Anyone who follows English soccer knows Manchester United has dominated the game since the formation of the Premier League in 1992. Manchester United won 13 of the first 21 Premier League titles and always went into their matches as the overwhelming favorite with the overall best site for sports betting online. However, United is no longer the dominant force of yesteryear and currently languishes at the bottom of the table after the opening two games of the 2022-23 Premier League season. What has gone wrong for the once mighty Red Devils?
Manchester United has not been the same since Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement at the end of the 2012-13 season. Sir Alex guided Manchester United to the Premier League title that season before standing down from the post that he had held since 1986. Under Sir Alex’s stewardship, Manchester United won the Premier League 13 times, won five FA Cups, four League Cups, 10 Community Shields, two UEFA Champions Leagues, the European Cup Winner’s Cup, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Replacing a legendary manager such as Sir Alex was never going to be an easy task. It is here when Manchester United has ultimately failed.
Six Permanent Managers in Nine Years
There have been six permanent managers and two caretaker managers at the helm of Manchester United since Sir Alex retired. Six different ways of thinking and working in the space of nine years. David Moyes was the first to try and fill the void left by Sir Alex, which proved a step too far for the Scotsman. Louis van Gaal’s time at the club was deemed a failure, as was that of Jose Mourinho, despite winning the Community Shield, League Cup, and the UEFA Europa League. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failed to win any silverware, and now former Ajax head honcho Erik ten Hag is tasked with reviving the once great club’s fortunes.
A lack of stability has cost Manchester United dearly. Each manager has put across their way of playing and brought in players to suit their style. The Manchester United board, despite what the club’s fans say, has financially backed each manager; the club has spent almost £1 billion since Sir Alex left! However, can you remember any of those signings who hit the ground running and became superstars? Players such as Angel Di Maria, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, and Edinson Cavani are all elite-level players that failed at Manchester United. You have to ask yourself why that is the case.
The Current Squad is Not Good Enough
Ten Hag had a phenomenal record in the Dutch Eredivisie. His track record, combined with the lure of Manchester United, should be enough to entice the world’s best players to the famous Old Trafford stadium. Should is the operative world because nobody wants to join the Red Devils. Christian Eriksen joined the club on a free transfer, while Lisandro Martinez was reunited with his old coach but looks way out of his depth at Premier League level; plus, he is only 5ft 9in tall tiny for a centreback. United has since been linked with Marko Arnautovic and Jamie Vardy, two players well into their thirties and way past their best. This is the caliber of player Manchester United can attract, a far cry from the marquee signings everyone expects of the Old Trafford team. Bang average players like Harry Maguire, Fred, and Scott McTominay make up the spine of the once great team; they are not Manchester United standard players by any stretch of the imagination.
Manchester United must give ten Hag time to rebuild the squad. It needs a significant overhaul with at least seven or eight stellar signings and at least as much deadwood to leave the club. Whether he is given time in a results-orientated business remains to be seen.