United’s Ed man decade behind
IT is less than seven years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired – but Manchester United are already more than a decade behind the Premier League’s top clubs according to an agent who has worked with the club.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all been unable to build on the legacy bequeathed by Old Trafford’s greatest manager.
Solskjaer is under intense scrutiny but the club insisted in a briefed vote of confidence last week that the Norwegian is not about to be sacked.
And nor will executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward despite presiding over seven seasons of relative failure.
The agent said: “United are absolutely miles behind Liverpool and Man City – and not just in terms of the Premier League table.
“It’s estimated that for every year a club continues to fail, it takes between 18 months and two years to make up that lost ground.
“United have been sinking fast since Fergie retired – so work it out.
“They’re at least 10 years behind their biggest rivals in terms of having the right structure to put a team capable of winning the title and the Champions League on the pitch. And that’s being kind.”
Woodward has been described as “bulletproof” by senior club sources.
He has consistently delivered record revenues for owners the Glazer family – the latest figure was £627million despite a “turbulent season” which saw Mourinho axed.
United have spent a staggering £840m in the transfer market during Woodward’s tenure – and have made little progress.
Attempts at recruiting a director of football have been shelved as Woodward has allegedly been unwilling to relinquish some of his power to hire and fire.
Matt Judge, the club’s head of corporate development, continues to deal with negotiations.
And while Solskjaer does have an input on signings, it is Woodward who makes the final decision.
Spending £150m on British players like Harry Maguire, Dan James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and promoting youngsters like Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams looks good in theory, but the reality is that the United boss has a squad that lacks depth, experience and proven quality.
DREAMER: Mullin
TRANMERE hero Paul Mullin is losing no sleep about trying to take down FA Cup big boys Manchester United today.
Liverpool fan Mullin, 25, nodded Micky Mellon’s men into the fourth round with the extra-time replay winner against Watford on Thursday.
That strike was a repeat of winners. Once upon a time, facing the Old Trafford giants his heroics in the first clash at would have left footballers Vicarage Road where he fearing for their Wembley netted the equaliser as dreams but the Red Devils are Tranmere battled back from now a shadow of the force 3-0 down. they once were.
Mullin is in red-hot form Mad Kopite Mullin said: and cannot wait to get his “The game against United is a teeth into the 12-time FA Cup dream, isn’t it? I’ve always said that it’s just 11 versus 11. There’s no egos on the pitch – you line up against them and it’s just men versus men.
“I look forward to it and want to test myself against good players.
“Harry Maguire plays for England and is captain of United and a good player but I