Football News: Manchester United - Short term pain for long term gain

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I think the following needs to be heard and understood:

As usual, Manchester United have been found out by a top team. I couldn't care less if we haven't lost for a few weeks. We are an utter shambles of a football club and there's a lot that needs changing.

1) The structure on the 'footballing' side - As the new CEO, Richard Arnold needs to get this right. Ralf moves upstairs, I'm happy with that, but we still need a proper Director of Football. What does Darren Fletcher do? Ralf didn't know. It wouldn't surprise me if managers turn us down through a lack of comfort with the current structure.

2) The right long term manager - I don't mind if it's Poch or Ten Haag, I think that both would do a good job, but they need to be afforded time and patience. Time in our context is at least three years. This is more about playing style and formations, it's about culture, ethos, work ethic and overhauling the squad.

3) A mass exodus - there are five players who I think have the necessary quality: De Gea, Varane, Bruno, Elanga (potential) and Sancho. There are a handful of players who don't have the quality, but have the right character to form part of a squad; Dalot, Telles, McTominay and Fred.

Ronaldo has the quality and the character, but I think he's so upset with what the Club has become that his head is probably elsewhere.

The rest of them need shipping out and are a huge part of the problem. Maguire is useless, Shaw is overweight and never looks fit. AWB can't play football, Lindelof is caught out of position all the time, Pogba is a myth, Lingard knows he's going. Mata and Matic are past it, Cavani this season is an absolute joke. Rashford is so out of form and clearly so unhappy that I think he needs a move. Bailly and Jones are a waste of time and Henderson wants to be first choice.

You then have the boys out on loan; Martial is infuriating and has to go permanently, DVB has quality and attitude and deserves a chance, Pereira isn't good enough, Diallo, Tuanzebe and Williams deserve chances and Garner has been fantastic at Forest and embodies everything we need from a midfielder.

I'd be quite happy with a squad of: De Gea, Heaton, Dalot, Varane, Tuanzebe, Telles, Williams, Fred, McTominay, DVB, Garner, Hannibal, Bruno, Elanga, Sancho and Diallo. The problem is that this is only 16 players, most of whom lack experience. There's an awful lot to do.

4) A smart spend - There's no doubt that we have to spend a lot of money, but we should get a bit back from sales of the likes of Rashford, Maguire, Henderson, Lindelof etc. We also, for the first time since Sir Alex's retirement, have to be smart. Find some free agents: Rudiger, Ginter, Dybala, Zagadou, Kessie, Kamara and Brozovic are just a few that have the quality and character. Look at players who are heading into their last year and can be bought more cheaply: Gnabry, Skriniar, de Vrij, Koulibaly, Gavi, Akanji and Aouar for example.

We have been no further away from winning our next title and there's an awful lot to change. I don't think we are up to it, but I hope that we can be.

Let me know your thoughts.

Written by Fresh! March 07 2022 12:51:27