3 Christmas Wishes for Manchester United Fans
In order to enjoy Christmas, Manchester United fans will have to put football out of mind. After all, the 2-1 home loss to Norwich was the last game before the presents and turkey, and it was not exactly a gift for Red Devils fans.
But hark! What is that? Why, it is the sound of sleigh bells, and who is this hoving into view? Why, it is a Santa whose "ho ho ho" has a distinctly Glaswegian brogue. If Sir Alex Ferguson, the ghost of United's Christmas past, really was Santa, what would United fans wish for?
Let's take a look at the three top options, assuming finding Sir Alex the fountain of youth is out of the question.
A New Manager
Well, this really does not feel very festive, but the manager who embraced Christmas at Old Trafford with both hands last season, toasting the press and giving out presents to those sitting near the dugout, has seen his popularity plummet in the intervening year.
On Tuesday, many fans spent their evening refreshing Twitter waiting for the news that Louis van Gaal had been given his marching orders. It was not a particularly edifying sight, but Van Gaal's dignity did not seem to be high on the priority list for the somewhat frenzied pack.
The truth is, whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, it is pretty clear that a significant majority of United fans who are active on any social media platform—and presumably plenty who are not—want Van Gaal gone. No doubt the comments on this piece will reflect that.
This could end up as a be-careful-what-you-wish-for situation, of course. While the football has been pretty dire this season and results have recently fallen off a cliff, there are some reasonable concerns about any of the potential successors.
Jose Mourinho's history does not make him a straightforward fit. Ryan Giggs is entirely unproven. Anyone else would be something of a wild card or unavailable until the summer.
Nonetheless, a new manager metaphorically wrapped up under the tree would be pretty high up a lot of United fans' wishlist.
In spite of reservations over potential replacements, the desire for a change is understandable. Things were supposed to be better by now; instead they are worse. United have three fewer points than they did at the equivalent stage last season. The team's football has been ponderous and often ineffective.
After the Norwich game, Van Gaal acknowledged that he was not currently succeeding, and in a season where the league looks eminently winnable, it is difficult to imagine a route from where things currently stand to eventual success for the existing United boss.
Perhaps the "crisis talks" that Neil Ashton and Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reported on between the manager and “senior Manchester United players” will pay dividends, and this particular wish will not need to come true.
More Goals
Asking for more of something you already have is perhaps not in the spirit of Christmas, but in this case, it is something of which more really is needed.
There was a period this season when United were relatively free-scoring. In September, the Red Devils played six games, and in four of those games, they scored three goals.
However, the 3-0 win over Everton on 17 October was the last time they managed more than two. They have scored fewer than two goals in 10 of the last 13 games, failing to find the net in five of those.
If Ol' Saint Nick has any magic dust to spare, he could do with sprinkling some on the players who do their work in United's final third. Juan Mata is without a goal since 7 November and has only managed one assist in the intervening seven games.
Wayne Rooney has not scored for his club since 3 November, though he has only played in three games since then. He only has two goals in the league campaign so far, though, and simply does not look much of a threat. Memphis Depay has the same number of league goals, his last coming on 21 November.
Anthony Martial is back in goalscoring form after his minidrought with two in his last three games, but it is not enough.
Chances seem hard to come by in Van Gaal's system, and forwards have to be at their most lethal to succeed, but hopefully the aforementioned crisis talks will yield some results and the Red Devils' attacking football will improve.
For now, it remains a big problem, and United fans, players and staff must all have this on their lists for Santa.
Silverware
Remember silverware? Once upon a time it was taken for granted at Old Trafford, a ground that possesses an overflowing trophy cabinet. Sir Alex's ability to guide team after team after team to trophies was occasionally noted as remarkable as it was happening, but like anything that happens regularly, it eventually came to seem normal.
Of course, it never was—that was just a trick of perspective. It was always an absolutely staggering feat of football management, to do it with so many sides, through so many eras of football. In his absence, the absence of any silverware at all—we are not counting David Moyes' Community Shield here—has made it clear just how incredible it was.
Whether under Van Gaal or his successor, United need to get back into the winning habit. This season there are three routes to shiny glory. The first is, of course, the league, but the huge inconsistency they have displayed in that competition so far makes their eventual success seem extremely unlikely.
The next is the FA Cup. United used to win the FA Cup a lot, but Rooney has never won it, which shows how long it has been. There is a huge amount of luck involved in winning any knockout competition, but the Red Devils should certainly go all-out for it.
The third is the Europa League. Dropping into the Europa League from the Champions League feels like a punishment—the equivalent of football detention. However, with any crisis comes opportunity, and there is a trophy up for grabs.
With a relatively favourable draw against FC Midtjylland in the round of 32, United are well placed to progress to the last 16. Of course, there are plenty of very tough teams left in the Europa League draw, and it would take quite an effort for the underperforming Red Devils to win it.
Like the FA Cup, getting to hold the impressive trophy aloft would take a significant slice of good fortune. However, any one of the three would be a real delight.
So there we have it. Three wishes asked of Fergie Claus.
Of course there are others. For many around the world, the dream of a trip to Old Trafford would certainly count among their Christmas hopes. More affordable season tickets, a better atmosphere in the stadium or perhaps even the return of safe standing. The arrival of a bona fide superstar in next summer's transfer window might be up there.
But for now, as well as a tangerine and a new pair of socks, many United fans would be delighted to wake up on Christmas morning to a new manager, more goals and the promise of some shiny silverware on a not-too-distant horizon.
Quotations obtained firsthand where not otherwise stated.
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