11 at United this season. Our best defender, in my opinion (the stats and highlights back this up) Lisandro Martinez has been out virtually all year given he played a bit early on through injury. Martinez is an absolute DAWG for this team and a leader. That’s at least worth a few points on the table. With the form Maguire is currently in I’m excited to see what that will look like alongside Martinez.
The team has also been without Luke Shaw and any left back really for the majority of the season. Luke Shaw’s contribution to United often goes overlooked at times, but when he’s not playing we all feel his absence.
Kobiee Mainoo, despite being his first true season in the first team, was more of a miss all season than any of us were aware. He had everyone talking all off season but got hurt just prior to the start of the season and fuck…did we ever need a player like him. His calm presence in midfield combined with his ability to always find a pass are next level. Being he’s so young I won’t put any points on it. But I really wonder how different the season may look right now had he been available the entire time.
The last player I’ll shout out individually is Casemiro. His form was honestly quite poor to start the year but he’s a world class talent. Any way you look at it and his presence/leadership are paralleled by only Lisandro Martinez. An in form Casemiro in this squad right now would be enough to bridge that 6 point gap to the top of the table in my opinion.
I’m not the only one saying it
Marcel Sabitzer recently had an interview in the Athletic where he commented on United’s current season. For starters he praised ETH and backed the team to achieve great things. But he also labeled Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro as the real leaders that provide structure and stability to the team. Here is exactly what Sabitzer had to say:
“Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez — they are leaders that provide structure and stability to the team. Erik ten Hag comes with up very specific match plans and patterns of play. But if you have too many important players missing and too many changes as a result, things get lost between the tactics board and the pitch. The rhythm of players coming isn’t right, processes aren’t right.”
-Retrieved from Raphael Honigstein, The Athletic 2023
VAR Conspiracy
I love a good conspiracy theory. It’s always relieving to realize you can blame outside forces for anything you or your team are struggling with. All joking aside though, United actually is being fucked over by VAR this season. I’m still mad as hell about the “offside” goal for Garnacho at Arsenal early in the season. If that goal stands United wins that game, has more confidence going forward and is at the very least on 30 points currently. There is also the so called ‘out of bounds’ call on a Rashford pass to Rasmus that resulted in a goal being disallowed. The list just goes on and fucking on.
Manchester United has had the largest number of VAR calls go against them this season in the Premier League and it’s not even close. Planet Football (Click here) has United ranked the lowest on their ‘how each team has been affected by VAR’ rankings with -3. Meaning when you tally VAR decisions that helped your team you get +1 and decisions against you is -1. This does fail to leave out the reality of all those calls as well. I’d argue United’s ranking should be even lower (it’s already last). Simply due to the fact that the only calls for United were because they were too obvious for the EPL to have go against United without confirming the grand conspiracy.
In an interview by Mike Dean earlier this season, he all but confirmed the fuckery that is VAR. When he told the story of how he had a red card stand in a Chelsea Tottenham match. All because he didn’t want his ‘friend’ to have an even harder day at the office. After just that one interview how can anyone trust VAR? I miss being able to express my emotions live. I’d rather live with the bad on field calls than hold my breath every fucking time United scores a goal. Get rid of VAR, fuck it.
WTF are they looking at?!
Financial Reasons
The Premier League and its media partners benefit from United struggling. Media pundits have been quoted saying how beneficial it is for numbers to have United playing poorly. It does make sense though. Many media pundits and even soccer fans in general were tormented by the success of United in the 90’s all the way up until 2013. These pundits and fans enjoy bashing United and reading about their struggles.
Manchester United’s failures have become it’s own category of media and it sells. Does this support any conspiracy against United? Probably…but what do I know.
Poisonous Players
There has been a consistent group of bad eggs in this United squad since Sir Alex left in 2013. It’s as if these players think just cause they play for United that they’re fantastic. The players that come to mind are Jadon Sancho, Greenwood, Paul Pogba, Ronaldo and even Marcus Rashford. Pogba is no longer with us, not that he’s dead but seeing as he’s played a match or two since leaving in total means he could be I guess. There are several more players but these are just the big ones.
The attitude of these players passes on to younger players and creates a toxic environment. The club and it’s owners have often supported these players despite their blatant shit housery. There isn’t much any manager can do about this other than let the player go. A decision the club must support to make a reality. I for one would say Ronaldo as a legend earned the right to be a shit head but the other 3 have done fuck all in their careers.
The biggest problem this season next to Sancho is Rashford. I think Rashford’s attitude is better than Sanchos but he clearly buys too much into his hype. His absence from the starting line up in the last match will be good for him.
United needs to continue to rebuild its culture and getting rid of players that don’t help is the first step. Despite all the things working against the club, some of their own making, I still believe United will find its way back to the top of the summit.
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