1. Rumours of United’s demise have been exaggerated
MAKE NO MISTAKE about it, this has been a disastrous season for Manchester United.
But people have been perhaps a little too quick to write the Red Devils off in the long term. Their 3-1 defeat of Hull last night illustrates that they still have the quality to easily brush aside some of the weaker teams in the Premier League, with a patented mix of youth and experience within their side.
Moreover, they still have the basis of an excellent side — in Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj and David de Gea, they boast players that virtually any team in the Premier League would be happy to have.
Last night’s match also suggested the club are still capable of bringing through talented youngsters — Januzaj, still only 19, was at the heart of many of their best attacks, while 18-year-old James Wilson and 20-year-old Tom Lawrence also impressed on their first-team debuts.
With Vidic’s departure confirmed, and Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra both expected to follow the Serbian international out the Old Trafford exit door, their defence is obviously in need of renovation, but with a couple of astute signings and a capable manager, it would be no surprise to see the club — at the very least — launching a sustained challenge for a Champions League place next year.
2. Goodbye Giggs?
While Ryan Giggs insists his United future is still undecided, there was a climactic feel about last night’s match.
The interim manager made an emotional speech after the final whistle, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Giggs was quite possibly being truthful when he suggested he was unsure what would lie ahead for him in the immediate future — his status at the club could depend on what the new manager decides.
Louis van Gaal is widely expected to take over as United manager in the summer, and the Dutch coach is renowned for not being afraid to make controversial decisions.
Therefore, Van Gaal could easily decide to dispense with the services of Giggs and the rest of the Class of 92 should he decide to take over, as he looks to make his own mark on the club, thereby fully dismantling the potentially destructive last remnants of the Alex Ferguson regime.
3. Too early to tell how good Wilson is
As first-team debuts go, James Wilson’s was just about as memorable as they come. The teenager showed evidence of his undoubted talent, with two well-taken goals amid a promising 64 minutes on the pitch.
Nevertheless, those prematurely tipping Wilson for stardom on the basis of one performance should recall the fate of another so called ‘wonder kid’ who also made a splash on his debut.
It has now been five years since the then-17-year-old Federico Macheda scored a dramatic last-gasp winner against Aston Villa to consolidate United’s title bid at the time.
Last weekend however, Macheda did not even make the starting line-up for Birmingham’s all-important fixture against Bolton, in which they narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship.
4. Van Persie is remarkably adept at playing with a scarf
Robin van Persie came off the bench to score United’s third goal in their win last night, yet arguably even more impressive was the close control he demonstrated with a scarf amid the end-of-season send-off (see above).
More importantly however, his “trust me we’ll be back comments” indicated he knew more than most of us as regards the identity of Man United’s next manager.
Louis van Gaal, the likely choice, is a known to be an admirer of Van Persie, with the two currently working together at international level, and the wry smile on the striker’s face indicated the veteran coach’s appointment was imminent.
But what’s also vital is that the new boss has a fully fit Van Persie at his disposal. Having featured in all 38 of United’s games last season, the 30-year-old has managed just 20 league appearances so far this term. However, the 12 goals he has scored in the process serve as a reminder of his proven goalscoring ability, which will conceivably be crucial to the next manager’s chances of success.
5. United’s disastrous season acknowledged
Football managers have increasingly resembled politicians in recent years and Ryan Giggs demonstrated how accomplished he is in this department last night, as he delivered a pitch-perfect post-match speech.
Given that it could turn out to be his final appearance at Old Trafford as a player, his demeanour was appropriately emotional, yet it will be his words that hold an abiding impact.
“The good times will come back soon,” he said. “We know it’s been tough and over the years we’ve been spoilt but your support has never changed.”
These sentiments will be refreshing to hear for supporters, in contrast with the perpetually negative tone that previous boss David Moyes favoured — perhaps most infamously, when he suggested that United should “aspire” to be like neighbours City.
Yet though Giggs’ words contained no shortage of conviction, time will tell whether they are supported by evidence on the pitch, or whether they’ll ultimately ring as hollow as a politician with a plethora of empty promises, or indeed Alex Ferguson’s urging of supporters to give time to David Moyes in a similarly uplifting speech this time last year.
