I rarely open new threads these days because most of the arguments have already been discussed. However I am noticing many finger pointing at one aspect of what's going wrong with Manchester United. While there's truth in what most are saying, I do believe that the issue is far more complex and involves way more people then simply the players etc.
Thus I am going to make a list of what I think is to blame. Starting from the least to the most to blame. You're free to argue pro and against that
8. Rangnick
Rangnick is a fantastic football person. While there are a number of managers who had build great sides some far more successful then Ralph's teams ever were, Rangnick had literally built great clubs. He's a person whose top to bottom vision is second only to that of the likes of prime Sir Alex. That's a valuable asset to have especially in a football world were jobs are often super specialised. Managers had become head coaches, there are DOFs, there are chief scouts, analysts etc. Rangnick is one of the few people left who can do each and every job. His gegenpressing is the way to go. It allows clubs to build a successful side without having to spend ridiculous money on world class players per position while still playing attacking football.
However I do question the wisdom of implementing such demanding tactic with one of the laziest and entitled squads in the EPL mid way into the season especially when we simply lack the personnel to do so and that our players haven't pressed for the past 3 years. Cavani-Ronaldo are ancient, AWB look lost in the opponent's half of the pitch while Maguire has less pace then a frigging tortoise. You don't need to be a genius to acknowledge that this 4-2-2-2 system can't work here, at least, not with the present side
7. SAF
I blame the great man on two things. First of all he left an ageing side and a ridiculously outdated system behind (no DOF, technical director, sporting director etc). That was fine for him as the guy was a one man army but it was set to tank the moment he retired (which would have been sooner rather then later). Secondly its evident that he still have a huge say at OT. At age 80 and with him not being involved in football on a day to day basis that is silly. Football had moved on, the guy had become too sentimental and what worked in his time won't work now.
6. The fans
We fans are Manchester United's last bastion. Most of the people out there are in for the money (salary) or the fame associated being linked with us (pundits etc) but we're the ones who will stick to the club and throw money at it no matter what. Thus we should have a mind of our own and stop applauding mediocracy. We can't win all the time and that's a fact. However there's standards that need to be met and kept no matter whose the employee is. We have too many blood suckers at the club for us to allow others to do the thinking for us.
5. Recruitment
Time and time again we had been promised that we'll be sorting this issue for good. The result of years of reform was a cautious recruitment team who often overspend (salary or/and fee) on proven players who are either not good enough (Maguire, AWB etc) or whose on their big last pay cheque (Ronaldo, Varane, Cavani). Players are human beings. Those not good enough know it and will do anything to defend their highly paid position (leak information, cheat and get people sacked) while players heading towards the end of their career are either impatient for that last trophy or will take care not to get that injury that they would have to carry for the rest of their lives. Not to forget that what one can do in his 20s is not what can one can do in late 30s either
4. Contract guys
Why do we give so much salary to average players? What's the point of it? Players on a huge salary are so difficult to get rid and would be forced upon the next manager. Also what's the brilliance between letting players walk on free instead of selling them before? We risk losing 100-120m worth of talent this year alone!
3. Players
We've got one of the laziest and quite frankly mediocre squads in the EPL, with players insisting in making Championship level mistakes. United leak like a sieve and no one ever takes responsibility of what's going on. That's disgusting.
2. The board
Where do I start? Ah yes, over 1 Billion pounds spent and 4 managers sacked (+ 2 interim) and there's absolutely nothing to show for it. We allowed a failed Cardiff manager to spend 415m on players, it took us 3 years searching for a DOF only to discover Murtough at Carrington and we gave Fletcher 2 promotions in few months. Now there are even rumours of players being able to bypass the manager and speak directly to the board. How silly is that?
1. The owners
I don't hate the owners as much as the typical United fan does. I do think that they have invested in the club and they tried to keep themselves at an arm's length from football matters which is a good thing. However there comes a time when enough is enough. This club had been throwing tons of their own money in the bin for years. Surely a responsible owner would at least bother to look that up and make necessary changes to stop that from happening. Ours simply don't. I know that the likes of Woodward had produced profit on a year basis however waste is still waste and its bad.
Thus I am going to make a list of what I think is to blame. Starting from the least to the most to blame. You're free to argue pro and against that
8. Rangnick
Rangnick is a fantastic football person. While there are a number of managers who had build great sides some far more successful then Ralph's teams ever were, Rangnick had literally built great clubs. He's a person whose top to bottom vision is second only to that of the likes of prime Sir Alex. That's a valuable asset to have especially in a football world were jobs are often super specialised. Managers had become head coaches, there are DOFs, there are chief scouts, analysts etc. Rangnick is one of the few people left who can do each and every job. His gegenpressing is the way to go. It allows clubs to build a successful side without having to spend ridiculous money on world class players per position while still playing attacking football.
However I do question the wisdom of implementing such demanding tactic with one of the laziest and entitled squads in the EPL mid way into the season especially when we simply lack the personnel to do so and that our players haven't pressed for the past 3 years. Cavani-Ronaldo are ancient, AWB look lost in the opponent's half of the pitch while Maguire has less pace then a frigging tortoise. You don't need to be a genius to acknowledge that this 4-2-2-2 system can't work here, at least, not with the present side
7. SAF
I blame the great man on two things. First of all he left an ageing side and a ridiculously outdated system behind (no DOF, technical director, sporting director etc). That was fine for him as the guy was a one man army but it was set to tank the moment he retired (which would have been sooner rather then later). Secondly its evident that he still have a huge say at OT. At age 80 and with him not being involved in football on a day to day basis that is silly. Football had moved on, the guy had become too sentimental and what worked in his time won't work now.
6. The fans
We fans are Manchester United's last bastion. Most of the people out there are in for the money (salary) or the fame associated being linked with us (pundits etc) but we're the ones who will stick to the club and throw money at it no matter what. Thus we should have a mind of our own and stop applauding mediocracy. We can't win all the time and that's a fact. However there's standards that need to be met and kept no matter whose the employee is. We have too many blood suckers at the club for us to allow others to do the thinking for us.
5. Recruitment
Time and time again we had been promised that we'll be sorting this issue for good. The result of years of reform was a cautious recruitment team who often overspend (salary or/and fee) on proven players who are either not good enough (Maguire, AWB etc) or whose on their big last pay cheque (Ronaldo, Varane, Cavani). Players are human beings. Those not good enough know it and will do anything to defend their highly paid position (leak information, cheat and get people sacked) while players heading towards the end of their career are either impatient for that last trophy or will take care not to get that injury that they would have to carry for the rest of their lives. Not to forget that what one can do in his 20s is not what can one can do in late 30s either
4. Contract guys
Why do we give so much salary to average players? What's the point of it? Players on a huge salary are so difficult to get rid and would be forced upon the next manager. Also what's the brilliance between letting players walk on free instead of selling them before? We risk losing 100-120m worth of talent this year alone!
3. Players
We've got one of the laziest and quite frankly mediocre squads in the EPL, with players insisting in making Championship level mistakes. United leak like a sieve and no one ever takes responsibility of what's going on. That's disgusting.
2. The board
Where do I start? Ah yes, over 1 Billion pounds spent and 4 managers sacked (+ 2 interim) and there's absolutely nothing to show for it. We allowed a failed Cardiff manager to spend 415m on players, it took us 3 years searching for a DOF only to discover Murtough at Carrington and we gave Fletcher 2 promotions in few months. Now there are even rumours of players being able to bypass the manager and speak directly to the board. How silly is that?
1. The owners
I don't hate the owners as much as the typical United fan does. I do think that they have invested in the club and they tried to keep themselves at an arm's length from football matters which is a good thing. However there comes a time when enough is enough. This club had been throwing tons of their own money in the bin for years. Surely a responsible owner would at least bother to look that up and make necessary changes to stop that from happening. Ours simply don't. I know that the likes of Woodward had produced profit on a year basis however waste is still waste and its bad.
