Manchester United are most certainly still a work in progress. You couldn’t even call them a 45 minute side right now.
No, Manchester United are a team that only knows how to play for 20 minutes or so. In each of their last two games they have looked sensational in the first quarter, running teams ragged and having the end product to match.
But, as with the Leicester game, against West Ham they seemed to run out of ideas after a bewitching early display. There is no doubt that this Manchester United is on an upward trajectory. But they need to deal with their injury list and buy at least one more commanding central defender if they really want to push for the title this year.
Many think it’s ridiculous to suggest that United can do it this season – that puts soccersweep in the minority. Sure, they have a long way to go to be seen as anything even approaching a complete side. But, while Chelsea have started like a train, Manchester United are within spitting distance of Arsenal and Manchester City. And they are once more ahead of Liverpool in the still formative stages of the league.
When the winter kicks in and the other teams are heavily involved in Europe, expect Manchester United to make a real scrap of it. They do need another centre back though and reports today suggest that they may have identified one.
The Guardian reports:
Meanwhile in the defensive ranks, United quite like the cut of Juventus centre-back Angelo Ogbonna’s jib. A left-footed stopper of Nigerian extraction who has nine senior appearances for Italy under his belt, the 26-year-old Ogbonna is a central defender by trade but can also line up at full-back if required. A price tag of £12m has been mentioned, but United may have to fend off interest from Arsenal, among other clubs who are monitoring the defender.
It has long been mooted that LvG wants to add a man of experience at the back. Jonny Evans (26) hasn’t stepped put to he plate and injuries continue to slow the development of Smalling and Jones. Ogbonna looks like a really athletic and intelligent footballer who may well add the ranks of left-footers at Manchester United this winter.
Let’s see him in action. Manchester United fans: keen?
