More Questions than Answers for Manchester United

Manchester United finished their preseason with a perfect 4 wins from 4, but with their Premier League campaign 2 weeks away, there remains more questions than answers surrounding the club.

“At first sight, it doesn’t look great but let’s see how it goes.” The look on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s face said it all when asked about another potentially fatal Eric Bailly injury, but you could be forgiven for thinking he was instead referring to the overall outlook on his side going into the new Premier League season.

After United were thrashed 4-0 in late April, the usually cheery, optimistic Solskjaer went full Mourinho, declared “I’m going to be successful here, and there are players there that won’t be part of that successful team.” We’re now two weeks away from United’s first game of the season against Chelsea, and the club have not offloaded one player. Zero. Not the unfit, clearly out of favor Romelu Lukaku, who has been the subject of huge interest from Inter Milan. Not the out of place Alexis Sanchez, who has completely left United’s wage structure in tatters. Not Marcos Rojo or Matteo Darmian, two of Louis Van Gaal’s last few surviving signings, who combined for less than 10 league appearances last year. Not Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who fans have joked could survive World War 2 at this rate. And not Ashley Young, so maligned by supporters that he was actually booed every time he touched the ball against Inter Milan in Singapore.

The club has also had to deal with the announcement from Paul Pogba and his agent that the French maverick is interested in moving on. Pogba’s second spell at Manchester United has been anything but an overwhelming success, but whether fans like it or not, he is all they have. He is the only player even close to world class in the squad. However United have held firm in their identity, and refused to be bullied by any club or player. Paul Pogba will remain at least for this year at the club, and so far has shown a willingness to cooperate and remain professional.

When your best player comes out and questions the ambition and direction of the club, you would think their number one priority would be to strengthen the squad, and in the first few weeks of the transfer window, it appeared this was the motive. United quickly snatched up young Welsh winger Daniel James from Swansea, and just a few weeks later broke the bank to sign Aaron Wan Bissaka from Crystal Palace.

Both signaled United’s transfer policy: Signing the next up and coming British talent to build not just a side that mirrored Solskjaer’s footballing philosophy, but a side that could represent Manchester United for the next 10 or so years. Harry Maguire and Sean Longstaff were subsequently linked, as well as Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes, and there was a sense of optimism amongst United supporters that the club was finally heading back in the right direction.

Alas, this is Ed Woodward, the Glazers, and Manchester United we are talking about. Again, United are two weeks away from the start of their campaign, and no signing has followed up Wan Bissaka’s. Harry Maguire has been quoted at upwards of 80 million pounds, an astronomical price for a centerback with no Champions League pedigree, but due to Liverpool’s huge success in their purchase of Virgil Van Dijk, any half decent center back will be at minimum 60 million pounds. This is a signing that United simply have to make though. Eric Bailly suffering yet another knee injury leaves United with a severe lack of quality in that position. Solskjaer can say Rojo and Smalling “took their chance” all he wants. Victor Lindelof partnered with any of the remaining centerbacks still fit is a disaster waiting to happen.

However, there are some factors for supporters to look forward to. United won all 4 of their friendlies in Asia and Australia, and seemingly convincingly at that. They scored 9 and conceded 1, an extremely unfortunate Lucas Moura strike against Tottenham. The likes of Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes, Axel Tuanzebe and Tahith Chong all took their chances to impress and showed they were fully capable of making an impact for the first team this campaign if given the opportunities. Wan Bissaka has already seemingly taken a strangle hold on the right back spot, and Dav James showed off his blistering pace throughout the tour. With more development and decisiveness in the final third, he looks to be a real contributor in the coming years for the club. Scott McTominay continues to progress well, and in all reality should be starting ahead of the aging Nemanja Matic against Chelsea in two weeks’ time. Marcus Rashford’s role in the team continues to increase, and it is clear to see he is becoming stronger and more decisive. Paul Pogba has put his head down and got to work this summer, and looked really good in all 4 friendlies. Finally, Anthony Martial seems like a revived man. Solskjaer has tested him out in his original position up front, and it has given the Frenchman a new lease of life. He was easily United’s best player vs Spurs, and a new found willingness to make more runs off the ball will only improve Martial’s game.

The quick, aggressive play from Solskjaer’s first two months at the club are evidently back. The Norwegian made a point all season of how unfit his players were, and it appears he has made right on that front. Who knows, United may make top 4 just off the basis of Chelsea losing the talismanic Eden Hazard to go along with their transfer ban, and Arsenal having a transfer budget of just 45 million pounds. On paper, their squad is better than both, and only a catastrophic implosion near the tail end of last season stopped them from qualifying for the Champions League.

The reality, though, is even making top 4 this year will just be papering the obvious cracks this football club has from the bottom to the very top. The squad is worlds away from the quality of Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Tottenham. No squad where Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling are still considered key contributors can truly compete. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are not players that can properly lead the line of a club with trophy aspirations. Solskjaer is destined to fail. Whether you believe he truly is a good manager or not, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is destined to fail. Until the club fully cleanses itself of the increasing list of deadwood, and properly asserts themselves on the transfer window, every manager who comes in is destined to fail.

So like Solskjaer said: At first sight, it doesn’t look great, but let’s see how it goes.