Are there parallels between the mid-90s era of Liverpool and today’s Manchester United squad?
The thought crossed my mind this week in the aftermath of the footage online of Paul Pogba and his brother dancing and the controversial holiday video shared online by Jesse Lingard.
I will preface my point of view by saying that I don’t think there was anything particularly wrong with either Pogba dancing or Lingard enjoying a holiday. Just as there was much to like about Liverpool during the mid-90s. Robbie Fowler’s genius hat-tricks or Steve Mcmanaman’s forays down the wing spring to mind.
However, could Manchester United’s current crop of players be similar to Liverpool’s back when Graeme Souness & then Roy Evans were at the helm? This similarity is that they were known then as much for what they were doing off the pitch as for what they were doing on it.
For instance, replace Lingard’s holiday antics which were showcased on Instagram for the interest at the time in who Jamie Redknapp or Stan Collymore might have been dating.
Paul Pogba’s dancing for the ostentatious suits worn before the 1996 FA Cup final. Although the suits weren’t as terrible as they were thought of at the time (especially after losing), the suits were still a little over the top.
My point is this, just like back then for Liverpool, there is something not quite right at Manchester United. Perhaps a failure of leadership, trading on past glories, the pull of life outside football or the players and coaches not quite singing from the same hymn sheet? Maybe it is a combination of all of these factors rolled into one that is causing the lack of success?
Whatever the case Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a big task on his hands and without wanting to enjoy their travails too much, I am glad it is United who are experiencing this and not Liverpool.
