Manchester United fans are not happy with how this summer has gone so far, but the meltdown across social media is so over the top and performative.
Manchester United were expected to be one of the busiest clubs in this summer’s transfer window, which hasn’t quite come to fruition just yet.
But despite that, it hasn’t been the disaster transfer window that many across social media are acting like.
Just two weeks ago, United signed Youri Tielemans for £35m, which is potentially the signing of the summer if he can replicate his Aston Villa campaign.
This signing immediately followed United’s signing of Andrey Santos for £48m, which was another great signing that has the potential to age so well.
Two superb additions which leave United’s midfield in the best place it has been for years, and I think many are overlooking just how good United’s team is right now.
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Michael Carrick’s Manchester United squad is much stronger than fans are acting like
I have become quite frustrated over the past few days, not by United but instead by the narrative around the online fanbase, driven by vocal fans such as Mark Goldbridge, that this summer has somehow been a disaster for Ineos.
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This is a complete lie, as United’s two midfield signings are top-level additions for really good fees. But Ineos are suffering from finding these values in the market signings.
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If Tielemans had cost £60m, few would have raised an eyebrow, as that is his actual value. This would have drastically changed the narrative around United’s window, as it seems some supporters care less about who is signed and more about the fee involved.
The outrage over United ‘only’ signing Tielemans and Santos is fake and driven by a desire for engagement across social media, which is fine, but the toxic environment it creates around the club is not fine.
This rage has recently also turned to suggesting the club has left Carrick out to dry, and that next season will be a disaster, but the squad at Carrick’s disposal is already better than the one he finished third with last season, and probably the best team United have had for years, both in the starting XI and depth.
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United have two or three options across each position, which is more than good enough to see United compete in all four positions, with a few more transfers expected.
When visualised like this, United probably need a starting left-back (Lewis Hall) and another more physical and defensive-minded midfielder (Aurelien Tchouameni or Carlos Baleba).
The window doesn’t close for a month, and United have a lot of time to get the rest of the business done this summer. Panic in the fanbase and claims that United are somehow worse now than in May is just misleading, and too many supporters are buying into this.
It is frustrating when there is silence in the window, but Ineos have already proven that they work in silence this summer, and deals only become mainstream when they are effectively done.
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United fans’ frustration is more because of other clubs’ business
Come September, I am confident the narrative will have changed around United. Much of the online fanbase and influencers around the club thrive on negativity and tend to be quite flippant on a event to event basis with little patience.
So what hasn’t helped Ineos’ case is the fact that three rivals have now crossed the £100m mark on one signing this summer: Spurs paid £100m for Sandro Tonali, Man City paid £130m for Elliot Anderson, and Chelsea paid £117m for Morgan Rogers, which can be looked at as a ‘why aren’t we spending that’ point.
It is easy to forget that United were almost broke 18 months ago, and therefore the rebuild must be sensible and smart right now, with bigger deals likely possible once the financial situation has settled slightly.
I am convinced United are in a great place right now, with a very strong squad which will be bolstered further this summer. Next season will be a success; the fanbase just needs to take a step back, forget the outrage, and realise that we will be fine.
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