Both in terms of performances and results there are no real positives to take from our first two matches. In simple terms we are P2 D0 L2 with a GD of -5. Do I think we are going to get relegated this season? No more than I expect Brentford to remain in the top four. It is a sobering thought that sometimes you need to go backwards to go forwards. If that principle applies to United then we should expect that this is going to be a long, painful, frustrating and scrappy season. One where we may well see the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea pull away from us quite significantly. United are in a fight and the first order of business for ETH is to ensure that the players that he picks have the stomach for the fight. Clearly, some are simply not up for that.
Would you be willing to see United go backwards this season if it means that we can go forward next season?
The question is more if there is any other choice. The answer to which in my opinion will be "no", unless they can turn it around in the next couple of games. There are only so many times this group of players can fail catastrophically before it becomes inevitable that you have to break it up. It's not even fundamentally about the "why" any more. It's just very close to becoming obvious that for whatever reason, we've got a crew that amounts to something much, much less than the sum of their parts. Sometimes things are simple, and if this goes on that's one of those times: When something has failed again and again and again, for a long time and under different circumstances, that means it doesn't work and can't be fixed. I don't see anything to suggest the players think it can be fixed either.
What you then have to do is gut the core group, and move out at least some of the key regulars. Otherwise, you will never bring back belief. Adding new players to the group won't fix a dysfunctional collective, it's just more wood to throw on the funeral pyre. Maguire, whose captaincy is irretrievably associated with the whole mess, has to be moved out. Ronaldo naturally should not be around - it makes no sense from any perspective, and won't be good for either him or the club. Shaw is another natural name to point to, but really more or less everyone bar the new arrivals, Lindelof, Varane, Elanga and maybe Sancho would merit consideration. Ideally, you'd like to see at least 2-3 important players out, and good replacements brought in.
The trouble of course is that while this would have been a workable project if undertaken in June, we are now close to the deadline and it's really too late for a shakeup of this sort. It also won't help that all any prospective signee can see is a failing megaclub in total and obvious disarray, and no evident way out of it - the sort of club that sucks in a career, chews it up and spits you out. How hard is it to find better options than signing for such a club? Which means that we will almost certainly be stuck essentially with this current team until, at the very least, January. And the way things are looking so far, that
will mean going backwards this season, but without the "in order to go forward later" bit.
Still, I keep telling myself it's only two games. It can still change. It's just very, very hard to see a reason it would.
