Not every patch is purple.

If United win the Europa League, I am going to kill myself. No self-respecting club competes in that tournament. The crisis that Manchester United are in, is bigger than anything they have faced over the last decade. Defence, midfield and attack need repair. This team won the Premier League last year and reached the finals of the Champions' League. This season, it is not even January and the club is out of two competitions (and honestly, I'd pick the Carling Cup over the Europa League).

One big change this year is the absence of Edwin Van der Sar (De Gea is improving all the time but he's too young to show any presence in the box) but I guess it is only a matter of time. The right back spot is not exactly cemented by one player and it has been like that ever since Gary Neville ran into injury troubles. Smalling and Jones have been pretty good there but United need a long-term solution. Rio Ferdinand has had too many off days lately in central defence and I get the feeling that he and Vidic do not trust each other anymore. Johnny Evans is a disaster. He is neither strong nor fast and loses concentration frequently. Ferguson has to surely realize that now. Evra is old and not half as good as he was two or three years ago.
Transfer Market Solution: A left back – Jordi Alba / Emilio Izaguirre. And for heaven’s sake, send Evans out.

United’s problems in central midfield are huge. Sir Alex has to view this area of the pitch as two parts like every other big club does. Gone are the days when central midfield was just one position and while United have very talented players for that, none of the players fit the bill for attacking and defensive midfield. Cleverley, Anderson and Carrick have been good this season but Cleverley and Anderson are out until the New Year at least and for them to get back and gain some rhythm will take very long by which time, United can probably kiss the Premier League goodbye. Creating chances has not been too much of an issue this season so it is not absolutely necessary for United to go into the market for that kind of a player but a defensive midfielder seems to be a necessity. And Ferguson should stop experimenting with Jones and Rooney in midfield.
Transfer Market Solution: A defensive midfielder – Javi Martinez / Lass Diarra / Danielle De Rossi. Offload Gibson and send the kids out on loan.

In attack, the problem lies in finishing. One of Untied’s biggest strengths in the last decade was clinical finishing. One can remember Ruud van, Ronaldo and even Rooney being ruthless in front of goal. Hernandez seems to be falling an awful lot while shooting. Berbatov’s confidence is as low as ever. Rooney has been experimented with too much and suddenly he has forgotten how to finish. He should play alongside a striker instead of playing in the “hole”. Young and Nani are not good enough to play as strikers. Not for Manchester United, no.
Transfer Market Solution: None. Players just need to find their finishing boots.

I hope Manchester United crashes out of the Europa League as early as possible and concentrates on domestic competitions. It is a club desperately in need of reconstruction and like every other club has hit a rough patch except that this patch is getting bigger by the game and is breeding an unwanted quality. Slowly, the winning mentality is fading away, the ruthlessness is absent; aggression is not there to be seen and these are changes that could leave a lasting impact on the years to come, but as always at Manchester United, there is only one man for crisis and I believe he will come up with a solution for he knows better, the club that he built from almost scratch when he took over the reins for solving football’s biggest riddle 25 years ago.