Manchester United is widely considered as the greatest football club in English history, and in the eyes of many, the world.
This statement is not solely based on the fact the club currently holds the most premier league titles (20), but because of the undeniably masterful players the franchise has produced who are now of legendary status.
Players such as Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are all products of the organisation, underscoring the superlative nature of the club.
Albeit, as of 2013 for the past six years the club’s performance has been anything but commendable.
The introduction of a series of horrific footballing tacticians in the form of Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and David Moyes has been detrimental to the club’s reputation, the managerial reigns these men underwent has not only cost the club silverware but has left an irreparable stain on the club deterring any world-class players from considering a transfer to the dishonoured Red Devils.
Personally, as a member of the Manchester United fanbase, I can’t overstate how disgruntled the fans have grown watching flawed defensive football for years on end.
The fans yearn for change and I do not believe the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær has really had an outstanding impact as of yet.
A failed season for Manchester United is falling short of winning silverware of significance (FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League). If the players continue to perform in the same vein, it doesn’t appear that any trophies will be entering the club’s trophy cabinet this footballing season, unfortunately.
However, I believe there is a shining light amidst this grave darkness that has swallowed the club.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjær has taken over there has been a slight improvement in the style of football executed on gamedays.
The team no longer relies on individual brilliance to score goals, but now plays as a collective unit with a pro-attacking mindset.
With a few minor adjustments to the structural model, the club could overcome their long-lasting collapse and rise to glory once again.
The implementation of a competent striker and slight tactical tweaking the club could ever so slowly climb up the ladder of football greatness and usurp the juggernaut which is the cross-town rivals of Manchester City.
For solutions, it is critical to purchase a prolific ball-playing goal scorer in order to achieve success.
Unfortunately, for Manchester United and specifically Ed Woodward, I cannot say that the purchase of Romelu Lukaku was money well spent.
His performance at such a prestigious club is utterly deplorable, his elephant-like touch and lax approach to the game is evident week in and week out. A short spurt of goalscoring form is nowhere near enough to retain the number nine role.
Lukaku is currently at twelve goals in 28 appearances and frankly, that goals to games ratio is far from acceptable.
The last time Manchester United lifted the premier league trophy an in-form Robin Van Persie was the target man until he was well failed to net more often than not, sparking the club’s dismal downfall.
When United were crowned champions for the 2012/2013 season, Van Persie scored 26 goals and won the golden boot.
It is a straightforward concept – to win titles you must have a virtuoso up top carrying the team on his back.
Now I know it is easy to say Manchester United needs a better striker, but that alone will not assist the team in returning to former glory.
First and foremost, the club must throw the bank at an alternative striker, and I believe the perfect feasible candidate for the position is Harry Kane. His clinical nature in front of goal is unparalleled, which is just what United needs to become a dominant force. The signing of Kane, if possible, must be coupled with an amelioration to the structural model.
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Jesse Lingard must take up a more central role and be allowed to roam freely exploiting the gaps between the opposition’s midfield and defence while feeding through Kane who as we all know rarely misses the target when provided with the opportunity.
By adopting a 4-3-3 formation with an out and out central attacking midfielder, supported by Paul Pogba (with an attacking licence) and a deeper Nemanja Matic position-wise, Manchester United in no time will experience a major increase in goals scored per season.
Manchester United have undeniably fallen from grace. In my eyes, Lukaku must take a back seat and make way for a more clinical and accomplished striker.
With the introduction of a new striker such as Harry Kane, there must be formational adjustments to allow Pogba and Lingard to express themselves unreservedly increasing the team’s attacking threat.
English glory awaits Manchester United. With the integration of a few minor tactical adjustments and the signing of Kane, the city of Manchester will bleed red forever more and the historically dominant Red Devils will reinstate themselves as rightful rulers of English football.
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