Manchester United Progress by Numbers

Manchester United: Progress Under Ole? We’ve heard a lot of talk about the progress Manchester United have been making under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, and while Manchester United are currently sitting top of the table after 17 games in the season 3 points clear of and out of sorts Liverpool team, it feels good to be a Manchester United Fan. The start to the season was shaky to say the least for United and was summed up by the 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Mourinho’s Tottenham. Two excellent performances against PSG and RB Leipzig in the Champions League were followed by an embarrassing loss to Besaksehir in Turkey also accurately described the performance of the team in general. From there United showed a pathetic response and subsequently limped out of the Champions league after failing to secure the single point against either PSG or Leipzig which was required to progress. It wasn’t just the results in those last two champions’ league games but the performance that was so concerning. The team setup in both games seemed utterly suicidal. Needing just a draw in either game the team was set up to win each game 5-4. Conceding early against Leipzig they never looked in with a chance and some questionable game management against PSG meant that many fans felt Ole was simply not up to standard. Subsequently, in the league, things started happening. A more secure, balanced and ‘in control of the ball’ United team started to show up in the premier league. Players like Juan Mata, Dan James, Mctomminay and Fred played a part in solidifying the team shape and United began to get some results. A convincing 4-1 win against Newcastle, followed by a composed 0-0 draw against an at the time decent Chelsea side preceded one last slip up, losing 1-0 in poor fashion to a weak Arsenal side. From there United went on to beat a very good Everton side convincingly. A gutsy win against Sheffield United after being 2-0 down at half time, spear headed (literally) by Edinson Cavani, signified a change in momentum. United are currently on an 11 game unbeaten streak drawing only 2 of the last 11 games and 3 points clear at the top of the table as they head to Anfield on Sunday. Can you believe it? So, how much better are Manchester United as a team then they have been in the years since the Great Sir Alex retired? Obviously it is impossible to really measure but one thing is true. The points never lie. I’ve compared Manchester United’s points in the league after 17 games for last 9 seasons as well as the points accrued at the end of the season. It does paint a picture of the progress the team both have and haven’t made under Ole. One thing is for sure; they’ve spend a lot of time in 6th place. Ole’s current return of 36 points from 17 games is the second best start for the team since Sir Alex retired, bettered only by the 38 points from 17 games in Mourinho’s second season in 2017/2018. That season they went on to score 81 points. The way the league is going this season 81 points will probably put you quite close to winning it. On that alone you would have to call it progress in a way, being 10 and 11 points of Mourinho’s disasterous 3rd season and Ole’s disasterous 1st full season start respectively.

Season Matches Points League Final Final League 2020/2021 Played 36 Position Points Position 2019/2020 25 - 2018/2019 17 26 1 - 3 2017/2018 17 38 6 66 6 2016/2017 17 30 6 66 2 2015/2016 17 29 2 81 6 2014/2015 17 32 6 69 5 2013/2014 17 28 5 66 4 2012/2013 17 42 3 70 7 17 8 64 1 17 1 89 Another thing to consider is the overall points total for the 2019/2020 season. While the team did amazingly well to secure 3rd position, they only managed that with a measly 66 points. Incidentally that is the most common points tally in the last 9 seasons, having scored 66 points 3 times since Sir Alex retired. Compare that to the Moyes season in 2013/2014 where they managed 64 points, only 2 points less than last season. It is unconvincing. As it stands Manchester United are projected to score around 80 points, although if we are to write off the first couple of results due to lack of pre-season and all the other issues perhaps a more accurate projection, taken from the Newcastle win after the first international break, takes the team to around 85 points at the end of the season. That would undoubtedly be progress though still amazingly 4 points less than Sir Alex’s final title winning season. Personally I’d be thrilled if the team can get over 80 points this season and anything less than 70 points I think is absolutely criminal from the current position. It’s a results based game and Manchester United are a streaky team. After very poor start to the season United somehow find themselves 3 points clear at the top of the table, going into the game against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday with the chance of going 6 points clear. Can they continue the streak? We shall find out.