Had you told me in the summer of 2013 that 11 years later Manchester United wouldn’t have won another English league title and Casement Park would still not be re-built, I’d have laughed (at the first part) – but not believed either.
Yet here we are, and you wouldn’t bet much on either of those objectives definitely being achieved within the next few years.
At least there’s some degree of realism from most about how long Casement’s redevelopment would take – factoring in the usual construction timeframes for such stadium projects – and how much it would cost.
Even with the exaggeration surrounding the cost of the Casement re-build, which seems to have £100m added to it every six months in order to explain/justify it not happening (often for political purposes), it could probably still come cheaper compared to what needs to be spent to take Manchester United back to the top of English football.
That’s not even factoring in the estimated £1billion it would require for the transformation of Old Trafford which the club’s hierarchy wants to achieve.
While Ulster GAA would love to keep digging to get Casement built, the opposite is true for Manchester United: they’re in a hole and they need to stop digging.
Much as it amuses supporters of other clubs, notably Liverpool and Manchester City, no one can seriously say that Erik ten Hag should stay on in charge of the Red Devils.
The Dutchman seems to be neither an effective coach nor a man-motivator. Sure, they can pull out an occasional big display, such as beating rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup. However, they look no closer to being a team on which you can rely for consistent levels of performance.
Indeed, arguably they’re getting worse. Already they’ve lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool and Tottenham, and on both occasions the visitors really should have scored more goals.
In the Europa League they could not beat FC Twente, a club ten Hag knows intimately, having started and finished his playing career there.
The argument in favour of retaining Ten Hag is that his summer signings need time to bed in. He’s brought in two centre halves (Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro), a full-back (Noussair Mazraoui), a defensive midfielder (Manuel Ugarte), and an attacker (Joshua Zirkzee).
There’s some sense in that – but after two seasons in charge there’s no way the side should need such a serious infusion of new blood. A top class manager would be making minor tweaks to his team, not trying to replace half of it.
Ten Hag’s backers may claim that he hasn’t been able to make all the changes he wanted, including moving on the over-priced Harry Maguire, and with the underwhelming Anthony Martial only leaving in the summer.
Yet under his watch similar massive mistakes have been made. How ten Hag can ever justify paying £85m for Antony, a winger who barely creates never mind scores, is mind-boggling.
More than £120m combined was also spent on Casemiro and Mason Mount, but last season the Manchester United midfield was relying on teenager Kobbie Mainoo.
The club is quite rightly proud of its tradition of bringing players through the ranks, but there’s a danger that Mainoo’s potential may not be fulfilled due to an unhealthy combination of over-hype and over-use.
Those factors may partly explain the disappointment that is Marcus Rashford, an undoubted talent but one who has only produced a single truly top class season.
Yet even with questions marks over players during ten Hag’s time in charge, the biggest query is this: what style of play is he aiming for?
Wing-play is part of the Red Devils’ tradition, but sitting back and trying to hit teams on the counter-attack is surely not an acceptable long-term plan for Manchester United. Repeatedly leaving a gaping hole in midfield when you do go forward is not advisable either.
There is no sense of control in any game against any half-decent team.
This is his team now, no doubt about it. He’s unlucky that Yoro hasn’t featured due to injury, but he has been backed to the hilt, and beyond.
They will climb the table, of course, but they won’t come close to challenging for the title. They will struggle even to make it into the Champions League, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Spurs all looking at least one level above them.
Those who say ‘stick’ rather than ‘twist’ will ask who should succeed ten Hag.
Former England boss Gareth Southgate has been linked repeatedly, but his innate conservatism is not what’s needed.
The answer should have been, on several occasions in recent years, Mauricio Pochettino. It still could be, even though he has taken charge of the USA men’s team. Similarly, Eddie Howe could be persuaded to leave Newcastle United.
There has been obvious decline on and around the pitch, but Manchester United remains a huge club with a massive global fanbase. It remains a money-making machine.
Those who still stand by their current manager are guilty of wishful thinking, rather than any clear-eyed analysis.
Casement Park could have been re-built, and then some, with the money afforded to Erik ten Hag.
There’d be quite a cost to replace him, sure, but in the long term it would be a wise investment, rather than letting the Dutchman continue to throw good money after bad.
