The problem with Manchester United

kayode OGUNDARE @kaybaba99

The Last time Manchester United lost three Premier League games in a row was in May 2001 (v Derby 0-1  H; Southampton 2-1 A; Tottenham 3-1 A) but it must be pointed out that the title had already been won and lost by then.

Also, the last time Manchester United failed to score in three successive games was between May and August 2007 (Chelsea 0-0 A; West Ham 0-1 H; Reading). Again, we must understand that the three games overlapped from one season at the end of May to the beginning of another in August.

Unfortunately, at least from a United fan’s perspective, both scenarios have come to play over the course of the last three games as the club not only lost to Chelsea, Everton and West Brom, they also failed to score in any of the games while conceding five in the process.

They only snapped that rot with a hard fought victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday and, you’ll agree with me, it was not a pretty sight compared to the team that glided over Spurs, Man City and Liverpool.

For a team which had won six on the trot before the latest setback, questions are bound to be asked and any inquisition will be in order. What went wrong?

Where did the wheels come off for a team that took apartLiverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City but struggled to break down a Chelsea who were only just willing not to get beaten, an Everton which had spent all season in the bottom half and a West Brom hoping to extend their top-flight stay by another season. Worse, they couldn’t muster a goal in 270 minutes of football action against those three.

So, I ask again, what went wrong in those three games where nine massive points were thrown away and does the victory at Palace signify a return to the good days for United?

Taking the last question first, the win over Crystal Palace was a welcome and massive three points (at least it means they need just one more win to keep Liverpool at bay in the race for that final Champions League spot) but, on the balance of probabilities, it speaks to how dysfunctional the team is under Louis van Gaal.

In the last four games, United massively dominated their opponents (70.3% vs Chelsea; 65% vs Everton; 80% vs West Brom and 63% vs Crystal Palace) yet they only managed to eke out a win out of those four games. Meaning, I suppose, that majority possession does not ordinarily translate into a win.

The stats above also say, in more ways than one, that dominance without penetration can only take you so far.  It means that United have been abject in their goals conversion/shots on target ratio.

For example, against West Brom they had just 9 shots on target from 26, a lowly 34% but none resulted in a goal. In contrast, the Baggies had 3 of 6 shots on target, that’s a healthy 50% with one goal to claim all three points.

At Stamford Bridge, all of the majority possession yielded just 2 of 15 shots on target, a miserly 13.3%. Chelsea, accused of ‘parking the bus’, had 2 of 7 shots on target, 28.5% which was way better than the team that dominated.

At Everton where they suffered a 3-0 reverse, United had just 4 of 17 shots on target, a mere 23.5% while Everton had 4 out of 7, a healthy 57%. Even at Palace, where they won last Saturday, it was just 4 of 13 shots on target (30%) so the story is not radically different, win or lose.

In looking at the problems bedeviling the team, you also have to take a second look at the players themselves. I argued on a television programme (Big League Soccer on StarTimes Channel 123 every Friday at 7pm, you can always catch up with us there) that the good performance of United in recent times have been down to three key players.

One, the return from injury of Michael Carrick was like the signing of a new player because we saw what United had missed in his absence. Nobody, tried as they did, had been able to offer Carrick’s calming influence in front of the back four and his vision and timing is unparalleled.

His experience in knowing when to spice things up or to slow action down cannot be ignored and was at once evident since he returned in the last 45 minutes of the FA Cup loss against Arsenal. He carried United through their unbeaten run until he sustained injury in the 4-2 win against City. Was it a coincidence that United lost the next three games in which he didn’t play any part?

 

If Carrick’s calming influence and experience was key, then the physical presence of Marouane Fellaini was vital in the good run too. After an inauspicious start under Louis van Gaal, the Belgian finally found his niche in a formation which not only confuses the opposition but also terrifies them.

Playing on the shoulder of the point-man, Fellaini used his height and physicality to bully defenders and bring his teammates into play or to grab a couple of goals for himself. His eight goals so far this season is testament to how this tactic has worked for him and United.

However, if you notice, teams are getting wiser to Fellaini and Jose Mourinho specially brought in Kurt Zouma to nullify the Fellainin threat and he was substituted at Everton because he wasn’t effective.

At home against West brom, he couldn’t do much damage because the Baggies also paraded very tall defenders who checkmated him. Good news he scored the winner at Palace but it’s too early to say definitively if he’s got his mojo back.

And then there is Ashley Young. At the beginning of the season, one would be right to bet that he would be the first name to be shown the exit but, somehow, the England man re-invented himself such that it became practically impossible to drop him from the roster.

He put in a lot of hardwork and played in a variety of positions (including left-back) and scored a couple of goals. His industry and work-rate meant he was also one of the pillars upon which the team rested but then a couple of anonymous performances in the three lost games raised genuine fears of whether Young had gone back to his old self.

Luckily, against palace he stood out and created both goals so we may harbout a glimmer of hope that he’s also back to his best.

Between the influence of Carrick, the presence of Fellaini and the industry of Young was the secret of United’s resurgence buried and this is NOT taking anything away from the other players who all did their part so well while it lasted.

Finally, you cannot wish away LvG’s culpability in the many problems confronting the team. Because of his success, the Dutchman tends to get away with some mistakes for which lesser managers would have gotten the stick.

Sure, he’s out-performed even the great Sir Alex Ferguson in his first season but van Gaal’s stubbornness, some call it intransigence, has seen the team struggle when they ought to be coasting. Most of his ‘sins’ I have enumerated here and elsewhere so I won’t be repeating myself here.

With top four already guaranteed (don’t believe the hype that Liverpool are capable of overhauling United), the task before van Gaal is very simple.

One, to perfect his tactics for the new season.

Two, to get the right players suitable for his preferred formation.

Three, to get a bench that’s as strong as the starting eleven.

Four, to determine who’s leaving and who’s staying.

For example, the future of players like Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and the fringe players.

If he does these things before July 1, he would have stolen a march on his rivals and announced his readiness to contend for titles. The club and fans may have endured a second successive season of trophylessness but a third straight season ending empty-handed will be unpardonable.

Mr van Gaal, a word is enough for the wise.