This season is going down as one of Manchester United’s worst starts to a Premier League season.
Last season was indeed the worst but if things aren’t under control in a few weeks, last season’s poor records would be blown out of the water.
After three games this season, Manchester United have gathered just three points. Last time they had less was in 2014/15, when they failed to win any of their opening three games, losing to Swansea at Old Trafford and picking up only two points from Sunderland and Burnley.
Last season, though, fans weren’t divided as they are now. Most were calling for support for the manager and even the board were adamant that Solskjaer was going nowhere.
How different it is this time!
A large portion of United’s fan base on social media already thinks that Ole is out of his depths and can’t take United forward despite being a brilliant talent spotter.
Indeed Only Harry Maguire, who would never have justified his £80 million price tag anyway, hasn’t lived up to his transfer fee.
Daniel James, of course needs more time but his early form suggests it was 15 million well spent. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, widely regarded as one of the best one-on-one defenders in the league while Bruno Fernandes has just been unreal.
But why are so many calling for Ole out and Pochettino in?
It has to be put on record that United’s squad is the second most expensive in The premier league, hence, much is expected from the manager.
For all the talk about lack of transfer activity, they have still managed by far outspend Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past few years, teams who have consistently topped United every season.
Ole, for all his good nature and smiling face, seems to only tell the boys: “get on the pitch and express yourselves”.
He seems to lack the tactical flexibility that has characterised the title winners of the past few seasons – Conte’s Chelsea, Pep’s City twice, and Klopp’s Liverpool. This “express yourselves approach will win games but there needs to be steady incoming of players to sustain those wonderful periods or everything crashes down when one or two players feel tired and don’t have suitable cover.
Pochettino on the other hand, has proven himself to some extent at Spurs, guiding them to a Champions League final without spending a single pound for 18 months. On paper, Pochettino is the perfect manager for this young United side considering the work he has done at Spurs and earlier at Southampton.
But why doesn’t it solve all the problems?
Getting Pochettino would trigger another wonderful run of form at United, and will indeed lead the club to another false dawn. Four managers don’t fail at a club as big as United if its well run.
So surely the problem lies elsewhere? yes, it does lie elsewhere. United have got bigger problems, the owners are one, who have taken a lot of money out of the club into their own personal pockets while clubs like City and Chelsea are being regularly funded by billionaires.
Also, it has to be said that United do not have a director of football, and that’s why they paid a world class fee for just a decent centre back in Harry Maguire. They do not send football people to negotiate for players hence, they sell for the lowest possible amount and buy for the highest possible amount.
Recently, Evra revealed in an Instagram video that bankers do the negotiations for United and during discussions, they discuss figures instead of players, eventually, United pay 80 million for a 20 million player.
Paul Scholes also spoke out on Monday saying:
“I don’t think he’s the first one who hasn’t been backed,” United legend Scholes told Stadium Astro.
“There’s been a lot of money spent but has it been spent on the first choices these managers want? I’m not too sure.
“I think [Louis] van Gaal and [Jose] Mourinho especially had a moan about that and it’s understandable when they aren’t getting the players they want.
“I think Ole’s been supported. I think Maguire at £80 million is a lot of money, [Bruno] Fernandes just in January has been an excellent signing and the form was good especially coming from Fernandes in January time you felt that this team was going places.”
Scholes added: “Towards the end of the season it’s a lot easier to win games, it’s a lot easier to go on a run when the pressure’s not really on.
“Okay, you can talk about pressure to get in the top four but that’s not the pressure United want, United want to be winning leagues.
“You felt at the end of last season he would have got more support in the transfer market to go on again to that next level but he’s not been given that.
“It’s quite clear the players he wanted have not come.”
So basically, most times, they fail to get the manager’s first choice players in these dismal past few years.
So while Ole out for Pochettino in, all things been EQUAL, isn’t bad at all, the problem is, all things aren’t EVEN at United right now.
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