Apologies for the long rant but I couldn't help it
SAF’s last team was the weakest he ever had and reliant on the quality of his old guard. It could still win but it must be done by playing his way (the so called United way) with him and his people on the lead.
Moyes refused to be SAF’s puppet. He messed the whole system out by bringing in his men which include a 30m giant who was only good in a style of game that contrasts greatly to that of a top club (the so called Evertonisation of Manchester United). Moyes contribution lead to an exodus of the old guard who used to provide quality to the SAF’s side. Most of them were already old anyway.
LVG came to United with the thought that we didn’t know how to play football in the first place and that he’ll be the messiah who will bring football to Manchester United. His plan was simple. Make a clean sweep of what remained of all players from previous teams (those who remained were either too good like DDG or were tied with long contracts ex, Rooney, Young, Fellaini etc), and bring in players who match his philosophy most of whom part of his old guard (Bastian, Valdes, Depay, Blind). A small squad with the right philosophy is better than a bloated one with players who couldn’t play comprehends how ‘football’ is played, and let us face it, philosophy trumps anything this Neanderthal league can throw at him. Hence why LVG went for a small squad with its set of crappy defenders who couldn’t defend shite but could elegantly pass the ball (Mcfail, Rojo etc) and with some of the most boring football ever. Any dissidents were shown the door, including a player whom he brought in the first place and ended up his main assist man.
It turned out that LVG was wrong. The EPL is of a far higher quality then an ancient Bastian or some players who did well in Championship level football could handle. Also there was a reason why top quality managers, most of whom (unlike Dutch football) came from a football school who weren’t the Tottenham of international football (ie they actually won the world cup), had to adapt to bigger squads and a more direct and physical football. EPL football is tough and its breathtaking. There’s more than just 1 competitor so a top club’s campaign is more of a marathon then a sprint. Also most teams are happy to just sit deep and get a point from us.
Which lead us to our next manager a man who knows the EPL and who have good intentions but who is not completely immune of the arrogance previous managers had. Case in point is how he thought he could make a player out of the likes of Fellaini and Rojo + his stupidity in thinking he can keep Jones fit. That required divine intervention and last time I’ve checked Jose’s surname was Mourinho not de jesus dos santos. His commitment to keep Ibrahimovic for another years also show a slight tinge of nepotism which was common during SAF’s last years, LVG and Moyes.
So how do I assess this squad? Well it’s a mess. We’ve got wingers as full backs, fullbacks and midfielders as CBs, strikers and no 10s on the flanks and a washed up striker who wants to be in midfield because he simply can’t run anymore. Most of whom are on ridiculous salaries they won’t get anywhere else so expect them to cheat and sabotage anyone whose considering showing them the door. So no it is not a great side. It is barely a good one.
Speaking of washed up players its hilarious. If you had to take in consideration all the players we had playing for us in the past 4-5 years you’ll probably be able to build the best XI of the early 2000s. Valdes, Rio, Vidic, Bastian, Scholes, Giggs with Rooney and Ibra upfront. We’ve become the retiring home of players and when we don’t give them a silver service treatment (like for example putting somebody who spend most of last season following his wife playing tennis in the reserves or not allowing our binge drinker striker to play in midfield because he’s not a midfielder) hell comes loose, with tax evaders and former players/lousy managers/lousy coaches/lousy pundits pointing fingers at us for making their lives difficult rather than allowing these players to overstay in the same way we did with them. The funny thing (regarding the former) is that we’ve yet to see Bayern bidding for Bastian. Oh well they don’t like paying salaries to former players to ‘play’ football don’t they?
So no, we don’t have a good squad. This team lack quality, it lack spirit and it lack hunger.
