New Year’s Resolutions for Manchester United to Address in 2017

Manchester United, in a commendable move, have apparently decided to make an early start on their New Year’s resolutions. On November 3, they lost away to Fenerbahce, and enough was enough. Since then, they remain unbeaten, having won eight and drawn three.

Lots of what would have ended up on their list of things to change have already been changed. The top four priorities have all been sorted with time to spare before the changing of the calendar.

Switch to 4-3-3 with Michael Carrick in the middle to get the best out of Paul Pogba?

Done.

Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba is already the best midfielder in the world… and could win the Ballon d’Or 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LkTSeRhC2B

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 27, 2016

Help Zlatan Ibrahimovic find his shooting boots again?

Done, in spectacular style. Ibrahimovic has 11 goals in his past 10 games. Throw in his three assists and he has been directly involved in 14 of the Red Devils’ last 23 goals—and all of their last five.

Make manager Jose Mourinho somehow see reason on his handling of Henrikh Mkhitaryan?

Mourinho has seen reason, and it is beautiful. Mkhitaryan is a vital, thrilling part of United’s first team now and has a goal in each of his last three appearances, including one that would be a lock for Goal of the Season had it not been offside.

Piece on Mkhitaryan, that goal, and Mourinho’s antidisestablishmkhitaryanism https://t.co/CKtt5WEItC

— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) December 28, 2016

Find a solid centre-back pairing?

Well. This is awkward. That has been done, too, and much to the shock of anyone time-travelling from the beginning of the season straight to the new year, it turns out it is Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo. No one saw that coming, but for now, that is what is happening.

However, as Mourinho said after the 3-1 win over Sunderland, there is still room for improvement. Let’s take a look at what they still need to resolve to do better.

Sort out the results against top teams

Their recent good run has seen them face two other teams in the top six, both at Old Trafford, and they more or less did the job.

The draw against Arsenal in November was maddening because the Gunners offered precious little attacking threat until their late equaliser, but it was not a disaster. The win over Tottenham Hotspur in December was vital, but it was a narrow 1-0 victory. Relying on margins that fine is always a risk.

Their other league games against the current top six this season saw …

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