In the classic Groundhog Day (1993), desperate weatherman Phil Connors wakes up the same day every day. No matter what he did, the same thing happened.

It’s the same feeling you get about Manchester United now.

On Sunday, the Red Devils lost 2-1 at home to Brighton in their league opener. They look as shaky as they did when they finished sixth in May, but it’s not just the game that feels repetitive.

This entire summer has been a collection of problems that have plagued United. They have a new coach and three new players.

But institutionally, United seems to be still as sluggish as before.

Substitute above

This is in a time that should offer a small revolution. Already in April, Erik ten Hag was ready as a coach, with the aim of regaining the title and the football feast. The cage had to be overhauled, of course.

When Ten Hag also demanded changes to the recruitment process – and got them – it seems United are finally on their way to something new.

But against Brighton the team was almost like before. United started with nine players who were there last season. They fielded without a striker, with playmaker Christian Eriksen as a substitute in top spot, before they were rewarded with zero points and a pipe concert.

However, it is the efforts off the pitch that are most commendable.

Almost everything that has happened in the last few months has happened to United before.

Old acquaintance

One of them is the tendency to buy players that the coach knows from his previous job. In 2013, David Moyes brought in his loyal army Marouane Fellaini, and then José Mourinho received a number of old acquaintances.

This summer the same thing happened. United have signed goalkeeper Lisandro Martínez, who played for Ten Hag at Ajax; Christian Eriksen, who played at Ajax; and Tyrell Malacia, who hails from Feyenoord, one of Ajax’s rivals.

Now they are hunting for Frenkie de Jong, who played under Ten Hag at Ajax.

They should also ask about Antony, the winger from… Ajax.

It’s fine to carry names like that as long as they give them away, but from the outside it’s strange that a club with United’s resources can provide no alternative to what Ten Hag knows about himself. Clubs like Liverpool have analysts and scouts in every corner of the world working together to give head coaches more options.

At United, one would think that Ten Hag scrolled down the contact list and called those who were available.

Summer soap operas

Then we have the story of the United star struggling to land.

New players should be in place in June, so they can establish themselves personally and sportingly. Almost every time United sign a big name, it’s in August. That’s how it is with Paul Pogba, and at least Harry Maguire after a long soap opera.

In 2020, United spent the entire summer chasing Jadon Sancho, to no avail. He just came last year.

This summer it’s all about De Jong. He is the playmaker of Ten Hag must have; the genius who would give United the ball they had been missing for years.

But De Jong is at odds with Barcelona, ​​who owe him a salary of around NOK 200 million, and Chelsea also want De Jong. This is all the mess that probably won’t be resolved before the deadline expires on September 1.

So far, the Ten Hag have only had Fred and Scott McTominay – “McFred” – the maligned duo, but who made United fall again and again.

Stars who want to go

It doesn’t just take time for United to get players. It also takes time to get them out.

Too often, a star wants to leave Old Trafford and cause havoc in the summer. Rumors have been circulating about Paul Pogba for a long time, thanks to rumors and comments from Mino Raiola’s agent. In 2019, Pogba immediately said he wanted to leave.

Nevertheless, he stayed for another three years, before leaving for free this summer.

Now it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who wants to leave. The striker is far from pre-season in Asia, while agent Jorge Mendes has offered him to a number of clubs – without a bite.

Without a proper start to the season, Ronaldo started off the bench against Brighton. United still don’t know what to do with him, and the situation will spread uncertainty as long as it’s not clarified.

Who has United approached to resolve this issue? Sir Alex Ferguson.

Nostalgic features

The 80-year-old legend was hired as an advisor in July after rumors of Ronaldo’s displeasure surfaced. Also when Ronaldo was signed last year, Ferguson was also involved.

Among the big teams, only United are holding on to their own past.

Ronaldo’s signing was also more about nostalgia than rational team building. Now that he wants to leave, and Anthony Martial is injured, United need a striker.

They can find emergency solutions. We’ve seen this before too.

Emergency tips

The name this time is Marco Arnautovic, a 33-year-old forward from Bologna, who Athletics the claim United wanted. Most thought he was done in the UK when he left for China’s Shanghai Port in 2019.

But United seem to like the old striker who has played in China.

Think back to January 2020, when United had an injured Marcus Rashford. Later, under Solskjær, they borrowed Odion Ighalo from China’s Shanghai Shenhua. Ighalo is 30 years old and overall finished in England, but United brought him back.

The following summer, United signed 33-year-old Edinson Cavani until the end of October. Of the last five established strikers United have signed, four are aged 30 or older.

Arnautovi is also an old acquaintance. He scored 12 league goals for FC Twente in 2008/09, then under Steve McClaren, with Ten Hag as assistant.

Can he attack? Possible. But where Liverpool and Manchester City secured their strikers in mid-June, United are still characterized by haste and desperation. Arnaautovi is not a signing that a well-run club should consider.

Indeed, interest in Arnautovic sums up everything that went wrong with United.

In other words, everything is as before. It was a pity for Ten Hag, who was said to have done a great job in the training field, and who was supposed to usher in a new era.

Now United can enter the season they have experienced before.