5 changes required in Manchester United squad

“I’d also like to remind you that we’ve had bad times here. The club stood by me. All my staff stood by me. The player’s stood by me. So your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important”.

That was the word’s of wisdom to the Manchester United fan’s from probably “The Greatest manager’s of all time” Sir Alex Ferguson’s final address to the club. With new hopes, with past glory, and most important with the tag of “2o times League Champions”, they welcomed a new era. They kept belief in their manger’s decision, who brought all these success to their club. And when his successor replaced him, they hailed their new manager as “The Chosen One”.

They stood beside him, when the pundits criticized him for his lack of silver wares. They stood beside him, when the club had difficult times in finding new players in transfer window. They stood beside him, when the club had a dismal run in almost all competitions. They firmly believed that he was the apt successor to Sir Alex Ferguson’s throne, when a part of fans echoed for his sacking. With such faith kept in by the fan’s of this great club, it is high time that David Moyes should repay something for them.

“The Theater Of Dreams” where a lot of Manchester United’s dream had came into reality is no more their fortress. They were The Champion’s but now they are a team with all their dream’s shattered. Manchester United will be having a trophy less season, as they are out of reach for any silver ware this season. Their chances of qualification for Champions League next season, are also under scrutiny. With the current top four in the Premiere League playing beautiful football it is difficult, but not impossible for a club like United.

Everything went wrong for Moyes and his team this season. From loosing out players in the transfer window, missing out key player’s due to injury, bad team selection, loosing to teams which they used beat with ease at their own fortress and most importantly the faith of the fan’s for the club. David Moyes had broken a lot of record’s this season more than the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined but with a negative approach. A lot of thing has to be improved, for retaining what belonged to United. Here are the 5 things which I beleive should be improved.

1. The holes in the wall

Vidic and Ferdinand

Scoring late goals and late comebacks were in the DNA of Manchester United. But this season there was an exception. Conceding late goals or simple error at the back were causing serious trouble for Moyes. With Nemanja Vidic set to leave the club for a new venture, Rio Ferdinanad and Patrice Evra in the shadows of their good old days, the responsibility now lies on the shoulder’s of Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Rafael and Alex Buttner.

United needs one or two new faces in this department. It will be half job done, if Vidic changes his decision. I hope that happens! And a new left back will be fast approaching in the early summer transfer window next season. Luke Shaw of Southampton , Fabio Coentrao of Real Madrid, Ricardo Rodriguez of Wolfsburg and Alberto Moreno of Sevilla are under David Moyes Radar for quite some time. One or two change in the back might fresh up the team.

2. The misfiring wingers

Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young

For over these years, Old Trafford has been home to some of the games finest wingers. Old Trafford had witnessed the rise of outstanding players like George Best, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. They were a team once famous for their outstanding wing play. They had players who could rip apart the opposition defense with their quick feet and provide goal scoring opportunities for the forwards. But that’s not the case with the present wingers of United.

“Ashley Young is not so young anymore, Antonio Valencia can’t even cross the ball and Nani is the long term absentee from the team.” Young who was heavily criticized for loosing possession cheaply and diving is disgraceful at times. Antonio Valencia , who is a one footed player is in the shadows of his good old times at Wigan Athletic. He is another under achiever. Wonder how a player with that type of work rate, only able to use his right foot? And that too not finding anyone in the United colors.

Nani was once compared with Cristiano Ronaldo for his athleticism and goal scoring capabilities.But he was anywhere near, what his predecessor acheived during his tenure with the club. That brings, the 18 year old Adnan Januzaj and the legendary Ryan Giggs as the Back up’s whom they can’t completely rely on.

It’s good to see Januzaj emerging as an improved player after each match. His decision to go alone into the box, without passing to players who finds space to have a shot at the goal is foolish sometimes. Giggs who was deployed to the center midfield, won’t be able to reproduce the kind of magic he used to do at the wings during his prime. That tempts Moyes to play Shinji Kagawa and Juan Mata in the wings, playing out of postion.

Athletico Madrid’s Koke, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, Real Sociedad’s Antonie Griezmann and Southampton’s Adam Lallana are the possible targets for the wings.

3. Midfield not clever enough

Tom Cleverly

This has to be taken to serious consideration. In modern day football, where matches are won and lost in the midfield United had been showing vulnerability for quite some time. This is a position where rest of the rival teams are rich in both physicality and creativity. United need one or two players in this area with the physicality, creativity, vision, blistering pace and stamina to coupe with fast style of English football. Micheal Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Marouane Fellaini, Darren Fletcher, Nick Powell are the players in the department.

Often Micheal Carrick is the stand out performer and he used to get into the playing eleven quite often. Tom Cleverley has to prove his ability. He is a player who is often criticized for his back passing and not moving the ball forward. Even those petition against him to sack him from the England squad to world cup in Brazil 2014 shows the fans anger on him.

Fellaini is a player who is a genuine treat to the opposition on the offensive side. He had won most one on one duels, head one clearance and a good tackler, but often found missing in big matches where the club needs his services more. It was good to see Fletcher back into the side after his long term illness but his inclusion into the team had not made much difference. Except Carrick, none of the above mentioned had not been the so called ‘Game changers’.

Borrusia Dortmund’s Iikay Gundogan, Athletico bilbao’s Andrea Herrera, Bayern Munich’s Toni Kross are the favorites to replace one or two players in the Heart of United’s Midfield next season.

4. Sell them if they are not going to play

Shinji Kagawa

A lot of quality player’s are often benched due to Moyes experimentation. Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez, Wilfred Zaha and the list continues. The former Bundesliga player of the year was expected to be in David Moyes plans at the start of the season. But as the season went on, he was seen constantly sitting on sidelines or doing cameo roles in the last 10-20 minutes.

Often deployed on the left wing, but moves towards “The Hole” as the game progress, which makes difficult for Wayne Rooney to play his natural game, one of the several reasons why he is not a regular starter for United. Even playing out of position, he was accurate with his pin point crossing and short balls, but lack of finishing were the problem. When given the No 10 role, he beautifully dictated the midfield play.

Rvp, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck are the main attackers of the team with Rvp and Rooney, the sure starters. Hernandez, who is hailed as “The Super Sub” is frustrated with his lack of opportunities and is expected for his way out of the club. Even his stats are outstanding, 36 goals in 59 appearences. A good result for a non regular statrer. A lot of European clubs are behind him with Inter Milan the prefered destination. Wilfred Zaha has rarely been in the reerve list in his first season for his club. Even when his regular wingers were out of form, he was not used, which prompt him for a loan to Cardiff City. So better use this players in the comming season or please transfer themn don’t bench them.

5. Maybe, change in tactics?

David Moyes

His weak team selection and unnecessary substitutions had caused United some points, in their fight for the top flight. He is under a lot of pressure. His 4-2-2-1-1 formation which Sir Alex had used in the past is not working. he should change it a formation, where he can get the best out of his players. The defensive minded coach is having vulnerabilities in counter attacking. The midfield is finding difficult to find the attackers who are stretched too forward. His training methods too has raised some eyebrows. Even when the team perform below par, he was facing the heat and used to take al the responsiblities.

We need that old Manchester United back. We need Old Trafford back as our den. A few matches are left for the season. We are hoping a come back. Because, with Manchester United nothing is “IMPOSSIBLE”.