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Alan Smith believes Manchester United should focus on rejuvenating the team for next season
Alan Smith says Manchester United's only option is to look towards next season and make big changes at the club this summer.
It's been a torrid time for the Red Devils, who sit in 14th place in the Premier League and endured one drama after another throughout the campaign.
The club do still have the FA Cup and Europa League to play for, but when asked what they can salvage this season, Smith told DAZN, thanks to All Slot Sites, that they should focus on getting things right ahead of next year.
He said: "It’s a difficult one. They’re still playing for the manager, which is huge, and no matter who the manager is, not all the managers can get it wrong that the players aren’t good enough.
"I think that a lot of what Amorim has been brave enough to speak about has been the issue. When he said standards and that ‘he wasn’t good enough’, he’s been right, and he’s been forthright in what he’s said. I think behind the scenes, he must be quite ruthless.
"For me, it’s a case of what United can do in the summer to rejuvenate the team because there needs to be a lot of change.
"It’s clear that goals is the issue. Man United, historically, have always been a team that look like scoring goals, and the lack of goals is the most alarming stat watching the United team.
"I’m sure they’re talking about Gyokeres in from Sporting Lisbon, but is that gonna be enough? We’re talking about Man United."
Whatever United do in the summer, Smith hopes it won't be at the expense of the team's homegrown talent. Due to current PSR rules, many clubs are being forced to cash in on their young stars to generate cash, but it's not a direction that the former Red Devils man is a fan of.
"It’s only the homegrown players that are worth the money to the other people, but as a fan and someone who has played for the club and seen the success and what academy players can do, you don’t want to see them leave," he added.
"They’re the players with the connection to the club and the fans, the homegrown players. Are they gonna sell Kobbie Mainoo because they get 100% profit on a homegrown player, and it’s a sore subject.
"Are clubs using their academy to sell players to just go and buy somebody else? I hope they aren’t using the academy to simply balance the books, or what is the point of having an academy?
"Conor Gallagher, Cole Palmer, Scott McTominay who was at United since he was about 8 years old. Selling homegrown players to reinvest into the club, and I would like to see that system change if I’m honest."
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