 Y&Z PERSPECTIVES

Y & Z United Perspectives

by Kevin, Justyn & Wayne Tabone

What a nightmare season our beloved club and the Tabone boys endured. But then again, these are the times where we remain behind the team and continue showing our Utd colours to the world! Because Man Utd forever, for better and for worse!

Now it is time for a new season, new manager and hopefully a completely new page! Whilst we have to keep our expectations realistic, one has to hope that the worst is over and that we will start with Erik ten Hag steadying the ship, at least on the field. Mention 2 positive takeaways which you think Man Utd got from Ralf Rangnick as interim Manager.

Wayne: It was a difficult journey for Ralf and I don’t believe he could have proved himself in such a short period of time. This considering the team he had and also the state the team was left in. But I think Ralf gave the team more structure than Ole ever gave us. He tried to play in a style whereas Ole didn’t have a specific style. I think Ralf also gave the team more discipline and also showed them that no one’s place in the starting eleven is safe. If one wants to play then he must work hard and show that he deserves to play and not play because of his name or because of the money spent on the certain player.

Justyn: I believe that Rangnick was quite helpless with the situation the club was in. We are made to believe that he wanted to bring in players in January and the board didn’t want to allow this. There was only so much he could have done. If I had to pick out one thing that he did well was being honest with the situation of the club. He even went on to say the club needed a whole reshuffle of players with 10 new players coming in. It would have certainly caught the eye of the board, as they do not want this criticism circling around the club. Secondly, I think he wasn’t afraid to drop players who were not in the best of form. Examples are Rashford or Maguire who were seen as untouchable however, Rangnick made it clear that no one has a guaranteed place in the squad.

Kevin: What a difficult question! I’m usually quite an optimistic Red but this really is a tough one. I can’t understand how a person was engaged for short-term managerial role with an option to be given a 2-year consultancy role (his preferred role) and then be sacked! A positive could be that, maybe and hopefully, Rangnick’s term made the club realize that our on‑field matters are all over the place. But sorry I cannot think of any other. That’s how much I think this interim-manager decision was not a good one!

Erik Ten Hag is known to have very good qualities as a manager. Name the three biggest challenges you think he will face in the first season at Old Trafford.

Wayne: I think that Ten Hag will face a completely new situation. He has managed a club where there wasn’t much competition. He has still done very well, and received a lot of credit, as it should be, but he has never been at a club where the team is struggling to get into the top 6. So, it will be tough for him. He also has to build the academy to replicate what he has also done at Ajax. He may also feel the pressure as a Manchester United manager as all the previous Utd managers felt. The burden may be too much for him because Manchester United’s name is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, club in world football.

Justyn: The first big challenge he will face is the management of big egos. At Ajax, he would have players which would not be so well known. However, with the exposure and the size of Manchester United, it is inevitable that there will be huge characters around the club. Another challenge will be to convince the board of directors to give him what he wants. There has been a recurring theme that managers, more often than not, do not get the players they want. It will be tough to gain the trust of the board if results do not come by. Lastly, I think that managing the current clear-out needed at the club will be quite difficult. There are a number of players who need to move on however, with the high wages some of them have, it might be difficult to move them on. Kevin: The first priority is to sign or promote from the academy a squad capable enough to compete for the first 4 places of the Premier League. With so many departures, his number one priority surely has to be to fill the gaps of the squad he inherited. Second would be to build up a culture and style which mirror his characteristics. We have to start again seeing players who are willing to die for the crest and act as a team not as individuals. The third priority in my books would be to help build the mental aspect of the players. Being a Man Utd player is completely different to any other club in the world and the pressures this brings surely needs to be looked at. I am a firm believer that players have to be mentally resilient to withstand these enormous pressures and when the going gets tough, they would be prepared to face the music and overcome the storm.

From the scores and hundreds of names being linked with Man Utd who would be the 3 players you would break the bank for to get to our football team.

Wayne: It is a very difficult decision as the club is in need of players to cover a lot of positions. I think we need a centre back, centre midfielder that can create as well as play a more defensive role, and a young player who is willing to start from the bench but can start for some games and be good for the team. I think that a player we have been after for a while would suit the team nicely is Kalidou Koulibaly. He is an experienced centre back, composed, and good technically. And above all he is an excellent defender. I think a player that has played under Ten Hag would suit the team like a glove. De

Jong can play in different positions in the midfield, can play at the back and is a very versatile type of player and that’s what we need in the club. This will be a very important player if we manage to complete the deal. Jonathan David from Lille is a young forward but also experienced for his age. He would be willing to stay on the bench for a year and the following year challenge for a place in the starting eleven.

Justyn: In my opinion we need to reinforce every department except the goalkeeper. For a defender I would get Alessandro Bastoni from Inter. He is a left footed centre back, which is very important when it comes to building up from the back. He is also amazing defensively and has been very dominant in the Serie A and the Champions League. For a midfielder I would get either Ibrahim Sangare or Frenkie de Jong. Preferably I would sign both but if I had to choose I would go for de Jong. Ten Hag already knows him from his time at Ajax, he is a very good ball playing defensive midfielder and would be perfect for Manchester United given the options we have at the moment. Lastly we need a forward that can play anywhere in the front three positions. I would go for either Jarrod Bowen or Raphinha. Both are direct left footed right wingers that can do a job up front as well. If I had to pick I would go for Jarrod Bowen who has been exceptional for West Ham. However, I wouldn’t mind either of them.

Kevin: From where do you begin?! Our squad lacks a lot of depth at the moment and with Europa League fixtures, the Thursday‑Sunday schedule will be quite tough. I would focus on two main departments – the midfield and attacking. In midfield I would go for Declan Rice & Rúben Neves. Two players that I am confident would add quantity and more importantly quality. As for the remaining one I am torn between Heung-min Son and Harry Kane. The fact that we lack players, apart from Ronaldo, who have the natural instinct to score, I am going to go for Harry Kane.