It has been a tough few days for Manchester United supporters as frustrations over transfer inactivity grows.
United’s lack of movement in the market is exacerbated by the more urgent activity of our rivals.
The club’s social media admin has been bearing the brunt of supporter’s frustrations.
While fans are looking to the club’s twitter feed as a source of announcement for player transfers, the account has been busy posting throwback reminders instead.
On Sunday, United’s account posted about previous wins over newly promoted Fulham three times. Each tweet was met with more and more vociferous demands from fans to sign new players.
Today the club took a look back at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s debut in 1996.
This began an incredible journey for him, going to score a Champions League winning goal three years later, and then becoming manager 21 years on.
A time of efficiency
The reminder of the summer of 1996 was a throwback to a time when United were efficient in the transfer market.
In this summer the club signed five players after winning the double, showing determination to improve further.
The sums of money were far below today’s standards. Even at the time they were relatively cheap deals. What was impressive was that United knew exactly who they wanted, and went out and got them.
United signed two stars of Euro ’96, with Netherlands forward Jordi Cruyff and Czech Republic winger Karel Poborsky added to the squad to add competition.
Neither player would go on to be a huge success, but in the short-term both played a role in helping United to retain the Premier League title in 1996/97.
Back-up goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw was also added. This was a role United needed to get right, and the Dutchman performed his role at the club for six years, and even performed admirably in the Champions League semi-final against Dortmund in 1997 when called upon.
The best deals were the club’s cheap gambles on Norwegian duo Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Both players went on to play key roles for United in the 1999 Treble success, with Johnsen starting against Bayern in the Champions League final and Solskjaer coming off the bench to score the winner.
What can this tell us?
United’s activity in 1996 is a reminder of the club’s continuous determination to improve, at the time.
This past summer we have so far signed no first team players after finishing third. Back then we finished first and still added five players.
It was also telling that the better deals were among the cheapest. United paid just £1.2 million for Johnsen and £1.5 million for Solskjaer.
While these fees may be the equivalent of £12-15 million today, such an outlay would still present very little risk.
United’s decision to sign the pair was underpinned by strong scouting. Even today, the club’s scouts will no doubt be working hard to locate bargains who could strengthen the squad.
The team needs depth, and if a mega-deal for Sancho is not possible, United at least need to take a few low-risk gambles on bright talents in the Solskjaer and Johnsen mould.
If anybody should recognise this, then it is the current United boss, and that at least gives us some faith that the Red Devils will end this transfer window stronger than we began it.
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