The summer break is coming up fast, with just three games to go until the end of the season, only a few teams have something to play for beyond pride.
Manchester United are one of the few with the prospect of an FA Cup Final, and the opportunity to regain a top six place still within sight. To find out how the United fan base is feeling, I caught up with long time Red Devil, Dan Cooke.
TEB – So Dan, Remember the last time we had this chat?
DC – I had to look it up. You beat us 1-0 with 22% possession and 8 shots. Antony Martial and donny Van de Beek were still getting game time.
TEB – Wow, classic Royball! That feels a lifetime ago. How are you feeling about Monday night?
DC – Not confident. Since your victory, we’ve regularly allowed 20 shots per game. VAR saved us against Coventry. We laboured to beat Sheffield United at Old Trafford where the mood was a mix of anxiety and then deflated relief. We drew at home to a Burnley side likely to be going back down as well. In contrast you seem to be on a great run – three wins and a draw against good sides.
TEB – One of the biggest questions for United now and for the off-season is over the manager. What is your take?
DC – I think Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will move on from Ten Hag in the summer. One journalist said they’re going for ‘shock therapy.’ They’ve already brought in Berrada as CEO from the noisy neighbours, Jason Wilcox as technical director and Dan Ashworth is done, unofficially at least. The Glazer era CFO has also been replaced. If you’re changing the whole office, why wouldn’t you also change the manager?
I can see Dave Brailsford trying to bring in Southgate unless the Euros are a disaster, they’re meant to be pals.
Personally, I wouldn’t make the change. I’m not aware of decent alternatives. Liverpool have just hired a young-ish coach from the Netherlands. Ten Hag had a good first season, he’s dealt with debacles – Ronaldo, Greenwood, Sancho…
If he had to lead recruitment from his WhatsApp contacts isn’t that the fault of the recruitment department? We’ve had a shockingly long injury list (60+ incidences) so what is the sports science department doing?
TEB – So for real, jokes and smokes aside, you’d keep him?
DC – I’m not defending his record this year. David Moyes had more points at this stage. We’re heading toward the Conference league with a goal difference of +1. There are audible groans in the crowd when he makes subs. Maybe Ten Hag underestimated the physicality and tactical acumen of teams across the Premier League. He also made the claim after the Burnley game that we were the most dynamic and entertaining team in the country.
But I still think it’s a systemic club issue. The fifth richest club in the world has focussed on just that – commercial activity – over elite football operations. We’ve overpaid (transfers and wages) £200m on centre backs for example without coming out with a settled pair. Facilities are in decline. The manager has been changed repeatedly since Fergie and there is a mish mash of players recruited for different styles. Ten Hag’s contract is up in the summer of 2025. He may as well see it out without a compensation pay out.
TEB – Sounds quite deflating. Will it matter if you win the FA Cup?
DC – I don’t think it changes much. People know City are the best side and a win would just come down to luck. Van Gaal was sacked within a day of winning it.
TEB – Yes, Dan, we remember that all too well!
TEB – Moving on to the players, what is up with Rashford? Does he go to the Euros? What about Sancho?
DC – Rashford replied to fan account on X saying the criticism of him is ‘abuse… enough is enough.’ But his form has been poor and he’s made bad decisions such as going partying after a loss, clubbing in Belfast before not attending training. He might score again this season and point to his temple and that would be great. But if the squad is 23 or even 26 players I don’t think he’ll be selected. Why should he start before Foden, Grealish, Saka, Palmer, Watkins, Gordon, Bowen or Eze? It’s sad to say but I reckon most United fans wouldn’t be too concerned if Rashford moved on in the summer.
Sancho looked impressive against PSG, but surely not for one performance.
TEB – What’s your summer transfer policy then, when Dan Ashworth is finished mowing and weeding, who is he going to bring in?
DC – I’m more interested in who the club will keep. Someone told me the BBC had listed the entire squad as available. And this is the first season this century we haven’t signed on a player contract mid-season. I’d retain Onana, Martinez, Mainoo, Bruno, Dalot, Garnacho and Dalot.
We seem to make three big signings each summer. I think a striker will be the priority. Holjund is 20 but has no realistic backup. Martial has been a lame duck for a long time now, loan signings of Igalo and Weghorst were good for the memes. The issue of Greenwood seems intractable. It’s heart-warming that Wheatley came on recently as the 250th academy product to play for us, but it’s not enough. Newcastle have scored 22 more goals than us this year.
TEB – Can AWB come home yet?
DC – He gets alot of stick but we’ve relied on him this year. He’s often had to play as an attacking and/or inverted left back. He did a better fill in than Amrabat who has only had one start since December, and we terminated Reguilon’s loan. I think we’ll listen to offers for Wan Bissaka if they’re around the £20m mark, his contract is up in 2025, and he’d be an upgrade on Clyne and Ward.
TEB – Prediction for the game?
DC – On Monday there will be at least one goal after the 80 minute mark. We’ve conceded 18 goals in that zone this season!
Q – Anything else on your mind?
DC – One to watch – The club lost £42m in the accounts ending June 2023. Revenue is obscenely high but the club is bloated. INEOS are going in hard to claw this back, but there will be some weird things to look out for – they’re charging staff for coach tickets to the FA Cup final!
TEB – Cheers Dan, here’s to a cracker on Monday evening.
