Manchester United: That's not Entertainment

Last night saw a banner unveiled at Old Trafford in honour of club Legend George Best on the tenth anniversary of his sad passing. He joined a list of great players that have banners at Old Trafford bringing back glorious memories of years gone by and the huge success we have witnessed over the years at the Theatre of Dreams. 

Watching last night and since the arrival of Louis Van Gaal I can’t see many banners being produced in future years in honour of the current squad and their achievements. 

  

I was watching my beloved team in action as I have done for many many years yet I felt nothing, I knew we were not going to play well, I knew Rooney would run around looking busy but failing to produce anything, I knew De Gea would be there if needed, I knew Louis Van Gaal would remain seated for 90 minutes regardless of what was happening on the pitch and I knew we would struggle in the first half and gradually become worse and more desperate in the second half, with the possibility of nicking it in yet another unconvincing display.

It was Champions League night at Old Trafford the place should be buzzing, win and we are through to the next stage. It looked and sounded more like a testimonial match both teams half interested more than happy to win by the one goal should they get the break they need.  I remember big nights at Old Trafford, the visit of Inter Milan in our Treble winning year, the memorable visit of Real Madrid when Ronaldo (the first one) scored a brilliant hattrick and got a standing ovation at Old Trafford and of course the return of a legend in David Beckham with AC Milan in 2010, I could list many more.  I am lucky, I am a Manchester United fan and we have many great memories and trophies to back it up. 

Most football fans are only too delighted to see our plight now, It seems crazy to even call it that as we are still in the Champions League and second in the Premier League. However I find it hard to meet a Manchester United fan who is happy with the current set up, be it the Manager, the philosophy, the lack of wingers of the lack of belief.  Manchester United are a far cry from the team most of us were lucky to grow up supporting.  Part of me hopes we end up in the Europa League as we will get humiliated should we face a Barcelona or a Bayern Munich, however I of course want us to do well as I always have done and always will do for my sins.

Talk from former players is probably correct but unhelpful and only makes the manager more arrogant and determined to go with his philosophy.  Having spent near £300 million you would think we would have a team capable of giving Barcelona or Munich a game, you would think our squad is complete. But take one look at last week’s bench and talk of Van Gaal wanting wingers, the cheque book is not finished just yet.

I don’t want to add to the negative talk about the manager but I feel he is not the right man for the job, he has steadied the ship as he was brought in to do, but I question the wisdom of letting him continue for the final year of his contract given the fact that he is already talking about his Portugal Paradise and the fact we need more players.  Will those players be happy signing for a manager who will be leaving 12 months into their contracts? Will they be interested in playing boring football? Are the players he currently has happy under his leadership?

While Manchester United will always have a pulling power for any player I feel players will be put off by the current set up. Carlo Ancelotti is available and I feel would be perfect in the role. Alex Ferguson talked about the lack of available top coaches in the game when he stepped down.  You will find it hard to get anybody close to Ancelotti’s record.  Come next summer regardless of where we finish I feel we would be crazy to let him go elsewhere.  Should Van Gaal deliver a trophy or title he too might be happy to pass on the baton.

Wayne Rooney too seems like he is playing in the US with Lampard and Gerrard, or his mind is definitely elsewhere. He is a shadow of his former self. Maybe Sir Alex should have let him go in 2010 and maybe Rooney is playing like a player who wishes he had.  Talk of Ronaldo returning is fairytale stuff.  He will always be a legend here but by the time he comes back he will be 31 and he will not be the Ronaldo we had for 6 years.  He will also not be returning to the same United he left, with only Rooney and Carrick there now.  Sir Alex may be in the stands but Louis Van Gaal will be his manager.  I feel it’s best to leave the past in the past and go all out for a Bale or Neymar should we have any real chance for either.

Come Saturday evening we might be sitting top of the table and this article and most thoughts of Manchester United will be questioned and dismissed as nonsense.   Fact remains most honest United fans are going into a game with Leicester fearing the worst.  All respect to Leicester they are doing really well this season but not long ago they were a championship side.  We should be going there expecting to win, Rooney talks of previous years under Sir Alex when teams were in the tunnel  he knew by looking at the other team who was up for it or not.  I feel the roles have been reversed and no team fears Man United any more.  PSV proved this last night, and Watford were very unlucky last weekend.  Leicester will be buzzing to play us on Saturday and if we win, sure we go top but I guarantee it won’t be pretty.

Maybe I am spoilt over the years but I want to be on the edge of my seat.   I watch football to get away from everything else.  I want to be entertained. I don't look forward to games anymore.  I don’t want us to continue to play like we are.  Sure enough we may win the league like this but I for one won’t take much joy from it.  Things have to change we need to go back to the Manchester United way, when we blew teams of the park, where Old Trafford was an intimidating place to come.  We are hard to beat at the moment and Van Gaal has stabilised the club following the Moyes era.  We cannot however keep talking about a learning curve.  Sure we might go top on Saturday, we might even win a cup or the league and United fans will celebrate it but in all honesty real genuine United fans won’t take much joy from it.