What Manchester United can do to save their season

By Soibi-Varsity

Manchester United England’s most famous football club are having a tough season they barely envisaged. The Red devils finished in 2nd place in the previous season and reached the Europa League finals which they lost on penalties to Villarreal FC of Spain.

Despite additions in the transfer window, Raphael Varane from Real Madrid to bolster the defense. Jadon Sancho from Broussia Dortmund for £73 to help the flanks and of course the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club after 12 years away. United hoped for an upsurge but have been dealt a heavy blow in their conquest to be Premier League Champions with losses against minor opponents like Aston Villa and also the trashing and drubbing by Liverpool and Manchester City their two arch rivals.

Manchester United struggles began in the 2020/2021 season. After topping the league in January for the first time in the post Ferguson era at that stage expectations became high. However Manchester United lost to relegation striken Sheffield United at Old Trafford. Defeats to other top 6 sides like Leicester City twice and Liverpool twice meant they went without a domestic trophy.

The lacklustre performances especially in the defense led to series of losses at home and they were propelled by their away form which they set as a new league record in England.

Having a need for defensive reinforcements the Old Trafford club chose to acquire the services of Raphael Varane from Real Madrid but failed to land a defensive midfielder.

United legend Roy Keane had decried the lack of depth in the Midfield with the likes of Fred and Scot Mctomminy branded too average to help Manchester United win the league.

” As long as these two are playing in midfield for Manchester United, they will not be winning big trophies,” he said.

Keane’s remarks were followed by a disturbing display against Wolves in their 3rd game of the season. The United midfield looked clueless and inefficient as Adama Traore and Ruben Neves gave Fred a terrible beating in midfield. Keane claimed that ” Ronaldo would be disturbed about joining Manchester United if he watched the game “



It was rumoured that manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had asked for a defensive midfielder too but because of the financial losses from the covid situation the club could not spend more.

However more disturbing than the lack of defensive midfielder is the general team play and coordination. Rio Ferdinand in his weekly podcast slammed the manager for making Manchester United play without an identity.

What Manchester United fan think

Manchester United fans are of the opinion that United are short of a world class manager. Considering the likes of their contemporaries who have managers in the mould of Thomas Tuchel , Pep GUARDIOLA, Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodger all of which have won a plethora of trophies when compared to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer who had spells with Molde in Norway where he won one league title and one Cup and Cardiff City where he was relegated from the Premier league.

United fans feel that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has reached his end and that Manchester United should relieve him of his duties as quick as possible to save the team from having an abysmal season.

What Opposition fans think

Manchester United situation has got many opposition fans really joyous. The days of Sir Alex Ferguson where they tore teams apart has left scars in many who are happy to see the club go down. Many of the rival fans want Ole to remain at the club. Infact the Liverpool supporters sang humourously at Old Trafford weeks back ” Ole at the wheel, Ole at the wheel, 5 more years of Ole at the wheel ”

What I Think

Manchester United problems are administrative first

The issue of Manchester United struggles originates from the top. The club has in several ways failed in the last decade to take good decisions. The presence of Sir Alex Ferguson in the past covered the cracks as he carried a role beyond his coaching duties.

The club letting their rivals City to sign the likes of David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Co, was the beginning of Manchester United failings. City so far had grown strong and have taken the spotlight from the the red half not just because of Arab money but because of good adminstrative decision making.

The hiring of David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor was one of the key decisions that led to the club decline and showed clearly that the values and expectations had changed. United appointed other misfit managers who in a way dismantled the structure left behind by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Another adminstrative blunder was the decision to hand Ole Gunnar Solksjaer a full time contract when the season had not yet ended. United unlike Chelsea who waited for the season to end on five occasions ( Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink twice, Roberto Di Matteo Rafael Benitez before deciding on a permanent appointment.

Manchester United went into a winless run after handing the Norwegian a 3 year deal.

Tactical and Management failings

Manchester United are having real issues beating teams with a certain class of managers. United seem to be an underdog when playing against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and City.
Their performances in the Champions league in the last two seasons also explains this theory as they have been knocked out twice in the group stage.

Three semi final losses and one final loss to Villarreal showed that the team was affected by a lack of highly tactical organization.

Manchester United are easy to beat and easy to predict. Also the expectations at the club have become higher it is no more finishing in the top 4 but winning titles. Ronaldo and Varane won 4 Champions league crowns together at Real Madrid and will not accept playing in the Europa League.

The board must realise that they do not have a manager capable of taking them to such expectations at the moment.

Ole’s selection process has been baffling as the likes of Jesse Lingard and Donny Van De Beek marginalised despite doing well.
Their defensive organization shows they have not been training right. United need a new coach to handle this team. The backroom staff at Manchester United has quite some issues too. The likes of Michael Carrick seem to inexperienced to be the assistant.
The club needs an assistant manager who has coached abroad.

Manchester United have the squad to do well in many areas but like Chelsea under Frank Lampard do not have a sound manager to take them forward. Ole must go.


Manchester United have to sign a defensive midfielder in January

Irrespective of who is in the dug out Manchester United will need a defensive midfielder and Brazillian Fred should be sold as he cannot meet up to his contemporaries such as Ngolo Kante, Rodri and Fabinho. United need a DM who will shield the defense from attacking pressures.

Manchester United should accept Pogba will leave.

Paul Pogba is unlikely that sign a new contract and going by that United should play Van De Beek more. He has been one of the scapegoats of the Manchester United struggles and seems unhappy at the club.

Manchester United must keep aside English sentiments

The likes of Luke Shaw and Harry McGuire should be rotated as they are not performing at their best. Shaw and McGuire have combined for more goals conceeded. How they still get into the team is shocking. Mason Greenwood too should not be a regular starter.

Harry McGuire should be stripped of his Captaincy

Manchester United do not have a proper Captain. Harry McGuire lacks the leadership acumen for a club like Manchester United. He has no experience of winning titles and only joined the club two years ago. He cannot lead a team of this callibre.

How to get the best of Jadon Sancho

The former Broussia Dortmund star has been struggling since he arrived. Sancho should be deployed as a typical wide man. A more advanced for of Antonio Valencia with a better dribbling skill. Sancho should be trained to wipe crosses like the former. He needs to run more with the ball.

Manchester United must aim to win the FA Cup. The competition is Manchester United’s feasible chance of their hands on a Silverware this season. If they win it while finishing 3rd in the league it will be a big boost. The earlier they make a managerial change the better their chances of winning something and finishing 3rd.

Nine points from the top and a top spot in the Uefa Champions league is not yet a disastrous situation but the negative signs are popping up. If they fail to take the right decisions between now and May next year. They may just find themselves in a class of mess they didn’t bargain for and the only the way to save the club is taking the right decisions on time .

Soibi-Varsity is Daily Memoirs Chief Football Writer