1.
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a
heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
John
Milton, Paradise Lost.
It’s tough
going writing about United these days. We are in ‘transition’ after all. A wait and see
phase that is to be played out over the course of the next 18 months. Phase one
is ‘come in the top four’ to ensure UCL football and persuade sponsors, agents
and players that last year really was just a one-off. Phase two is challenge for
the title. Phase three is called heaven. If last year was hell, this year is
purgatory. And it’s a lot more painful than it’s credited with. I am impatient.
I have no time to wait around for us to get good again. The one step forward,
two steps back routine has already worn thin. On the back of six straight victories
we at least looked ready to consolidate third place, if not make a totally
unmerited charge at the top. But three soporific draws over Christmas mean that
Southampton go ahead of us if they beat us on Sunday. I suppose this is what
‘top four’ is all about. You can get away with being a bit shit. I don’t like
it. I certainly don’t blame LVG for it. He’s building from the ground up and
can only work with what he’s got. But I can’t help but feel that a little more
imagination in the summer transfer window, a couple less injuries and a few
more back fours would have us challenging at the top sooner than we’d
anticipated. That isn’t to say we’re as good as Chelsea or City because we’re
not (yet). But we could still beat them. Those three away draws made me understand
why Arsenal fans are tearing their hair out. Coming ‘top four’ just isn’t fun.
And isn’t that what all this is supposed to be about? Defeat isn’t enjoyable,
but a draw is just a waste of everyone’s time. It’s so un-us. The ever-positive
fans point to the side moving in the right direction. “Think where we’ll be in
a year”, they clamour. And they’re right. But there is another way of looking
at it. We still average less than two points a game and have invited Arsenal,
Spurs, Southampton and to a lesser extent Liverpool back into the top four
fight. One win in four or unbeaten in eleven - it's totally up to you. But without
question we can do better - and we must. Unless we improve we’ll forever remain
in footballing purgatory. No one wants a repeat of last year’s trip to hell but
it’s up to LVG to take us back where we belong: heaven.
--
2. The youth of today yesterday
When United
sold Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, the world was up in arms. What about the
famous MUFC academy? All these rotten foreigners…they’ve lost their identity. Of
course, it simply wasn’t true. The primary requirement to play for MUFC is that
you have to be good enough. There is an onus on the club to produce young,
local talent because it’s cheaper than the alternative. From a sporting
perspective, seeing a young talent fly through the ranks and up into the first
team is exhilarating. That connection
between player and club is something money can’t buy. But if they’re not good
enough, they’re not good enough. I don’t remember anyone up in arms when Fergie
let Gibson go to Everton – and he is/ was a better player than Cleverley. Danny
Welbeck asked to leave on several occasions and the conversation should have
ended there. But the media would have us believe we were selling our soul. The
fact he has scored 4 goals in 15 PL appearances for Arsenal is neither here nor
there – he wanted to leave. Yet, behind the scenes, unmentioned by the press
who seemed to care so much about United’s ‘identity’, LVG has been chipping
away at our under 21s – many of whom were on the verge of the first team. Adnan
Januzaj can’t get a kick while Michael Keane has been sold to Burnley. Tom
Lawrence departed on deadline day without so much as a whisper. Forget Cleverley
and Welbeck, these are the prospects whose careers have gone in very different
directions under the new manager. Lawrence was highly rated by Ferguson. Giggs
gave him his debut against Hull to prove it. Michael Keane was very close to
getting the nod at Southampton on the last day of the season. Yes Van Gaal gave
him his debut, but also his P45 just as quickly. Our manager is obviously not
afraid to rely on youth hence the supporting roles handed to Blackett, McNair
and Wilson this season. But these players feel more like the Fergie Fledglings
than the Class of 92 (a short term answer to a long term injury crisis). And
that’s fine. Because Louis Van Gaal is a far better judge of talent than either
David Moyes or myself. But with another assault on the transfer market coming
in the summer and the whispers growing that he’s not sold on Januzaj, one does
start to wonder: whatever happened to giving youth a chance?
--
3. Time to look out for number one
You’ve got to love LVG. Valdes has been training with United for
the best part of 3 months yet any time LVG has been asked about it his response
makes the journalist in question feel two foot tall. “What if Liverpool offer
him a contract?” he was asked. “Then he goes to Liverpool. And what?” was his
response. There were no further questions on Valdes. But the truth is Valdes
was a total no-brainer for LVG. As noted previously the keeper situation at
United is ridiculous. We have a young Spaniard (possibly) running down his
contract in the form of his life, and on Madrid’s wish-list. In reserve
we have Anders Lindegaard (who’s never been close to good enough) and two
youngsters, Ben Amos and Sam Johnstone. Now compare that with Courtois and
Cech at Chelsea, or Hart and Caballero down the road. Whatever De Gea decides
to do regarding his future United are absolutely right to snap up a world class
goalkeeper on a free transfer. Liverpool must be feeling sick right now. Worst
case scenario – De Gea's form continues and he signs a new contract, Valdes
barely gets a sniff and leaves in 18 months time. Or De Gea ups and leaves in
the summer and we don’t have to spend the summer desperately trying to sign a
keeper (Tim Krul). It’s a win-win. For years we’ve settled for second best in
the transfer market. It’s about time we put number one first.
--
4. The Long Goodbye
Steven
Gerrard. The gift that keeps on giving. First of all I’ll deal with the
greatest Premier league player nonsense. To be judged against the best you have
to be competing for the top prizes in the best teams, year on year. The immense
pressure that comes with being the best, of standing out among other world
class players cannot be replicated playing for a team barely challenging. Did Matt Le Tissier do great things? Yes. Was he a great player? No. Could
Gerrard have done it at the top? Probably. Did he? No. I understand Liverpool
worshipping him, but they ought to be distraught at how it’s been handled. When
Ferguson retired he was furious that the news was leaked. His plan was to
announce it after the Swansea game (last home game) and be done with it.
Ferguson is no martyr. Everyone likes to hear nice things about themselves as
they go out in a blaze of glory. He has an ego but he is not an egotist. No one
man is bigger than the club. Ferguson got rid of Beckham because he felt his
circus was detracting from the team. Scholes slipped out once with a wave, came
back unannounced (not even the players knew), then left out the back door for a
second time. Not even Ryan Giggs got a long goodbye. But that has always been
our strength. The second one person thinks they’re bigger than the club they’re
gone. Roy Keane has recently made a big song and dance about his fallout with
United. The truth was he wasn’t good enough anymore. He didn’t want to walk so
he was pushed. Gary Neville quit at half-time away at West Brom – he didn’t
need to wait for a round of applause to know he was finished. When Vidic
announced his departure having signed a pre-contract with Inter Milan there
were plenty of reds (myself included) who felt let down. Maybe he was unhappy
with management, maybe he accepted he couldn’t do it at the top anymore – either
way he should have kept the news quiet. Heroes come and go. That is the nature
of football. There will always be someone to worship and at a club like United
we’re lucky to always have more than our fair share. Warm welcomes and fond
goodbyes are all well and good – but it’s what they do during their stay that
counts.
--
5. Evans knows I’m miserable now
Excuse the
pun. It just came to me (I’ve obviously had it in my head for about three
months but will keep that to myself). Just when it looks like a player has
cracked it, he goes and proves you wrong. Jonny Evans had his critics when he
broke into the side. Was he quick enough? Could he dominate in the air? When
Carlton Cole destroyed him one snowy night at Upton Park it looked as though
the answers to both questions were, ‘nope’. But then something happened. Vidic
tore his cruciate and Jonny stepped up, leading us to within a fatter Paddy
Kenny of the title. When Chris Smalling lost Vincent Kompany from a corner at
Eastlands reds all over lamented Jonny Evans’ latest injury. That seems a long
time ago now. One of the best performers in Ferguson’s final triumphant season,
Jonny’s stock has plummeted. Moyes (remember him?) didn’t trust him from day
one – giving him his first start of the season in a Carling Cup game in
mid-September. Van Gaal took a shine to him in pre-season until, shock, he got
injured. He came back into the side only to do something to his ankle at
Leicester. Maybe he did it watching Ulloa head the ball into the net from a few
yards away. Evans should have beaten him to that ball. And that’s the problem
with Jonny Evans. Now 27, whenever he has the opportunity to disappoint, he
doesn’t let you down. His performance at MK Dons was put down to rustiness. Yet
we saw exactly the same performance at Leicester and more recently at Stoke
when only Mame Biram Diouf’s sense of loyalty to his former employers let Evans
off. LVG likes the fact Evans is two footed, yet anyone who saw his left footed
shank off the pitch at White Hart Lane (and my subsequent collapse into
hysterics) will question that. Van Gaal subbed him in that game because he was
‘tired’. How long until it’s the other way round and Van Gaal is tired of
Evans?
--
6. RVP – yeah you know me
For the
plebs among us, it’s tempting to laugh at the issues of the rich and famous.
What super car should I buy? Which exotic holiday destination should I visit
this month? These aren’t real problems. Yet the greater the riches, the bigger
the trouble. Or to put it another way, “mo’ money mo’ problems.” Having both
RVP and Falcao should be a dream – but it’s fast turning into one of those
weird ‘wow I have too much money’ scenarios. Two international strikers of
fearsome repute, both natural goalscorers - though with totally differing
styles - we’re lucky to be able to call on them both. But as the Southampton
game approaches (and ADM nears full fitness) LVG is, for the first time, faced
with a truly big decision. RVP or Radamel? Of course he could fudge it and drop
Mata. Or he could change formation to accommodate them all. Either way this is
one of those ‘good problems’ that managers like to have. At least they say they
do but really it must be a nightmare. No one likes rejection and millionaire
footballers have ways of letting the world know about it. But still that’s why
LVG gets paid the big bucks. In all honesty – bar a couple of games – RVP has
not looked right since SAF left. That’s nothing to do with fitness. It’s do
with the shape of the team and the job he’s been asked to do. Under Ferguson he
was surrounded with width and energy. Under Moyes he was up front with Rooney -
when fit. For Holland he was paired with Robben. They looked electric against
Spain but in truth RVP never fully looked comfortable in that formation. At St.
Mary’s it looked like the tide had turned but then Falcao returned and RVP’s
touch deserted him yet again. He reminds me of Van Nistelrooy in his final season.
Saying all the right things, scoring (just about) enough goals, but something’s
missing. It’s all too functional. The team is evolving and you wonder whether a
32-year-old centre forward has it in him to adapt. Now, I’m not saying Falcao
is the answer - I remain unconvinced (apart from on his hair which is
wonderful) - but for LVG it’s a delicate situation. It’s as though he has been
given the eye by two good looking girls at the bar. If he moves on one, he’d
better hope he read the signals right. Because no one likes being second
choice.
--
7. “Victorious
warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first
and then seek to win.”
Sun Tzu
Under Sir
Alex Ferguson, when United came to town, our opponents readied themselves for
the inevitable. Defeat was on its way. In truth, they were often beaten before it
the game began. The best always have a psychological hold over their opponents
and they know how to use it. They sense fear and they smell blood. The best
don’t even need to be at their best to win on ‘foreign soil’. They thrive in
adversity, knowing what it takes to go into the lion’s den and come back with
the spoils. My fondest United victories are always away from home. Arsenal in
the European Cup semi final, Chelsea in the quarters. Wins at Eastland / Maine
Road will never leave me (not that we’ve had that many recently) and, of
course, victory at Anfield is better than sex (so I hear). Any who witnessed these
games saw courage, determination, focus and, of course, skill. Qualities so far
lacking in this United side. The changes at the club in the past eighteen
months revealed a chink in our armour. Teams have begun to believe. David Moyes
welcomingly opened the door to Old Trafford last season, handing the keys to opposing
managers willy-nilly. Swansea, West Brom, Everton, Newcastle, Spurs and
Sunderland all recorded victories at the Theatre of Dreams last year – not to
mention Liverpool and City. Under LVG the home form has improved drastically.
United have only dropped five points at Old Trafford this season. But away from
home the problem remains. Taking three points from trips to Spurs, Villa and
Stoke is nowhere near good enough. But what’s worse is, aside from the first
half against a truly poor Spurs side, we have barely created a chance. Draws at
Burnley and Sunderland so early in Van Gaal’s tenure could be excused while
defeat at City was no disgrace in the circumstances (yuck). But even in victory
at Arsenal, Southampton and Yeovil the enemy was never truly vanquished. The
winner’s have the right to write history as they see fit, but those performances
were way below par. A top team chases a game away from home with style, panache
and a sheer-bloody mindedness that causes the opponent to wither and die. A
great team has won before it’s even begun.
--
8. Something I never thought I say
We’ve
missed Marouane. He’s still not good at football - which is an issue for a
professional footballer – but he’s more good than he was last year. Well done
LVG. Fuck off Moyes.
--
9. Time to redress the balance
“When you look at the squad, there is quality…There
are a lot of players that can play in the same position. It is not in balance.
It’s more difficult to succeed in a difficult situation than in a fantastic situation.”
LVG, July 2014.
This
comment stuck in my head. He was totally right. One year under moyes and the
squad had all the balance of a wobbly jenga tower. And even with the
unprecedented transfer activity in the summer, the squad still looks lopsided.
Not enough wide players (see below), hardly any full backs, no goalscoring
midfielders (does Rooney count?) – where did it all go wrong? I It must be a
nightmare for Van Gaal. Every time he picks the team he’s having to shuffle the
deck. Signing Mata and Fellaini set us back a long way. Plus he’s since had
fifty injuries to contend with. In the summer, he took one look at the squad
and went three at the back. Then he signed ADM and Falcao and went with the
diamond before realising we were too soft. We shipped goals until he brought
Fellaini and Rooney into midfield. Then we looked solid – but struggled to
create chances. RVP’s utter isolation in the second half against Chelsea and at
City was so…well so un-United. So he went back to a 3-4-3 that was designed to
bring the best out of Rooney and his strikers. The result has been some turgid
away performances, relative solidity at the back but a continual starvation of
our front two who have to contend with neck high balls from Jonny Evans left
foot. It’s not pretty. LVG is right to shore us up at the back before even trying
to play football. But he still can’t be happy with the squad. Expect
significant activity in the summer window (in and out) as he seeks to redress
the balance. It’s the only way to turn a 'difficult situation' into a ‘fantastic’
one.
--
10. “The
only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep
telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.”
Jordan Belfort
Injuries,
injuries, injuries – they’ve all got an injury. So Kenneth Williams might
scream if he were in charge of Manchester United. The running total of 50+
injuries is quite honestly ridiculous. There comes a point where you have to
stop blaming luck and start blaming yourself. The three centre backs are so
injury prone you can tell by the weather when they’re going to pick up an
injury. Rafael….well all I’ll say about Rafael is he’s no longer the most
injury prone player at the club. That’s Luke Shaw. Congratulations son. It’s so
frustrating it’s almost funny. But there is an end in sight. Ashley Young is
now the only player in the treatment room having picked up a hamstring injury
at Stoke. No injuries means no excuses. It’s time to deliver.
--
11. Was Ryan Giggs – winger not whinger
When Adnan
Januzaj was handed the number 11 shirt a new age of wide players was heralded
at Old Trafford. A few weeks later Angel Di Maria joined the party, destined
for greatness in the number seven shirt. United were going wide once more. After
years of watching Valencia and Nani whither and die before our eyes, and Ashley
Young prove that you don’t need to have pace or skill to be an international
winger, it seemed the renaissance was here. Of course, Adnan could never be
expected to play every game, but between the two of them we’d be covered. Van
Persie and Falcao must have been licking their lips. They’ve probably stopped
now. Januzaj has only started four of United’s twenty Premier League games.
He’s totaled a mere 435 minutes all season. Di Maria has rarely been deployed
out wide (and it should be stated he played more centrally for Madrid in his
standout season) as Van Gaal has repeatedly changed formation in search of that
elusive balance. The result has been wing-backs and an Indian summer for Young
and Valencia. Beating a man is rarely about pure pace. It’s about timing,
courage and trickery. It’s a mental battle with the defender. Valencia is one
of the quickest and strongest players in the league – yet when was the last
time he left a defender for dead? Young has, for the first time, shown a
penchant for driving on his left foot. LVG should win manager of the year just
for this. It’s transformed Young though he still lacks the genuine pace
required to torture a full back. Shaw is quick but as one-footed as Valencia.
Unless he develops a trick (ala Evra) he’ll never have the attacking impact
that Evra or Irwin once did (Denis Irwin was totally two footed for a start).
So where does this leave us? Unless LVG rediscovers his faith in Adnan he has
two choices: stick with wing backs or hit the market again. How we miss our
Welsh wizard. If only there were another one out there who may currently be unhappy at his club in a far away foreign land…
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