Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has delivered a damning verdict on Manchester United's transfer strategy, claiming the club's failure to strengthen their defence last summer has created a fundamental 'problem' at Old Trafford.
A Squad Lacking Foundation
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew argued that United's decision to focus on their attack while neglecting their backline has left the squad with no solid foundation to build upon. This critique comes amid a deepening crisis for the Red Devils, who are once again without a permanent manager after sacking Ruben Amorim following a poor run of results.
"First and foremost, you've got to have a playing staff that warrants wearing that jersey," Pardew stated. "When I look at that Manchester United team, particularly at the back, there's no foundation, for me, to build on, in terms of a backline where you can be solid."
He made a stark comparison, suggesting that Tottenham Hotspur's current defensive options are superior to any back four United can field, regardless of who is fit. "That's a problem which they didn't address last summer," he emphasised.
Attack Bolstered, Defence Ignored
The summer of 2025 had begun with optimism for United fans. The club's hierarchy overhauled their forward line, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. While Pardew acknowledged these signings, noting Sesko did "some nice things" in the recent FA Cup defeat, he believes the issues lie much deeper.
"At the top of the pitch, they addressed that a little bit," Pardew said. "But there's still so much to do behind the front three, though. The midfield, the back four, the goalkeeper is only just finding his feet. There's a lot of problems in that squad in terms of balance, cohesion and fight."
The consequences of this imbalance are clear. After Amorim's dismissal, caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has failed to secure a win. His tenure began with a 2-2 draw against struggling Burnley and was followed by an FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on January 12, 2026, with former United striker Danny Welbeck scoring the winner at Old Trafford.
Managerial Search and Structural Issues
With the club searching for yet another new boss, Michael Carrick is now reportedly the frontrunner to take over from Fletcher until the season's end, moving ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Pardew believes Carrick would be a "decent" interim choice but warned that no manager will find quick fixes.
Pardew also pointed to broader structural issues, specifically referencing the departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth. "Dan Ashworth came in, they headhunted him and he was going to be the man who was going to put a plan together for this football club... And then he went," Pardew noted, implying a lack of long-term vision.
Ultimately, Pardew expressed sympathy for the club's supporters, who have watched their team lurch from one crisis to another. His analysis underscores a belief that United's fundamental error was a naive transfer window that forgot the age-old adage: success is built from the back.
