We have reached a point now where it should be clear to all concerned that Manchester United’s problems are deeper than any one manager or coach, but this has been an underwhelming start to Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford.
Every manager deserves time to implement his ideas and get the chance to succeed or fail on his own terms, but Mourinho has been strangely passive so far.
Typically, Mourinho comes in to a club like a whirlwind and makes it quite clear from an early stage who he fancies and who he doesn’t.
At United though, Mourinho seems to be taking quite a hands-off approach, trying numerous combinations and formulas with none of them fully convincing.
Some will suggest that United need another few transfer windows (just like they did a few transfer windows ago), but more important than who they bring in could be who they cash in on.
Mourinho likes to work with a streamlined squad, and United’s is rather bloated at the moment. We suggested three players he might look to move on.
Memphis Depay
The Dutchman arrived in the summer of 2015 with quite a big reputation from PSV Eindhoven, but has been desperately underwhelming. Depay showed some promising signs in the early stages of the Champions League under Louis Van Gaal, he has struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI.
The direct, goalscoring winger was billed as a player who could fit the mould of the ‘Man United way’; a player who could bring pace and width to their attack. Van Gaal has a good record with young players, but eventually lost faith in Depay who faced questions over his attitude and he scored just two league goals.
Mourinho is yet to hand him a start in the Premier League or the Europa League. The former Chelsea manager has always demanded a great deal of defensive output from his wide players, publicly criticising Joe Cole and Eden Hazard in the past for not putting enough of a shift in.
Depay and Mourinho look like a match made in hell, and 22-year-old might benefit from a manager who is more prone to an arm around the shoulder. There is also plenty of competition for this spot in the team, with Ashley Young putting in a real shift at Anfield and Anthony Martial also looking to start on the left flank.