Opinion: United Are Still Missing the X Factor

3 points is 3 points, but watching United on Saturday left me concerned for the season ahead. Considering the money LVG has spent since taking over from Moyes, I think United fans should be feeling a little more upbeat about our team than those I have spoken.

No doubt we have improved certain areas of the team – Darmian looks like we may finally have the right replacement for Gary Neville, both Schneiderlin and Schweini are sure to prove excellent signings before too long, and whilst Memphis has exceptional promise, it could well take him a season or 2 to show what impact he can really have.

The game against Tottneham was not great viewing – it was pretty boring to be frank, with our first shot on target coming midway through the second half and with our keeper being the busier of the 2 over the 94 minutes at home. It just reminded me of last season’s many poor performances, with United scraping a somewhat fortunate win.

Maybe I am in a minority, but as a United fan since the Busby era, I don’t want to see us just win; I want to see us win with flair, excitement, edge of your seat football.

United have gained 660 million supporters around the world by playing a certain way, and having a never ending supply of ‘superstars. I am currently based in Los Angeles, where United have a huge following, and I have asked many people “Why United?” It’s the same answer every time – Best, Law, Charlton, Robson, Keane, Cantona, Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney… superstars of the game at the time. Whilst Rooney is still at United and our captain, I am not convinced he is the same game changer he once was, and right now United are missing that X factor player that is going to get you out of your seat and win games for us with style.

Who is our Ronaldo? Our Bale? Our Suarez, Hazard, Aquero, Messi or Neymar? In reality, we don’t have that player currently at United, and without that really special talent, we will be looking at 3rd/4th, but Van Gaal still has few more weeks to fill that hole. He also needs to sort out the goalkeeping situation, and sign a center back, as I cannot see how Daley Blind can be expected to cope with the physicality of the Premier League in that position. Van Gaal has spent a lot of money – he needs to produce on the pitch and bring silverware back to United sooner rather than later and with style, not the kind of football where you feel you can safely go to the loo without missing anything!

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