Manchester United The Road to Recovery

As a Manchester United fan I have taken my time to pay close attention to what many people have to say about Manchester United performances this season under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.
Many wish to convince themselves that the problem is solely from the special one, a point which I tend to disagree with because no one can provide any reasonable proof to support that reasoning. Rather they say that sentimentally either because of his encounter with his former club's doctor Eva Carneiro at Chelsea or due to his arrogance thanks to his success in a very short coaching career which includes: Porto (2002–2004)

Primeira Liga (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
Taça de Portugal (1): 2002–03
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1): 2003
UEFA Champions League (1): 2003–04
UEFA Cup (1): 2002–03

Chelsea (2004–2007)

Premier League (3): 2004–05, 2005–06 , 2014-2015
FA Cup (1): 2006–07
Football League Cup (2): 2004–05, 2006–07
FA Community Shield (1): 2005

Manchester United (2016 - till date)

FA Community Shield (1): 2016

Internazionale (2008–2010)

Serie A (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
Coppa Italia (1): 2009–10
Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2008
UEFA Champions League (1): 2009–10

Real Madrid (2010– 2013)

La Liga (1): 2011–12
Copa del Rey (1): 2010–11
Supercopa de España (1): 2012

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Primeira Liga Manager of the Year (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
Premier League Manager of the Year (2): 2004–05, 2005–06
Premier League Manager of the Month (3): November 2004, January 2005, March 2007
Serie A Manager of the Year (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
Albo Panchina d'Oro (1): 2009–10
Miguel Muñoz Trophy (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
UEFA Manager of the Year (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
UEFA Team of the Year (4): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
Onze d'Or Coach of the Year (2): 2005, 2010
FIFA World Coach of the Year (1): 2010
IFFHS World's Best Club Coach (3): 2004, 2005, 2010
World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year (3): 2004, 2005, 2010
LPFP Awards Best Portuguese Manager in Foreign Countries (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award (1): 2005
La Gazzetta dello Sport Man of the Year (1): 2010
International Sports Press Association Best Manager in the World (1): 2010
Prémio Prestígio Fernando Soromenho (1): 2012

SPECIAL AWARDS

Officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique 
Honoris causa – degree by the Technical University of Lisbon for his accomplishments in football
Football Extravaganza's League of Legends (2011) and many more.....

Manchester United's problem is more than the special one and whether the United fans like it or not, they will need to be patient and forget about comparing themselves with other teams doing well until the problem is fixed.
In this article I wish to express my opinion on what I tend to understand to be the problem.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson
This is one truth many football fans tend to shy away from when discussing the issue of Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson was at United for 26 years, he knew the club like the back of his palms, he made every thing in the club tick and was fully involved in all that went on in and around the club, ranging from the food prepared by the chefs, activities of the kit man, the grounds man, the security officials, the board of directors and in fact everything. He ran the club, he was the Boss. Everything revolved around him, whatever he says stands. He always made it clear that no one is more important than the manager.
Only for him to retire and leave the club without setting up a transition committee (Yes, United are much more than just a football club) that will help navigate the club into this new reality.

Ferguson got results on the field because he got things right off the field. He began winning even before a ball is kicked. That was the reason teams and officials (referees) were intimidated whenever they visit Old trafford. They were not just scared of the 11 players on the field but were also intimidated by the air in Manchester because Ferguson controls that too.

If Manchester United's problem was just about management on the pitch, there was no reason David Moyes wouldn't have done so well at United because he would have just simply sat on the manager's seat, and watch his team on auto pilot sweep teams away, after all they just won the league back in May with 11 points difference from the second placed team and also had the luxury of the best striker in the league then in Robin Van Pesie. Considering the fact he didn't change the squad much just added Fellaini from Everton and lost the services of  Evra, Scholes and Vidic who all left the club.
Bearing in mind the way Ferguson ''united'' the performance of his players on the pitch with that of his staff off it, it is going to take time for any manager who manages the club to disassociate the two and make each one independent of the other. Because under Fergie, all the 800 staff on the club payroll were all working together to produce that valuable 3 points whether they are playing at home or away.

2. Reckless Signings
With the first issue being mentioned, it leads us to the second. Since the departure of Sir Alex, United have been trying so hard to impress it supporters and investors with signings (big money signings). Under Fergie it was a common thing to hear people complain that Manchester United cannot compete with clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man city and Barcelona in securing big names. A point Fergie always laughed off saying ''they can but they just wouldn't because there are no quality in the market''.
Fergie exist from the managerial position presented the club leading members with the opportunity to prove to the world that actually they can.

And so they went about buying anything available both the needed and unnecessary one. All the players United have signed since Fergie retired have cost the club in a region of above 15million pounds, while other clubs will get same players for less. With the last transfer window United have spend over 300 Million pounds on new players something I doubt Fergie achieved in his 26 years in charge.

3. Selection problem A
This third point raises from the above mentioned. After the numerous signings which the club have brought in within 6 transfer windows, United are now left with an embarrassment of talent in the club, with each position having at least 3 players who can fill it.
One good thing Jose Mourihno tried doing when he was appointed was to try and limit his squad to just 22 players. Which was a very nice move but even with that there was no escaping the fact that the club have too many talents. And what do they say about to many good spices, it spoils the food.
Now back to the issue of too many talent, the manager find it difficult maintaining the same 11 for each game because there is no way he can leave out some players whom the world and himself know are good and have proven themselves in their previous clubs and still doing so for their country. Which leads to selection problem.

As a manager he has to keep his squad happy and the only way to keep a squad happy is by giving every player game time, which he tires to do, which turns back to back fire. If United are to get things right quickly enough they should take advantage of the January transfer window and ship out some of their first team players both the fringe ones and some of the regular ones.

4. Selection Problem B
I have decided to break this sub title in to A and B. A for the off the field and B for on the field.
One thing Louis Van Gaal did very well was picking his starting 11. He always choose well but along the line he spoils the whole thing with his substitution. The moment Van Gaal does a Substitution the game scatters, the only memorable sub(s) Loius Van Gaal made was bringing on Martial against Liverpool for his debut and debut goal, and then the introduction of Rashford against Midtjylland in the Europa League game where he scored twice after coming on.
But in the case of Jose Mourinho he has failed to know how to pick his best teams for games. One game where it was evident was the home game against City in the league where opted for Rashford and Lingard on the flank.  He thought he could hurt City on the counter because of the pace of the two but he was put to shame as the plan failed.

United over the years are a confidence team. They play without panic they don't come into games thinking of beating their opponent by counter attack. They are used to controlling the game and dictate what happens and when they will score goals. That is so because they have always had a good center back they can rely on when they are pressurised, a good right back who gets the ball forward with ease, then a good holding midfielder who acts as the shock ''absorber'' and the distributor of the ball to the flanks. Then again United have always had a good flank player who doesn't give away possession rather keeps the full back of the opponent guessing what next he will do with the ball. Then a very good and deadly supporting striker who offers selfless assistance to the main striker and also have an eye for goal then one more thing, he is confident with the ball at his feet.
This is the algorithm of a real Manchester United team.
As I earlier mention somewhere in this article United have an embarrassment of talent at their disposal which is a good thing because digging deep into the team they will uncover the players who will play the United way.
From my own view as a spectator and a fan of the club this is what the backbone of United's first 11 using a 4-3-3 formation should look like:
David De Gea in Goal.
Still one of the best keepers in the league, it is very important for every team to know they have a goal keeper whom they can rely on whenever he is called upon.

Jones and any other Center back.
Jones is a symbol of defence and experience. Experience not in age but from knowledge, he learned from the best, Vidic and Ferdinand and from his display so far it shows that one key thing he learned is that his only business on the field is to defend.

With him on the pitch, the second center back will be a cover up defender who will be free and do the thinking while also playing the ball from the back forward.

Valencia on the right.
As I said united have always relied on a right back who loves to get forward and who does it with ease. Valencia is the man, he might not provide you with the best of crosses but his presence in the opposition half is a sight to give his team mates confidence that they are actually dominating the game.

When it comes to defending he is not easily beaten. And for sure he is the man. United do not need to go into the market for any other right back at least for now.

Anybody can be on the left.

Holding Midfielder: Carrick / Blind/Schweinsteiger
This role is for the most intelligent player on the pitch and not the strongest as many people have come to believe. The player in this role is the brain of the team next to him is the other Center back playing along side Phil Jones. With any of this players in this role, United will surely dominate any game and will not be under pressure when defending, besides what is the point of defending when they will always have the ball?

One thing that makes this players special is their ability to detect a leak in the opponents box, they may not give the pass directly but they will kick start the pass to make use of that opportunity.  One thing never to be done with these players is to play any of the two together. It is a NO! No!

Other midfield pair: Pogba and Herrera

The three forward slot can be filled by any three attacking players but my pick will be ........
Miki on the Left and Mata on the right though they will be interchanging. The reason for this two is very simple, flexibility. Any one who understands football know how important it is for an attacking player to be flexible. It makes you unpredictable which makes you dangerous. The main attacking outlet position usually filled by

Ibrahimovic is good, he can continue there but then remember we have got options in Wayne Rooney, Rashford, Lingard, Martial and Depay (the latter three can also play on the flanks interchangeably). When we play like this we will get to know that United may have a lot of problem but a striker is not one of them.


5. Fellaini and Morgan Schneiderlin
I know it will sound too disrespectful mentioning names but come to think of it, these two players have no business being in Manchester United, going through Manchester United history the club have never had any player like them in the past and I also don't see any place for them in the club at the moment and even in the future.

They are fantastic footballers individually that I know and can defend anywhere but for United they are not what United football stands for. From what I have described above in point number 4. There is no place/role they can fill in this team.  So as I earlier advised, they should make use of the January transfer window and find themselves better clubs that will love and cherish them for their wonderful and amazing talent.

I have no doubt in my mind that the issues I have raised are carefully analysed and sorted out Manchester United will soon find itself competing with the very best in the world, but until then they have a game against West Ham in the EFL Cup to prepare for.
My advice to United fans world wide is this; THEY SHOULD NOT COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH TEAMS WHO BROUGHT IN NEW MANAGERS AND SEEM TO BE DOING WELL BECAUSE, MANCHESTER UNITED IS MUCH MORE THAT A FOOTBALL CLUB.