Unfortunately I fully agree with this post.
I can see us starting games with Matic, Mata and Lingard and this is really worrying.
Only positives are it looks as Pogba stays and we sorted out our defense.
Still no creativity and while I like what I have seen of James I am not convinced that he will give us anything that Martial and Rashford do not provide. I just hope he proves to be more consistent.
And anyone putting his hopes high because of our youngsters having shown some potential in a few pre season games is up for a big disappointment.
We needed creativity and players that could move the ball quicker and we did not get one. So it will be again neutralizing Pogba by our opponents and no one else to create enough chances.
I just hope our significantly better defense will be enough to somehow grab 4th and attract the right players in 2020.
I'd have agreed with you on Pogba a while back but the Real Madrid stuff wont go away and now Ole is trying to play him in a 2 which doesn't work, Ole clearly wanted a #10 so we should have done a deal for money and Isco IMO.
Our best hope of 4th are that Chelsea have a transfer ban so they couldn't get a striker which they badly need, and Arsenal are Arsenal, we all look crap on paper so it's going to be who can be less crap over 38 games will snatch 4th, unless one of Everton, Leicester or Wolves have a hell of a season and slip passed all 3 of us.
Bet you those same fans will blame Pogba and Martial when the season goes pear shaped.
Definitely in the media they'll be hung out to dry, nothing will be said about "Rashy" and "Lingz", and if we have defensive issues Lindelof will carry that can in the media as well.
This is a realistic assessment of the state we are in, a complete mess. I would add this: Ed Woodward is completely wrong about his theory that football fans remain loyal to their teams no matter what. Yes some of us do because we have been suppoters a long time, but football fans are not masochists. We can see what’s happening. I think if this mismanagement continues a few more years, United will be losing fans by the droves. And then climbing back will be much much harder.
Certainly overseas I can see our popularity will start to fade, fans in the US, Asia and Africa supported us because we were exciting and successful under Fergie, and we had some great players, these fans aren't interested in following a team that's ambition is 4th and who only has 1 star player. Now I'm sure hardcore's, especially those who are Manc born and bred are fine with this, but the club wont be as we are a business, we prioritize financial success over football success way more than any of the other so called elite clubs.