‘Embarrassing s***bags’
Any of the Manchester United players that were called in to do some light training or review footage at Carrington, on Sunday, could not but have noticed the cardboard sign that hung from a pole at their training facilities.
One United supporter, so fecked off by a run of one win in seven that included a Champions League exit and culminated in a 1-0 defeat to Everton, headed along to Carrington with a sign made at home and found a pole to tie it to.
‘Embarrassing s***bags. Not fit to wear the shirt – get out of our club’
— pl out of context (@unluckyfootie) April 11, 2022
There was effort, planning and thought put behind that 13-word rejoinder.
At least someone still cares.
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United shakes hands with manager Ralf Rangnick as he leaves the field after being substituted against Everton, at Goodison Park. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)Man United and the latest wait
Of course when we stated (above) that United’s seven-game spin ‘culminated’ in that meek loss to relegation-haunted Everton, that could yet be presumptuous.
When you mention the word ‘wait’ about Manchester United, one might think that is a wait for a league title [now nine years] or a trophy [five years]. For many United fans, the latest painful wait for them is the wait until the season is over.
That Everton loss, and Tottenham’s win over Aston Villa, means United are six points off Antonio Conte’s men in lame pursuit of a Champions League spot. Given that Spurs have a goal difference that is 12 better off than United, it effectively means United need to make up seven points to over-take the Londoners.
One of United’s seven games left is away to Liverpool and only the most blinkered of their fans could hope for anything more than a point from that fixture. In truth, they could be in for another hiding.
So, for United fans, they must wait.
Wait until this wretched season wraps up. Wait until an actual manager is appointed. Wait until the dead-wood and players who never should have had contracts extended are confirmed as leaving. Wait until new signings give them some semblance of hope. Wait until some 18-year-old prospect really shows up in a pre-season game in Melbourne, L.A or Singapore.
The next six weeks will be excruciating, one suspects, but there may be a reason or two for United to stay invested in their team.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammates Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani after scoring against Atalanta, in the Champions League, at Old Trafford. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Enjoy Cristiano Ronaldo before he goes, for good
For each and every United supporter, the next seven league games would be easier digested if they concede that the Champions League is gone for next season.
Their club may be in the Europa Cup, or even the Europa League, but at least there will be some income from it, and a chance for younger players to get European experience. It is a sliver of a silver lining on a gigantically dark and menacing cloud.
Accept that the club will not be dining at the big table next season and maybe, just maybe, there could be a miracle if they get some sort of winning run together.
United fans, enjoy the last few games of Cristiano Ronaldo at the club.
Ronaldo is 37 now and while he has kept up his end of the bargain, having the Portuguese as the attacking spear-head has taken away from what now dispatched manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was trying to build. The Norwegian was going into 2021/22 planning on an attacking trio of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and, up top, Mason Greenwood. That was why Edinson Cavani was asked to stick around – to take the load off Greenwood.
Ronaldo became available, Manchester City (real or imagined) were tipped to get him, Alex Ferguson and the United old boys (Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, et al) got involved and, all of a sudden, Solskjaer’s plans went out the window. No-one at the club could have fore-told the grim, shocking turn of events where Greenwood was concerned, too.
Ronaldo will move on during the summer, so United supporters should enjoy his second coming while it lasts.
The next few weeks could also be a chance to bid farewell to the likes of Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and, one of the last United players with a Premier League winners’ medal, Phil Jones.
The final reason is the dead rubbers should provide a platform for some younger players to get run-outs. Hannibal Mjebri, Shola Shoretire, Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal may all get minutes. Will Fish is a highly rated young central defender at the club, so could give Harry Maguire a chance to get out of the firing line.
Erik Ten Hag is now looking likely as the next Manchester United boss, there should be that and more positives for the club’s supporters to get invested in, over the coming months.
For now, though, it is seven more games over six long weeks.
The wait goes on.
