Sport-Opinion
Where Will Manchester United’s Next High Come From?
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December 16, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Despite winning a trophy every year since 2005, this season it looks like Manchester United might come home empty handed.
Many people would argue that Manchester United is the greatest team in the history of football. Every major title has taken pride of place in its trophy cabinet and many of the best players and managers in the world have graced the club. Yet it is difficult to see where their next high will come from.
United’s disastrous Champions League campaign saw them fail to reach the last 16 for the first time since the 2005/2006 season. This, coupled with being knocked out of the Carling Cup Championship by Crystal Palace, makes it difficult to see what chance they have of winning any major silverwear this season, despite having won a competition every year since 2005.
United’s season defining moment will ironically be against rival’s Manchester City in the FA Cup in January. If the Red Devils win this, which will be very difficult away from home, then Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to focus his attention on winning the trophy, whilst playing a weakened team in the much unloved Europa League.
However, if United were to lose, then Ferguson would definitely take the European competition more seriously and put his efforts into winning that. Even then, either competition will still be difficult to win, so we could be seeing the first Man United side in seven years not to win a trophy come the end of the season.
The side have been unlucky in recent weeks with long-term injuries to Nemanja Vidic, Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverly to name a few.
But compare this side to the ones that reached three of the last four Champions League finals, and there are many areas of concern. This is most evident in United’s midfield which has come under heavy criticism of late, missing the type of midfield drive that Paul Scholes used to generate. Sir Alex might address this with a few new signings when the transfer window opens, but that isn’t always a quick fix or the right option.
United’s early exit from the Champions League is estimated to have cost them around £20m and the club have decided not to force season ticket holders to buy tickets for the Europa League campaign. This is a change to their usual policy which forces fans to purchase tickets every time United are drawn at home in the FA Cup or in Europe, whether season ticket holders wanted to attend the game or not.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before Manchester United are challenging the best in Europe again. The side got a much needed result against Wolves last weekend in which they needed a convincing win, and they will be expected to win their next four fixtures against QPR, Fulham, Wigan and Blackburn.
It will be fascinating to see it they can.
By James Harris
[Image courtesy of Andrea Sartorati]
Well written and informative. Great article