A standard synopsis of Breaking Bad would say that it is the story of an ordinary chemistry teacher who, when diagnosed with lung cancer turns his entire life around for the sake of his family and his existence (eventually).
But what’s that to do with an article on Man United?
Walter H. White was a plain, bland and ordinary character whereas Man United is as glamorous, attractive and special as they come. May be a comparison with Don Corleone and his famiglia would have been more apt but we shall keep that for some other day.
For the past few years United were showing symptoms of ill health especially in the midfield department. But the genius of Sir Alex kept them going and once he was gone, the cells lost control and the cancer surfaced. The new manager and his executive looked out of their depth, players lost their confidence, fans turned against each other. In short, last season was truly malignant for the club.
Everyone supported the new regime of David Moyes and Ed Woodward, but the latter failed the club in his first transfer window. The rumors of Fabregas/Strootman/Herrera’s stooges kept the fans on the edge but the club could only manage an unlike United signing in a Brussels born talented midfielder who was going to be played out of position to further add to the disappointment.
The manager started on a decent note but soon the frustrating performance started. Everyone hoped it was just a matter of time that the Red Devils will show their true colors but it never happened. The situation got bad to worse and eventually Moyes-out did materialize. During that sickening time, the club turned to its most adored ornament The Class of 92 (well, not all of them). It brought back the romanticism and did lift the fans but that’s that. A logical decision regarding the appointment of the new manager was required. From Klopp to Ancelloti, every name was discussed by the media and during that phase came the rumor of a Dutch trophy-magnet. Most people were skeptical as he was Tottenham bound, the new age fan-boys did not know much about him, for some others he was too old etc. But as people read about him, saw his trophy collection, his famous rants/jibes/quotes, there was a change of mood.
And thus, Louis van Gaal became the manager of the biggest club in the world.
Till this moment only United fans were raving about him (mostly out of hope), sharing articles on him, and getting ready to welcome him at Old Trafford. Little did they know that he will announce himself so emphatically at the FIFA World Cup 2014. Now, the entire world knew him and his golden willy. Prior to the start of the world cup, a respectful defeat at the hands of Brazil in the first knockout stage was their best bet according to the pun-dits. But LvG’s team proved them wrong by playing emphatically with aggression, control and yes, tactics b****h.
After the world cup, the entire footballing world turned its attention to the mad circus of transfer window. People were discussing about a £200 million kitty for transfers at United. The team lacked pace, was thin at defense and had the worst midfield in years. Woodward started negotiating with clubs and as the fans were getting impatient, he signed Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw in two days. The former should have been at Old Trafford a year earlier while the latter’s deal was said to be done even when he played against the Reds at the end of the season. Then came the lull, excuse of World cup and LvG assessing players was given. Meanwhile the ghosts of Sneijder/Fabregas were revisited in the Vidal saga. Media kept reporting that Deal was off and it was on the next day. Rivals said no world class player wants to sign for United and fans were calling for Ed’s head, but before it was too late United signed the player who won Madrid the last year’s Champions League. A truly deserving no. 7 was signed in Di Maria. Ed was not done yet and he went after the Argentine LB who featured in most people’s 2014 World cup team and he was signed after the customary third party hassle. Though LvG in one of his presser said a player can be signed in 24 hours, the fans were still worried for the defensive and midfield replenishment. Anyways the season began with Swansea coming at Old Trafford and shocking the Red Devils.
This increased the pressure on the club and in the coming weeks the signing of the versatile Greek-godly Daley Blind was finalized. Guess, it was the 24 hour signing which LvG had at his disposal. Deadline day came and fans were hoping to sign a world class CM/CB but United signed Radamel EL TIGRE Falcao in Fergie time. Deadline day was won! It really shook the footballing world because nobody saw that coming. The window also saw mass exodus of Bebé, Nani, Cleverley, Büttner, Welbeck, Chicharito, Ferdinand, Evra and the likes.
People call the new United as Gaalacticos, they say the club’s traditions are being eroded. Poor guys don’t know that a blend of world class talent and youth has always been United’s tradition (Sir Matt Busby brought Denis Law and George Best while Sir Alex also overhauled the team after his arrival).
Coming back to my dumb analogy of Breaking Bad, Lily Rothman says
“The words possess a wide variety of nuances: to ‘break bad’ can mean to ‘go wild,’ to ‘defy authority’, to be verbally ‘combative, belligerent, or threatening’ or, followed by the preposition ‘on,’ to ‘completely dominate or humiliate.’”
This is probably the best way one can describe United!
So, the stage is set, the manager is confident, the players are ready, the fans are excited and it’s time to put United where they belong…
TOP!
And at the end of it all, LvG will say “I won.”
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| Manchester Unted [Image from flickr by Mikey] |
Walter H. White was a plain, bland and ordinary character whereas Man United is as glamorous, attractive and special as they come. May be a comparison with Don Corleone and his famiglia would have been more apt but we shall keep that for some other day.
For the past few years United were showing symptoms of ill health especially in the midfield department. But the genius of Sir Alex kept them going and once he was gone, the cells lost control and the cancer surfaced. The new manager and his executive looked out of their depth, players lost their confidence, fans turned against each other. In short, last season was truly malignant for the club.
Everyone supported the new regime of David Moyes and Ed Woodward, but the latter failed the club in his first transfer window. The rumors of Fabregas/Strootman/Herrera’s stooges kept the fans on the edge but the club could only manage an unlike United signing in a Brussels born talented midfielder who was going to be played out of position to further add to the disappointment.
The manager started on a decent note but soon the frustrating performance started. Everyone hoped it was just a matter of time that the Red Devils will show their true colors but it never happened. The situation got bad to worse and eventually Moyes-out did materialize. During that sickening time, the club turned to its most adored ornament The Class of 92 (well, not all of them). It brought back the romanticism and did lift the fans but that’s that. A logical decision regarding the appointment of the new manager was required. From Klopp to Ancelloti, every name was discussed by the media and during that phase came the rumor of a Dutch trophy-magnet. Most people were skeptical as he was Tottenham bound, the new age fan-boys did not know much about him, for some others he was too old etc. But as people read about him, saw his trophy collection, his famous rants/jibes/quotes, there was a change of mood.
And thus, Louis van Gaal became the manager of the biggest club in the world.
Till this moment only United fans were raving about him (mostly out of hope), sharing articles on him, and getting ready to welcome him at Old Trafford. Little did they know that he will announce himself so emphatically at the FIFA World Cup 2014. Now, the entire world knew him and his golden willy. Prior to the start of the world cup, a respectful defeat at the hands of Brazil in the first knockout stage was their best bet according to the pun-dits. But LvG’s team proved them wrong by playing emphatically with aggression, control and yes, tactics b****h.
After the world cup, the entire footballing world turned its attention to the mad circus of transfer window. People were discussing about a £200 million kitty for transfers at United. The team lacked pace, was thin at defense and had the worst midfield in years. Woodward started negotiating with clubs and as the fans were getting impatient, he signed Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw in two days. The former should have been at Old Trafford a year earlier while the latter’s deal was said to be done even when he played against the Reds at the end of the season. Then came the lull, excuse of World cup and LvG assessing players was given. Meanwhile the ghosts of Sneijder/Fabregas were revisited in the Vidal saga. Media kept reporting that Deal was off and it was on the next day. Rivals said no world class player wants to sign for United and fans were calling for Ed’s head, but before it was too late United signed the player who won Madrid the last year’s Champions League. A truly deserving no. 7 was signed in Di Maria. Ed was not done yet and he went after the Argentine LB who featured in most people’s 2014 World cup team and he was signed after the customary third party hassle. Though LvG in one of his presser said a player can be signed in 24 hours, the fans were still worried for the defensive and midfield replenishment. Anyways the season began with Swansea coming at Old Trafford and shocking the Red Devils.
This increased the pressure on the club and in the coming weeks the signing of the versatile Greek-godly Daley Blind was finalized. Guess, it was the 24 hour signing which LvG had at his disposal. Deadline day came and fans were hoping to sign a world class CM/CB but United signed Radamel EL TIGRE Falcao in Fergie time. Deadline day was won! It really shook the footballing world because nobody saw that coming. The window also saw mass exodus of Bebé, Nani, Cleverley, Büttner, Welbeck, Chicharito, Ferdinand, Evra and the likes.
People call the new United as Gaalacticos, they say the club’s traditions are being eroded. Poor guys don’t know that a blend of world class talent and youth has always been United’s tradition (Sir Matt Busby brought Denis Law and George Best while Sir Alex also overhauled the team after his arrival).
Coming back to my dumb analogy of Breaking Bad, Lily Rothman says
“The words possess a wide variety of nuances: to ‘break bad’ can mean to ‘go wild,’ to ‘defy authority’, to be verbally ‘combative, belligerent, or threatening’ or, followed by the preposition ‘on,’ to ‘completely dominate or humiliate.’”
This is probably the best way one can describe United!
So, the stage is set, the manager is confident, the players are ready, the fans are excited and it’s time to put United where they belong…
TOP!
And at the end of it all, LvG will say “I won.”
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