Manchester united - A club looking for a vision

My first interaction with Manchester United as a fan was in late 90's, I did not know they were the champions. With not much exposure to the internet, the information was taken as it was seen. From what I saw, it was love at first sight, as Manchester United did everything one expected from a football team. Play attractive football, score goals and moreover win games. My idol till date is none other than Roy Keane, the perfect embodiment of a Manchester United player. After years of success on the field, the club is seeing some dire times. Call it the turn of the wheel but the turn has been a painfully excruciating one. The Club I fell in love with seems like a blindfolded man who is trying to cross a freeway.

Victim of its own success?

The day was 23rd June, 2013 and this was just a month after Sir Alex had bid goodbye to the hallowed turf of Old Trafford after 26 and a half years with the club. I was on Twitter celebrating India's win over England in the Champions Trophy final (Cricket). Thats when I happened to strike a conversation with a liverpool fan who said "Am afraid for the future of Manchester United". My cocky response was "We are gonna be fine", turns out a decade later the words came ringing true. United have fallen off the pedestal, and the qualification to Champions League now is treated as success. The club seems to have fallen a victim to its success on the field. The Red Devils still seem to living in the glories of the past under the legendary Scotsman. Chants of 20 Times Manchester United with every passing year seem more of a desperate call, rather than a celebration.

Money spent wisely?

If the fans felt David Moyes was treated unfairly, Louis Van Gaal was given the best ever treatment a manager got. Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao were already household names. Luke Shaw was an upcoming quick left winger, not to forget Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera who were added to the mix. United managed to get the qualification spot for the Champions League. The next year, though Falcao and Di Maria were gone. Falcao gone to Chelsea, while Di Maria off to PSG. United got the prodigious talents of Martial to Old Trafford along with Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin and Darmian. The singings did not come good apart from Martial to an extent. The football under LVG was bereft any entertainment, as the fans lost their voice while shouting Attack Attack Attack.

Jose's Not So Special Stint -

LVG ended his stint with an FA CUP win, and in cam Jose Mourinho. The self anointed Special One was linked with the Job ever since November 2015 when the United faithfuls were put to sleep (go check the old games) by LVG and his tactics. Mourinho for the first time gave a faint hope to the United fans as a manager with some serious cred to get home the title. United that year were the place for Raiola's men like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The biggest coup was yet to come, when one Paul Labile Pogba was signed from Juventus for a massive sum. The world was in awe as United finally were acting like a big club. Results on the pitch though were mixed, United won the community Shield, English Cup and the Europa League. The league position of 6th though was dire with 15 drawn games. The next year, United signed Matic and stole Lukaku from Chelsea who had stolen Morata from United. United finished 2nd in the table, but that January they made the biggest mistake. The Singing of Alexis Sanchez, was both quizzical and comical. Quizzical for the fact, the fans asked ' Do we need him' and comical for the Piano based entry to Old Trafford. Things went bad to worse as United were off the rails the following season and by December, Jose was a distant memory in the revolving doors of Manchester United.

'Ole's at the wheel' of a club spiralling out of control -

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the name brings the distinct memory of the famous line from the night at Camp Nou which said "and Solskjaer has won it". Ole began with a bang and also went onto win against PSG in the Champions League. The loss to Barcelona was the tipping point that season. Post which they were humbled 4-0 at Goodison Park by a rampaging Everton side, the post match pictures saw Scott Mctominay downcast in the UTD blazer, as Ole called out every player. United came back to achieve some considerate success the next twp seasons. Bruno Fernandes the Portugese El Magnifico playing the conductor to the Manchester United success. At one point for a few weeks, United were top of the table, and some wondered if number 21 was on the way under the former Number 20 OLEgend. Last campaign began with the acquistion of Sancho and Varane, but the cherry was the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, who seemed destined to play under Pep his former nemesis during the La Liga era. What began with a breezy thumping of Leeds, saw United lose the plot and saw Ole get sacked. Ralf Ragnick tried every trick in the book but none worked, the lowest point was the thrashing away at Brighton.

Exit Woodward Enter Light (Richard Arnold, Murtough and Erik Ten Hag)

Mettalica sang a famous song by the name Enter Sandman and the lyrics were Exit light,Enter night,Take my hand,We're off to never-never land" . Neverland is considered a fictitious place, but the change in guard brings a huge ray of hope. Ed Woodward has never endeared himself to the United Faithful. He was seen with contempt by the fans of Red Devils. When he announced his departure, twitter exploded as if United had won the Premier League. The arrival of John Murtough and new CEO in Richard Arnold seems to have filled fans with hope. On the pitch the main man on the sidelines will be Erik Ten Hag, a coach who has made Ajax a force. One cannot expect him to weave his magic wand and get United the title number 21. What he can do is get players playing football once again and enthrall the United faithful at Old Trafford and Beyond

The need for a vision -

This year United embark on another transfer window, a window which should be promising. Despite all the haggling and uncertainity over Frenkie De Jong, United will be expected to deliver the goods. Fans have time and again lost their patience, but this year the fans have gone off the rails far too quick. There was a video which made the news of Richard Arnold meeting a few disgruntled fans. Some loved it, some loathed it, my view? I loved it. It was a CEO of the biggest traditional club in the world taking the bull by its horns. It might have looked like a PR stunt to many, but give the man some credit, he tried to do what is best for the club. The club needs a vision and for once John Murtough and Richard Arnold seemed to know where they are going. United might not attract the Mbappes or Neymars or Haalands or Nunez's of the world like it should. But there is a huge but in this, there is a chance in 2 years time, the biggest talents could be offered to United.

It is too early to write off the transfer window, but one clear message to John Murtough and Richard Arnold has come through. Don't let down the manager of the club, back him at all costs and get him the players he wants. Erik Ten Hag represents United's best hope for the glory days to come back and as cliched as it may sound the fans at the Stretford End do want to sing Glory Glory Man United with all fervour once again.?