It’s not too often that come the end of the season the Manchester United trophy cabinet remains unfilled. For years on end, the Premier League crown has called the Old Trafford museum its spiritual home, but even on the occasion when it does end up somewhere else, United always manage to win at least one other competition to soften the blow. Sir Alex Ferguson and co face a different scenario this May though – a year without a trophy at all. But what will that mean for a team still very much in transition? Could it be the end of the road already?
It seems a little knee-jerk, but after back-to-back defeats to two of their biggest rivals, the wheels look as though they may be about to come off at the worst possible time. I think it’s fair to say that the only reason United are still top of the league is because the teams around them have been equally inconsistent. But next season they won’t be so fortunate. Chelsea will be a lot better next season after their new recruits have had a chance to settle down, Arsenal mature with each passing year and it’s only a matter of time before Manchester City put up a real fight for the league title.
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You could argue decisions didn’t go United’s way at Chelsea – that happens. But anyone in the game will tell you it’s all about the reaction to such defeats. Man United’s wasn’t good enough at Liverpool and it highlighted a huge problem. Wes Brown and Michael Carrick are no longer good enough, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are resembling luxuries and Wayne Rooney looks a shade of the player he did last season. I’m not suggesting they should all be flogged off in the summer, but as the senior players in the side responsible for bringing through the next generation, it definitely presents a problem that Sir Alex must address sooner rather than later.
We’ve seen him dismantle squads before, so sentiment isn’t an issue for the 69-year-old. The Premier League has been there for United to lose this season, and I’m sure Fergie won’t take too kindly if his side do throw it away. United have a lot of youngsters who he has put faith in, but you can see the likes of Obertan, Anderson, and Bebe making way along with a few of the first team regulars if United do manage to capitulate in the manner they are threatening to do so.
Any trophy this season will paper over the cracks at Old Trafford and will give Fergie the time to go about building another team without the media predicting a ‘crumbling empire’ at Old Trafford. But if they fail to win the much sought after record 19th title, Ferguson could once again look to the future to bring about more success next season. Is it time for Sir Alex to start again? I get the feeling we are one Premier League trophy away from the answer.
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