The Summer Transfer Window has officially closed – for the English Clubs at least, and Manchester United have disappointed fans worldwide with their lack of activity, especially by failing to reinforce the defence, which seems on paper the weakest area of Manchester United’s squad.
United completed their three signings early on, first adding Right Back Diogo Dalot from Porto from £19m, then adding Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for £47m and finally adding Lee Grant from Stoke for £1.5m. The signs were good and it seemed that Manchester United were a club with a plan. Fans could not wait for the iconic signing which surely had to come soon.
A right winger and a defender seemed to be on the cards, with a galaxy of stars linked to Old Trafford for those two positions for quite a long time in the transfer window. Unfortunately, none of those moves materialized as the Transfer Window closed unceremoniously for United. Mourinho looked especially frustrated and now everything seems to point to his “Third Season Syndrome”.
All the rival clubs have made smart buys, investing well and spending without worry and this has made United look even worse than they actually are. Yes, the signings that would have made United better have not arrived, but it is in the DNA of this club to prepare players, to build, to shape youngsters into legends of football. The slight hiccup, though, might be Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho is a winner, he doesn’t like to think too far into the future, because he might not be around to enjoy the fruits of the saplings he is planting.
This attitude of the Portuguese has hurt him all through his career and it is time he does something about it. Manchester United have gained fame by nurturing budding talent and turning them into shining stars. Yes, the big name signings have been there, but the club has always mixed the stars with the youth and prepared a perfect recipe for winning and going forward the United Way.
With the situation as it is, Victor Lindelof is the answer to Manchester United’s defensive woes. He is the same age as Eric Bailly, who is already United’s best defender. Lindelof should be the ideal partner for Bailly this season and his performance in the World Cup alone is enough to justify that.
Lindelof looked assured and confident and that is what a little trust from the people around you can do. Last season, Mourinho shuffled around his defense a bit too much for anyone’s liking and coming into a new team, in a league as competitive as the Premier League took its toll on Lindelof.
Yet his attributes make him the perfect partner for Bailly. Bailly is strong and fast, but not so good with the ball going forward. Lindelof is very good with the ball and can initiate attacks from the back.
Bailly can be a little eccentric at times, but Lindelof is a picture of calm. Together, these two can form another formidable defensive partnership that has been the mainstay of United’s title-winning sides of the past.
As such, Lindelof needs his manager to root for him, to guide him and yes, again, to give him a little trust. The Swede definitely deserves that.
Mourinho needs to stick to a formation and use Bailly and Lindelof continuously so that these two get a run of games together and builds an understanding between them.
Also, rendering a person useless at the slightest hint of an error is a big no-no. Everyone needs time, and support and if Mourinho could man manage the Swede, Lindelof could be the answer to United’s defensive worries.
Give Bailly-Lindelof a chance!