This mornings Observer has the most on-the-money article about United I’ve ever read, which details pretty accurately where we are as a club under this ownership and why their priorities mean that actually winning stuff isn’t even really a priority
Solskjær the perfect frontman for United’s era of endless new dawns – Liverpool clash is being billed as make-or-break but that is typical of club where everything happens but nothing changes
What is important to note is that none of this is remotely contingent on United winning things here and now. The silverware has already been won; the myths forged; the brand established. If you can monetise the treble-winning side in China 22 years later, then you can probably keep doing it for another 22. All the machine really requires to keep it running is Champions League football every year, a steady supply of heroics and the idea that on some level United are still engaged in the “pursuit of excellence”.
As a United fan it’s a thoroughly depressing read as it just confirms what we’ve all known for years. The owners don’t give a toss about what goes on on the pitch really, they exist to simply rinse as much cash out of ‘the brand’ (whatever that is?) as possible
It’s not so much a football club any more. It’s a theme park