- a superb value-for-money long-term deal. “Long-term” is key. Utd get a top talent for up to 10+ yrs.
- Caveat is, I wouldn’t expect a superstar from day 1. Sancho is 21, & needs to adapt to a new team.
- Transition quick as knows MCR?
- However, on right relationship with AWB will need developing. AWB improved a lot going forward last season, but room to grow. Timing, movement, cohesion in tandem key to the best Sancho
- Similar story when playing with Greenwood at CF. Cavani style should click straight away.
- While 🏴, the PL is new to Sancho. As a regular commentator on both PL & BL, IMO the PL is a higher standard, more intense, more physical.
The last 2 seasons, I’ve still found Sancho to be inconsistent in 🇩🇪, & with the price tag & #MUFC status, pressure increases hugely…
- Highlights, stats, & majority of games at Dortmund are excellent, but HE’S 21, & adapting - a bad game, or even bad run of form, are expected at some point
In 🇩🇪 he was a golden boy - in 🏴 the anti-#MUFC media can label him a £80m flop. Have patience. Its a long-term transfer
- If Sancho experiences a slow start or a bad run at #MUFC, resist referring to the price tag.
Remember £80m is for c. 12 years of talent. That’s £6.7m per season until the age of 33. Kane at £100m is c. £20m per season until the same age. Three times the transfer cost.
- In a wider sense, #MUFC are building a team to challenge over the next decade. Sancho, Rashford, Greenwood, Amad etc can be special.
Sancho does not mean Utd should win the title now. They should close the gap on a City team that’s mature, established, & basically complete.
- What Sancho offers straight away to help that is depth. #MUFC’s attack quality has dropped on rotation.
Sancho adds to an improving Greenwood on right. Gives Rashford a break on left. Gives Bruno a break as a final 3rd creator. Passing can help VDB fit in as an off-ball no.10.
- That depth is vital when challenging in multiple comps (inc. the UCL). Last season, #MUFC starters played tired, injured, & at times out of form
The depth also eases the pressure on other young players - Amad can grow freely, Greenwood can be taken out of firing line if needed
- I’ve previously stated, the trajectory of this #MUFC project should look to see a “challenge” this season.
Sancho is a huge piece of the puzzle, but overhauling City now would be a remarkable achievement for any team. Utd will be most “complete” next summer with a new DM & CF.
- #MUFC will also be better placed to negotiate for future additions, having eroded a reputation as a soft touch.
Sticking to guns & getting good value for Sancho, Bruno, Telles, has shown the world that the club will not bend over
Delays establish that = quicker in the future.
- What’s certain is the next decade at #MUFC will be very exciting & potentially very successful
As well as previously mentioned 1st teamers, Elanga, Shoretire, Mejbri, Garner, Laird, McNeill, Iqbal, Hansen, Hoogewerf et al are big prospects
The club is primed for success.
END
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A QUICK THREAD on #MUFC’s recent failure to win semi-finals, to add vital context to what will no doubt be the media’s latest crusade against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer...
Firstly, it must be acknowledged as an achievement to even get to 4 semi-finals in the first season & a half as permanent manager. Had #MUFC not done that, this narrative wouldn’t be possible. Compare to these records of a couple of recently much-revered managers below...
Klopp took over a side that’d already lost 2 SFs the previous szn. He then failed to win a trophy the first 4 times he reached the semis (losing 3 finals)
In 5+ seasons, he’s reached the SFs or beyond just 5 times
In 5+ szns at Spurs, Poch made 5 semis & failed to win a trophy
Jose: 21.5%
LVG: 25.2%
Moyes: 25.5%
OGS: 32.4%
OGS since Jan: 41.5%
This season: 50%
Win %
LVG: 52.4%
Moyes: 52.9%
OGS: 55.6%
Jose: 58.3%
OGS since Jan: 63.4%
OGS this season: 61.1%
Klopp’s first 3 seasons: 52.3% (best season 57.4%)
Big picture
Solskjaer is rebuilding #MUFC into a sustainable attacking team, while maintaining a win % that surpasses the others. All while removing yrs of deadwood; dealing with Raiola’s disruption; while advancing youth, & reinvigorating the academy. Further results WILL come with maturity
Last season, the average lineup was the youngest in the PL. This season, the 3rd youngest (at 25.6)
SAF always claimed 27-28 age for a title win
Last 9 champions have been 27+
The “can’t win anything with kids” side was still 26.5
#MUFC have made mistakes post-SAF, but behind-the-scenes they've already put them right. Yet, many fans, journalists, & ex-players choose to stick with the narrative that the club is poorly run: analysis hasn't caught up! A THREAD of 10 common misconceptions:
1st a DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to have inside knowledge of the club. Everything detailed below is via available sources & my own observations & analysis
Any figures given are approximate from publicly available reports/websites
Special credit to UWS interview with Ed Woodward
I'll start with the easy ones...
1) OGS isn't a good enough coach
Already outwitted Pep, Jose, Nagelsman, Tuchel, Klopp with variety of tactics; kept an injury-hit sub-par squad in top-4 contention; dispelled 'low-block' criticism with 1 Jan signing; built attacking philosophy.
The media’s propensity for negatives, along with lazy journalism, has seen little attempt to really understand what Solskjaer’s #MUFC tenure has entailed, or his qualities. Instead, simply citing bad results to mean bad management
Here’s the OTHER side of the story...
1) No “top job” on his CV is a nonsensical argument - it’s often been proved this is NOT required. Guardiola & Zidane both had less experience when they got the Barca & Real jobs. Conte & Simeone had not coached top-flight European teams when they got Juventus & Atlético jobs...
2) As for his bespoke qualities for this #MUFC situation - as a past player, & a successful striker coach & Reserve team coach at the club, Solskjaer knows first-hand the type of spirit, style of play, & personality required at the club to build a worthy Utd squad & culture...