The much-maligned Ed Woodward has failed to grasp the intricacies of the transfer market with Manchester United showing little preparation, research or forward-planning. Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images
troubled times
Analysis: Why Marcos Rojo deal says so much about United's transfer problems
Making such a modest signing shouldn’t prove so tough for such an imposing sports organisation.
Marcos Rojo, a 24 year-old defender with Sporting Lisbon, is joining Manchester United. With just 12days to go before the transfer window shuts, the storied club, has made a relatively tepid acquisition.
Apparently, it’s been a difficult deal to complete. We’ve heard stories of how Rojo’s third-party ownership complicated the process, how it placed a strain on getting it done quickly and efficiently. So much effort, so much huff and puff. It really shouldn’t be this hard. And the stories are wearing thin.
How a sports organisation as big, commanding and imposing as Manchester United can be so ill-prepared for legal issues like third-party ownership — such a common element in any transfer arrangement involving a Portuguese-based player, says much. It’s certainly not the truth. It’s a convenient excuse for poor business practice. Something that’s come to define the club’s last 12 months.
Last weekend, David Moyes gave his first interview since being sacked by United. He spoke of the transfer targets the club had last summer.
It’s been well documented that we wanted Fabregas, Bale and Ronaldo. There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived. We were close to getting a couple of major names. Things just didn’t materialise.”
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From three targets, United landed none. But dig deeper. Look at the targets. In a recent interview, Chelsea’s former Director of Football Operations, Mike Forde, who oversaw the recruitment of some of the world’s biggest players to the Premier League, spoke of what’s needed to land a high-profile name.
You’re always evaluating the economics. If you’re a big team and you’re signing big players, you’re doing your work six, nine or sometimes 12 months out so there’s a lot of preparation from data and various reports. It’s a long, drawn-out process and the bigger the player, the more time you have to spend to make sure it’s the right option.”
United’s transfer strategy last summer amounted to writing names on a piece of paper and excitedly proclaiming they could land them all. ‘The best player in the world? No problem! The best player in the Premier League? Absolutely! In the same window? We’re Manchester United!’ Instead of isolating Fabregas as the most-gettable of the three and ensuring that deal was tied up, they dallied. They submitted two bids. But never returned with a third, tired of the silly games. They ignored Fabregas at season’s end, when Barcelona wanted rid. Everyone presumed United had other plans. But they had half-plans.
Toni Kroos, like Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, was a long-term target. But United failed to follow through, despite working long and hard to try and get him. Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP/Press Association Images
Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Knowing a World Cup and the appointment of a new manager would delay any recruitment, they ploughed ahead with the signings of two of Moyes’ targets — Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera. And nothing else has materialised. They missed out on Toni Kroos, despite laying substantial groundwork (Moyes worked tirelessly to make in-roads). Are we expected to believe that Louis van Gaal didn’t want a Champions League and World Cup winner but did want Herrera? Of course not. Again, it’s convenient spin by the club after failing to land a target.
What’s most baffling is that in the Fabregas and Kroos examples, United spent a large amount of time and effort trying to bring both players to the club but were reluctant to dig deep and complete either deal, appearing to hint that other A-grade targets were close to being secured.
There was the saga involving Arturo Vidal. It may have clouded United’s decision-making regarding other midfielders at various intervals but the Chilean remains at Juventus. United have again failed to land a player they wanted. But the club were well-armed for such a result. Naturally, they had a pre-prepared excuse: they were worried about Vidal’s injury problems. No one failed to mention that in six years, Vidal’s injuries have forced him to miss a total of 13 games.
In the last few days, word has embarrassingly filtered through that United allegedly offered huge money for Thomas Mueller and Marco Reus. Both great players, certainly, but it points to a lack of planning, a lack of any clear, cohesive strategy, a lack of awareness on United’s behalf. It seems that the club are picking any coveted player and making overtures, and from Mueller’s description of United’s seduction technique, it needs some fine-tuning.
Louis Van Gaal is surely baffled by the inability of United's top brass to get him the players he wants. Martin Rickett / PA Archive/Press Association Images
Martin Rickett / PA Archive/Press Association Images / PA Archive/Press Association Images
For someone who prides himself on organisation and preparation, Louis van Gaal must be wondering what’s going on at Old Trafford. The chaos and confusion were supposed to be because of David Moyes’ influence. But the lack of control continues in his absence.
Van Gaal has said that a player can be purchased within 24 hours and that’s true. If there’s been data work, reports compiled and preliminary talks. Otherwise, it’s a panic buy. That’s what Marouane Fellaini was last August and, to a certain extent, what Juan Mata was in January.
And it appears that Manchester United are panicking all over again. Rojo may very well be an astute signing and a good bit of business. But he hasn’t been a target for very long. It’s been an incredible effort to get him. A £16m player. But the reaction to United merely having signed someone is the most damning indictment. It’s the same reaction that followed Fellaini’s arrival 12 months ago. And there’s no longer David Moyes to blame.
This was supposed to be a new era for the club, a time when an experienced, ruthless hand comes in and pushes United towards the top again. Louis van Gaal is a decisive, purposeful man who knows what he wants.
Analysis: Why Marcos Rojo deal says so much about United's transfer problems
THE RELIEF HAS been palpable.
Marcos Rojo, a 24 year-old defender with Sporting Lisbon, is joining Manchester United. With just 12days to go before the transfer window shuts, the storied club, has made a relatively tepid acquisition.
Apparently, it’s been a difficult deal to complete. We’ve heard stories of how Rojo’s third-party ownership complicated the process, how it placed a strain on getting it done quickly and efficiently. So much effort, so much huff and puff. It really shouldn’t be this hard. And the stories are wearing thin.
How a sports organisation as big, commanding and imposing as Manchester United can be so ill-prepared for legal issues like third-party ownership — such a common element in any transfer arrangement involving a Portuguese-based player, says much. It’s certainly not the truth. It’s a convenient excuse for poor business practice. Something that’s come to define the club’s last 12 months.
Last weekend, David Moyes gave his first interview since being sacked by United. He spoke of the transfer targets the club had last summer.
From three targets, United landed none. But dig deeper. Look at the targets. In a recent interview, Chelsea’s former Director of Football Operations, Mike Forde, who oversaw the recruitment of some of the world’s biggest players to the Premier League, spoke of what’s needed to land a high-profile name.
United’s transfer strategy last summer amounted to writing names on a piece of paper and excitedly proclaiming they could land them all. ‘The best player in the world? No problem! The best player in the Premier League? Absolutely! In the same window? We’re Manchester United!’ Instead of isolating Fabregas as the most-gettable of the three and ensuring that deal was tied up, they dallied. They submitted two bids. But never returned with a third, tired of the silly games. They ignored Fabregas at season’s end, when Barcelona wanted rid. Everyone presumed United had other plans. But they had half-plans.
Knowing a World Cup and the appointment of a new manager would delay any recruitment, they ploughed ahead with the signings of two of Moyes’ targets — Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera. And nothing else has materialised. They missed out on Toni Kroos, despite laying substantial groundwork (Moyes worked tirelessly to make in-roads). Are we expected to believe that Louis van Gaal didn’t want a Champions League and World Cup winner but did want Herrera? Of course not. Again, it’s convenient spin by the club after failing to land a target.
What’s most baffling is that in the Fabregas and Kroos examples, United spent a large amount of time and effort trying to bring both players to the club but were reluctant to dig deep and complete either deal, appearing to hint that other A-grade targets were close to being secured.
There was the saga involving Arturo Vidal. It may have clouded United’s decision-making regarding other midfielders at various intervals but the Chilean remains at Juventus. United have again failed to land a player they wanted. But the club were well-armed for such a result. Naturally, they had a pre-prepared excuse: they were worried about Vidal’s injury problems. No one failed to mention that in six years, Vidal’s injuries have forced him to miss a total of 13 games.
In the last few days, word has embarrassingly filtered through that United allegedly offered huge money for Thomas Mueller and Marco Reus. Both great players, certainly, but it points to a lack of planning, a lack of any clear, cohesive strategy, a lack of awareness on United’s behalf. It seems that the club are picking any coveted player and making overtures, and from Mueller’s description of United’s seduction technique, it needs some fine-tuning.
For someone who prides himself on organisation and preparation, Louis van Gaal must be wondering what’s going on at Old Trafford. The chaos and confusion were supposed to be because of David Moyes’ influence. But the lack of control continues in his absence.
Van Gaal has said that a player can be purchased within 24 hours and that’s true. If there’s been data work, reports compiled and preliminary talks. Otherwise, it’s a panic buy. That’s what Marouane Fellaini was last August and, to a certain extent, what Juan Mata was in January.
And it appears that Manchester United are panicking all over again. Rojo may very well be an astute signing and a good bit of business. But he hasn’t been a target for very long. It’s been an incredible effort to get him. A £16m player. But the reaction to United merely having signed someone is the most damning indictment. It’s the same reaction that followed Fellaini’s arrival 12 months ago. And there’s no longer David Moyes to blame.
This was supposed to be a new era for the club, a time when an experienced, ruthless hand comes in and pushes United towards the top again. Louis van Gaal is a decisive, purposeful man who knows what he wants.
Perhaps what he wants most is a new CEO.
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David Moyes Ed Woodward Editor's picks Louis van Gaal Manchester United Marcos Rojo Premier League Manchester United troubled times