The Decline of Man United

The Decline of Man United
by @redgameracer

I'm not a United supporter, my loyalty has belong the Spurs for many a year. But since United have a penchant for buying our best players year after year, I have followed them with a passing interest. 

We all know that United have not been at their brilliant best these last few years. Since the departure of Sir Alex, United have finished seventh, fourth and fifth. Their points tally for those seasons has been lower than any Premier League season under Ferguson. But the problem goes deeper than the bare results. Man United have lost what made them great. Their patience.

Ferguson famously saved his job in 1990 having been there since 1986. United went on to win the FA Cup that year and never looked back. But since Fergie's departure in 2013, Moyes was allowed less than a season (of his six year contract!). Van Gaal got two years. You could argue that Moyes was a patsy, because the first manager after Ferguson would always find it tough. But he wasn't up to the job. He didn't have the big club mentality that United needed. His football was uninspiring and the results reflected that. But for all that, he had been left with a squad that had peaked. Admittedly, a side that had won the league previously, but nonetheless they had reached their top and were back down on the decline. He wasn't given sufficient backing and time to change that.

Van Gaal at least did bring them silverware, but the FA Cup trophy was too little too late for the big chiefs. Van Gaal did get the money and he spent a lot of it. But he also brought through a number of young players as is his forte. I'm probably biased, being Dutch and having grown up watching THAT Ajax side, but I feel that given more time, Van Gaal would've delivered the league. But I won't argue that the football was disappointing at times, especially the early part of this season. The injection of youth, with the likes of Rashford and Lingard, brought improvement towards the end of the campaign, but not enough to see them claim that vital Champions League place. 

The circumstances around Van Gaal's sacking do not improve matters for United. The news was out as soon as the club had clinched the Cup and rumours had been floating around ever since Mourinho left Chelsea. It's obvious that contact had long been made and deals were done before the season was over and that is disappointing. A club with the size and the history of United should hold itself to a higher standard. It should be a class above the likes of City and Chelsea, but instead it's dragging itself down into the mire. You feel this sort of thing would never have happened with David Gill still in charge and I can't imagine Ferguson would go for this sort of thing either. In that sense, Mourinho will make a perfect fit. 

Going forward, I can't see the appointment of Mourinho bring much improvement in the footballing sense. Yes, the results may well improve, but the manner in which they are achieved will not be to the same standards as under Sir Alex. But as long as Jose keeps his cool, the fans will have silverware to cheer. On the pitch, they really need a top notch centre back to solidify their defence. But most of the pieces elsewhere are in place. As for van Gaal, retirement is an option. But the sentimentalist in me fancies him to have one more crack of the whip. Back home, where it all began. After all, Ajax are currently without a manager.