MISCONCEPTIONS UTD:

#MUFC have made mistakes post-SAF, but behind-the-scenes they've already put them right. Yet, many fans, journalists, & ex-players choose to stick with the narrative that the club is poorly run: analysis hasn't caught up! A THREAD of 10 common misconceptions:

1st a DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to have inside knowledge of the club. Everything detailed below is via available sources & my own observations & analysis

Any figures given are approximate from publicly available reports/websites

Special credit to UWS interview with Ed Woodward

I'll start with the easy ones...

1) OGS isn't a good enough coach

Already outwitted Pep, Jose, Nagelsman, Tuchel, Klopp with variety of tactics; kept an injury-hit sub-par squad in top-4 contention; dispelled 'low-block' criticism with 1 Jan signing; built attacking philosophy.

2) OGS isn't strong enough

Consistently put himself in the firing line; made majority of decisions for future sustainability rather than short-term joy (increasing pressure on his own position); been the one who's helped club understand what needs to be done from top to bottom.

3) Woodward signs players

Never the case. EVC only signs-off deals after players are identified by coaching & scouting departments, & deal is negotiated by Matt Judge. Utd acknowledge some bad past recruitment, have revamped system, & are being rewarded with good recent deals...

This includes design of own bespoke recruitment software & expanding video analyst department significantly. HUNDREDS of players for each position are narrowed to 10, then reviewed by technical chief scout, Mick Court, before a top 3 is identified that Utd would be happy with...

Under OGS, extra emphasis has been placed on obtaining character reports from those who know the players personally. This has been deemed vital to rebooting the culture of the club, which was seen as broken under previous regimes & with previous out-of-date recruitment procedures

4) Utd need a DoF.

Revamped structure is currently working, but full results will take time. OGS is adequately setting club philosophy, identifying targets via recruitment system, & new deals are being better negotiated. There is no need currently to disrupt that. Future, maybe.

The OGS initiated restructure also included an academy revamp, with Nicky Butt appointed Head of 1st Team Development, & Nick Cox Head of Academy. Recruitment cycles are looked at together, with high-potential academy recruits signed with a view to where they will fit in seniors.

The EVC picking players has NEVER been the case, even before the new system/structure. Rather, problem was different managers with different philosophies choosing. Moyes signs his ex-player. LVG signs technical, Dutch & ex-players. Jose signs physical & ex-players. ALL HAD POWER.

This comes from PAST mistakes in managerial appointments & is where a DoF would have helped in setting ongoing club philosophy. But with OGS's diligence, long-termism, & philosophy synching with the "Utd way", it isn't currently an issue. Current structure is now functioning well

5) Bad wage structure

Related to above. Problem has been BAD spending, not a lack of spending. A PAST mistake that is now corrected. Sanchez terminated to reinstall structure. New signings now fit within structure on good deals (Bruno, VDB, Telles). It'll take time to establish.

6) Contract extensions poor

I make it 13(?) extensions on OGS's watch, & only believe 1-2 of them will ultimately back-fire (both due to injury, & on comparatively modest wages). Others that dont work out would be saleable in a non-covid climate

Nb. Rojo/Lingard both before OGS

7) Owners stifle team

Simply look at the numbers. Utd hv the highest wage bill in the PL (a whopping c.25% above the next), while only City hv a higher net spend post-SAF. The money spent has been, & continues to be, enormous, irrespective of dividends/interest payments. Cont...

Yes, the club has a large debt, but from my understanding this is not abnormal for a company its size, so long as it's serviceable, which it is. My concern as a FOOTBALL FAN is "has enough been invested to create a successful playing squad?" And the answer is, an unequivocal YES.

8) Spend less when qualify for UCL

All extenuating circumstances:

Moyes szn - first post-SAF, new methods, bad execution, not for lack of trying.

15/16 - LVG spent £140m (!!), AFTER £176m his 1st szn! Net was only at c.£50m bcus HE had to give up on HIS OWN signing (Di Maria)

17/18 - Jose got a £140m NET spend AFTER Champions League qualification!!!! Utd's biggest EVER net spend.

18/19 - Jose was given a low net spend, only after wanting to replace Martial with Perisic, as philosophical & stylistic ideas understandably started to clash.

Continued...

20/21 - Covid climate means Utd can't shift unwanted assets, meaning they're handcuffed by large wage bill. Still, only Chelsea, City, Leeds, & Villa spend notably more: one has 3 windows budget +Hazard money; City a sensible set wage structure; are others sustainable? FURTHER...

Utd hope to spend big on Sancho, but due to inability to shift unwanted assets, guess who decides to make a decision that benefits LONG-TERM over present? (OGS). Instead Utd find initial value, while maintaining cash reserve for future Sancho bid, rather than blow now on a backup

9) 20/21 window was a failure.

Utd prioritised RW, LB, AM, & to a lesser extent ST

RW: Sancho priority. Not possible (see above). Able to get good value on future stars (Diallo extensively identified as a top world talent), while still maintaining capacity for future Sancho bid

LB: Possible Reguilon 1st choice. Rightly deemed not viable due to buy-back clause. Obtained next option in Telles

AM: Grealish clearly unrealistic. Obtain other main option on good terms

ST: Wanted short-term depth, due to Greenwood/Martial development. Cavani fits mentality.

CB: Never a priority. Marked as priority for 2021 ONLY (when Upemecano may be possible). Rotation option considered, but only if several unwanted assets were moved on (not possible)

All positions, candidates, & characters have been systematically mapped out & extensively scouted

10) Utd philosophy is blurred

As per Woodward's UWS interview (pp): Philosophy is attacking football, players with x-factor, give youth a chance, humbleness off field, arrogance on it, respect for club

It DOESN'T mean ONLY young players. It does NOT suggest Cavani doesn't fit!

OGS has established & transitioned to this philosophy already, & squad will only become more aligned to it with time. Young 1st teamers & academy players will grow with it. Older players will help teach it.

Everything, from culture, to philosophy, to systems, is about longevity.

Conclusion: #MUFC may lose some upcoming games, but its a club that knows what it's doing & where it's going, having learned from past mistakes. The true value of these behind-scenes fixes may not be seen for some time, but when it is, it'll be sustainable, not a flash in the pan

Its been an exceptional U-turn in methodology, attitude, & execution since Dec 2018. Past mistakes yes, but this time the board deserve credit for listening to the plan, helping facilitate it & staying strong in the difficult early stages. Most important thing now is continuation