August 28, 2018 - Loghun Kumaran
"Since Ferguson left, we've been rudderless. Forget the Premier League drought--the club doesn't even seem to have a direction."
As chants go, the song Tottenham fans sang at Old Trafford was not particularly creative, but by God, was it ever powerful.
"You're not special anymore," they laughed, pointing their joy in the direction of the self-appointed Special One Jose Mourinho, who fumed on the sidelines watching his hapless collection of millionaires stumble to a 3-0 defeat against Spurs.
Of course, we know they were laughing at the Portuguese manager. But if you are a United fan, you should be hurting more.
Those four words say so much about Man United in the last five years since Sir Alex Ferguson left. They say more than any pointless flashy signing announcement on Twitter, any press statement, any enraged press conference from the manager.
It's simple: Manchester United just don't seem special anymore.
You can't blame us younger fans for feeling misty-eyed. Across 20 years of Sir Alex's reign, we saw things that other fans only dreamt of.
Thirteen Premier League titles, two European Cups, swashbuckling football that dominated opponents even before they left the tunnel. We had an identity, we were special.
Since Ferguson left, we've been rudderless. Forget the Premier League drought--the club doesn't even seem to have a direction.
Van Gaal and Mourinho won some trophies at least (lets just forget about the Moyes months). But can any United fan say we were ever the best club in England in those five years? Were we even close?
Players are brought in without needing to fit into a system. For some reason, Alexis Sanchez was brought in to play a position occupied by Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Then, most recently, Mourinho was reportedly unhappy that he wasn't allowed to buy Jerome Boateng, Harry Maguire and Toby Alderweireld. Of course, he seemed to forget that he already has Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof (both bought by Mourinho), Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, and Chris Smalling. Alderweireld is the only player who would genuinely seem to be an upgrade--at least on current form.
Now, for the first time in the club's 140-year history, United will appoint a director of football. One imagines that things can only get better than the scattergun approach we've seen in the last five years.
So back to the Spurs game last night. Of all the players available, Ander Herrera started at right-back (??), accompanied by Jones and Smalling. It was meant to shake the opponents tactics, and it did for a while but Spurs figured it out.
Afterwards, Mourinho was quoted saying that he did not know his back four. Watching from the armchair, many would argue that they don't even know what United are.
Are we supposed to be the pragmatic bulldozers of pace and power synonymous with Mourinho? Do we absorb and counter? Are we blending any of this with more modern, expansive football?
To be special, United first needs an identity. Without knowing what we are, can we be anything?
And the best part? While all this is happening, Liverpool and Man City look to be head and shoulders ahead of everyone else. It's come to the point where this humble fan is silently hoping City win all of their matches, just to make sure Liverpool don't win the title.
Cheering on City in the forlorn hope that Liverpool don't become champions. A very Special time indeed.