THINK Manchester United have hit rock bottom? Think again and brace yourselves, everyone.

It’s no secret that the Red Devils have been in a profound state of decline for nearly ten years. Anyone can observe just how chaotic and toxic Old Trafford has become.

However, it seems the boardroom remains blissfully unaware.

United exude the scent of a club steeped in denial, averting their gaze from just how deep-rooted their issues are.

At the conclusion of last season, I predicted Michael Carrick would be dismissed by November. It appears that my prediction may have been overly optimistic; he could be gone by October.

Do I wish for this to occur? No. Will it resolve anything for the long haul at Old Trafford? No.

It’s quite unfortunate for a club that appears nearly unmanageable at times; yet the solutions seem straightforward upon reflection – everyone is simply too hesitant to speak out.

An army of former players turned podcasters surround Manchester United, and nearly all seem apprehensive to point fingers where it truly counts.

Marcus Rashford, Ruben Amorim, Erik ten Hag, and the current squad have all been scapegoated for the club’s struggles, deflecting attention from those really in charge.

Why is this happening? Because there’s a collection of impostors tiptoeing around, attempting to maintain camaraderie with everyone rather than confronting the harsh realities. They fear that being honest may lead to their silence from club communications.

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Very few will criticize Carrick because he’s their friend, an old teammate. But that entirely misses the point. True friends highlight your mistakes.

The issue extends beyond Bruno Fernandes calling out Carrick after yet another debacle; those at the helm need to address the root causes.

What has led to the club’s decay? There is no culture or standards to uphold.

Part of this falls on Carrick’s shoulders. You can’t deploy Lisandro Martinez after his comments. As a result, Fernandes feels emboldened to unleash criticism as he did in Como.

Now it’s open season, and Carrick must be bracing for the next fallout. Will Harry Maguire speak out? Will Youri Tielemans step in front of a camera and claim it wasn’t this way at Villa?

You can continue to rebuild repeatedly, but if those overseeing them are not focused on establishing a solid culture, it’s futile.

Who is steering this ship at United? Because it doesn’t appear that Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada, or even Jim Ratcliffe are suited for the task.

Who will be the manager willing to step up and resolve these issues?

Consider Xabi Alonso at Chelsea. He receives accolades for being a talented young coach, but what truly stands out is his ability to cultivate a culture.

He assesses the dressing room and realizes, “I can’t make this work, I can’t fulfill my duties with this atmosphere.”

Thus, he acquires Jordan Henderson and faces ridicule. He signs Danny Welbeck and draws more laughs, yet he brings in Maxence Lacroix and goalkeepers like Emi Martinez, who might not be universally accepted but form a core of leaders.

A core of individuals who can command a dressing room and articulate demands and expectations. This alleviates the manager’s burden so they can concentrate on the game.

Last year, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez directed their frustration at their own club; now they’re no longer there.

A club doesn’t need to be flawless in every regard to achieve success. Real Madrid has often been chaotic for years, yet they continued winning while keeping veterans like Marcelo, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric around longer than most would. Their success has diminished since these players left; the dressing room has since become unruly.

Who is performing this role at Manchester United? When scanning the squad, there seem to be only a handful of decent players, and not a single leader in sight.

Martinez effectively received a pat on the back after calling his superiors inept, and by allowing it to persist, Carrick has tacitly endorsed those sentiments, a stance he may regret in the forthcoming weeks.

BRIGHT FUTURE

ONE individual who may glance at the bleakness at Old Trafford and find a way out is Fabian Hurzeler.

The Brighton manager has his team soaring at the season’s outset. My admiration for them could not be greater.

I observed their victory over Arsenal and was struck by how Brighton outperformed in every facet, rather than the champions underperforming. They showcased resilience and tactical acumen, even in light of numerous key injuries.

The challenge for Hurzeler will be sustaining this momentum throughout the season – in my view, they’re well-positioned for a shot at Champions League qualification.

If Manchester City is excluded from the top-four equation, considering many predict they might face a massive points deduction, Brighton is comfortably in contention.
Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea will likely secure top four positions, but who else is genuinely contending?

Aston Villa could be a contender, but they face stiffer European competition compared to Brighton and can’t afford to rotate players as Hurzeler can.

Brighton possesses the talent and confidence to make a significant run this season.

KING KANE

HARRY KANE finds himself with possibly his best, and perhaps only, chance to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday.

We would all cheer for him to succeed; it’s astonishing to think of the young player I faced 15 years ago, now in this illustrious position.

Never in a million years would I have predicted Kane as a contender for football’s highest individual honor. No one who worked with him back then could have foreseen this trajectory.

He has netted a staggering number of goals, although I believe a ‘Bundesliga tax’ should be considered given the competition he faces.

Yet, beyond his scoring feats, what deserves recognition should be how commendably Harry conducts his life.

The England captain epitomizes professionalism. He sets high standards, maintains exceptional self-care, and has never created a shred of controversy off the pitch. He fulfills his responsibilities, returns home, and cherishes moments with his family.

His success is a result of his unwavering dedication to the sport, and he truly deserves every accolade that comes his way. This commitment should be honored more than mere statistics, regardless of how impressive they are.