Manchester United Doomed by Its Success?

Photo courtesy of Man Utd via Getty Images

The summer transfer window of 2014 came to a dramatic close at 11pm on Monday, 1 September 2014 with Manchester United finishing off strongly after a slow start by pulling off the surprise coup of the summer - the loan signing of Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from Monaco for the season.

Falcao, who is just recovering from a serious knee injury which curtailed his involvement with Colombia in the World Cup, is regarded as one of the best strikers in world football and was set for Real Madrid - a tweet hinted that his "dream" transfer to Real Madrid was certain until it was revealed that the tweet was fake.

Alas, Falcao's "dream" transfer was to Old Trafford and Manchester United's boot room which is already crammed with strikers and attacking players with defenders and central midfielders of note nowhere to be seen.

Indeed, experts and even avid followers of the Red Devils are still scratching their head at the sense of this highly expensive move - Falcao is set to earn 6-figures a week - with United already boasting Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Angel di Maria in attack.

For all of United's attacking potential, it will remain only as potential with the current midfield and defence. Supply to the frontmen was a problem with Rooney forced to forage deeper and Robin van Persie losing confidence towards the end of the season starved of the ball.

Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind are good signings but they are defenders who can forage down the flanks - although Blind can play as a defensive midfielder. Central defence hasn't been fixed and will remain a problem even if United can score goals. Anders Herrera will need time to bed in once he's fit, but by that time, the pressure will be right on him - and we saw what pressure did to Marouane Fellaini last season.

The fact is, I doubt Sir Alex Ferguson would have signed Radamel Falcao given the problems elsewhere in the team and the decision was one made by Ed Woodward to appease Louis van Gaal and to keep his head above the discontent at his leadership which has been questionable since he took over from David Gill.

The fact is, the signings of Juan Mata, Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria were partly made for commercial reasons - big signings for a big club - without real thought into addressing the weaknesses in the team. Even the appointment of Louis van Gaal was made based on reputation - yes he has achieved much in his long coaching career, but I still have my doubts that van Gaal's coaching style suits the Manchester United culture.

The fact is, Manchester United's successes on the field have made it such a commercially successful brand - and an entity on the stock exchange - that football matters now compete with commercial matters often to the detriment of the team.

Perhaps it is no wonder that Ferguson packed up his box before seeing the light.

For Liverpool and Manchester City fans, they can continue to smile with glee as they watch the former giants drown in their own wealth. But for United fans, more despair is ahead unless those in the club's boardrooms get back to footballing matters.