Man City move quickly, whereas Man United seem immobile. Despite having time, they haven't even cleaned up the debris to begin their rebuild.
Unlucky beginning to the summer for United Unlucky beginning to the summer for United
When he returns to Elland Road, Kalvin Phillips won't need a police escort. For Leeds United followers, joining City is more appealing.
In the Champions League, City has world-class players, world-class facilities, and their leader is arguably the coach of the century. Forget the rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United; Phillips could not have had a simpler choice. City is the current champion.
The clear disadvantage as the winter World Cup approaches is that Rodri is a better defensive midfielder than Phillips. United would have been confident enough to pursue Phillips in April since he would have been a lock to start.
For United, the doldrums from June are continuing. Phillips and Erling Haaland are two players City has acquired that United desired but was unable to acquire due to their poor standing.
City, which has won the championship in four of the last five seasons, never rests. United seem like statues. Even with the early appointment of a new manager, they are trying to strengthen their team but are falling behind.
United finished sixth last season with the fewest points scored in 32 years and the worst defensive record since 1978-79. A handful of quick statement signings were required. Instead, the first June without an intake since 2010 will begin in four days.
The simmering hostility toward the owners as they continue to receive dividend payments adds to the supporters' depressing mindset. Avram has only been to one game since August 2019 while Joel Glazer hasn't been to Manchester in more than three years. Senior United sources claim that over the past year, Joel has spent over ten hours speaking directly with supporters, while the majority of that conversation is private.
Gary Neville has developed into a vociferous critic of the Glazers, but his opposition might have been more successful if he had been the club captain. From the row of leather-padded seats in the Old Trafford directors' box with his name plaque glued onto them, Sir Alex Ferguson, who has referred to the Glazers as "great owners," doesn't say anything.
The Glazers won't be alarmed by a hashtag, a meme, or even the sight of paying demonstrators in the stands. Prior to the start of the match against Norwich in April, the smoke-filled images in the Munich tunnel were fascinating, but the stadium itself was enormous.
In Vale do Lobo, 2005, Ferguson entertains the Glazer brothers.
From the comfort of the press box, it is simple to encourage supporters to cast their ballots with their feet. Many people find watching matches to be so engrossing that stopping might cause them to experience withdrawal symptoms. The larger picture is that the large number of vacant seats at the match against Crystal Palace in April 2016 as well as the numerous threats from season ticket holders not to renew their subscriptions if Louis van Gaal was still the manager alarmed United.
Last month at Selhurst Park, the away end fans were encouraging as City successfully defended the Treble. Erik ten Hag was not serenaded, but his presence in the opposing stand on a beautiful day in London helped clear the sky.
Ten Hag has entered a setting unrecognizably different from Ajax. The club is run in a similar manner to when Ferguson was in charge, with a football director, a deputy football director, a technical director, a head of recruitment operations, a technical chief scout, and a recruitment department.
The highest-profile scouts resigned before Matt Judge did, and Ed Woodward's consulting contract with the publication was completed before it even began. Although the house of cards fell rapidly, United's card had already been marked.
The only summer window under David Moyes was ridiculous, only one new player began for Van Gaal's first season, Jose Mourinho lost patience with Woodward in June of his first summer, and United used a one-at-a-time negotiation tactic in 2019 before running out of time.
Jose Mourinho became impatient with Woodward in the June of his first summer, Van Gaal's first season began with one new name in the starting lineup, David Moyes' lone summer window was ridiculous, the United conducted a one-at-a-time negotiation strategy in 2019, but ran out of time, ending the window without a midfielder and goalscorer.
Mourinho was aware of Mourinho
It is abundantly evident that United are selecting players from Ten Hag's wish list, which is virtually entirely made up of former Ajax players. There are obvious problems with that because United pursues local leads (for Ten Hag), but John Murtough has never vetoed a manager's preferred targets after hiring the manager.
Frenkie de Jong's legitimate reservations about joining United, the team where careers can end, have apparently been allayed by Ten Hag. United needs defensive steel with the silk if they eventually acquire De Jong. United's ability to strengthen elsewhere is impacted by the drawn-out discussions for De Jong.
Midway through March, it was clear that United would place outside the top four. As soon as Ralf Rangnick was appointed temporary manager in early December, some people had this suspicion. The type of player United could acquire and their core set of priorities would always be hampered by their yo-yoing between the Champions League and Europa League.
Ryan Gravenberch was easily plucked from the Dutch champions by Bayern Munich despite United's desire in the Ajax forward Antony. Barcelona is standing their ground about De Jong while Christian Eriksen is deliberating.
Borussia Dortmund has added seven players, Aston Villa has made two moves, Arsenal is set to introduce Gabriel Jesus, their fourth newcomer, and Raphinha might be the fifth. The list is nearly as long as United's right-back roster.
Liverpool has finished its business for incomings, with only a little amount of outgoings left till July. When the window shuts, their lineup for the match against United in Bangkok on July 12 will mostly remain the same. All of that occurred in the summer, when Michael Edwards, their acclaimed sporting director, was replaced byWard Julian
For £15.5 million, more than twice what Liverpool spent Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, Monaco acquired the ineffective Takumi Minamino. Only United's inability to sell or, in the case of Nemanja Matic, miscommunicating a contract's expiration date have they managed to clear the field in midfield and attack.
Players who have overstayed their welcome should not be allowed in the cabin on the trip to Bangkok because the clearout is barely halfway complete. United doesn't need the luggage.
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