The clocks tick towards a vital window but while technical directors elsewhere sort through signings, United are sorting through technical directors
Stratigraphy is the study of layered material, in an archaeological site, deposited over time. It’s how archaeologists sort the newer stuff from the older stuff. Lower down, that’s the material that’s been there longer. Higher up is the material deposited more recently.
Looking at the Manchester United line-up that started the game against West Ham on Saturday, you could conduct your own sort of footballing stratigraphy. In the team were players signed by the three permanent managers who followed immediately after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson as well as a few of the great man’s own vintage.