Manchester United fans must look at the Premier League table and despair. As a club and as a fan-base, they’re just not used to being out of the top two. So their current status as a mid-table club is somewhat alarming.
The installation of David Moyes as head coach was supposed to herald a new age and bring with it a wave of good feeling. Instead, it has resulted in calamity after calamity. The former Everton man set the tone with his summer purchases (or lack thereof) and the team has followed pace.
All the fans can do now is hope that things turn around and quick. At the very least, the hope will be that things don’t get worse.
After all, finishing outside the top four will have its consequences. The lack of Champions League action next season will affect player motivation, the attractiveness of the club to other potential new recruits and the status of the club as a whole. Just look at the way Liverpool fell apart when they failed to earn a ticket to join the European elite. It’s something of a landslide effect.
David Moyes will also have to watch that key members of the squad don’t opt to leave Old Trafford. If he’s to build towards success, he’ll need the players who are good enough to stick around.
This brings me to a spot of bad news. According to The Mirror, both Rafael and Fabio da Silva are set to leave Manchester United during the summer. That sounds like a veritable full-back exodus to me.
Their agent, Cassiano Pereira is quoted as saying the following: “At the moment I can say that they will remain in Manchester until the end of the season, but in the summer it is very likely that they can go.”
‘Very likely’, hm? Whilst Fabio has struggled to make the left-back berth his own, Rafael is now the club’s first choice right-back. He’d be missed if the two of them were to move on. I’d also argue that Fabio is a fairly good second choice option. Sure, he can be sloppy, but on his day he can be as electric and exciting as his brother.
Letting them both go would be a big mistake. David Moyes has enough to do over the coming transfer windows without having to recruit for two new full-backs. He’s going to have to purchase a replacement for Patrice Evra soon. Maybe he should just stick to that?
What’s your take? Should Manchester United let these two flying full-backs go?
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
Yes definitely, Fabio was not good enough and Rafael was only average at defending.
Both Smalling and Jones are a lot better.