Manchester United are in meltdown.
It’s difficult to reduce the extensive problems at United down to two mistakes as they’re far more complex than that. The manager looks like he’s run out of answers, the board have lost faith, and the players lack leadership from within. There’s no real purpose to the team – no long-term objective, nor guiding principle (as Gary Neville endeavours to remind us at every given opportunity).
The club have been thrust into Jose Mourinho’s world. A roller coaster journey consisting of one big climb, and short-term success, before the inevitable drop which occurs over, and over, and over, and over again.
Indeed, the game against derby rivals Manchester City last weekend demonstrated just how far apart the two clubs are, in every aspect of their game. Pep Guardiola has created a dynasty at the club, developing a purpose from the ground up. There’s tangible results, and achievable objectives in sight. United aren’t even close to this.
Anyhow, here are two Ed Woodward mistakes that have cost Manchester United this year…
Botched transfer market
Woodward handed Mourinho a contract extension last year and that should of have indicated that he was willing to back him in the transfer market. But he didn’t.
Belgium intentional Toby Alderwiereld was identified as a key transfer target this summer by Mourinho, who obviously saw the player as a better option than his current centre-back partners, Smalling, Bailly, and Lindelof.
Indeed, because of Woodward’s failure to meet Mourinho’s demands the team have suffered massively at the back. They’ve already conceded 21 times in 12 games this season, just 7 shy of what they let in for the entirety of the 17/18 campaign.
The 21 goals they’ve conceded in 12 games is only 7 shy of what they let in for the entirety of last season, and we believe it can be traced back to Woodward’s ineffectiveness.
Alexis Sanchez
We think both player and board would agree that Sanchez’s transfer to Manchester United has been a mess.
Sitting on a reported £500,000 a week, the club’s highest paid player has, well, been a flop.
If it’s not bad enough that he isn’t producing week in, week out, the player has repeatedly publicly express his concern over the team’s displays and his treatment at the club.
What is worse is that Sanchez, by virtue of cost, has until recently occupied the starting spot over more deserving players, Rashford and Martial – ultimately stunting their growth as players.
It’ll be a happy day for Manchester United fans when the Chilean is moved on, making way for another, more suitable “star”.
