Manchester United aren’t far off greatness and don’t need to make many more signings
Manchester United are a side high in confidence…
Manchester United are a side high in confidence after putting themselves firmly in the title race and knocking arch-rivals Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
However, there is still a suggestion amongst some fans and pundits that Manchester United still have a project on their hands. I would urge those people to consider what has been the most successful about Manchester United in the past and present.
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What Fergie did which Ole is now following suit in, is having the perfect balance between experience and youth.
Ferguson found a way to bring together superstar quality and talented but still raw youngsters.
That is the direction Manchester United need to keep going in, they need to stop buying players they don’t necessarily need, offering players exponentially high wages and paying ridiculously overpriced fees for players simply not worth blowing the whole budget on.
It’s time to think smart, seeing that youth academy players like Rashford and Greenwood have cost them nothing and have already given far more to the club than flops like Di Maria, Falcao and Sanchez did, players that all cost way too much.
Instead, if a signing is to be made then it should be of the Bruno Fernandes mould, for a modest fee and with the strong belief that they are going to have a big impact on the quality of the starting 11.
Otherwise, it’s simply not worth it and can even stunt the development of some extremely exciting talents emerging at Old Trafford.
Do Manchester United really need to spend £100 million on Jadon Sancho in the summer when they already have a very similar player in Amad Diallo for over half that price?
They also have an exciting talent in Facundo Pellistri who has already impressed in the U23s, as well as 16-year old Shola Shortire who is the newest emerging talent through the academy.
Yes, they need a centre-back and a defensive midfielder in the summer but only if it’s the right player.
If not, then they have very promising academy options.
Di’Shon Bernard has been very impressive in his loan spell at Salford City, making himself a regular starter, bringing defensive stability and being nominated for the Sky Bet League Two player of the month.
Then there is the highly rated centre back Teden Mengi who has been very impressive for the U23s and some fans even expected he would get brought into the first team picture this season.
That’s just the players who are longer-term prospects and may not quite be ready for first team football at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Yet there is Tuanzebe who also has come through Manchester United’s academy and in his odd appearance this season, has excited fans with some of his performances.
The one which sticks to mind was when Ole decided to bring him in for a Champions League game away to PSG and he notoriously kept Mbappe in his pocket and showed off all of his abilities in the best 90 minutes of his career to date.
He showed pace, composure, athleticism, strength and ability in the air, in what was an all-round brilliant performance.
His performances since haven’t reached that height but they have largely still been encouraging and he could still prove to be the ideal pacey centre-half to best compliment Maguire.
This is of course assuming that Bailly will continue his horrendous injury record and be back on the side-lines for a lengthy period. Because at the moment, he is one of the most inform centre-backs in the league, not just within Manchester United’s squad.
Solskjaer, for reasons beyond me, still doesn’t trust Bailly in the big games but his performances in the Premier League in recent weeks have been exemplary.
Manchester United can play with a much higher line with him in the team due to his pace and his greater composure on the ball to Lindelof.
This has allowed Manchester United’s attacking players to have more freedom and control of games, which can be evidenced in the lower scoring games in recent weeks.
This defensive platform that is currently stable and not leaking goals has meant that even against defensive minded teams like Burnley and Fulham, United have only had to break them down once in the game.
If Bailly can keep his current form up, then he could finally reach the potential that was expected of him and prove to be Manchester United’s answer to their centre-half conundrum.
However, if it doesn’t work out for Bailly then there are plenty of other exciting academy prospects waiting in line.
Whilst I do believe Manchester United need to prioritise the signing of Wilfred Ndidi in the summer, if Leicester ask for astronomical money, then there are alternative options.
They could sign talented and exciting holding midfielder Denis Zakaria from Borussia Monchengladbach as a cheaper alternative. Or there is the option of the academy, James Garner has fared well on loan at Watford this season and could be the ideal, free candidate.
Elsewhere, there is Ethan Galbraith who is highly touted too by U23 Head Coach Neil Wood and could be called up to the first team picture for competition with Fred (who has been brilliant this season) and McTominay.
The reason why I still see this as a priority position is because whilst I like Fred with his tenacity and work rate, his carelessness in possession and lack of strength mean that he can’t play as a lone holding midfielder and that is a problem. United need someone who can hold the fort in midfield on their own to allow players like Pogba, Fernandes and Van De Beek to express themselves and support the attack.
Manchester United have a great academy with some seriously exciting talents emerging and if they are going to become a great side once again, they need to continue down this path that made Ferguson so successful.
It’s a combination of leadership and youth which is sustainable in the long term and will bring success in the short-term, it’s United’s new chance at greatness.