I dont know what to make of today, it was strange in that I was consigned to and ready to accept defeat before play started, but then we scored and I believed it was our day, even after Barton got sent off, I was convinced QPR would somehow hold out for a draw, and we’d win. I was punching the air when the United game finished, then flicked over in time to see Aguero score the winner for Citeh. Devastating, heart breaking, I’ve been a wreck for the last 3 hours.
But then the thought popped in to my head, the same one that pops in at the end of every campaign, successful or not, is what about next year? I was already planning the team for the following season when the current one kicked off in August. I find my self in a perma-state of planning, hoping and worrying about the future, never satisfied to wallow in the present, whether winning or losing.
Looking forward to next Season I’m worried, the most I’ve been worried since 2005/2006. I’m worried that with City’s money, and renewed investment from Abramovich, we’re going to fall behind. Its worth remembering we’ve secured six more points than last year, when we won the league, so the team is not far off. But the manner of the defeats against City, getting murdered in the first, and turning up playing and hoping for a draw in the second summed up our relative strength better. Our Champions League and Europa League form were also good indicators of how far we’ve slipped relative to the best clubs at home and abroad.
So the Summer is all about renewal and replacement. Scholes has been revitalised, but he can’t be relied on to play like that next year, and Giggs has had his first really bad season in years, and suggests he may have finally give in to Old Father Time. As for many of the youngsters; I’m yet to be convinced by Cleverley, Jones and to an extent Welbeck to really perform at the top level required. I think many United fans are blinded in regard to the quality of these players because they are local or homegrown. They may fill the United red in the years to come, but more immediately, we need, much like Chelsea, to find quality players in that 24-27 age range.
Fergie has already spoken of the challenge this loss has provided, and the fact his team will now ‘kick on’. It is incredibly naive of many United fans who talk of Ferguson always doing what is right for the club, as his acceptance of the Glazers has proven, while deals like the signing of Bebe, and his insistence on only signing players who use some of his ‘favourite’ agents prove, he’s also more than ready to exploit his position for personal gain. But in this instance, Ferguson’s and United’s interest align, he is desperate to preserve his legacy, and to hand over the club as the dominant team in England. The loss of the title will hopefully be the spark that disturbs his inertia which has held the club stationery for the past three seasons.
United and Ferguson need to spend well and big this Summer, in terms of bringing in new top draw talent and keeping hold of our best players, Rooney, Nani, Hernandez, Valencia & Vidic. Kagawa looks to be on his way, and he looks a fine player, but others are needed, competition for Evra, a real top draw right-back, most importantly another talisman to end our reliance on Rooney.
They need to kick on because now Citeh possess money and credibility, so they can now compete with the likes of Madrid and Barcelona for the very best players, which is a scary thought. Equally scary is thought of this Citeh squad next year, emboldened by a title win under their arms, and more cohesive as a unit. However scary this thought, I keep telling myself its harder to retain the title than win it once, as everyone else will be out to gun them down, playing the League Champions gives every manager their easiest team talk of the season.
But I find myself needing to escape that ‘Citeh’ mentality of needing to improve to ‘match’ our neighbours, we need to do better for ourselves, to do better in all competitions, not just trying to match them in the League. The fans need to see this improvement, or else we may see our club slide toward mediocrity, without the financial fire power to fling ourselves back after a couple rough years. If we don’t see improvement, and a real financial commitment, we will retaliate. The owners know this.
There has been something of a truce between fans and owners so long as the club has competed and been successful, because we know how negative protest could distract from the main aim of winning games and affect the performance of the team. But the anti-Glazer movement isn’t dead, it’s just hibernating, it will return stronger and fiercer than it was two years ago if we don’t improvements, and it won’t rest until the ownership structure changes. We don’t need or want investment and oil money to buy titles, we just need a structure that fosters strong commercial partnerships and doesn’t take out money to pay off debt.
I’ll wait to see what and who the Summer brings, but like many United fans, if I start seeing my club slip toward mediocrity, I’ll fight back. Sir Alex knows this, and so do the Glazers, so hopefully they won’t be dumb enough to let that happen.
