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Manchester United should limit, not force summer changes

By on May 17, 2015

First Radamel Falcao walked off at Old Trafford, waving goodbye to the crowd, thanking them for their support, very much like it was the last time. Not five minutes later, David de Gea exited through injury and similarly waved goodbye to Old Trafford. At the end of the ninety minutes, Robin van Persie, Falcao’s substitute, went so far as to bring his father onto the pitch. Although there was a game at hand — a big one against Arsenal at that — Manchester United already have eyes cast on the summer and beyond. Adnan Januzaj, Jonny Evans, and Angel di Maria may also be facing the cull over the summer.

Additions are obviously needed in cases; their defense, at times makeshift, has proven sufficient enough to get by but by no means optimal, nor world class. Indeed, few could fit an upgrade manifesto more than reportedly transfer-listed Evans.

Another forward is also due, considering Van Persie and Wayne Rooney are aging and Falcao has struggled on loan at the club, making it unlikely United will spend the reported £46 million necessary to sign him on a permanent deal. Louis van Gaal should refurbish the squeaky leaks that were well evidenced in United’s draw with Arsenal. Tyler Blackett, for all he has done to step up having been thrown in the deep end, looked out of his depth and was credited with an own goal after deflecting Theo Walcott’s shot past Victor Valdes.

Ashley Young serviced Ander Herrera with a wonderful cross leading up to United’s goal, and although United looked crisp and slick, playing right through a lackluster Arsenal at times, the finishing still lacked up front. The Red Devils were clearly on their way back toward mounting an English Premier League title challenge next season, but today’s result evaded them.

Yet even more change is the last thing United should want, much less force. After a hectic few years, it’s pretty clear United fans have had it with rebuilding jobs. David de Gea’s potential exit could certainly lead to such rebuilding. De Gea, who seems to have his heart set on Real Madrid, would warrant a hefty replacement. Given he could be United’s starting goalkeeper for the next fifteen yards, even Cristiano Ronaldo’s return couldn’t offer as many long-term rewards.

If, and it seems more like when, Madrid swoop in for De Gea this summer, Van Gaal would have enough of a job on his hands, combined with patching up the back-four and front line.  To let Angel Di Maria go as well could be disastrous. Although United fans have perhaps become wary given the managerial disappointments in the not-too-distance past, Di Maria has only been at United for a year, and giving him more time to fit in would certainly seem better than offloading him, suffering a loss and spending more money in a market where it’s always a challenge to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and others for the big boys. United needn’t force change, as they only settled into a formation and squad that works a few months ago. Having successfully recovered their Champions League slot, wholesale change is less necessary than are strategic tweaks that enhance, rather than attempt to reinvent.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.