It’s the hope that kills

The 3-2 scoreline weirdly hurts more than what looked like a 3-0 scoreline. After all, it meant we watched till the very end, hoping and praying for one of the greatest comebacks in recent memories. The only thing that did happen – was that we experienced a soul crushing return to the Europa League! 

That’s the thing about supporting a football club isn’t it, you keep on hoping for the best – even if cold hard facts present a different picture. And these hard facts go beyond our board’s scatter gun approach to squad building / transfers and contract negotiations: 

• Ole and his coaching staff oscillate between world beating to naive – when it comes to in game management. They have done incredibly well to build character in this team and restore some semblance of a culture to the club– but ultimately after two years in the job and despite a pandemic – some base level consistency is what we are sorely missing!
• Maguire for all his leadership, ball progression and aerial ability – has moments of major lapses of concentration and a sheer inability to handle pace. Not all top defenders are blessed with pace, but they make up for it with solid positional presence!
• Giving that five-year world record contract to Dave in 2019 is increasingly looking like a mistake. Yes, it has taken time for a replacement to be ready – but even as a Dave fanboy – I can’t deny this is the highest paid goalkeeper in slow regression. His shot stopping genius for long shielded some of his lack of authority in the box, but it can’t anymore. It has in recent months cost us on big occasions!
• Lastly, we need to stop hiding from the gargantuan Paul Pogba problem. He is a walking talking excuse for years of underperformance. He is an academy product and a world cup winner, and it is but natural he would enjoy a degree of influence in the dressing room. But is it a positive one – I seriously doubt. In cahoots’ with his agent he is constantly making a mockery of the club – and for all the need for diplomacy – we are embarrassing ourselves and allowing a negative influence to fester in the dressing room. We got rid of the great Roy Keane for a lot less, and Pogba is just a mere irrelevant mortal.

There is a pattern with United post Sir Alex, few steps forward and few steps back – its like an endless loop (just like Winden in Dark!). I really don’t how we will break this cycle!

The thing about supporting Manchester United is that its like a love affair. And in love, you always hope for the best no matter what happens. But ultimately, it’s the hope that kills!

P.S – For all the agenda merchants (yes you the Ole out or Glazer out brigade) celebrating our defeat – I feel sorry for you. You will never quite experience the joy of being a supporter – it’s your loss.