It would be silly to blame Ed Woodward for everything that has gone wrong at Manchester United over the last few years.
But, whatever he would like to argue about the strong financial position of the club, United have failed on the pitch in his time as executive vice-chairman. And that’s all the fans and the football lovers care about. They don’t give a hoot about United’s latest noodle sponsor.
The buck has to stop with him to a degree and The Guardian wrote this week that:
Woodward is solely responsible for Van Gaal’s future and who will manage United in the long term
So we do know who to blame if LvG stays and Jose Mourinho isn’t hired over the next week.
Here is a rough timeline of Manchester United’s downward trajectory under Woodward.
David Moyes
We have to admit that we felt Manchester United had made a decent decision with Moyes. We would have chosen Mourinho first but Moyes seemed like a top coach in the making.
But from the moment he struggled to remember Ashley Young’s name in one of his very first press conferences, he looked as if he was bereft of the sort of composure required for the job. A boy in a man’s job. He was a great guy but seemingly not cut out for this level at this stage of his career.
And, ultimately, we think that his similarities to the great Sir Alex ended with his accent.
Ander Herrera
What a debacle. Having lost out on the likes of Fabregas and ummed and arghhed about Thiago Alcantara United made a last minute dash for Ander Herrera.
We may never know the entire truth about the agents who were supposedly posing as Manchester United representatives – quite why they would do that remains a mystery – but it was yet more egg for the face of Woodward – the man whose grin often suggests he’s got a great plan. But a plan that has never been revealed hitherto.
Marouane Fellaini
After scrambling around for alternatives, in apparent desperation, Manchester United eventually paid more than the release clause of the Belgian to sign him for a quite ridiculous £27.5m. Egg. Face. Covered.
Neymar, Ronaldo, Bale
With almost spooky coincidence, terrible results have often been followed by stories of Manchester United bringing A-listers to the club. Whoever was generating these stories, we still don’t see any A-listers at the club. The recruitment policy in general (18 signings, 43 departures, 6th in the league and out of The Champions League ) has been a failure.
LVG
The big man himself. Ed Woodward’s totemic acquisition. The man to make Manchester United great again.
Perhaps Woodward was sucked in by the Dutchman’s bravado and self-promotion. This was not a man who lacked confidence when he joined Manchester United.
But Van Gaal’s tenure has seldom been great – a 4-2 victory at home against Manchester City last season was by far the best of it – and he has looked increasingly rudderless of late.
The man himself reportedly wanted to resign after the Southampton game but Woodward is rumoured to have persuaded LvG to stay. What is going on at United? You’ll have to ask Ed.
