There comes a stage in the season for most teams where they are forced to re-focus their ambitions. Some, like Southampton, and perhaps Newcastle United have a better start than predicted, and now have European football to aim for, while others struggle to reach mid-table, and are forced to focus on survival alone, like Sunderland. The hardest challenge is to have to switch your focus from winning the league; the ultimate ambition of most teams in the Premier League, and to reevaluate, even with the unthinkable loss of major revenue that will come with a shift in agenda. For Manchester United, the reigning champions, this will be a particularly hard one to do, but right now, the evidence is there to suggest that they have little to no hope of retaining their title. From the points gap that has opened up to recent boardroom decisions and the mountain of opposition they have to overhaul, there are a number of reasons as to why United are doomed to mediocrity this season. We've compiled the top 5 reasons why the famous Red Devils' challenge for the league is already over, whether the players and management realise it or not. We also delve into the individual decisions that have shaped the course of their season so far, and ask whether some of those changes should have been made at all?
Diarmuid is a freelance student and studious sports journalist operating out of the wilds of Dublin, Ireland. His specialist subjects include the English Premier League, the GAA, and track and field athletics.
