Ugh, where do I even begin. This season has been the most difficult and more importantly the most hopeless of any season. I’ve been a Manchester United fan my entire life. I was born in 1995 so for almost every year of my existence this team has been at the pinnacle of the sport. For a while it felt as if it would just be that way forever but I always knew deep down we’d have a dip again, all teams do. But, I could have never foreseen the extent to which I would suffer as a United fan.
Not only did the club fall into an empty abyss following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 but our most bitter rivals have seemingly taken our place at the top of the mountain. Manchester City and Liverpool have become two of the best teams in the world over the last decade, the former being perhaps the best. Although, I find it hard for anyone to take the title from Real Madrid just yet.
We’ve always had competition as a club and there has always been seasons in which we’ve struggled. But this 2023/24 season has been the most bleak yet. The only silver lining, which gave me the energy to even write this, was the partial takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The INEOS investment is where United fans may now find hope but until this season is officially over fans will have to suffer a little while longer.
Why so Bleak?
Let me explain just why this particular season is so much worse than all the others over the last decade. The only other season that even rivals it was the year we hired Ralf Ragnick (an overrated idiot). Although, at least that season we had fired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, CR7 was back in the building and there were still some marquee wins. This season the only team in the top 6 we’ve actually beaten is Aston Villa, whom as great as they are, they’re still not a top 6 squad as a whole. Even in the two wins over Villa it could be argued Villa threw those matches away. There hasn’t even been one good full 90′ performance.
The performances this season have all been trash and not only that but there is zero indication that it could improve. This United squad has absolutely no identity and it is honestly only pure luck that United remains in the top half of the table. How this squad sits above Newcastle United this season is beyond my comprehension. Look no further than the last match against Everton. United had no business winning that match and the passing was worse than a co-ed rec league team that just met.
Manchester United has scored less goals this season (39) than Luton (41), Bournemouth (42) and Brentford (40) just to name a few. There are no explanations or excuses one could make for such a disastrous season.
Injuries?
I would like to say if the team had been fully healthy all season things would be different. They probably would be but I even doubt that now. Injuries are certainly an excuse in certain instances but with a squad as expensive as United’s you have to be able to weather those storms. Many other teams have faced similar situations this season and overcome it.
I do believe that Lisandro Martinez makes an irreplaceable difference to this squad. United would certainly have a few more points on the table if the Argentine could’ve played a majority of the games this year. Martinez is not only a terrific defender but his composure on the ball and passing accuracy are unparalleled by any centre back in the Premier League. He’s also the team leader and it is clear as day to see. I love Bruno Fernandes but Martinez is the real captain of this team.
Lisandro’s absence has clearly been a big miss for the squad but it still does not explain the lack of identity this team plays with. We were told this was a squad that wanted to exploit transition under Ten Hag and even to this day many would agree United is a counter attacking team. But, that is NOT an identity, especially for a club as big as United. This has been a counter attacking team under every manager since Sir Alex apart from Louis Van Gal. Say what you will about Van Gal but at least the team had a clear style of play. There is no direction in this squad. At the end of the day the manager must take responsibility for that.
Eric ten Hag
The Dutch, ex Ajax manager, has to take the blame for this season. His first season in charge was phenomenal for a first season in charge but it has not been built on. There are always ups and downs when a manager is attempting to change a team and mold it into his own. But the vision of what that manager is trying to do should always be clear. I like ten Hag but I have absolutely no fucking clue what he is attempting to create. I’d almost appreciate if he just came out and said “Yeah too many injuries so I said fuck this season, just waiting for the next”.
I’ve always saw ten Hag as the man to lead this team back to the pinnacle of the sport. But, no one deserves to keep their job after a season as bad as this one. Eric ten Hag is incompetent, incapable of making effective in game adjustments and his choice of personnel has been atrocious. This stubborn Dutch wanker should’ve been fired the very first time he chose to bring Antony on the pitch over literally anyone else.
Finally, this may be controversial but the managers enduring insistence on playing Marcus Rashford every match has to stop. He’s also recently stated that Rashford is part of the clubs long term plans among interest form PSG. But, I think it’s time to move on. Rashford has only become more of a distraction and burden for the team. If PSG want an overrated and overpaid English wanker then they can have him. It’s time to begin a new era.
It’s time for Eric ten Hag to go.
Any Hope?
Finally, lets wrap this bitching manifesto up with a little of hope if any can be found.
For starters, this club is massive and will always have the financial capability of turning thigs around. So, we can always hope things will change with time. But with this current squad there really isn’t much hope to go around. Having some injured players back in the fold will help for sure but it’s not the cure.
The only real hope this squad has is what I mentioned in the intro…INEOS. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and take over of footballing operations exhibits all the signs of a positive change incoming but it will take time.
Thus far though, they seem to be making all the right decisions. 120 million pounds of debt has already been resolved just from the investment. The stadium revamp looks to truly be in the works. United has taken Omar Berrada from City to be the clubs new CEO. The INEOS group is also in the works to take Dan Ashworh from Newcastle United to be Manchester’s new sporting director.
Only time will tell but the right moves are finally being made behind the scenes. The only thing to do now is find the strength to get through the last bit of this season and hope United can somehow limp into a Champions League spot.
Ok. I’m done bitching.
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