Time for changes at Old Trafford

CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA – OCTOBER 02: Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United gives instructions during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between CFR 1907 Cluj and Manchester United at the Constantin Radulescu Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

This season has seen us make an indifferent start to the campaign, something we’re not totally immune to but it’s uncomfortable nonetheless. Whilst we have lost only twice in 12 games in all competitions, that figure should be at least double given some of our recent performances. There’s no doubting that we’ve certainly ridden our luck in some games.

One particular player that has to take his fair share of the wrap is Patrice Evra. He was woefully exposed against Cluj midweek and needs to remember he is a left back, and not an attacker in a free role; he has to get back when he gets forward. It looks like teams have finally cottoned on to the fact that Evra is a weak spot and if the Romanian champions can take advantage of that, then we’ve really got to worry. At the start of the season, Wayne Rooney was dropped for the Fulham game following an inept performance against Everton, and he has since come back in excellent form, playing well in the Carling Cup versus Newcastle, getting an assist against Spurs and two assists for Robin van Persie against Cluj. Whilst Evra was “rested” against Wigan, despite an exceptional debut from our new Dutch left-back Alexander Büttner, he was immediately reinstated to the first team. It’s time that we teach him lesson and make him realise he has to perform to be in the squad from now on.

However, Evra’s position just scratches the surface on the changes that I think we need to make. One major problem that needs to be sorted is within the back room team assembled by Sir Alex Ferguson. Mike Phelan’s promotion to assistant manager following Carlos Queiroz’s second departure has coincided with a period of poor form, although it is a trophy laden period nevertheless. I’m sure he’s useful for something but he’s certainly no Carlos Queiroz, and we need somebody that can offer real tactical advice and support. Whenever we are getting beaten, Phelan looks clueless, slumped on the bench with his arms folded, rather than barking on the touchline at underperforming players. Sir Alex has a tendency to make wrong decisions and Phelan comes across as a ‘yes man,’ something that we really could do without.

MOSCOW – MAY 20: Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson (R) speaks with his assistant,Carlos Queiroz during the Manchester United training session ahead of the Champions League Final at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 20, 2008 in Moscow, Russia. The Champions League Final will take place in Moscow on May 21, 2008.

I am currently reading Gary Neville’s autobiography and he describes the extra level of detail that Quieroz put into training sessions, which lead to three league titles and a famous European Cup during his tenure. It also lead to us keeping two clean sheets and defeating a Barcelona team comprising the likes of Deco, Xavi, a young Messi and Samuel Eto’o over two legs in the semi final that lead to our win over Chelsea. One of the reasons Fergie has been so successful down the years is that he has not been scared to change his assistants on a regular basis, whereas the likes of Arsenal seemed to stagnate by keeping Pat Rice for so long. In my lifetime, Archie Knox, Brian Kidd, Steve McClaren, Jimmy Ryan, Walter Smith, Queiroz (twice) and Phelan have all held the role and perhaps now is the time to freshen up once again.

It is not often that someone gets one over Fergie once, but twice (i.e. Guardiola for Barcelona) is exceptional. There are many reasons behind that but I’m sure some of it must be to do with the loss of Quieroz and the uselessness of Phelan in replacing him. I appreciate they’re two different types of assistant manager but it surely would’ve made sense to try a like-for-like replacement for the Portugese. Neville talks about Queiroz’s preparation for the 2008 Champions League semi-final and the tactics employed on those two famous nights to keep Barca’s attack quiet, yet we tried to play Barcelona at their own game in 2009 and 2011 and were made to look like fools on both occasions. Ironically, when you hear his insight into football through his book and on TV, Neville would be an ideal candidate for the new assistant role. Whether or not we’ll see an new assistant manager before Sir Alex leaves I’m not sure, but it certainly wouldn’t do any harm to have a look.