By Michael Burney
Following the draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, former captain Roy Keane stated that United were “getting cheered off here. We used to get booed if we had drawn”. These comments have drawn plenty of online comments and interaction, but the Irishman was being somewhat tongue in cheek with his observations.
I cannot remember a time when Manchester United were booed off the pitch following a home draw and neither can many others. What Keane was effectively alluding to was that the standards and stature of the club has now fallen so far below what they were when he was gracing the Theatre of Dreams, that a battling draw at home to Arsenal is a result and performance that the supporters are happy with.
A day which started with thousands protesting the detested Glazer, and now part INEOS, ownership says much about we are where we are. Since Roy Keane departed the club in 2005, there has been a slow and steady decline at England’s biggest football club caused mainly by the ‘Glazernomics’ imposed on us meaning we have effectively paid £1bn in interest payments to service a debt the Glazer family lumped onto the club following their leveraged buyout. The fact that Manchester United was debt free when they purchased the club says it all.
The ‘slow death of the club’ as the 1958 group have labelled it was only initially masked by the brilliance of Sir Alex Ferguson’s management. Following his retirement in 2013, the place has been run like a toy town operation. The banker who helped the Glazers with their purchase, Ed Woodward, was installed as their man on the ground replacing David Gill who left along with Fergie. For David Gill’s “debt is the road to ruin” we now had Ed Woodward referring to the club as “Disneyland for adults”. The attitude of those running the show can certainly be summed up by Woodward’s comments.
It is frustrating for all Manchester United supporters how the last decade has gone and Roy Keane in his position, primarily as a pundit for Sky Sports, has been scathing in his criticism of the club, players and management at times. He is a man who has the highest standards, and expects those around him to have the same. His infamous comments on MUTV following a defeat at Middlesbrough and his falling out with the FAI whilst captain of the Irish team at the 2002 World Cup shows this.
Yesterday’s performance was one of a team who battled and who certainly put in a shift. These are of course the basic requirements of any side and this is what Keane was effectively saying when he mentioned about being cheered off for the bare minimum. In the context of the season, however, the draw with Arsenal, despite them not having a fit centre forward, is a positive. It has been somewhat of a disastrous campaign with Ruben Amorim getting to grips with his squad and his players adapting to his 343 system.
During the game the players all seemed more comfortable than we have seen in previous weeks and months. The defensive line was solid and the midfield players all worked hard, covering plenty of ground. The main issue, of course, is the glaring lack of quality and players who aren’t fully comfortable with the new system, although yesterday they did quite well. This effort and a supporter base united and galvanised by the protests was a big reason for a feeling of positivity following the game.
Going forward the back line, which ends up looking like a flat back 5 too often, needs to adapt. The wing backs need to be more offensive minded and not constantly sit in. Playing this way, especially at home, is not really how Manchester United should approach things. The manager has already brought in Patrick Dorgu to fill the troublesome left wing back position and his early signs are promising. Yet he needs more of his own signings this summer to really suit and complement his system.
If and when this happens, expect to see the wing backs much further forward, one of the 3 centre backs pushing into midfield bringing the ball out and more legs and energy from the 2 players in midfield. Going further forward, the 2 attackers behind the main striker will look to go beyond and pull out wide and get involved with the wing backs too who should have more license (and ability) to get forward. At the moment this isn’t happening, which is why Amorim keeps saying the team must ‘survive’ until the summer when he feels he can reshape this squad.
Whether Ruben Amorim gets the tools and money to reshape the squad the way he wants remains to be seen. However, at the moment he must make do with what he has and pundits and supporters alike must try take into account where we are and why we are here when making assessments. The context of a situation is important with most things in life and especially with Manchester United at the moment. We are way off where we were 20 years ago, when Roy Keane departed the club, but hard-work and effort must be a none negotiable, which is what the supporters at Old Trafford yesterday were at least pleased to see.
Featured image: “File:Roy Keane and Chris Hughton – Flickr – mikebrown59.jpg” by mikebrown59 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Callum McFadden 