Ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (OGS) took over as caretaker manager of Manchester United, the club seems to have had new life breathed into it. With a healthy run of results and a change in playing style under the Norwegian, things are looking exciting for the red side of Manchester.
OGS has rejuvenated Man Utd to say the least: bringing back the feel-good factor and re-establishing that fear factor that is characteristic of the Red Devils. Factors such as the team playing silky attacking football, the first team becoming more stable and team spirit being uplifted; have earned Ole the manager’s job full-time.
With the current season coming to a close, he will look to bolster the squad for next season. Looking to add the personnel that he wants, to achieve the heights and glory normally associated with a club of Man Utd’s stature, we may also see him get rid of some of the “deadwood” at the club.
This brings us to an interesting tweet that popped up recently, encapsulating the very frustrations that Man Utd fans have carried forward since the retirement of Sir Alex. It is a response to a tweet from 2013 in which a fan expressed his eagerness to have United sell Smalling, Young, Nani and Jones.
Manchester United appearances since this tweet was posted:
Smalling – 232
Young – 183
Jones – 152 https://t.co/yfOhPa64GY— Sam (@SibsMUFC) April 4, 2019
It’s no secret that a bulk of the United fans have wanted the likes of Smalling, Jones and Young out of their club for ages. With the trio still at the club in 2019, it’s understandable why fans are still complaining. That’s exactly what this tweet is about. It is the very embodiment of the fans’ irritations.
Supporters have been screaming out for years for better signings, especially in the defensive third. Big names like Godin, Alderweireld and Koulibaly have been linked, but nothing has materialized yet.
And while the likes of Pogba, Lukaku and Martial have more than impressed the fans in attack, defensive signings like Darmian and Rojo have failed to hit the ground running.
Paired with the fact that Smalling, Jones and Young racking up appearances for United and costing the club a lot of money, fans are frustrated (if not, upset) with the infamous trio signing extensions with the club, instead of being shown the exit.
And given the potential exodus of players at end of the season, players running down their contracts, and lack of big-name signings at the back, United fans are left scratching their heads; fuming more than ever at the pathetic state of matters surrounding transfers and contracts.
Jones, Rojo, Young and Smalling leading the advertising campaign for our summer tour. Dead club. How can you let Bailly go and keep Laurel and Hardy
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) April 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/UtdSteph/status/1114070126486274049
Will there be a shuffle at the back for Man Utd next season? Do Manchester United need to revise their transfer policy?