Manchester United’s problems go deeper than boring football.
Sack Louis van Gaal, bring in Ryan Giggs or Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola and all of Manchester United’s problems will be solved, right?
Of course not. The same way sacking David Moyes, while resulting in an improved league position the following season, wasn’t enough to restore the good times to Old Trafford.
Manchester United fans are sick of their manager, and Van Gaal himself appears ready for retirement, but the issues at United go beyond ‘boring’ football.
These are five problems facing United that, if un-addressed, will mean the club will continue to flounder regardless of who’s in charge.
1. Transfer Policy
Manchester United’s transfer policy since Ed Woodward became executive vice-chairman in 2013 has been haphazard.
Just because the club have the money to sign Neymar, doesn’t mean you should try buy him. The same way talking to his representatives doesn’t mean the player is actually interested in joining the club.
In theory, signing Neymar would be a massive coup for Manchester United. But this isn’t Fifa 16 and such a deal is completely unrealistic.
Woodward has seemingly done more to earn big names new contracts at their current clubs than bring any to United and his attempts to build a relationship with Jorge Mendes, football’s super-agent, landed the club with Angel di Maria and Falcao.
Woodward’s commercial acumen isn’t in doubt, but the club would be better served if he left the transfer business to someone else and focussed himself on securing deals for United’s official toothpick supplier, or some other bizarre, but lucrative, deal that the club seem to sign on a weekly basis.
United desperately need a director of football, with contacts throughout football, and a proper scouting system, regardless of who the manager is.
The club’s poor transfer policy isn’t a new thing. Only Alex Ferguson could get away with selling Cristiano Ronaldo and signing Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan in the same transfer window.
2. Dead wood in the squad
Wayne Rooney may have scored four Premier League goals in the first three games of this year, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Can Manchester United really go into another season with a player in such obvious decline as their main striker?
Just before Bastian Schweinsteiger signed for United last summer, Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer cast doubts on the move, saying: “It is hard to adapt to another top European league at his age. He should stay at Bayern, where he can play at the top level for another year or two… Afterwards he can see out his career in the U.S.”
So far, Franz has been proved correct, and Schweinsteiger has added little to United’s already laboured, one-dimensional midfield.
The club had seemingly cleared the dead wood last season when Nani, Robin van Persie and Rafael, amongst others, departed, but the squad needs another overall.
Van Gaal must take his share of the blame for the squad’s current imbalance and lack of quality, but regardless of who the manager is next season, they’ll be working with possibly the worst United squad in recent memory.
The first job might be to get rid of Marouane Fellaini, who’s effect on United is so detrimental that they have won 70% of the league games he’s missed. And won only 23.1% of the game’s he has started.
3. Youth System
Manchester United have famously had a youth team product in the first-team squad since October 1937, however that statistic papers over the cracks of what has become an ailing production line.
The club’s youth system has been surpassed by neighbours Manchester City, and currently appears rudderless following the departure of key figures.
According to journalist Andy Mitten, United have become complacent in recent years, believing their name alone will attract the best young players. The youth set-up is underfunded, coaches are part-time and unable to compete with City, who offer young players a private education, as well as the best coaching available.
“United have an old-fashioned approach in that they want players who want to play for the club but there are grumbles that they focus their resources too much on sports science while rivals are stealing players from under their nose,” writes Mitten.
“Even Everton have a satellite scouting system in Stretford – right in the shadow of Old Trafford. United have no such operation in Liverpool.”
The club evidently need to overhaul their youth system, and such a job needs to take place regardless of who the next manager is. Although, we can’t imagine Jose Mourinho will take much interest.
4. Cult of the individual
In a briefing to journalists earlier this season, a United source reportedly said the club have no intention of attempting to convince Pep Guardiola to replace Louis van Gaal, because the Dutchman is “a genius manager”.
It appears the club are still beholden to the idea that their fortunes rest with one man, an idea fostered by Alex Ferguson.
When the former United manager said he’d only coached four world class players in his 26 years at the club, it could be argued he was merely trying to talk up his own ability.
He may well have been a genius, but there’s more to building successful teams than a messianic figurehead.
United still seemed gripped by the idea that the individual is more important than the collective. Woodward is reportedly solely responsible for the destiny of Louis “the genius manager” van Gaal.
David “the chosen one” Moyes was ludicrously seen as the natural heir to Ferguson because they shared a similar background. Jose Mourinho, or Ryan Giggs or Pep Guardiola, are being touted as next for the role. Regardless of who the next United manager is, or how many sideways passes their team plays, success or failure won’t be theirs alone.
The sooner the better for United that they stop expecting one man to make or break their fortunes on the field.
5. The rest have caught up
The Premier League features 17 of the 30 richest clubs in the world, and that’s before next season’s even more lucrative TV deal begins.
Whereas, in the past, the best players tended to end up at the richest clubs, now that every club has untold riches, United’s advantage isn’t what it once was. Particularly when they can’t offer regular Champions League football or trophies.
When West Ham can sign a player of the calibre of Dimitri Payet, or Crystal Palace and Yohan Cabaye, it is clear United are no longer competing with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City.
Which means they’ll need to improve their scouting, stop chasing unrealistic marquee signings and better utilise their considerable resources.
Leicester City have proved this season that a well-run, balanced and talented squad can make an impact at the top end of the table. With clubs getting richer, and constantly seeking advantages, then United could drop further behind.
