The popular narrative pertaining to United is that of a washed out José who works for an investment banker more concerned with the bottom line than results on the pitch. I wish to hone in on the second part of this popular narrative. The investment banker who quite frankly couldn’t oversee an under nine football team. It’s just not his area of strength. In the same way José couldn’t crunch the numbers and make United as commercially viable as Ed has. There is a question I keep asking myself relating to this situation. Why are the Glazers so content with what they see happening? As in, why have they allowed this frostiness (if it’s true there is frostiness) between the two most important people at the club to develop. When Ed reportedly denied José access to the cheque book when José craved a central defender why didn’t they see the potential for crisis that would emanate from that? I don’t even mean on the field. I mean in their ensuing interaction. Obviously José would wonder out loud what qualified Ed to make such a decision. The fans too have started to ask this question.
I watched Gary Nevilles passionate interview. His annoyance with the administration of the biggest club in England was plain for all to see. He, like many of us, has had just about all there is to take from our clubs administration. Incidentally, the Glazers are the central protagonists in guiding United to this situation. When David Gill decided he was best placed to run for a spot on the UEFA executive, the primary priority should have been to ensure at the very least one more year with Sir Alex. The situation with Lady Cathy notwithstanding, the United Board could have pleaded for one more year from the clubs leader. At worst this would have allowed for a smoother transition from the Ferguson/Gil era to the Woodward/Whomever era. In various excerpts I have read, it is apparent that bits of the culture built under Sir Alex were eroded when Moyes came in. Things that seem menial until they are put to the test. Quite apart from Moyes encouraging Ferdinand & Vidic who were Champions League winners to take notes from an Everton central defensive pairing that never even played in the Champions League, Moyes’ understanding of a club the size of United was wanting. In spite of the title of manager, and the buck ultimately stopping with him, it was not possible for him to run United they way he had Everton. There were rumours of discontent with the support staff. Apparently it was not uncommon to hear murmurs like “the Everton loinyet?” with reference to Moyes, and his assistants. A culture of “us and them” having developed. Hardly a warm working relationship from a club built on as familial an atmosphere as possible under the previous administration.
As it is, the United situation is unlikely to change. So, the Old Trafford faithful will have to hope and pray that the recent rumours of a hundred million pounds spending money in January are true. We also have to really hope that United’s purchasing strategy will be far smarter than its been in the last little while. Not likely given that it will still be overseen by a investment banker who’s football instincts leave a lot to be desired....
