Manchester United is over-reliant on Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie

While watching the post match presentation to Manchester United‘s loss to Liverpool, Andy Cole argued that his former club rely too much on Robin van Persie.

His argument was simple. There was absolutely no other player in the United squad that scores goals as consistently as Robin van Persie. During the time when Andy Cole played for United, there was no reliance on any player. Goals came from anywhere and everywhere. Whether it be Yorke, Scholes, Beckham, Solksjaer, Giggs, or Andy Cole himself, scoring goals was not a problem for anyone.

Fast forward today, and on analyzing every United player, you realize that there aren’t too many goalscorers at Manchester United. Carrick doesn’t score, Valencia doesn’t score, Cleverley doesn’t score, and so on. Even Ashley Young has lost his once brilliant form of scoring goals.

Manchester United need someone to score goals from midfield. Someone to ease the goal scoring burden on van Persie. And you may think that Kagawa is the answer, and although in many ways he is the answer, he also isn’t the apt one. Kagawa is an attacking midfielder.

In Manchester United’s rigid 4-4-1-1 formation, there are no attacking midfielders. He has to adjust on the left wing, or play whenever Rooney isn’t available as a second striker. There really is no place for Kagawa in this squad. Keeping Rooney out of the squad wouldn’t be too wise, because keeping him happy should be the first priority.

The solution should have been Pogba, ironically. An energetic defensive midfielder who isn’t shy at having a crack at goal. But Sir Alex’s reluctance to give him first team opportunities, and preferring to bring back Scholes out of retirement, left Pogba fuming, after which he joined Juventus for a Bosman free.

But without Pogba, United will have to look elsewhere. Roma’s reluctance to sell Daniele de Rossi at such a late stage in the window isn’t good news as well. Everton are also trying to be bossy by rejecting two bids for Marouanne Fellaini.

Athletic Bilbao’s Anders Herrera seems to be the easiest target to attain because of his 30 million pounds release clause. But the player doesn’t seem to be too keen on a move to United.

United look to have paid the price for leaving things too late in the window. But tomorrow’s deadline promises to be eventful for the Manchester United faithful.