As the year draws to a close, Manchester United finds themselves in a state of despair once again. With a performance that can only be described as hapless, spineless, and embarrassing, the thoughts of two knights of the realm must surely be resounding in the minds of fans. Sir Alex Ferguson, the man who turned United into serial winners, was sitting next to Sir David Brailsford at the City Ground, perhaps contemplating the dire situation at hand.
Caption: Man Utd ended 2023 with another defeat as they lost 2-1 at Nottingham Forest | Credit: Reuters
Brailsford, INEOS’ director of sport, may find himself tasked with applying the philosophy that made British cyclists world-beaters to put United back on the podium. But even the great Fergie might exclaim, “Marginal gains, my a**e! This lot needs a lot more than that, son.”
United’s hopes of salvaging an undeserved point were briefly ignited when Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner gifted Marcus Rashford the chance to equalize Nicolas Dominguez’s opening goal. However, lacking composure, bottle, and quality, United succumbed to Morgan Gibbs-White’s match-winning strike soon after.
Caption: Anthony Elanga got one over his old side as Forest bagged a timely winner | Credit: Getty
Not even 10 minutes of added time, reminiscent of the legendary Fergietime, could rescue the club. The home fans taunted United boss Erik Ten Hag with chants of “Sacked in the morning.” While INEOS’ remaining buy-in to the club is still pending, Ten Hag’s optimistic remarks about working with the new part-owners may soon ring hollow if the situation at Old Trafford does not improve.
In the first half, the match lacked significant saves, with Forest providing most of the limited quality on display. United seemed devoid of patterns of play and purpose, betraying the club’s traditions. Though the 3-2 victory against Aston Villa from a 2-0 deficit offered hope, United’s lack of commitment was unforgivable.
The lackluster performance continued in the second half, as United lost almost every 50/50 challenge and appeared inferior to Forest in all aspects of the game. Rashford, apart from his well-taken goal, was a mere shadow of the player who scored 30 goals last season. The team as a whole failed to impress, while Forest goalkeeper Turner presented more danger to his own goal through poor distribution.
Ultimately, Dominguez’s goal sealed United’s fate. The lack of defensive awareness allowed him to score, leaving fans despondent. Although Rashford managed a cool finish to briefly revive hopes, Gibbs-White swiftly reestablished Forest’s lead. Turner redeemed himself with a fantastic save from Bruno Fernandes’ deflected shot, sealing United’s defeat.
As the year concludes, the future looks uncertain for Manchester United. The hopes and dreams of a once-great club rest on the shoulders of those tasked with leading them back to glory. Sir Dave Brailsford, as the INEOS representative, and Sir Alex Ferguson, a living legend, surely understand the magnitude of the challenge ahead.