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*This was originally written on 15 May 2019, quite a throwback. Despite changing scenes, similar themes and weaknesses still stand relevant today for a Manchester United fan. I hope you enjoy the read.

Manchester United are in a deep crisis. If the past five years wasn’t revealing enough, the latter part of this season has fully exposed the gulf of class, passion and identity with their past and the present top-end of the Premier League. Solksjaer provided United with wonders after Mourinho’s departure. They had a sudden bounce in their approach as they picked up a strong winning run of games. As Linekar exclaimed, Solksjaer’s early run-in may have been one of the best job application for full-time management football has seen. Everything was going so right, an adored club legend who appeared to be bringing back the glorious past and the ‘United way’ of doing things in the return of attacking football. Chants of ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ rang around the club and rightly so, they clinched victories against Spurs, Chelsea and PSG through a phenomenal comeback which I believe exceeded expectations for most fans.

Today United have fallen back into the dismal pit they’ve fallen into under the last three managers. Paul Ince went as far as claiming ‘anyone could have done Solksjaer has done“. His comment was harsh but when distancing oneself from any allegiance there is room to accept a blissful run cannot cover over deeper changes needed at the club.

Manchester United in its latest stage of the crisis has embarrassingly lost against relegated side Cardiff and accomplished only two wins in the last twelve games. The end of Solksjaer’s ‘honeymoon’ period reawakens fans to an undeniable reality that Manchester United requires systemic rebuilding. While Solksjaer’s inexperience raises fears about the prospect of returning to glory, the continuation of crises reminds fans the issues lay deeper.

Besides many players being simply unfit for the club, the mess amongst the first-team squad stems from the club’s insidious, rotting core. The abysmal operations at the top-end are encapsulated by short-termism and neglect for the serious task at hand, the restructuring of Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. A mountain of a task awaits Solksjaer which he would need every backing. This summer will be crucial for his future and the recovery of Manchester United. There are three central areas needing to be addressed that will be pivotal to how United return for the new season and move towards a new future.

Technical Director

This has become the most salient concern at Manchester United as it is clear the club has held no long-term strategy and thus have gone through a cycle of failures across the six years since Ferguson’s retirement. Across these years there has been one man leading the operations, Ed Woodward. A CEO who has displayed a shocking naivety in the purchasing of players, renewal of contracts and general operations at the club. He has been given the leading role in rebuilding the club but has acted more as a saboteur by refusing to delegate and prioritising the commercial aspect of football. It is clearly time the responsibility needs to shift to a technical director. The club requires someone with a long-term football strategy for the club and holds expertise in developing a club footballing identity from the ground-up to assist the junior managerial side. Worryingly, this restructuring task is left to Woodward himself. There are currently talks at appointing club individuals who have no proven credentials in technical directorship.

Current players:

The most obvious task for Solksjaer is to replace the current squad of players. Manchester United across the years has become an accumulation of transfers from the varying managers they’ve had, some have been complete failures and others have been a mismatch of different systems of play. Solksjaer needs to stamp his authority on the team he wants, meaning getting of the players unsuitable for the style of play and if needed, with the current abysmal attitude of players, those that have shown a lack of desire to play for the club. There is a need for a major clear out at the club as there is much deadwood to be gotten rid that may not even be possible within one summer; for instance, the likes of Young, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Matic, Lingard and Sanchez have all shown inadequacy and desperately need moving out. There are also questions around Lukaku whose lack of technical play seems a large mismatch with the type of striker fans and Solksjaer are looking for. He may also leave but as there can be only so many that leave at one time, he will most likely remain. And of course, there is the question of Pogba’s future who now looks more than ever he will be making his way out this summer. I believe despite his tremendous abilities, it is better to let him leave if his priority remains elsewhere. United cannot risk going into the future with players whose hearts is not with the club. An anxious moment also awaits in De Gea’s undecided future, his departure could be detrimental if combined with Pogba leaving. Ultimately the club must do everything to keep both as there is only room for one of the two world class talents to leave. At the moment, Manchester United are in desperate need for a centre-back, a holding and creative midfielder and right-winger. These three positions must come be addressed as soon possible. A breath of youthful prospects into the first team may also provide the needed resurgence to level of energy and passion around the club.

Future expectations:

Along with the necessary restructuring of the club around a long-term project and club footballing identity, expectations for the club must be refined in a process that demands patience, gradualism and principle. Manchester United and fans must be realistic, they are far from the footballing standards of other clubs at the moment. The past six years have been largely wasted fiddling about with short-term projects and expensive transfers. To get themselves back to the top-level time and effort is needed. This means scaling back expectations for winning trophies. It is not about throwing away the task of competing at the top level but to remain focused on the long-term project which requires following and will deliver success if done right. As long as the Manchester United show real organisation and commitment to this project, to rebuild its DNA and ethos, I believe fans can again expect thrilling football we all savoured under Ferguson’s glory.