I've been thinking recently about the future of Manchester United. There has been a lot of talk about our over-reliance on experienced players, lack of quality coming through the academy and impending retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
In my humble opinion, I believe there is a reasonable chance that in 10-15 years Manchester United could be in a similar position to Liverpool now; living off past glories whilst floundering around the upper middle/lower european qualifying spots.
I'm aware that this article will most likely be lambasted and attract an abundance of 1* ratings but I will give my reasons anyway:
Firstly, I don't believe that we are producing good enough players through our academy to compete with the long-term spending power of Chelsea and City. Unlike the golden generation of the 90s, we have failed to produce any players that I would consider to be starting 11 quality in the next 10 years. We've seen the likes of Pique, Rossi and Pogba leave and suffered the disappointment of average products like Wootton, Tunnicliffe, Amos, Morrison et al. Even Cleverley and Welbeck don't look capable of mirroring the quality of their predecessors or contemporaries; will Cleverley ever do for us what Mata, Silva and Cazorla do for their clubs? Our continued failure to produce quality replacements leaves us over-reliant on poaching the best young talent. With the spending power of City and Chelsea, this will become increasingly difficult.
My second reason is our over-reliance on experience. Last season would have been a complete write-off had it not been for SAF pulling Scholes out of retirement. Without him on the pitch last year our younger combination of Cleverely and Anderson lacked the discipline and passing range to control games. Whilst Carrick has proven to be a very good player on the ball, his lack of mobility regularly saw us - and still sees us - swamped in midfield by more energetic players like Yaya Toure. It is just my opinion, but I am concerned by SAF's lack of long-term planning in replacing the likes of Rio, Vidic, Scholes and Giggs with players of a similar calibre. If the long-term replacement currently in the team don't succeed, then I fear we will fail to match the spending power of City and Chelsea in attracting the best players.
My third point - and you might have seen this coming - is the spending power of City and Chelsea. Personally I think FFP will prove to be a load of hot air, allowing Chelsea and City to monopolise the best players with offers of Champions League football and ridiculous wages. Whilst we are an efficiently run business, City and Chelsea are billionaire's playthings - giving them the luxury of spending ridiculous amounts on players. Yes United have spent big, but in the last 5 years our next spend is a quarter of Chelsea's and less than a sixth of City's. If we can't compete with their spending off the pitch, how can we continue to compete with them on it?
Finally, SAF leaving us. He hasn't got long left. In my opinion, he has already lost the edge of a few years ago and at times his team selections have left a lot to be desired. Personally, I don't think we would have been close to the title in the past 2 years without the 'Fergie Factor,' and despite all of the criticism's over the years - and talk of decline - he has kept us fighting. My worry is that in losing the best manager in the world, we will also lose the major component in keeping us competitive. How many teams has he built? My concern is that - with our limited spending power - there isn't anyone who could come in and keep us winning titles in the long-term.
Take me home, United Road... to decline
posted on 10/4/13
Macca I am personally holding you and one or two other posters for keeping my faith in Anderson alive...
The way I see it a few years down the line I either have to buy some people some drinks or send them some hate mail!
posted on 10/4/13
did I not state in the OP '10 to 15 years?'
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Why are you barking on about needing to replace Scholes and Giggs then?
and how disappointed you are in a bunch of 18 year olds
posted on 10/4/13
Anderson is arguably the most frustrating player in our squad. After such a bright start to his United career he has failed to live up to the promise he showed. Obviously he has been hugely unfortunate with injury, but when does it become time to cut our losses? I no longer consider him or Nani to be young players. I'd give Anderson one more season to show what he can do. I hate writing players off for the sake of it, but I'm so undecided on whether he is a great player who has been unlucky, or a crocked average player who can sometimes perform the spectacular. I must say I thing he has a better range of passing than Cleverley.
posted on 10/4/13
JSPC I thought it would be pretty self-explanatory. We need to prepare for the future now. I expressed a concern about short-sightedness in the OP. Sometimes I get the impression people read the title or first line, make up their mind then post a reply
posted on 10/4/13
Clearly i read the whole thing, as i picked out the line about slating youth players like Tunnicliffe, who haven't even had a chance yet.
If you have to keep repeatedly asking various people to re-read what you wrote, maybe we are not the ones at fault?
posted on 10/4/13
Judging our future depends on the time frame you're looking at.
If it's the next 5-10 years, given how many talented young players that could play for our team, and any further additions we may make - we look in great shape.
If it's 10 to 20, then what we currently have in our team probably is not as important and our off the pitch success will be. This is also good and will improve further as we continue to remain successful in the next 5-10 years.
I understand the point of the article, and it was a good one, but I cannot share your view.
I'm extremely optimistic for our future due to some of the young players we have and our off the field expansion.
It's pretty all pretty rosey as far as I'm concearned.
My main concearn is our crap football.
posted on 10/4/13
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Yes and you've made the same incorrect assumption as a multitude in thinking that I'm talking about next season or the one after... did I not state in the OP '10 to 15 years?' Have I not explained myself enough?
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You are making a big assumption: that SAF will not make changes over the years.
He has always made changes, he has never been afraid to get rid of players - but he doesn't spend spend spend like some.
To illustrate how the team changes, here are the most used players for each year:
2009-10 Evra, Rooney, Fletcher, Valencia
2010-11 van der Sar, Evra, Vidić, Nani
2011-12 de Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rooney, Carrick
2012-13 de Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Carrick, van Persie
posted on 10/4/13
JSPC you either disagree that there is an urgent need to replace Giggs and Scholes, or ar arguing for arguments sake.
posted on 10/4/13
To illustrate how the team changes, here are the most used players for each year:
2009-10 Evra, Rooney, Fletcher, Valencia
2010-11 van der Sar, Evra, Vidić, Nani
2011-12 de Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rooney, Carrick
2012-13 de Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Carrick, van Persie
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Did you just guess that or did you look over the stats? I'm pretty sure Carrick and Evra have been the most used players every year since like 2007. Plus Ronaldo and VDS when they were here.
posted on 26/7/18
Only 5 more years before I’m proven right.
Cya in another 5.
I’ll be lurking.