WHY SAY ANYTHING?

Nemanja Matić has decided that Manchester United need to sign some experienced players in order to challenge for the title next season.

What does this actually mean? Is he saying that Antonio Valencia (33), Ashley Young (32), Marouane Fellaini (30), Juan Mata (30), Ander Herrera (28), Alexis Sánchez (29) and himself (30) don’t have enough experience between them to win the Premier League title?

Or is he saying that the younger players aren’t good enough and need replacing with experience? So some of Pogba, Martial, Rashford, Shaw, Rojo, Lindelof and Bailly need to go and make way for some older players to come in!

If we, as the trusted voice of reason and, in this case, interpretation of Serbian thoughts, have got the right handle on this, then we think he means that United need to replace some of their older players with better, younger ones but, more importantly, some of their not-so-brilliant younger ones with more experienced campaigners.

So the likes of Martial and Shaw could be sold. Marcus Rashford could be farmed out on loan to get some regular football, despite having appeared in the most United games this season. Even Paul Pogba, who hasn’t exactly excelled this term, could be sold and wouldn’t be particularly missed.

All this, of course, depends entirely on how much trust José Mourinho has in the advice of Nemanja Matić and if he even listens to him at all!

Also some of the “middle-aged” footballers, such as Chris “Donkey” Smalling and Phil “Carthorse” Jones could benefit from a change of scenery. United supporters would certainly benefit from their being given a change of scenery!

What he really means, and he is right, is that United need some top quality signings who have experience in winning trophies, not necessarily because they are older but because they are successful.

In this, we can only agree with him.

City won’t be spending much…..

According to Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Manchester City chairman, the club won’t be splashing the cash in any great quantities during this transfer window. What he means by that is that they will only spend the equivalent of the national debt of a small country, such as El Salvador, rather than a larger one as is usually the case.

A holding midfielder is required to replace the departing Yaya Touré, who didn’t play anyway, and may even be seen as the long-term replacement for Fernandinho until Pep changes his mind in a couple of weeks.

At present Jorginho, of Napoli, is the favourite for the job and would be a bargain at a mere £61 million!

Also, an attack-minded player will be bought. Whether this means a striker or an attacking midfielder appears to depend upon who is available. The rumours, at present, seem to involve Eden Hazard and a fee of £100 million. As we said, they only need a couple of players so won’t be spending too much!

And finally…..

Aren’t football supporters fickle little things? This time last year there were a number of Manchester City fans who decided that their future would be brighter without Pep Guardiola.

The club had finished the season trophy-less and in third place in the Premier League. They were eight points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who finished second and fifteen behind the champions, Chelsea.

Pep stayed and the rest is history.

Fast forward to today and there are a number of Manchester United “fans” who feel that the future would be brighter without José Mourinho in charge at Old Trafford. He has just finished the season trophy-less and, even though it was a better season than that of City’s last year, there are still detractors.

United reached the final of the FA Cup and then under-performed against Chelsea, they also finished second in the Premier League.

Mourinho may “do a Guardiola” next season and stroll to Premier League success but, if he is to do so, his attitude needs to change. He has already said that if City repeat their feat of 100 points then United won’t be able to compete. United fans would much prefer him to say that if City reach 100 points United will go for 101!

Either way, as with Guardiola, he should be given another season to redeem himself and then, if it doesn’t work, Ed Woodward can start looking for a replacement.