da brwin： The 2015 mid-season transfer window proved a relatively hectic period at Old Trafford to say the very least this summer. For one reason or another, this ‘transitional phase’ that everyone seems keen on applying to Manchester United at the moment nonetheless looks like it will continue to surround the club throughout the 2015/16 campaign.
da blaze casino： From the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay all being drafted in by the Red Devils across the ever-competitive summer months, to several big name stars – such as Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie – rather unceremoniously heading in the other direction, Louis van Gaal is a manager who arguably doesn’t quite know what he wants from his team at the moment.
So then, in rather characteristic style for the club of late, Manchester United once again continued their frivolous spending habits this transfer deadline-day, somehow managing to spend an incredible £36million on AS Monaco’s up and coming striking talent, Anthony Martial.
With such a seemingly ambitious risk in mind for the Red Devils this term, will the young Frenchman simply set the Premier League alight across the 2015/16 campaign, or will this particular deal eventually have to go down as the most desperate move of the summer?
[ffc-gal cat=”manchester-united” no=”5″]
Well, even though Anthony Martial undoubtedly carries with him a fair degree of potential going into the new season, distinct question-marks nonetheless surround his ability to make it in the Premier League this term, as well as Manchester United’s overall decision to make such a heavy investment in the youngster.
Although at a mere 19-years-old the former Monaco hit-man could well blossom in the English game given enough time and confidence placed in him from his manager – surely a player of Anthony Martial’s all-round skill-set simply isn’t worth such a staggering amount with all things considered? He managed to score a grand total of nine league goals in 2014/15, which was incidentally the same number set by ex-West Ham struggler, Modibo Maiga, on loan with FC Metz last term – just to add that bit of extra perspective.
Let’s face it – under the seemingly untouchable reign of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in seasons past – such a crazy deal would never have likely been carried out in the first place. Louis van Gaal and his club have shone themselves in a particularly desperate light after taking on such an expensive gamble, especially when rivals Arsenal managed to sign Alexis Sanchez for a similar price this time last year.
The only difference in that move however, was the fact that Sanchez represented a genuine world class star in the peak stages of his career, as opposed to some young French striker who most of the general footballing community in this country have probably never even heard of before.
Whilst the Red Devils certainly want to be aiming higher than their recent league form has served to produce, the signing of a player such as Anthony Martial represents a clear lack of direction behind the scenes at Old Trafford. It almost seems as if Ed Woodward – with his obvious non-footballing background and apparent love of the public spot-light – just seems to be spending the club’s resources for the sake of it these days.
With both Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao, Manchester United’s two major marquee signings of last summer, eventually disappearing from this scene this season – what is this once great club simply trying to achieve in the modern era?
Do they genuinely want to organically build as an all-round impressive outfit worthy of dominating the English game and thriving on the European scene one day, or are Manchester United ultimately trying to play catch-up with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City when it comes to flashing the cash in each respective summer transfer window? At this stage in the game the club’s overall philosophy looking forward remains as murky as it’s ever been…
So then, even if Anthony Martial defies all expectation and manages to succeed in the Premier League this season on the back of his admittedly impressive credentials, the Red Devils have ultimately embarrassed themselves in making such an obvious panic-buy on deadline-day this summer.
After constantly being linked with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller throughout the entire transfer window, the Old Trafford faithful are now arguably witnessing a change in fortunes at the their club that will only serve to damage Manchester United in the not too distant future.
[ad_pod id=’mufcpoll’ align=’center’]
[ad_pod id=’lockerdome’ align=’center’]