Manchester United currently sit in seventh place in the Barclays Premier League, 18 points adrift of the top. With David Moyes scratching his head and openly admitting he does not know where it is all going so wrong, we ask the question: is Sir Alex Ferguson worth 20 points a season to Manchester United?
Moyes inherited a title winning side from Sir Alex and despite many supporters claiming Ferguson left him a bum deal, they still won the championship. Last season was arguably the weakest title winning side Sir Alex had ever managed yet many players represented the future for Manchester United and just a year later many are looking like flops.
Through the purchases of Robin van Persie and Juan Mata, United are trying to show that they are still a force in the transfer market. However, they arguably overpaid for both players. Manchester United had failed to complete many high profile transfers over the past few seasons, most notably the rejection from Cristiano Ronaldo amidst a potential Old Trafford return.
Where Manchester United are lacking is the midfield and the defence. A fantastic keeper and quality attack has not proven enough to compensate for the gaping holes in the other areas of the pitch. Last season saw an over-reliance on a once retired player in Paul Scholes to run games and secure winning performances. Failure to replace a player of such high quality is disastrous, with replacement Marouane Fellaini failing to show any real prowess at Manchester United.
With an ageing centre-back duo in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, up and comers Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans have never quite shown themselves to be up to the task of replacing such units at the back. Title winning sides are always made from a core squad where you can rely on them playing 30 games a season and being rocks in the side. You look to Ferdinand and Vidic, Scholes, Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra as those type of players and yet none of those bar perhaps Carrick have really featured and shone this season.
The big thing that has really struck me this year is the way United have finished games. Conceding late goals and dropping points have never been something you would associate with this team. It is usually Manchester United causing heartbreak to the other side with last-gasp winners and a defiance to lie down and accept a draw. Something has changed in the psychology of the players, the last five minutes have not been the all-out attack it once was and perhaps you have to look to the manager who has not carried on the Ferguson way of working.
If you want to go forth and win the title, losing five games at home is going to do you no favours. Your home ground needs to be your fortress, where you can scan the fixture list and start ticking off the three points. Chelsea are fantastic at this, Jose Mourinho has not been defeated at Stamford Bridge in the league for 74 games. What Chelsea have that United do not this season is a defence that other teams are scared of, a defence that knows how to keep a clean sheet and snub attacking threats.
Manchester United’s fragmented squad was underlined against Liverpool on Sunday. Mata, the £40 million man who’s attacking and creative mind was lauded by the Chelsea fans, made 13 passes to Evra – more than he passed to any other player. Moreover, both Adnan Januzaj and van Persie passed to Evra more times than they did to any other player. You have to ask the question, how are you getting your front four to gel and provide attacking threat if they are constantly finding the left back?
Rafael and Evra also made more touches in the opposition half than van Persie and Januzaj. These stats are not encouraging for a side who are fast falling short of even fifth place. Is it just a lack of confidence or has the change in manager really shaken the side this much?
So the myth of Sir Alex Ferguson: was he really worth 20 points a season to United’s side, or is this merely a season to forget? Will Moyes prove to be the man who takes United forward into the next generation and build another title winning side? These questions remain to be seen and I feel the transfer window will be a telling time for Moyes and his sides ambition. Pure speculation but I wonder whether they may look to Ryan Giggs as the man to manage Manchester United if plan Moyes gets any worse?
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @M_atthew_. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football.
Main Photo:
