Manchester United hit a new low against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, a low that has not been seen since the last match, a 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Monday evening. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side seemed to be out of their depth as this lacklustre side failed to score a single goal in 90 minutes in a game which may not have been different without injuries.
United have Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly and Tim Fosu-Mensah on the sidelines through injury or illness at the moment, which might change before or after the international break. United’s attacking options were slim without injuries, a problem that Solskjaer and his team have to make do with.
The January transfer window will need to see some action from United for the first time since 2018 when Alexis Sanchez arrived from Arsenal. I do hope that will not be an omen. This is going to be a long process and a process which patience will be needed. Those that want to sack the manager, you are just going round in circles.
David De Gea showed his form once again in a tough result for United in the Europa League.
David De Gea made a few top-class saves to deny AZ Alkmaar from opening the scoring in The Hague on Thursday evening. It was by no means a good result for United, who lack a hell of a lot in this team compared to what they used to be. It seems a full rebuild is now on the cards, something we will have to get used to.
There is a lack of quality across the pitch with only the defence and the goalkeeping positions strong, which is better than nothing, I suppose. De Gea may need to work a lot harder in the coming weeks and months to keep his side in matches as he has done since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012/13 season, the last time United won the league.
Creativity is a massive problem and it does not seem like the majority of these players.
Ever since the Chelsea victory, which saw United score four times, there has been major problems with creativity at this club. I cannot get my head around it. Either these players are unable to step up to the mark or there are underlying issues that see them unable to create anything of note. I am sure that Solskjaer can see the problems.
However, solving the problems is not something that can be done at the click of the fingers. It is going to be a timely process. Yes, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez should have been replaced but don’t be thinking that both players put their lives on hold to fight for Manchester United, they didn’t. Sanchez did little for the club as it is. A waste of space.
The young players will need time in order to allow them to develop. People seem to forget that the Class of 1992 were not top class right away.
Just like the Class of 1992, the current crop of youth needs time in order to find their places in this United team. Some are more advanced than others, some just need a bit of polishing here and there. Others need to put in a lot more work. Tahith Chong looks different playing at U23 level then he does at first-team level. A clear indication of the step up?
Mason Greenwood has scored twice so far this season but as of yet, he has not been able to add to that tally. United seem unable to score simple goals. It is something that we will have to endure. We, as supporters of the
If you don’t want to do that, you are a supporter, or a fan that only wants to be around success, which is not the best thing but I guess there is a lot of this out there. Success is not going to be happening with this club at this moment in time, so you either get used to that and appreciate the cycle of football clubs or you moan and end up looking pathetic!
Brandon Williams may become a challenge for Luke Shaw, once he’s fully fit.
I have wanted to see Brandon Williams make the first team ever since Luke Shaw was injured and going to be out for a prolongs period of time. The 19-year-old come out of the 0-0 draw with AZ Alkmaar which his head held high knowing that he put his all into his performance, which will show that the talented youth at the club will have their day.
United have struggled at left-back for some time now, especially when Shaw has been injured or lacked form. Williams had a 90% pass accuracy, won five of seven ground duels, played three out of five success long balls and made three successful dribbles against the Dutch opposition. It seems that the youngster has carried his form from the U23 level this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be backed, not sacked.
After every Manchester United match that does not end with a victory, even a scruffy one, there are always ‘fans’ on social media with their #OleOut hashtags showing the fickleness of modern-day football. Back in 1989, this was something Sir Alex Ferguson endured, weathered and became something those ‘fans’ could not see coming.
United has sacked David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho in the past six years. Similar things are happening with the squad now as has happened with each of the above managers. A lack of investment, bad business, players unable to show their worth to the club, you name it, this club has endured it in the past six years.
The fact of the matter is that Solskjaer’s purchases; Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are leaps and bounds above the players already at the club. Solskjaer has started to make his changes to the club. This was always going to take time. Now, for me, football is a passion. Win, lose or draw. I understand that patience is a virtue needed.
What I will not do is call for the sacking of a manager just because I am upset, which is all I see on Twitter these days. Modern-day ‘fans’ spewing their bile just because they end up as the brunt of banter with their ‘online’ friends. There, I said it. This is what Twitter has become, a moronic swamp of opinions from ‘fans’ who fail to raise their own opinions, adopting the opinions of others to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.
