Money for old hope: Manchester United's recruitment mistakes.
If only Manchester United could dominate games as much as they dominate the news agenda. Ruben Amorim’s public utterances are more on target than his team in front of goal. In a general apology over redundant staff paying the price for the team’s poor form, Amorim said, “We have to improve recruitment, I think that is crucial.” Spot on.
United’s poor form has seen broadcast revenue tumble by 42%, not least following their absence from the Champions League. Other problems bedevil the Red Devils, of course, not least the financial yoke placed on the club by the Glazers’ debt-driven culture, but recruitment has been shocking. When did United last sign anyone good? Or anyone who then improved?
In the last year of Sir Alex Ferguson’s glorious reign, 2012/13, United’s main outlay was £24m on Robin van Persie, whose 26 goals helped them to the title, their last title. There were disappointments that year, not least Wilf Zaha for £15m. Ferguson, and his recruitment-savvy chief exec David Gill, weren’t perfect.
Ferguson’s successor, David Moyes, who lost the considerable services of Gill, brought in Juan Mata – a success – for £37m – but the £27m Marouane Fellaini seemed a strange buy, very un-United. Of the £170m splurge in 2014/15, the £59m Angel Di Maria soon departed, his family traumatised by a break-in. Daley Blind, Memphis Depay, Anders Herrera and Marcos Rojo didn’t work out. Luke Shaw promised much but has never really looked the same player after that horrendous double leg break against PSV Eindhoven in 2015. His leg was almost amputated. Shaw showed a group of us the scar once, very matter-of-factly, but it must have preyed on his mind.
On it went at United: 2015/16 saw £144m invested unwisely in the likes of Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Morgan Schneiderlin. None excelled. Paul Pogba returned for £89m and never consistently delivered for such a fine talent while £31m Victor Lindelof has never convinced.