Manchester united and the theatre of nightmares

When people think Manchester United; they think Fergie time and a never say die attitude. When
people think Manchester United, they think the tricks and flicks of Ryan Giggs, the never dying
passion of Wayne Rooney and the turnings of a skinny 17 year old from Portugal, into the most
envied and feared football superstar in the world. When I think Manchester United; I think Teddy
Sheringhams and Ole Gunnar Solskjrs, injury time winners in the Champions league final which
went on to seal Uniteds place on the summit of English football, by making them the first English
team to complete a legendary treble title winning season in 1999. Eventually propelling Manchester
united into a decade and a half of English and world football domination.
Recent Manchester united history has been loaded with great history making nights, which no
current English club has even come close to matching; because in the theatre of dreams, dreams
really do come true. However fast forward to 2014 and after a 7th place finish in the previous
season, the current campaign despite early promise, threatens to also repeat recent heart breaking
history. Some people say that it is merely a blip on the road to the summit of world football; instead
I see it as a dire warning, foreshadowing of a gruesome nightmare to come, unless we dont address
these three problems; the big money signings will make it difficult for youth players and academy
players to get into the team. The current 3-4-3 formation is not suited to United and the work done
in the transfer market was a disaster.
Problem for youth players
The bases of all great football teams is a strong academy or youth contingency coupled also with
boldness and patients to play them. All great teams need solid foundation and Manchester United
was always a team famed for that especially when you consider the alumni of class of 92; Giggs,
Scholes, Beckham, Butt and Neville who went on to inspire united to a fruitful golden period. Even to
this day, the youth policy continues to be a strategy adopted by many clubs. Just look at Barcelona
and that wizard called Messy, Dortmund and the world cup winning goal scorer Mario Gotze or even
Real Madrid and the best keeper in the world for almost 10 years in Iker Casiers. But ironically the
team, who made such a tactic renowned, seems to be doing the exact opposite and building the
roof, before checking that the foundation is stable.
Why splash out on 16 million Rojo for when you have a young right wing back in Rafael who has
been a consistent first time choice on the right ever since Gary hanged up his boats. Sure Rafael
could be erratic at times and no stranger to red cards in big games. But that volatility only adds to his
strength because people begin to fear what they cant predict. Then we have Di Maria who is clearly
far superior to any youth player we have, but at the same time his presence has stifled other
emerging talents leading to the first casualties of the Van Hal era in Nick Powell and Wilfred Zaha
who were loaned and sold respectively. Which is highly unfortunately when you consider that both
before Di Maria, they had defiantly showcased the talent necessary to warrant a starting places in
the team.
The wrong formation
From front to back, Manchester united simply doesnt have the personnel to effectively carry out a
3-4-3 formation. First of all you need a sweeper keeper, who is quick of the line and always willing to
mop up balls hit over the top, because 3-4-3 formations are infamously poor at dealing with direct
football. David Dea is not a sweeper keeper. Dont get me wrong he is a top quality goal keeper,
probably top ten in the world when it comes down to purely shot stopping. But he doesnt have the
sharpness and quick wit of lets say a Neuer or a Tim Howard who would be more suited to such a
role, especially Neuer who is a raging bull when it comes to rocketing from goal line.
In defence you need three robust defenders who are comfortable in possession of the ball and can
bring it out of defence and play if necessary. In the 2012-2013 season Juventus went undefeated
using a similar formation, but they didnt have a world betting striker like an Aguero or Suarez who
can bang in 40 gaols a season. Instead their success was built on three centre backs perfect for the
formation; Cacers and Bonunchi who are both agile and robust and adept at closing down space for
the opinion when they didnt have the ball. Then when they did have it they had strength and
stamina to break into the midfield and support attacks if needed. While the third musketeer Chelini
always provided cover for the other two as well as being a solid defensive rock with his supreme
reading of the game and herculean power. Smalling and Jones simply arent good enough on the ball
to contribute to attacking shifts in play, although defensively they are more than competent.
However when it comes to dealing with sharp crafty attackers like Sanchez and Diego Costa, I think
their lack of pace and agility may leave united backline exposed.
For 3-4-3 you need a midfielder with great stamina to get up and down the pitch with ease, while
still having the defensive presence of mind to be able to slot into the back 3 to make it a back 4 in
periods of sustained attacking pressure on their backline. You also need a midfield maestro who can
dictate the pace of the game, but at the same time have the shear genius to launch killer balls over
the top of defenders heads like a NFL quarterback, or the cute through balls with the precision of a
surgeon. In the midfield when everyone is playing at the best, Darren Fletcher certainly has the
intensity and tenacity of a pit-bull. He just loves nibbling at the feet of opposing players and getting
right up in their faces as if he were a boxer in the ring. But unfortunately illness had left him largely a
shell of the player he once was. Sure his back as a regular starter in the first team this seasons, but
can his body sustain him throughout an entire season just when we need him the most?
In regards to a creative edge in midfield, losing Paul Scholes to retirement left a creative canyon
sized chasm in the midfield that United have struggled to fill ever since. I wont claim to have seen
very much of Herrera, but what I have seen he is simply not the calibre of creative midfielder
Manchester United were screaming out for. His a top class passer of the ball, but Im not convinced
his the type of player that when down by one goal in a knock out game in the Champions League,
will have the decisive brilliance to produce a wonder ball or a surgical pass that opens defenders
wide apart.
Its only in that attacking regards do I see United has an safe bet in the current formation; Rooney, Di
Maria, Van Perise and Falcoa is an almighty alliance that only realistically Barcelona and Real Madrid
can match; Its almost like stepping onto mount Olympics surrounded by football gods. Why so
confident? Because 3-4-3 formation begs for attackers to be versatile, shapeless and quick; Rooney
and Di Maria are the most flexible of the attacking arsenal, they can easily slip into midfield creating
an integral bridge between midfield and attack, whilst at the same time they can move into the left
and right wing and provide width to the team. While Falcoa and Van Persie playe their best football
when they are playing against the shoulders of defenders, where they can beat you in a foot race or
out muscle you to the ball, either way they are like ducks to water and most important all four can
score goals!
Dodgy transfer dealings
150 million, 50 million and 60 million; those are the three figures that meant Manchester United
dealings in the transfer market caught all the headlines. The first figure was the amount of money
we spent to bring in 5 new players. 50 million was the then British transfer record that Chelsea paid
for Torres and 60 million is the amount we used to break it with the purchase of Di Maria. Its true
we were in bad need of an expensive overhaul and revolution, to get rid of all the dead wood in the
team, but the money we did spend was wasted because the players we did buy were largely the
wrong ones and were grossly overpriced.
With departures of Vidic, Ferdinand and Ever who at their peak formed part of the most formidable
back line in Europe, so we needed titan-esk players to come in and fill in their giant shoes. In the
current football climate, on op the mantle was Mat Hummels who looked like an absolute beast for
both world cup winning Germany and Budeslege runners up Dortmund. So who did we buy? Blind
and Rojo, okay they arent just mere chumps or mortals and certainly caught the eye in the world
cup; but they are simply not the centre back power house we were crying out for, especially this
season were defensively we look abysmal.
United fans have been yarning and wishing upon a star for the day they could finally find a
midfielder orchestrator that can match the perfection that was Scholes. We have spent big in the
past two seasons; Fellini for 27 million, Mata for 37 million and now Herrera for close to 30 million,
but despite such heavy investment, we are still no closer to finding an adequate replacement. Give
me the 30 million you paid for Herrera and I will happily skip to mama Kross house and ask if Kross is
allowed to come out and play for Manchester United. Kross who despite his age had the unmissable
air of the Zidane in him, he can attack, defend, pass and score goals. Calm down Silva! Just breath,
the guy went to Real Madrid, I have to let go of the past.
Who else could we have gone for? Well allow me to tell you a story; it was 2011 and we had a tall
gangly young Frenchman in our youth ranks who despite his incredible potential and imposing
stature was unable to break into the first team. So Fergie instead of sending the boy out on loan or
taking a risk on him, decided to allow the boy to move to Juventus. Once there he went on to
become a man, a complete midfielder and a treble title winner, whilst at the same time the
Manchester United midfield began to look like it couldnt even get into the soccer aid teams.
I adamantly stand by the fact that allowing Paul Progba to go to Juventus so early in his career was
the biggest mistake and sin committed by Sir Alex Ferguson; so just forget the signings of Veron,
Folan or Bebe. But its a shame because like I have blogged about before; Progba is in my top 7 most
formidable complete players, especially abundantly made clear when you consider his ever present
status in the Juventus midfield despite having to compete against the likes of Arturo Vidal, Andrea
Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio.
Transfer failures or shortcomings are on the whole rather minimal upfront, but while the inclusions
of Di Maria and Falcoa will surely create a revolution in currently meandering United team, the
biggest blow in the transfer market for me was allowing Welbeck to go to Arsenal, a rival team for
such a merge price. If you gave the choice now between Van perse and Welbeck, I have no doubt in
keeping Welbeck. Not only is losing him like losing a son, but I just feel in the long run he would be
so much more beneficial to the United cause. While Van Perse in his advanced age and increasing
disillusionment with playing the red devils, Welbeck pace, strength and passion for the club would
be something greatly missed. Sure he isnt as prolific in the goals department as a fit and firing RVP,
but at 23 he certainly had the time to add that to his already brilliant game.
So what does Manchester United immediate future resides?
For a generation of Manchester United supporter who have seen their team in the last 20 years
consistently changeling for the top honours both at home and in Europe; just maybe this years
absence in the Champions League, may actually be a blessing in disguise. Youll probably saying right
now, that when it comes to Manchester United, failure is never an option, but just maybe this failure
is what we need in a moment of metamorphosis. With only the Premiership and the cup
competitions to challenge for, the reduction in games means we are more likely to keep a consistent
line up allowing for the 5 new players who are probably going to go straight into the first team, to be
able to bond with each other as well as their team members at a lot more rapid pace. Less games
means United players would be less likely to sustain major injuries and for players like Van Perse
who has had a injury fraught history, this will serve him well and United who need our flying
Dutchman on full tilt.
Remember the old saying fortune favours the bold; ultimately the success of United, rests in the
hands of choosing the right formation. Manchester United had been playing the standard 4-4-2
formation for as long as I have known how to count. Its what they are famous for and have used it
time and time again to great success. Sure Van Hal has been although Europe; Bayern Munich,
Barcelona, the Dutch national team and he has brought his unique stamp to each of those teams,
but alas I dont see a happy future involving the 3-4-3 formation for United. Although I applaud the
fluidity of the formation and the great counter attacking options it offers, but against the more
direct opponents, Im not sure if the formation allows for sufficient defensive covering in the most
crucial of moments, United simply dont have the team to fully exploit all the capabilities of the
formation.
If United under current circumstances switches to a diamond formation of a 4-5-1, I believe with the
supreme attacking arsenal at our disposal that can Expendables 1, 2 and 3 our way to the title, but if
we continue to use 3-43 with the personnel we have, I can with a heavy heart say adios to another
opportunity to reach not only the title, but to Champions League football also.