Gonzo’s alternative view

Much as Manchester United would like to believe that Manchester City are their footballing rivals the truth is very different.

In actual fact the Manchester giants find themselves slugging it out with West Ham, Brighton and Wolves with little or no prospect of qualifying for Europe this season.

Ralf Rangnick’s men are miles behind Liverpool and Chelsea and the expanse of twenty two points between them and their city rivals must seem insurmountable.

I only raise this point because it’s quite relevant when trying to assess the validity of the Jesse Lingard rumours.

Put simply West Ham and not Manchester City are United’s direct competitors. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that whoever finishes above the Hammers this season will qualify for European football of some verity.

Rangnick – a man with plenty of problems 

As can be seen from last seasons loan stint, Jesse Lingard means points and even a three point gain could make the difference. So why would United sanction the deal? For £10 million? Just so as they don’t lose him on a Bosman style free transfer?

I really don’t buy it. To a club with the turnover over of Manchester United a nominal fee is insignificant compared to the prospect of losing out on European football.                                

At present they’re a basket case of of a football club who seem to be lurching from one crisis to another. They seem to have hired a manager who is impotent when faced with the task of managing some of the big name players at the club.

Clearly the senior players didn’t fancy it under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and now they appear to be turning their noses up at the coach mandated to rescue the faltering club.

It has a toxic whiff of player power reminiscent of Chelsea ten years ago. The assumption on the outside seemed to be that the senior players at Stamford Bridge would down tools if they didn’t like any given manager.

We’ve seen it numerous times at Real Madrid too but unlike the Spanish giants and Chelsea, it seems that United’s own Galacticos won’t win trophies in between tantrums.

So I’ll not hold my breath on the Lingard deal. There would only be one thing more daft than letting Lingard leave on a free. Letting him join a rival for a pittance whilst sealing their own Premier League fate would be worse.