Sadly in today’s world of high finance the words ‘Football Club’ are noticeable by their absence on the club’s iconic crest. This is a sign of the way football has been hijacked by the parasitic world of big business. On the field of play it is true the men’s senior side have had a lean season so far but will, I believe, lift the FA Cup on May 25th against that other Manchester club. Even if that happens the men’s senior side have a long way to go before a serious challenge for the league can be launched.
Winning the FA Cup is a huge achievement and, for me and many other veterans, trumps finishing fourth place in the league. As Roy Keane once said; “you get no silverware for finishing fourth”, very true Roy. The first team Manager, Erik Ten Hag is under a lot of pressure not helped, yet again, by our ever-subjective media who appear to glory on people’s misery. Ten Hag has had huge injury problems which have plagued the side all season and have certainly done us no favours. That said, he has also bought some crap, like one footed Anthony, though centre forward, Rasmus Højlundill, will come good I believe, and should perhaps start thinking more about home grown players rather that wasting hundreds of millions sterling every time the transfer window opens.
On Sunday 12th May we suffered a 0-1 defeat at home to champion contenders, Arsenal. It would be fair to say since his arrival Ten Hag had a good first season winning the League Cup and could yet better that with the FA Cup this season which has been at best mediocre, it’s certainly worth a bet.
That’s the men’s senior side but the women’s team are flying. On Sunday 12th February United women hammered Tottenham Hotspur women 4-0 at Wembley to lift the Women’s FA Cup. Goals from Lucia Garcia who scored a brace with Rachel Williams and Ella Toone making it 4-0. United and England Keeper Mary Earps keeping yet another clean sheet in what is becoming a regular occurrence. Marc Skinners side have certainly made much progress and made up for last year’s disappointment at Wembley, losing to Chelsea in the 2023 final. One of the hated owners of United, Avram Glazer attended the game rather than visit Old Trafford to watch the men: he probably felt safer at Wembley. The stadium was packed which is living proof the women’s game is increasing in popularity and a good game was watched as Spurs crumbled under wave after wave of United attacks particularly in the second half. Tottenham did have their moments hitting the crossbar earlier in the game. United women will surely challenge Man City and Chelsea women next season in the league.
Man United under 18s are also having great success this season. Perhaps the highlight was beating rivals Liverpool 9-1 at Anfield. Currently top of the Under 18s Premier League North, nine points clear of Man City. Although the Blues did lift the Under 18s FA Cup, it looks like the league is ours. Perhaps the senior side should take time out and watch the women’s team and certainly the under 18 men.
That’s the men’s senior side but the women’s team are flying. On Sunday 12th February United women hammered Tottenham Hotspur women 4-0 at Wembley to lift the Women’s FA Cup. Goals from Lucia Garcia who scored a brace with Rachel Williams and Ella Toone making it 4-0. United and England Keeper Mary Earps keeping yet another clean sheet in what is becoming a regular occurrence. Marc Skinners side have certainly made much progress and made up for last year’s disappointment at Wembley, losing to Chelsea in the 2023 final. One of the hated owners of United, Avram Glazer attended the game rather than visit Old Trafford to watch the men: he probably felt safer at Wembley. The stadium was packed which is living proof the women’s game is increasing in popularity and a good game was watched as Spurs crumbled under wave after wave of United attacks particularly in the second half. Tottenham did have their moments hitting the crossbar earlier in the game. United women will surely challenge Man City and Chelsea women next season in the league.
Man United under 18s are also having great success this season. Perhaps the highlight was beating rivals Liverpool 9-1 at Anfield. Currently top of the Under 18s Premier League North, nine points clear of Man City. Although the Blues did lift the Under 18s FA Cup, it looks like the league is ours. Perhaps the senior side should take time out and watch the women’s team and certainly the under 18 men.
Maybe it’s time for Erik Ten Hag to read Matt Busby’s notes and instead of wasting yet more millions this summer start threading some of these youngsters through. It worked for Matt in the fifties and sixties and it paid dividends for Alex Ferguson during the nineties. Remember that gobshite Alan Hansen saying; “you won’t win anything with kids” - well that’s just the kind of crap to be expected from his mouth. These “kids” made up much of the 1999 historic treble winning side as well as lifting four league titles prior to the treble. The youth scheme has been tried and tested by United’s two most successful managers, Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson. If the under 18s can demolish Liverpool at Anfield and take all comers at their level it must be a good sign for the future. The problem is, of course, those who own football clubs today know nothing about the game and are too eager to sack the manager. These know-nothings want immediate success which in football does not happen. Successful teams have to be nurtured and built up gradually over two to three seasons.
By this criteria sacking managers every five minutes, in the bygone days of yore both Matt and Alex would have been dismissed. In 1963 United had a bad season in the league, although it was only five years after the Munich tragedy, but secured the FA Cup against Leicester City. In 1990 Alex Ferguson was on the brink of dismissal but for a Mark Robbins goal away at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with United going on to win the trophy and then the European Cup Winners Cup beating Barcelona in Rome. The rest is, as they say, “history.”
Today’s owners of clubs like the Glazers know nothing about football and their sole interest is making money. There is no passion for the game or its supporters. In fact, at Old Trafford, once one of the most feared grounds in the league in the seventies and eighties, supporters, according to the glazers are to be referred to as “customers”.
By this criteria sacking managers every five minutes, in the bygone days of yore both Matt and Alex would have been dismissed. In 1963 United had a bad season in the league, although it was only five years after the Munich tragedy, but secured the FA Cup against Leicester City. In 1990 Alex Ferguson was on the brink of dismissal but for a Mark Robbins goal away at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with United going on to win the trophy and then the European Cup Winners Cup beating Barcelona in Rome. The rest is, as they say, “history.”
Today’s owners of clubs like the Glazers know nothing about football and their sole interest is making money. There is no passion for the game or its supporters. In fact, at Old Trafford, once one of the most feared grounds in the league in the seventies and eighties, supporters, according to the glazers are to be referred to as “customers”.
Even if Man Utd do lift the FA Cup it may not be enough to save Erik Ten Hag his job. Fourth place in the league and gaining a European Cup slot is more important to these parasitical owners, well not for me and thousands like me. The FA Cup is the second most prestigious domestic trophy and the oldest knockout competition in the world. Even so, back in 2016 winning the trophy did not save Louis Van Gall his job, which it should have done, and he was dismissed for what was regarded a poor season in the league. This is the terrible state of what was once upon a time Association Football!
If United do dispose of ten Hag's services, who are they going to appoint? Who in their right mind would take on this what has become a poison chalice? A manager, and manager at any club should be given three years at least to produce the goods. When Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 David Moyes was appointed manager. He was never given a chance and was expected to make the transition from the success of Ferguson to continue seamless. It does not work like that, somebody should tell the Glazers and this new fella, Jim Ratcliffe. Man United, once the club everybody wanted to manage and play for has now become something of a hot potato in recent years. The people who should go are the Glazers but nobody can sack them - more's the pity.
If United do dispose of ten Hag's services, who are they going to appoint? Who in their right mind would take on this what has become a poison chalice? A manager, and manager at any club should be given three years at least to produce the goods. When Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 David Moyes was appointed manager. He was never given a chance and was expected to make the transition from the success of Ferguson to continue seamless. It does not work like that, somebody should tell the Glazers and this new fella, Jim Ratcliffe. Man United, once the club everybody wanted to manage and play for has now become something of a hot potato in recent years. The people who should go are the Glazers but nobody can sack them - more's the pity.
Oh well; “Que Serra, Serra, whatever will be, will be, we’re going to Wembley, Que Serra, Serra." There was a time that song really meant something, first sang by the travelling Stretford Enders in 1976 away at Leicester City a week before we played Southampton in the FA Cup Final of that year, only to be robbed by a Bobby Stokes goal which was offside. That said I would rather the goal stood than have VAR interfere and disallow it, gutted as I and thousands of others were.
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
Uniteds history is one of Peaks and Troughs.We dominated and then we go into freefall.If we beat Milan in the European Cup in 69 where Denis Laws shot was ajudged not to cross the line we could have won 2 European Cups and still be relegated in 74!
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