Liverpool hasn't cornered the market on team implosions. Another English institution, Manchester United, appears to be a time bomb that could detonate sooner than later. The club is walking a financial tightrope -- last week, it announced an operating profit of £100 million pounds and posted a £83.6m loss -- while the Glazers continue to come under fire. Supporters are understandably upset that the ownership is spending millions on debt service instead of investing in new players who aren't named Bebe.
Really, some people have no appreciation for the American way.
Meanwhile, the players on the field find themselves in more crises than Amy Winehouse. On Saturday, the Red Devils threw away yet another lead, as Edwin van der Sar committed an epic error that landed him a 10 out of 10 on the Robert Green sliding scale of blunders. That makes a total of six points dropped in matches where United had the lead. For a team that created a slew of chances in the first half against West Brom, it struggled to muster any creativity or attack in the second half.
And then there's Wayne Rooney. According to reports in the English media, the star striker has had a falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and wants to join a who's who list of stars -- David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy, among others -- who've left Old Trafford after their relationship with the manager soured. It's a sensational blow to the club. Even though Rooney has scored just once in the Prem, off a penalty kick no less, he's coming off a career season for United. But his attitude and fitness have come under question, and you can place too much importance on one player at a club. Given the club's finances, perhaps it'll be for the best that United can sell Rooney (his contract expires in 18 months) so the club can address its weak spots.
Without Rooney, the Red Devils will have to rely on Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez. Both have been playing well, especially Berba, but neither of them are as battle tested as Rooney in the crucible of competition that is the Theater of Dreams.
And word is that French international and troublemaker Patrice Evra is also looking for the exit sign.
These wouldn't be minor personnel changes, but the beginning of a seismic shift in the makeup of the team. This season, SAF already has used 24 players in the Premier League alone. This isn't because he's trying to cope with an injury crisis, like last season. It suggests a few other things, though: one, a manager who must rotate his aging players; two, a manager who can't figure out his best Starting XI; and three, a manager who knows big changes are ahead.
After all, how much longer can old guard warriors Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs be counted on? And who will replace them? If the answers are Anderson and Michael Carrick, who started on Saturday, United are headed for mediocrity and the Europa League.
That's where the dominoes could start to fall. Without the financial windfall that comes from playing in the Champions League, United's financial outlook would go from bad to worse. If the Red Devils couldn't reinvest some of the $80 million they received from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo two seasons ago, who would they be able to afford if they were bumped out of Europe's premier competition? Let's hope Bebe has a kid brother or something.
It's a doomsday scenario, but at the rate both clubs are going, do you think either one will be in the top four by season's end? Going from top dog to struggling has-been is a slippery slope. Once you're on it, it's hard to stop.
Just ask Liverpool.
Thanks to James Martin from ESPN for the scoop.
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