The Glazers brought galacticos to Man Utd’s offices… but where are the ones on the pitch?

More than 50,000 fans turned up at Old Trafford last week to watch United toil to a 1-0 win over Astana
George Wood/Getty Images
James Robson @jamesrobsonES25 September 2019

Yet those words ring hollow when Man Utd only seem to flourish off it.

In that respect, the timing of their latest financial results was unfortunate.

In the wake of a 2-0 defeat to West Ham that leaves them 10 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, came the announcement of record fiscal revenues of £627.1million.

For disgruntled supporters it only serves as confirmation of their worst fears.

That United will continue to spiral into decline so long as the Glazers are able to reap dividends.

That Ed Woodward will remain untouchable so long as he continues to deliver commercial success to the club's American owners.

While Woodward insists United's ongoing financial health is vital to their chances of returning to the summit of English football, the fear for fans is that it will, in fact, maintain the status quo.

That six years of failure and counting will continue to be tolerated so long as noodle partners and experience centres can be sourced – and television revenues continue to grow.

United finished sixth and trophyless last season, yet replica shirts sold by the bucket-load.

More than 50,000 fans turned up at Old Trafford last week to watch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side toil to a 1-0 win against Astana.

In Pictures | Man Utd vs Astana | 19/09/2019

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Similar numbers will roll up for Wednesday's EFL Cup tie with Rochdale.

Where United are concerned, the normal rules do not apply.

To view their financial results over the six years since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, it would be easy to think nothing had changed at pitch level.

Wages go up, shirt sales go up, social media impressions soar – revenues are sky high.

On the balance sheet, at least, United remain the dominant force.

And why wouldn't they?

The Glazers – who are far more hands on than fans would like to believe – have filled key positions with experts in their fields.

Woodward has changed the meaning of what it is to capitalise on the commercial potential of a football club.

Head of corporate development Matt Judge is a financing mastermind.

Group managing director Richard Arnold is a genius when it comes to big business operations.

With that level of expertise in place, it would be near-impossible for United not to be commercially successful.

As a trio they are the Glazers' galacticos.

But where are their equivalents on the footballing side?

Man United squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers

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Imagine, for a moment, how the owners would have reacted to six years of failure from a commercial point of view.

What if Woodward continually picked loss-making sponsorship partners?

As a trio they are the Glazers' galacticos.  But where are their equivalents on the footballing side?"

If revenues plummeted in the manner of the team's league position over the past season, let alone half a dozen since Ferguson walked away from a side that won the title by 11 points?

What if Woodward made commercial decisions to compare to three failed managers and a raft of transfer flops?

Would they stand for it?

Would they demand change?

What if, from a business point of view United were crying out for, say, the equivalent of a director of football? Would the Glazers continue to persist without one?

When the world's most successful clubs all have an expert in that position, would they really persist without one if it cost them on the balance sheet, rather than the league table?

Would they?

Among the usual platitudes that come from these addresses to investors – vows to strengthen the squad etc – came Woodward's response to latest questions about the long-awaited appointment of a technical director.

United had been actively pursuing a candidate for more than a year – yet after another wholly unsatisfactory transfer window an appointment is still to be made.

Woodward's response was non-committal – but a serious concern must be the club's assertion that the summer was evidence that the recruitment process is heading in the right direction.

While few would complain about the quality of the three signings in Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James – United paid top of the market prices for each of them.

Meanwhile, their failure to conclude negotiations in timely fashion left them unable to address other areas of the squad in need of strengthening.

For instance, in attack, where Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez were sold despite no replacements coming in.

Likewise in midfield, where the departures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera have left Solskjaer seriously short of depth.

A director of football, head of football, technical director – however you phrase it – may not be the cure all for United's ills, but surely they would not have overseen a window that leaves the club with no 20-goal-a-season striker, no cover for Paul Pogba and no hope of getting anywhere near the top two.

If success on the pitch really is the priority at Manchester United – they need to start treating it like the areas of the business that actually are successful

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