Alex Ferguson came in in 1986, was allegedly one game away from being sacked in 1990 but was saved thanks to Mark Robins. From that point forward United never looked back. The 90s belonged to United, winning title after title, and culminating in Champions League success towards the end of the decade. And then the next target was to be bridged - overtaking Liverpool to become the most successful English League side in history.
Ferguson's status as a legend can not be doubted, but what is his legacy? United have floundered since he retired. The club had had 19 managers in 96 years (20 if you count Jimmy Murphy's caretaker position) prior to Ferguson's arrival in 1986. Post Ferguson United have had 4 managers (5 if you count Ryan Gigg's caretaker position) in 6 years.
David Moyes, Giggs, Van Gaal, Mourinho, and now Solskjaar. What is a rather interesting stat is that all of these managers have a win percentage of 50% or above - something that only 5 managers in United's history managed prior to Ferguson.
Three trophies have been won by United since Ferguson's retirement. The FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League. For a club that was so dominant over almost two decades, that is scant return. So why has it gone so wrong? This season United have failed to reach Champions League, let alone challenge for the title. What must be going through Ferguson's mind knowing that when he retired United would go from League Champions and still the dominant force in English football, to not making any kind of dint in a title race? To only managing to win competitions that during his tenure would be seen at best as a bonus to the more lucrative prizes on offer (one of those trophies won being a trophy that Ferguson would never have wanted to be involved in at all (Europa League)?
Given that the game is so financially motivated, and given that United remain at the forefront of the game's richest clubs, what exactly has happened to allow United to fall from the summit so quickly?
What is happening at United?
posted on 5/5/19
jlou, I’ve given a credible opinion to explain why I think you’re wrong.
You’ve replied with abuse.
Have a nice evening.
posted on 5/5/19
Ripleys, I think what City do is relevant given they are the benchmark in English football right now. But that's something beyond our control, what has been in our control has been amateur for a club of our standing.
Let's just take this season as an example. Now I don't like Mourinho, but if you are committed enough to him to give him a new contract don't then go and fail to back him in the transfer market when he's trying to close the gap on a club that just won the league with 100 points.
What do you think he's going to do? Did they not know his history of volatility when he's not provided with the tools he needs in his infamous third season?
And to not then see the rot setting in and let it go on until December, every man and has dog knows Mourinho wasn't going to turn this team around and they let it fester.
I'm convinced Mourinho was deliberately trying to get the sack after the summer to get his pay off, yet they resisted and there's plenty of talk that the reason for that is because of the pay off - if he saw out the season and failed to get top four there was a clause that meant he didn't get one.
How the club can be ran like this is beyond me.
posted on 5/5/19
Rumours say we are after Dembele of Lyon for 43m. Ex Celtic, good player, fast and decent finisher..
posted on 5/5/19
comment by Ed The King Woodward (U10026)
posted 12 minutes ago
Ripleys, I think what City do is relevant given they are the benchmark in English football right now. But that's something beyond our control, what has been in our control has been amateur for a club of our standing.
Let's just take this season as an example. Now I don't like Mourinho, but if you are committed enough to him to give him a new contract don't then go and fail to back him in the transfer market when he's trying to close the gap on a club that just won the league with 100 points.
What do you think he's going to do? Did they not know his history of volatility when he's not provided with the tools he needs in his infamous third season?
And to not then see the rot setting in and let it go on until December, every man and has dog knows Mourinho wasn't going to turn this team around and they let it fester.
I'm convinced Mourinho was deliberately trying to get the sack after the summer to get his pay off, yet they resisted and there's plenty of talk that the reason for that is because of the pay off - if he saw out the season and failed to get top four there was a clause that meant he didn't get one.
How the club can be ran like this is beyond me.
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Absolutely agree.
posted on 5/5/19
Leadership comes from right at the top of the club. Our CEO can't even agree with our recent managers so what hope have the players got?
City's back room is as harmonious as their squad is. That's why they are so successful. The money isn't the only factor as we have just as much to spend in reality.
The club needs new ownership and fast. We're heading for permanent also rans status under the Glazers. Fergie not here anymore to bail them out of the mire.
posted on 5/5/19
liverpool made up a huge amount of points to city with a couple of important buys.
this year i thought spurs would be able to cut into the spread with a few buys to strengthen their squad. but they sat on their hands and faded.
next year city and liverpool will probably be pretty much the same so utd have their work cut out for them. much more than a couple of players to add so its a question of gelling quickly.
posted on 5/5/19
It's typical with sides including states whose success is due to fear and aura of its leaders and not seamless systems in place. A good example is the feared headmaster whose presence instills obedience, But as soon as he is away hell breaks loose.
posted on 6/5/19
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 14 hours, 56 minutes ago
Anyone saying United are done, are clueless.
The game protects big clubs now. Seedings for Europe, extra qualifying places, TV money - United are going nowhere because clubs won’t be able to afford to get near them.
Sure, they might not win a league for a few years.
But we’re not talking declines like Liverpool now - those big clubs are just too big to fall to a point where they can’t quickly recover.
That said, unless Spurs sort themselves out they could fall away imo.
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What a load of old bollox
posted on 6/5/19
It’s hard to say what I like most about this forum but if pushed I guess I’d have to say, the intellectual debates.
posted on 6/5/19
So much of it comes down to the manager. Looking at Ferguson, I'm sure players would want to play under him from the 2000's onwards rather than play for somebody like David Moyes. It's almost like players give that extra 10% for the manager.
Amongst that, United had an identity and teams were threatened by them. Classic 4-4-2, get the ball into wide areas and deliver the crosses because that's what suited the team most and Ferguson built a team around that style of play. United lost all of that identity when Moyes arrived and haven't gained any identity since that.
Also, not only style of play, but the way a manager comes across to players is massive. I remember a few years back, when Ferdinand was finishing at United, he was speaking about the differences between Ferguson and Moyes and he said one big difference was that Moyes didn't focus his attention on how to beat the top opposition, but rather how to stop their threats. That for me is a big difference.