WITH MANCHESTER UNITED having got the better of Barcelona at the weekend, it would lead you to believe that preparations for the upcoming season are going well.
There are reasons to be optimistic, of course. They looked good against the Catalans with new signings Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay impressing in particular. When Louis van Gaal changed his entire side with half an hour to play, the pack of reserves didn’t wilt under the Californian sun. Instead, as showcased by Adnan Januzaj’s well-taken goal, they were hungry, kept the ball well and saw the game out.
The acquisitions have been solid. Morgan Schneiderlin’s arrival from Southampton will give the side a traditional defensive shield to sweep in front of the back-four and as a combative player, he’ll add some bite and physicality to the central zone – something United have desperately lacked for quite a while.
In Bastian Schweinsteiger, United get an intelligent, composed midfield figure – an experienced winner who’s comfortable in possession and who can set the tempo. Perhaps most importantly, he’s an imposing dressing-room presence. A World Cup winner, a player’s player, a relentless warrior, his arrival will surely have excited even the most sombre member of the United squad.
Elsewhere, there’s finally a by-numbers full-back in Darmian while Depay is a genuinely thrilling attacker. Against Barcelona, his flicks and tricks changed the angle of attack and complemented United’s quick counters. On the ball, he has the ability to beat players and an air of selfishness that’s almost refreshing to see.
But weighing up United’s transfer business, it could be seen as a mixed bag in some quarters. Certainly, the midfield has been strengthened with Van Gaal going some way to achieving the ‘balance’ he spoke so much about throughout last season. But problems remain.
United desperately wanted a new centre-back. Given the relentless run of injuries the team suffered last term, it was difficult for new signings like Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo to properly gel and develop understandings. For Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, there was little time to forge a central-defensive partnership.
All there seemed time for was David de Gea to rescue the team on multiple occasions.
Still, even if Van Gaal wished to give his current crop of defenders the benefit of the doubt for the forthcoming campaign, he needed reinforcements. The club tried for long-term target Mats Hummels but was rebuffed. The 26-year-old is staying at Dortmund but probably for just one season more. His current contract ends in the summer of 2017 so the German club face a big decision at the end of the campaign should they fail to tie him to a new deal. United, perhaps sensing a discount this time next year, certainly haven’t pushed the issue this time.
And then there’s the Sergio Ramos situation. United want him. He wants to go to them. But the deal is dependent on David de Gea. He wants to go to Real Madrid. They want him. So, not an inch given on either side and what it all means is that United will more than likely head into the new season with no new central defender – a top target at the end of last season.
Memphis Depay will greatly add to United's attack but as a young forward, he'll also probably frustrate on occasion. Terrell Lloyd / AP/Press Association Images
Terrell Lloyd / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
All this means that if there are a couple of injuries to defenders again this season, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that the likes of Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett will deputise. Or Michael Carrick or Daley Blind will be used as emergency solutions. United needed to strengthen and they haven’t. Not yet. And as we reach August and other teams are aware United are still in the market for defenders, the premium rises and they’ll have to pay more for a third or fourth choice target.
The same issue lies in attack. Van Gaal wanted more creativity, more explosiveness up front. United struggled to create at various times last season with the Dutchman putting it down to a lack of flair or individual magic. Depay has been signed to help United be more spontaneous in the final third and that will help. But the caveat is that Depay is young. He’ll score some goals, he’ll give United an extra dimension, the crowd will love him because of his flair and fancy footwork. But it will come at a cost. He’ll over-run the ball, he’ll make rash decisions, he’ll squander chances because he’s still raw and developing. He’s an awesome talent and will only get better but he’s far from the finished article.
United ear-marked Karim Benzema as a potential summer signing. Alberto Saiz / AP/Press Association Images
Alberto Saiz / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
So, United wanted something else, something proven and reliable. They tried for Karim Benzema while Van Gaal also admires Edinson Cavani. So far, so nothing. With the cryptic nature of some of Van Gaal’s comments during the club’s pre-season tour, maybe there’s something big in the pipeline but it’s certainly a stretch to think United will do any business with Real Madrid while there remains an impasse over De Gea.
And the issues with failing to strengthen in two areas is clearly bothering Van Gaal. His words in the aftermath of the Barcelona victory were damning and gave a clear indication of his worries ahead of the new season.
“We don’t have a good vision. We can use much more creativity. (Ashley) Young had a fantastic season but he is not a Neymar and we have to compete with that kind of class.”
I’m thinking at that time (against Chelsea in April), they have Hazard, he can always make goals, he can always make an action and decide a goal. Manchester City have Agüero, it’s the same type. Barcelona has Messi, Neymar and Suárez. We as Manchester United have to compete with these clubs. So we have to look also for that kind of players.”
“So with Schneiderlin, with Schweinsteiger, with Depay, with Darmian we are better than last year. But we have to be much more better and I say to you that is the creativity of my players in the front.”
With Di Maria almost certain to join Paris St-Germain, United find themselves in a ludicrous position of moving on a player they paid a British record for just twelve months ago. The reason? He’s unhappy. That’s not good enough.
Yes, he’s had problems. The break-in at his house last season was an unsettling ordeal and a traumatic experience. If his partner is struggling to adapt to new surroundings, that’s far from ideal. He had problems on the pitch too, fading fast after an encouraging start. But everything about his proposed move to Paris appears so flippant, right down to United’s apparent acceptance that the deal will happen. Is there any passion or fire or determination being shown from United to keep him?
Why aren't United going to war to keep Angel di Maria at the club, especially considering their attacking limitations ahead of the new season? Jon Super / AP/Press Association Images
Jon Super / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Many will argue that if he wants to leave, let him leave. With United having spent £60m on him a year ago, surely they’d be prepared to fight over a record signing? Why have they not gone to war over Di Maria in the same way they’ve done for De Gea? Considering their failure to land a high-profile attacker, they need the Argentine. He has the ability, the spontaneity, the stardust that Van Gaal is desperate for. And, there’s little chance he’ll be as poor as he was last season.
For Van Gaal, the biggest thing about losing Di Maria is that United will be down three attackers from last season. And say what you will but the loss of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Di Maria is problematic because of what United have replaced them with.
The hope is that Pedro’s signing will be confirmed once Di Maria goes but in a one-for-one swap, who’s getting the better deal? And it still leaves Van Gaal pining for another striker.
He seems resigned to using Wayne Rooney in an advanced role and that comes with its benefits. Having not been selected in a number nine role in quite a while, the 29-year-old will relish the extra responsibility.
In 2011/2012, he single-handedly brought United to within a whisker of the title with a 27-goal haul in the top-flight. If it wasn’t for Sergio Aguero, his performances would’ve been lauded, not widely ignored and Sir Alex Ferguson probably wouldn’t have promptly signed the only player to have scored more Premier League goals than Rooney.
But, it’s also a sign that United’s big plan is to revert to something they’ve tried before. And that something wasn’t good enough before. Why would it be any different this time? Particularly when Rooney is three years older?
So, as much as the new signings this summer have given United more than they had last term, there are still issues. And if Van Gaal doesn’t resolve them before the transfer window closes, it could be a difficult campaign considering the weight of expectation.
As new season approaches, there are still plenty of questions for United to answer
WITH MANCHESTER UNITED having got the better of Barcelona at the weekend, it would lead you to believe that preparations for the upcoming season are going well.
There are reasons to be optimistic, of course. They looked good against the Catalans with new signings Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay impressing in particular. When Louis van Gaal changed his entire side with half an hour to play, the pack of reserves didn’t wilt under the Californian sun. Instead, as showcased by Adnan Januzaj’s well-taken goal, they were hungry, kept the ball well and saw the game out.
The acquisitions have been solid. Morgan Schneiderlin’s arrival from Southampton will give the side a traditional defensive shield to sweep in front of the back-four and as a combative player, he’ll add some bite and physicality to the central zone – something United have desperately lacked for quite a while.
In Bastian Schweinsteiger, United get an intelligent, composed midfield figure – an experienced winner who’s comfortable in possession and who can set the tempo. Perhaps most importantly, he’s an imposing dressing-room presence. A World Cup winner, a player’s player, a relentless warrior, his arrival will surely have excited even the most sombre member of the United squad.
Elsewhere, there’s finally a by-numbers full-back in Darmian while Depay is a genuinely thrilling attacker. Against Barcelona, his flicks and tricks changed the angle of attack and complemented United’s quick counters. On the ball, he has the ability to beat players and an air of selfishness that’s almost refreshing to see.
But weighing up United’s transfer business, it could be seen as a mixed bag in some quarters. Certainly, the midfield has been strengthened with Van Gaal going some way to achieving the ‘balance’ he spoke so much about throughout last season. But problems remain.
United desperately wanted a new centre-back. Given the relentless run of injuries the team suffered last term, it was difficult for new signings like Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo to properly gel and develop understandings. For Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, there was little time to forge a central-defensive partnership.
All there seemed time for was David de Gea to rescue the team on multiple occasions.
Still, even if Van Gaal wished to give his current crop of defenders the benefit of the doubt for the forthcoming campaign, he needed reinforcements. The club tried for long-term target Mats Hummels but was rebuffed. The 26-year-old is staying at Dortmund but probably for just one season more. His current contract ends in the summer of 2017 so the German club face a big decision at the end of the campaign should they fail to tie him to a new deal. United, perhaps sensing a discount this time next year, certainly haven’t pushed the issue this time.
And then there’s the Sergio Ramos situation. United want him. He wants to go to them. But the deal is dependent on David de Gea. He wants to go to Real Madrid. They want him. So, not an inch given on either side and what it all means is that United will more than likely head into the new season with no new central defender – a top target at the end of last season.
All this means that if there are a couple of injuries to defenders again this season, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that the likes of Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett will deputise. Or Michael Carrick or Daley Blind will be used as emergency solutions. United needed to strengthen and they haven’t. Not yet. And as we reach August and other teams are aware United are still in the market for defenders, the premium rises and they’ll have to pay more for a third or fourth choice target.
The same issue lies in attack. Van Gaal wanted more creativity, more explosiveness up front. United struggled to create at various times last season with the Dutchman putting it down to a lack of flair or individual magic. Depay has been signed to help United be more spontaneous in the final third and that will help. But the caveat is that Depay is young. He’ll score some goals, he’ll give United an extra dimension, the crowd will love him because of his flair and fancy footwork. But it will come at a cost. He’ll over-run the ball, he’ll make rash decisions, he’ll squander chances because he’s still raw and developing. He’s an awesome talent and will only get better but he’s far from the finished article.
So, United wanted something else, something proven and reliable. They tried for Karim Benzema while Van Gaal also admires Edinson Cavani. So far, so nothing. With the cryptic nature of some of Van Gaal’s comments during the club’s pre-season tour, maybe there’s something big in the pipeline but it’s certainly a stretch to think United will do any business with Real Madrid while there remains an impasse over De Gea.
And the issues with failing to strengthen in two areas is clearly bothering Van Gaal. His words in the aftermath of the Barcelona victory were damning and gave a clear indication of his worries ahead of the new season.
“We don’t have a good vision. We can use much more creativity. (Ashley) Young had a fantastic season but he is not a Neymar and we have to compete with that kind of class.”
“So with Schneiderlin, with Schweinsteiger, with Depay, with Darmian we are better than last year. But we have to be much more better and I say to you that is the creativity of my players in the front.”
With Di Maria almost certain to join Paris St-Germain, United find themselves in a ludicrous position of moving on a player they paid a British record for just twelve months ago. The reason? He’s unhappy. That’s not good enough.
Yes, he’s had problems. The break-in at his house last season was an unsettling ordeal and a traumatic experience. If his partner is struggling to adapt to new surroundings, that’s far from ideal. He had problems on the pitch too, fading fast after an encouraging start. But everything about his proposed move to Paris appears so flippant, right down to United’s apparent acceptance that the deal will happen. Is there any passion or fire or determination being shown from United to keep him?
Many will argue that if he wants to leave, let him leave. With United having spent £60m on him a year ago, surely they’d be prepared to fight over a record signing? Why have they not gone to war over Di Maria in the same way they’ve done for De Gea? Considering their failure to land a high-profile attacker, they need the Argentine. He has the ability, the spontaneity, the stardust that Van Gaal is desperate for. And, there’s little chance he’ll be as poor as he was last season.
For Van Gaal, the biggest thing about losing Di Maria is that United will be down three attackers from last season. And say what you will but the loss of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Di Maria is problematic because of what United have replaced them with.
The hope is that Pedro’s signing will be confirmed once Di Maria goes but in a one-for-one swap, who’s getting the better deal? And it still leaves Van Gaal pining for another striker.
He seems resigned to using Wayne Rooney in an advanced role and that comes with its benefits. Having not been selected in a number nine role in quite a while, the 29-year-old will relish the extra responsibility.
In 2011/2012, he single-handedly brought United to within a whisker of the title with a 27-goal haul in the top-flight. If it wasn’t for Sergio Aguero, his performances would’ve been lauded, not widely ignored and Sir Alex Ferguson probably wouldn’t have promptly signed the only player to have scored more Premier League goals than Rooney.
But, it’s also a sign that United’s big plan is to revert to something they’ve tried before. And that something wasn’t good enough before. Why would it be any different this time? Particularly when Rooney is three years older?
So, as much as the new signings this summer have given United more than they had last term, there are still issues. And if Van Gaal doesn’t resolve them before the transfer window closes, it could be a difficult campaign considering the weight of expectation.
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Analysis Ángel di María Bastian Schweinsteiger Barclays Premier League David de Gea Louis van Gaal Michael Carrick Manchester United Victor Valdes