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“Hey, have you heard the joke about Manchester United? No? Well, it got transferred. “
That is, perhaps, the worst joke in the world. I made it up, I admit. Actually, no. It is the second worst joke in the world. The worst has to be the way that Manchester United under David Moyes and Ed Woodward are going about their transfer dealings.
After a summer of rumours, the winter of rumours is well and truly under way. After rumours that ranged from Pogba, Ronaldo, Vidal, and maybe even I.M.Vijayan – OK, I made that one up but seeing the way things are going, it wouldn’t be unlikely -, it looks like Juan Mata is going to finally ‘come home’ as United fans like to put it. United are parting with, reportedly, a paltry £37 million for his services. This transfer – which is, as yet, not official, has already divided opinions amongst the Old Trafford faithful.
First, there is the point about the fee. If everything is to be believed, then United will have a new transfer record. Now, £37 million is no small sum, yes. Money has to be spent for even reaching the top 4. We have half a season’s evidence to support that. But does £37 million have to be spent on a player who might well not suit the current system that is being employed?
Manchester United fans are an emotional lot, as are football fans in general. However, when assessing this situation, rationality might just be the thing to stick to. So, let’s assume – and this is a big assumption – that Mata’s signing for Manchester United is a formality. He will be a Manchester United player. That in mind, let us analyze what this means to David Moyes, Old Trafford, and the fans.
First, the fee. £37 million pounds. A large, large sum of money of money. However, what is that £37 million pounds getting United? For a start, a two-time Chelsea player of the year, a proven Premier League player, a World Cup and European championships winner. In essence, a class act. That is what he is. Now, what is Manchester United getting? Well, for a start, they are getting creativity, something that is sorely lacking this season – and I, for one, believe that is is more because of the system than the personnel, but that is for another time – and something United is in dire need of. Also, and this is a moot point, Mata is a player who will walk into United’s midfield given its state today.
Now, no one has any sort of doubt about Mata’s ability. What then is making United fans apprehensive? Well, for one, Mata’s signing does not obviously answer the most pressing question this season – the centre of midfield. Mata is not a central midfielder, well, not in the conventional manner of speaking, anyway. He can play either from the wings or can play behind the front two. Wait. What? Shinji Kagawa does the same thing? Never mind him. David Moyes does not seem to too, anyway.
Mata is a spectacular player. There is no doubting that. However, if he cannot get into Jose Mourinho’s midfield, there is something in that. Perhaps it is his tracking back, or the lack of it, that puts Mourinho off. Or maybe he simply does not fancy him as much as Oscar, Hazard or Willian. Whatever it is, Mourinho, at the moment, does not seem to fancy him, and, well, love him or hate him, Jose’s reasons are generally sound.
Of course, Manchester United is not Chelsea. Manchester United do not play like Chelsea. And this is what bothers me. Manchester United play with width. Yes, Mata can play wide but is that his best position? I think not. Chelsea’s system is far more suited to Mata’s free style. United, to suit Mata, must change their philosophy. And this is what irks me.
I am as big a Manchester United fan as anyone out there. I have been upset, disgusted, and downright depressed watching United this season. To be most gentle on them, they have been bland. However, unlike a whole lot of others, I have not slagged off or written one bad word about David Moyes. Why? Because I understand the monumental task that he has inherited and I, for one, believe that players are more to blame than Moyes this season. They have let him down far too often. I also think that his tactics have not really been as bad as people make them out to be. The players have simply let him down. On many an occasion. The otherwise superb David De Gea‘s last minute howler against Sunderland in the FA Cup – a case in point.
All that being said, however, I do have one gripe with David Moyes. The way he has handled Kagawa. That is the one point that I think he takes sole blame. First, he hardly plays him. Then he plays him out of position even when Rooney is injured. Then he plays Januzaj in the number 10 role and Kagawa on the left. And then he swaps them around, and Kagawa basically runs the game which United eventually end up winning – still the only win in 2014. And then he benches him for the subsequent Chelsea game. And then he starts him again out on the left in the Cup. Idiocy. Honestly, it is.
Shinji Kagawa – Played out of position very often by David Moyes
You have evidence of him just lifting the entire team’s playing level when he is allowed to play in his preferred position, and yet you choose to ignore it. I mean, I can understand if Rooney and van Persie are fit but when both of them are out, playing him from the left and Januzaj in the middle? I mean, no disrespect to Adnan – the kid has probably the best thing since Sir Alex Ferguson – but seriously, Mr. Moyes?
And why this irks me the most is because of this whole Mata situation. Mata is a similar player to Shinji. Now, many might say that he is of a whole different level. I do not agree but, for the sake of argument, or to avoid it, I shall agree. That Mata is better. He might well be but of what use is he if played out of position? And if Moyes is planning to change the system to suit him, then why didn’t he even try it with Kagawa? That is my biggest gripe. Perhaps my only one.
All that being said, there is also the intangible aspects of Mata’s arrival. His coming will give a massive boost to all around him – like Ozil’s did to Arsenal and look at where they are now – and he will improve United’s play. No doubt about it. He will also give Moyes something to think about because after spending £37 million, Moyes is hardly going to bench Mata. This might well give Moyes that courage to experiment. Who knows, maybe Mata and Kagawa behind Rooney and van Persie. Ah! Mouthwatering, that.
As for those who are cribbing about the transfer fee, well, this response from twitter – I forget who tweeted this – is the best one I’ve heard: ‘Stop whining. It’s not your money they are spending!’
Finally, since I started with the second worst joke in the world, I shall end with the third worst one. ‘Juan is actually Jose’s secret agent who is being sent into Old Trafford to unseat David Moyes so that Jose can ascend to the Manchester United throne very soon. His name: Mata Hari.’ Yes, I made this one up as well. Kindly refrain from throwing footwear in my general direction. If you must throw, however, please throw the pair. One shoe is of no use to me.
