Man Utd Need a First Win of the Season If Only to Help Alleviate Club Concerns
By Mitch Wilks
Manchester United kick off their 2020/21 season with a visit from Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace. And while that same fixture in last season's calendar was almost 13 months ago, it's a result that will no doubt be playing on the minds of the squad, fans and coaching staff heading into Saturday afternoon's clash.
United slumped to a 2-1 defeat in front of their own crowd last season in disappointing fashion. After Daniel James infamously celebrated an equaliser like he'd bagged the winner in the Champions League final, Patrick van Aanholt had the last laugh by firing away a last-gasp winner for the Eagles.
Progress has been made since that calamitous affair, but exactly how much is still a question that remains unanswered. The January arrival of Bruno Fernandes helped sneak United to a third place Premier League finish and has, admittedly, proven a key piece of the jigsaw in United's attack. Truth is, however, his abilities paper over numerous cracks.
Summer signing Donny van de Beek will likely prove a crucial bit of business for the future, alleviating some of the stress on the shoulders of Fernandes and Paul Pogba. Alternatively, he plugs the gap remaining on the right wing and could even sit alongside the duo in a midfield three. It's still not enough, though, and failure to bring in further squad depth could prove fatal this season, even as early as against Palace this weekend.
Saying that a win is vital in the first game of the season is redundant, admittedly. No team is going out and looking to lose straight off the bat, but it's the way in which a team wins that sets the tone for a season. Sure, a 1-0 finish to get three points would be a positive for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, but it would hardly fill him with confidence - something he already seemingly lacks beyond the regular starting XI.
While it looked like Chelsea were the only ones putting United to shame in the transfer market, having signed just about every top player under the sun this window, Tottenham have now also strengthened significantly. Right back Matt Doherty is an underrated addition and moves for both Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon are nearing completion - two players who had previously been targets for United.
Even if the Red Devils do complete a move for Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho before the 5 October deadline, it's not enough. The likelihood is - knowing the way they ended up forking out for Fernandes and Harry Maguire - that they will pay Dortmund's huge asking price, which would render an entire summer of playing possum completely useless. Instead, that time could've been spent strengthening other key problem areas, such as the lack of a mobile Nemanja Matic replacement or another centre-back to compete with Victor Lindelof.
Palace have strengthened, too. Their signing of Eberechi Eze has injected youth and dynamism into an inconsistent attack, Michy Batshuayi has returned on loan and they look set to keep a hold of Wilfried Zaha for a little while longer, while also discussing a move for Brentford's Said Benrahma. Consider that they have a sound enough defensive side and a very competent goalkeeper in Vicente Guaita, and they look to have a real chance at pushing for another win at Old Trafford this season.
In the grand scheme of things, it's hard to look at Manchester United and brand them a train wreck, especially considering yet another club in the Greater Manchester area has been wound up due to financial difficulties this week. But in terms of where the Red Devils are to their rivals and how they should've strengthened this summer, things look a bit of a mess. Again.
Solskjaer's side will most likely grind their way to victory this weekend and show glimpses of quality, but the final few weeks of the transfer window are paramount with regards to what happens next. It's a long season for United, and while jumping to conclusions before they've even kicked a ball this season seems incredibly premature, squad depth is still a serious issue that could prove fatal if it isn't addressed in time.