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COMMENT: It takes a certain strength of character, a particular mindset, to succeed at Manchester United. So says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when evaluating his players. But what about those who are above him? The ones who have been working on the transfer window this summer? Are you asking the same questions …?
No matter how you look at it, this market campaign has been lousy for Manchester United. Even with the six-plus week extension (and there’s still a couple to do in terms of dealing with Football League clubs), United have screwed this one up. None of the team’s weaknesses have been resolved. There remains an extensive list of overpaid and underutilized fringe players who show up every day to train. And the only deal United managed to beat, Donny van de Beek, was for a position where they are already well-stocked.
In fact, Angel Gomes and his group have every right to be upset. Solskjaer was unable to convince him to stay and settle. The argument was that there was no place for a player of his type. However, he did commit to Ajax a £ 40m fee for Van de Beek, a player who will essentially play the same role that Gomes is now playing with Boavista in Portugal. Three assists on debut. Wonderful goal from the midline on Saturday. Everything the academy staff at Carrington knew Gomes was capable of. However, it will be parent club Lille, not United, that will benefit from his time at Boavista.
This is the window. The window that separates footballers from fans. The fanciful. Coming from an extended European campaign. Almost no preseason. And an avalanche of accessories to launch the new period. Managers’ hands are busy. The compromise has some at a breaking point. Delegation was the absolute key. The role of the football director. Chief scout. Loan manager. All charged more value. However, at United, none of these positions are filled. And yes, that includes the head scout. That has been diluted to a ‘committee’ of three: Jim Lawlor, Simon Wells and Marcel Bout.
Instead, we have stories of United being reluctant to bid for players like Jadon Sancho for fear Borussia Dortmund will reject the offer and announce it publicly. They just couldn’t live with shame, the story goes. Then there is the one of the directors who are concerned about how this marketing campaign has developed on social media. That the reaction of “missing” players like Tottenham’s new duo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon, is creating a “negative spiral” around the club’s transfer plans.
Which brings us back to the original question in this column: do those above Solskjaer have what it takes to run United’s soccer operations? If you are so obsessed with the sewer pipe that is social media. If they are so vain, so insipid, that they allow unidentified comments, bots and members of the dime army to shape their thinking … Then clearly the answer is: no.
We will not insist. This column has long discussed Ed Woodward’s reluctance to hire a soccer director. United’s executive vice president is still convinced that the structure they have does its job.
However, this has been the window where the Woodward configuration has been discovered. And he may not be the one who cares about what happens online. But it is obvious that some who work around you do. And it is not a mindset, regardless of position, to be tolerated at Manchester United.
Even Sunday’s news raises a qualifier. Edinson Cavani, a free agent, was due to land at Manchester Airport in the morning to finalize terms and undergo a medical examination. A great player. Potentially a great signing. But also a free agent. Out of contract since June from PSG, Cavani could have been signed at any time. United could wait until after Monday’s deadline to do everything. If it’s going to be a rush job. If there are multiple offers waiting for a response. A left back remains on the agenda. An extreme too. Why clog the system by finalizing paperwork for a deal that can be done outside the window?
Monchi, for his part, is puzzled by the situation. For the famed Sevilla sports director, the role is “essential” for the clubs of United’s (perceived) status, “I think the clubs are more and more aware that they really need this position and we are also the connection between the coaching staff. , the staff, the board, we know the market, we get a lot of information through the different scouts “.
Tribalfootball.com He has spoken with Javier Subirats, considered the best sporting director in Valencia’s history, about United’s position, and he couldn’t understand it either. That United has stayed at the door this summer, it is not surprising in Spain.
The backlash that worries those inside the club? A lot of time has passed. Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, even the champions, all have improved their squad this summer. Additions are being made throughout the window. Yes, there may be room for last minute deals. But that’s all, they have been given the opportunity to make this type of transfer thanks to what has been achieved since this market was opened. Meanwhile, his United counterparts don’t even respond to agent calls, as we’ve learned from Patrick Evra.
This summer, United has been discovered. Woodward’s approach has been discovered. And changes must be made so that such a campaign never happens again. In terms of results, those above Solskjaer have fallen well, well below Manchester United’s standards.
