MUFC one result away from missing out on the top 4 for the 5th time in 7 seasons of Ed Woodward's stewardship. All whilst paying the highest wage budget in English football. An intriguing case study into how wealth - whilst often definitive - is secondary to gross mismanagement.

Par for Manchester United, with their budget, is challenging for the league title & being one of Europe's elite teams. They haven't even come close to those conversations for 7 successive seasons under Woodward. To have those reserves of wealth and no meaningful squad is obscene.

Important to remember United's rot began well before Woodward. They fell from being an elite side, 3 Champions League finals in 4 seasons, to an ageing squad with no investment. Replacing Ronaldo with Obertan. Tevez with free agent Owen. Fergie's genius was the sticking plaster.

Woodward is a symptom of the Glazers. The investment banker to generate corporate income to ease debts & ensure they all take annual multi-million bonuses in the name of the club. Sporting success is an afterthought. While they stay, MUFC will remain mediocre. A corporate shell.

This was great insight from @david_conn. In 2019, the Glazer family pocketed £23m in dividends from their #MUFC ownership. They have made £200m in selling MUFC shares. Ed Woodward's annual salary is £4.152m. MUFC remain £511m in debt. Vulture capitalism. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/17/glazers-legacy-manchester-united-liverpool?CMP=share_btn_tw

Between 2009-18, United paid an astonishing £131m more to service the Glazer debts than in the first-team squad. So the amount being spent (and wasted through lack of structure) is unparalleled, but even more relevant is the club's money NOT being invested https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/1044601193190891520

Solskjaer is doing a good job. He's in situ because he is a cheap, easy option and, unlike Mourinho, will not kick up a huge fuss. But he has helped change the culture. Signings are no longer based on vanity and flexing financial muscle. He's detoxified the club from mercenaries.