INEO’s had a plan. The hierarchy are obviously trying to deliver the astute level of business in the transfer market that is required to compete at a level. However, ultimately, what are their overall ambitions for taking Manchester United to the next level? At this moment in time, I am seeing a Champions League place as the ambition. That means we need more to deliver on the ‘fans ambitions’ of winning and competing for the Premier League.
I personally feel our ownership is shackling us in those ambitions and we’re living on the hype of a third place finish last season. It’s just not enough, and I am asking myself, with the level of business we’ve done so far. Is this squad going to be able to compete in the way we want them to as fans? I think the answer to that is a resounding no. But still, with the business done in the transfer market done recently no matter how unremarkable that is. There will still be pressure on Carrick to do better next season with what he has.
I am not dismissing the obvious need to have more bodies around the place as we battle in the Premier League, Champions League, and other competitions that we’ll play our part in. I think essentially the youth coming through will play their part in that and some of them are exceptional young talent. However, we still haven’t had the level of ambition matched with what ‘we the fans expect’ and that’s disappointing from a point of our ‘success’ last season.
It comes to a point where you want to ‘build on that’ not just make up squad numbers and hope for the very best. I obviously hope this season we really achieve the kind of success we need. But at the same time, it has me thinking, if INEO’s plan was to win the Premier League by 2028. Why isn’t their ‘words’ matching their ‘actions’ when our rivals are all improving?
Sure, you can look at all the data you want, and we do need the right players with the right attitudes to elevate our progress in the right direction. That progress though is never going to be something that is guaranteed, and especially if you do not learn from the mistakes of the past. As that ambition needs to be a mainstay in every transfer window.
Written by Craig Clark
From gaming industry headlines to all things Manchester United and entertainment, Craig covers the stories everyone's talking about — alongside his own published works.