Manchester United are finally resolving their midfield issue after prediction proved incorrect.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made an early excuse for Manchester United's failure to sign a midfielder in his first summer as manager, and his prediction was only half-right.
Hello, and farewell
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was still the Manchester United manager in name only in the Elton John Stand. With five goals, a penalty, a retaken penalty, a red card, and Solskjaer's booing at full-time, the identity of Watford's first-half scorers was a forgettable sub-plot.
Joshua King and Ismaila Sarr are United teammates in a parallel universe. After King and Sarr scored goals against United in consecutive months, Solskjaer attempted to sign in the winter and summer of 2020.
United were close to signing Sean Longstaff on the eve of that season until Newcastle demanded £50 million. After that, Longstaff's agent's phone stopped ringing, and he is now linked with a move to Nottingham Forest.
Forest has James Garner on loan, and the interest in Longstaff two and a half years ago was unusual given Garner's rise. Garner was mentioned by Michael Carrick as he prepared to retire, and he was so highly regarded by Jose Mourinho that he was given pre-season playing time against Toni Kroos and made his debut under Solskjaer.
The prospect of Garner and Longstaff playing together in the Championship does not bode well for Solskjaer. Longstaff and his brother defeated United at St James' Park in October 2019 as a result of his failure to address the midfield in his first summer as manager, which had disastrous short and long-term consequences.
Marouane Fellaini was sold at the start of the season, and Ander Herrera left in the summer. On the pre-season tour in Perth, Solskjaer struck an idealistic tone when asked if he was satisfied with the state of the midfield department.
"You can't expect too much from Jimmy because he's young - only 18 - but you can see he's going to be a top player," he said. "I expect a lot more from Andy (Pereira), and I expect a lot more from Scotty (McTominay). Last season, those two combined for about 15, 20 starts. This season, you expect them to have at least 20 each, if not more. That's two players combined into one who can take Ander's place."
McTominay was United's standout performer until he left Old Trafford on crutches on Boxing Day, but Pereira was frequently used out of position and became a scapegoat, and his time in the team was only cut short by the arrival of Bruno Fernandes. Garner hasn't played for United in over two years and has only made three starts in the Europa League group stage.
In November 2019, Pereira and McTominay celebrate
their victory over Brighton.
Pereira's confidants acknowledged that he wasn't a central midfielder, but the Brazilian was desperate for regular playing time and was willing to play wherever Solskjaer put him. Pereira should have insisted on only playing as a No.10, according to a source close to him.
The impact of Fernandes, the improvement of Fred, the resurgence of Nemanja Matic in early 2020, and Paul Pogba's return for the June restart suddenly gave United an enviable midfield quintet. The department was bolstered by Donny van de Beek, a playmaker whose only way into the team was through the midfield.
But Van de Beek isn't a midfield specialist, Fernandes is a striker's striker, Matic is nearing the end of his contract and is 33, and Pogba is set to leave on a free transfer. McTominay and Fred, who have been derided by a large section of the United fanbase and are apparently anathema to Gary Neville and Roy Keane, have been the driving force behind the team's improvement since the drubbing at Watford, where Fred did not start and an unfit McTominay was booked and then hooked at half-time.
Solskjaer was dissatisfied. In the same summer that Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and Cristiano Ronaldo were driven through the barriers at Carrington, United failed to sign a midfielder. United needed a new midfielder, but Solskjaer's priorities were elsewhere, and he effectively squandered £40 million on Van de Beek, who hasn't played in the Premier League since December 6 of last year.
Facundo Pellistri and Amad, two right wingers who have combined for two starts, cost £46 million. This is a £3 million increase over Fabinho's fee. Pellistri has yet to make his public debut.
The arrival of a midfielder is unavoidable next season, especially with Pogba likely to be released. In the summer, United looked into signing Eduardo Camavinga and were made aware of Declan Rice's interest.
McTominay and Fred are not a foolproof partnership, as Liverpool and Manchester City demonstrated, and upgrades will be available in the winter and summer. Just as we're about to enter the Christmas season.
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