Is Manchester United’s 2024/25 Squad the Worst in History?

Manchester United‘s 2024/25 season has endured one of its most challenging periods in modern history. With poor performances, questionable recruitment, and a daily increase in fans frustration, After their embarrassing loss to Brighton at Old Trafford, United’s head coach, Rúben Amorim declared that this is the worst team in the history of the club raising up arguments amongst fans and critics about whether this current squad truly represents the worst in the club’s celebrated history.

This piece is set to explore their performances, tactical setup, and squad construction sheds light on how far the team has fallen.

A Season Marred by Poor Performances

After 21 Premier League games, Manchester United’s position is 13th place, with just 26 points, what a far cry from the title-contending teams of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. The team’s record stands at 7 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses, with a goal difference of -5 (26 goals scored, 29 conceded). For context, this is United’s lowest points tally at this stage since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93, when the league format was widely different.

Additionally, United has already been eliminated from the EFL Cup, and their European campaign has not been encouraging to fans although they remain unbeaten in the competition. This level of underachievement, given the club’s stature and investment, is unprecedented.

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Analyzing Manchester United 2024/25 Squad

Manchester United’s squad for the 2024/25 season is a mix of promising youths, like Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, inconsistent stars like Andre Onana, and failed veterans like Casemiro. However, the overall quality of the team lacks in comparison to the standards expected in the club.The attacking department has been inconsistent.

Marcus Rashford has struggled for form, managing just 5 goals in the league. New signing Rasmus Højlund, brought in to lead the line, has been a bright spot with 7 goals but lacks consistent support. Antony, who is now loaned to Real Betis mid-season, failed to deliver as a right winger, contributing only 1 goal in 12 appearances before his departure. In addition, the lack of creativity and dynamism in the final third has been glaring.

Regardless of the presence of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Christian Eriksen, the midfield has not been dominant in several games. Fernandes, in particular, has faced criticism for his inconsistent performances and tendency to lose possession in key moments. New signings like Mason Mount have failed to make an impact, with Mount registering only 2 assists in 14 games and his only consistency is staying injured, though my apologies for that statement but it had to come out.

Furthermore, the defensive line, featuring Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw has been plagued by injuries. The lack of depth has exposed Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf, who have been error-prone when called upon. The team has conceded 29 goals in the league, such a disgusting statistic for a club that historically prides itself on defensive stability.

Not to forget the departure of David De Gea and the arrival of André Onana have caused turbulence in goal. While Onana has shown promise in distribution, his shot-stopping has been inconsistent, leading to crucial errors in games.

Managerial Struggles and Tactical Issues

The managerial shift from Erik ten Hag to Rúben Amorim mid-season has not yielded the desired results. Amorim’s high-pressing, possession-based philosophy has clashed with the squad’s limitations, leading to poor performances. The players appear uncertain of their roles, and the lack of a clear identity has made it easy for opponents to exploit United’s weaknesses.

Under Amorim, United’s pressing stats have improved a little, but they still rank outside the top 10 in the league for pressing success rate. The team also struggles to transition effectively from defense to attack, often losing possession in midfield.

How This Compares to Past Struggles

Manchester United as a club has a rich share of difficult times before, but the 2024/25 campaign stands out for the sheer disparity between investment and output: In the 1973/74 season, United was relegated to the Second Division, but that squad lacked resources and talent compared to today’s standards.

Even the 2013/14 season, under David Moyes, United finished 7th, but even that team featured players like Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney performing at a high level.What makes the current squad’s struggles more egregious is the financial backing. Since 2022, United has spent over £400 million on players like Antony, Mount, Højlund, and Onana, yet the returns have been underwhelming.

Fans Unhappiness Amidst Miserable Ownership

A major source of frustration for fans has been the ownership under the Glazer family and Sir Jim ratcliff with INEOS. The ongoing uncertainty over a potential sale has led to a lack of long-term planning. The club’s recruitment strategy appears scattershot, with signings made without a clear tactical vision. This dysfunction at the top has trickled down to the pitch, where players seem demotivated and disorganized.

Is There Redemption for United?

The big question that this piece is set to address is not only if the current squad is the worst in the club’s history or not but can there be a U-turn. Regardless, this is football and such type of trajectory has occurred several times in the past. I wish to borrow the words of United’s former head coach, Eric Ten Hag “eras do come to an end”.

While the current trajectory looks dull, dark and impossible for progress, there are glimmers of hope. The emergence of young players like Garnacho, Amad and Kobbie Mainoo offers promise for the future. Additionally, a tactical reset under Amorim or another manager could stabilize performances. Not only that, perhaps a total exit of the current executives from all footballing activities in the club is a necessary steps to take the club north.

To avoid setting new unwanted records, United must prioritize defensive organization, develop a clear attacking plan, and reignite the confidence of key players like Rashford and Fernandes.

Conclusion

The 2024/25 Manchester United squad is undoubtedly one of the weakest in the club’s Premier League history, not necessarily due to a lack of talent but because of underperformance, poor management, and a fractured structure. While it may not yet eclipse the infamous 1973/74 relegation squad, it is dangerously close to being labeled the worst team in the modern era.

For a club deep in tradition and success, the current state of affairs is unacceptable. Manchester United must address its deep-rooted issues, from ownership and recruitment to tactical execution, to avoid further embarrassment and rebuild its status as one of football’s great clubs.