Rough Start for the Red Devils
Manchester United have had a dismal first half of this season. Barring a few isolated glimpses of good football, there has been a massive digression in Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge. After over-performing last season, many of us fans had hoped our summer signings would help United kick on.
Instead, injuries, a new style of play, a host of high profile new signings, crumbling facilities and the lingering sale process have forced the squad the opposite direction.
The overall malaise and lack of consistency from the players is raising questions about ten Hag’s ability to right the ship. Many fans have already written off the rest of this season as yet another foregone failure.
With half the season and one cup competition left to play for is the season really over for the Red Devils? Is ten Hag really in danger of getting the sack? And, what expectations should fans have for the rest of the season?
The Stats Tell a Story of Affliction
United have dropped out of Europe with their lowest group stage points tally ever (4), while conceding 15 goals in 6 matches. They were also booted out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle. The team United beat in last seasons final. The squad also broke a record for the number of home games they have lost this season (7). A record that dated back to the 1930’s
At Old Trafford Manchester United are 8-0-7 so far. The team’s overall record is an embarrassing 12-2-14. They are the only team in the top ten with a negative goal difference (-5).
This season the Red Devils have less points, fewer goals, fewer clean sheets and fewer home wins than under David Moyes. Ten Hag’s men have only picked up 7 points from 10 matches against top ten sides. They have also dropped points to some terrible teams.
Do Galatasaray, Copenhagen, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace ring any bells?
Only a few weeks ago United swept the player, goal and manager of the month awards. After a promising November the team have spent most of December slipping down the Premier League table.
Not All is Lost for Manchester United
But enough of the doom and gloom. The season is only half over, with a lot of football still to play. There is a lot of opportunity for the squad and manager to make amends. Regardless of their slim chances in the FA Cup or securing top four, there is still a lot of pride for the players and staff to play for.
Some players have shown some visible frustration with ten Hag’s methods and rows have clearly developed. However, I see enough evidence in their performances to suggest the squad are not dead in the water. The Aston Villa and Liverpool matches being prime examples. What’s more, this team is not that different from last season, when ten Hag had no problem getting a tune out of them.
So why are they performing so poorly this season? All of myself, Alex and John on the pod as well as several of my fellow ARD bloggers have outlined where we feel the issues are, ad nauseam. Unfortunately most of those problems will take years to resolve.
Luckily, there are two problems that can be solved in enough time to allow United to salvage something from this season. Those issues are, the number of injuries that have plagued the players, and the lingering sale process.
Injuries Plague Manchester United
In my opinion, the single most impactful problem effecting the team is injuries. Before January 1st ten Hag had to navigate 35 different injuries across 18 players. I don’t care what team or manager you are talking about, staying competitive with that many injuries is wishful thinking at best.
It is very likely that the over congested fixture list last season due to the winter World Cup is the likely cause. Manchester United are not the only team suffering from injury issues across Europe.
Making matters worse, the Glazers made one last attempt at a cash grab by cramming too many matches and too much traveling into preseason.
United’s squad was threadbare last season. They had no chance of surviving that many matches without consequences.
What makes these injuries all the more impactful is the specific players that have suffered. Casemiro, Varane, Eriksen, Mount, Rashford, Martinez, and Shaw are arguably United’s most important players after Bruno. All of them have been injured for more matches this season than they have been available for.
The Boys are Back in Town
Set aside any arguments of those players falling out with the manager. They are all immensely impactful in this squad. Casemiro and Martinez in particular are our mentality monsters on the pitch. They are a driving force when this team has its back against the wall. Without any of these players United continued to flounder.
However, Eriksen, Shaw, and Varane have all been back for several matches. Martinez, Mount and Casemiro have returned to full training. In addition to the big names, Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo have both returned to the squad as well. By the end of January, United should have a mostly fit squad.
Regardless of where Manchester United stand at the end of the season, having so many important players back has the potential to turn the tide for the club. Erik ten Hag has been telling the media for months that injuries have prevented him from being able to field his ideal eleven.
Soon he may well have the opportunity he has been longing for. It is time for ten Hag and these players to shit or get off the pot. With no major injuries and disruptive players being moved on, the manager has little to stand on in defeat.
Top Four is Back on the Menu for Manchester United
The return of so many players will add depth and competition to the squad. It also means fans might soon get the chance to see what a full force Manchester United looks like. If they can sustain the highs we have seen in fleeting glimpses this season, then they can certainly claw back a top four finish.
It also cant be understated just how important Casemiro and Martinez are to this team. Last season, along with Marcus Rashford, they were immense. Casemiro almost single handedly won Untied the FA Cup. And the solidity of both Casemiro and Martinez is, in my opinion, the key to allowing United to play successfully the way ten Hag is trying to set up this season.
Without their resolve and mentality, Untied have fallen apart at the first whisper of adversity. Over reliance on so few players is, of course a problem in itself. But, for now the focus must be their impending return and how it can reinvigorate a tottering squad devoid of confidence.
The return of these players should significantly boost United’s chances of finishing in the top four. So much so that I expect them to be there by the end of the season.
Newcastle and Tottenham are slipping. Chelsea are on track to finish outside the top ten again. Aston Villa lack the depth to keep going at the pace they are at. And Manchester City and Arsenal have shown their fallibility. The squad returning to full fitness is happening at the perfect time for United to take advantage of other teams faltering. Hopefully ten Hag’s men can take advantage.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe Buys 25% of Manchester United
The second problem being resolved is the club’s protracted sale process. More than 18 months have passed since the Glazers announced their strategic review of the club. Finally, on Christmas eve all parties have confirmed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will become a minority owner of Manchester United.
The Mancunian billionaire is only purchasing 25% of the club, giving the Glazers ultimate veto power. However, a key part of the deal is that Ratcliffe and his company INEOS will have sporting control over the club. Additionally, depending on your sources, Ratcliffe could be allowed to purchase the rest of United within the next 3-7 years.
Given the mountain of problems at United, I do not think any of us believe that Sir Jim is going to solve every problem overnight. I have even heard from some fans that say they don’t think Ratcliffe has shown enough success in his previous sporting endeavors to prove he can be successful at Old Trafford.
Other than his cycling team, which had to be rebranded because of doping allegations against several riders, none of his sporting ventures have provided any sense of certainty for success.
New Ownership is A Breath of Fresh Air for Fans
But, I am with most fans who believe two things. First, anything has to be better than our current owners continuing to run everything. Second, lets give the guy a chance. The people he is reportedly bringing in to run the club are the kinds of names you want associated with United. Unlike Ed Woodward, John Murtough and Richard Arnold.
My point is, Ratcliffe coming in provides a new sense of hope. It may take the better part of a decade to reverse all of the damage the Glazers have inflicted on Manchester United. But, a new owner, especially one that is a United fan, buys the team some grace and the fans some much needed hope.
Sir Jim still has yet to be approved through the formal Premier League review process. A bureaucratic analysis that prevents nefarious owners like Roman Abromovich, as well as leveraged purchases, like the one the Glazers used to purchase United. The whole audit could take up to eight weeks, yet Ratcliffe’s presence is already being felt at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is Saying All the Right Things
The word coming out of the Ratcliffe camp is that in the next year he will invest an initial $300 million into Carrington and club infrastructure. He will also begin the process of either renovating or rebuilding Old Trafford. United will get a new DOF, CEO, technical director and who knows how many other new faces.
Fans are also hearing that the new team charged with running United will no longer hand out bloated contracts, sanction absurd amounts of money on unproven transfers, or hold on to disruptive players for marketing purposes.
All the right things are being said. While fans have no clue if any of that will come to fruition, it still provides a renewed sense of faith and optimism. Which, by now, is like a glass of warm water on a hot day for Manchester United fans. It might quench our immediate thirst, but we are gonna want a lot more really soon.
Fortunately, expectations are high with Ratcliffe taking the helm from the Glazers. The boost of a new owner as well as players returning to fitness is enough to renew some of my expectations from the start of the season.
Red Devils to Come Back Strong in the Second Half of the Season
I fully expect Untied to make a run to at least the quarter final of the FA Cup. I also expect United to qualify for Champions League next year, even if we don’t get there until the very last kick of the season.
However, if United don’t start to show reasonable improvement as we enter the business end of the season, then I fully expect Erik ten Hag to get the sack. I also expect a fire sale of players between the winter and summer windows regardless of results.
One of the most consistent narratives as the Ratcliffe era begins, is that the player wadge structure is not only bloated and prohibitive, it also gives the players all the power. Two facts that have inhibited United’s progress under previous managerial regimes. And two problems that Ratcliffe and Co. are keen to remedy immediately.
Time is not on this teams side. But they aren’t finished yet. My new years resolution is try to be more optimistic this year. To see the splashes of good rather than the ocean of bad. Instead of writing off this season as a loss in transition, I believe these players and this manager can find themselves again.
Brailsford Taking No Prisoners in Manchester United Overhaul
If not for the fans or the badge, the players should at least fight for their paychecks. Because if sheer optimism is not enough to convince me of my own argument, human natures is. And people tend to listen when their livelihood is dangled in front of them.
All of the rumors floating around the club is that there will be a total clear out of personnel across all departments. That includes players and coaching staff.
Sir Dave Brailsford, Ratcliff’s head of sporting operations at INEOS has been charged with revitalizing the club. He has made it clear that deadweight will no longer be tolerated. And players that want to stay at United need to prove their worth. Everyone at the club is currently on notice that their position is up for grabs.
If that doesn’t light a lot of fires under a lot of asses than I don’t know what will.
Only time will tell where these changes will take Manchester United for the rest of this season. For now my optimism is restored. I choose to embrace it while I can because this could all get much worse in the blink of an eye.
Glory, Glory Man United.
Be the first to comment