Manchester United fans are still coming to terms with the manner in which their team limped out of the UEFA Champions League group stages last night, and today's comments from Eamon Dunphy are unlikely to make them feel any better.
Louis Van Gaal last night gave a Manchester United debut to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, a player that even the most die-hard fan wouldn't claim to know much about, such is the severity of the injury crisis at Old Trafford, but Dunphy has claimed that even with everybody healthy this is the worst Manchester United squad since they were relegated in 1974.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport in the aftermath of Manchester United's qualification for the Europa League, Dunphy said:
They spent £300 million during Louis van Gaal’s tenure as manager, they've got about £150 million back but this week he was asking for more money.
They would need the guts of £1 billion, they have no quality at all. Martial for example cost £35 million - £50 million with add-ons - and he’s going to take time to develop into a player.
Memphis looks a dud, they paid £24 million for him, Rojo wasn’t fit last night but he’s a dud.
I’d say this is the worst squad of players that United have had since the bad old days, since they were relegated. They had a few managers after Matt Busby and that transition was botched. I think this transition after Alex Ferguson has been botched and I don’t think Manchester United are any longer, in any meaningful sense, a big club.
No holding back there.
While £1 billion may be stretching it a bit, it is clear that this current United squad need to invest in reinforcements in January, not least to help ease the pressure that is caused by the rising number of players who are unavailable for selection.
But is this really the poorest squad United have had since they were last relegated? Immediately the Liam Miller, Eric Djemba-Djemba, and David Bellion days come to mind, but the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs were still around then to steer the ship somewhat while Rooney and Ronaldo developed into the players that were the driving force behind a Champions League win in 2008.
Manchester United are currently sitting in 3rd place in the league, level with Man City and three points off leaders Leicester, but with unheard of players from the youth teams being forced into action, the fear that a run of poor results could result in the end of their season is a very real one for fans of the club.
via RTÉ Sport.
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