So, the season is so young that it is still being wrapped in swaddling as we await the arrival of the afterbirth, but already Manchester United's season needs to be turned around quickly if the fans are to be appeased.
Moyes' tenure at the club has seen the club sink to depths that it hasn't seen for several years, and his incongruous departure that was triggered by his failure to seal CL qualification seemed to signify that the Scot was being saddled with the responsibility for the club's demise.
He was constantly reminded that he had inherited a team of PL champions, and one that should retain its tilt at the PL title. And with new manager LVG installed as boss, he will be under no illusions as to the targets the club will expect to be met.
With hindsight, we are advised that the squad was ageing; a full 12 months older than when they lifted the PL trophy. But does this observation paper over the cracks that were beginning to appear under Ferguson's reign? Or is it a stark reminder that any manager delving into the PL merry-go-round cannot expect an easy ride?
Did Moyes dismantle the good work that the previous incumbent had done, or was he just unable to yield the harvest from the same crops that Ferguson had sewn? And how will LVGs methods be received? If he doesn't turn results around quickly, probably not very well.
But their ongoing struggles seem to churn out more questions than answers; the fact that Ferguson had such an extraordinary ability to rally his troops and generate an appetite for winning in his ranks that he made winners out of a mediocre outfit was legendary. But was he already aware that the ship was sinking? Did he reach for the nearest lifeboat as soon as his feet got wet? He had already plugged some holes in the side, but how long could he steady the ship for? Within a few weeks of Moyes being on board, the water was already gushing in, and the signing of Fellaini as a last-ditch effort to shore up the midfield was about as welcome in the circumstances as an iceberg.
Did Ferguson put all his effort into regaining the PL title in 2013, knowing that the team had one more good season in it? Or could the team have continued its success under the right stewardship? He certainly appeared inconsolable after they were robbed of victory against Real Madrid in the CL; further evidence to suggest that this was United's last decent opportunity for a while to add to their European tally. Or did he already know that he was going to slap his resignation on the desk, and wanted to go out with another CL trophy?
Ferguson's successors have not emulated his success (albeit in a short period of time), which seems to underline how effective the Scot was. However, it leaves the poser hanging above the club: did he know something that nobody else did?
Did Ferguson Jump a Sinking Ship?
posted on 19/8/14
think fergie realised that the team needed rebuilding and that he didn't want to spend time doing it again which would take a few years. after all he has proved he can build teams and as soon as he won the league he was always going to leave on a high.
posted on 19/8/14
No he didn't. He retired for his own reasons, and the club has faltered since then. He was the greatest manager of all time, and upon him leaving the club have to adapt to lesser men in charge.
Any notion that Sir Alex left because he saw a poor future for United is ludicrous.
posted on 19/8/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 19/8/14
He went out on a high. RVP was his final masterstroke together with somehow getting that team to win the league.
I really think he was being fair to the next manager, Moyes and letting him bring in whoever he wanted, staff and new players, new ideas. Alas it didn't work.
SAF got a bit too sentimental towards the end and too short term. But hey what an incredible manager and man so we can't really knock him. Gill leaving at the same time was a big mistake.
£165m net in last five seasons is quite a lot but what is really needed is 3 to 4 absolute top quality signings and I don't see that happening. We have passed up the chance to go for Kroos, Fabregas, Khedira to name a few. Surely we can find a strong, athletic midfield player and forget the Strootman obsession.
Fletcher, Cleverley are squad players and Carrick is getting on too.
posted on 19/8/14
Personally, fergie left the funds and platform for a new manger to come in and build a superb team.
Utd were not in a disimilar position squad wise to chelsea when saf left but with the right investment the have a seemingly world class 11.
imagine we bought as chelsea did:
---------------------------de gea---------------------
----rafael---------vidic------smallin/jones/evans----felipe
-------------------matic-------fabregas----------------
Willian/shurle-------rooney--------------adnan----
------------------------rvp/costa
utd spend: felleni 27, herrera 30, mata 37, shaw 30 = 124
mourinho spend: matic 20, fabrega 28, costa 32, felipe 16 sum total 96 mil plus 40 mil or so for willian/shurle
posted on 19/8/14
Shaw and Hererra fit the profile our club are looking for in terms of age and sell on fees. It's more long term. Chelsea look to the now and to win things, knowing they have some fantastic youth players and a lot of them to follow. OK in the past they haven't blood them but I think that will change. Maureen thinks they can dominate for 10 years. They have half a dozen top prospects this time, not McCreachan, Kakuta standard but way better
posted on 19/8/14
Have always said for last 5 years utd squad isn't great. Even though they kept finishing above Arsenal I was never impressed by them as I was when they had Ronaldo. Fergie got 100% out of everyone, but once he left the team needed re building. He made some atrocious decisions off field too such as Pogba.
posted on 19/8/14
comment by 50-Sanogoal machine (U1147)
posted 3 minutes ago
Have always said for last 5 years utd squad isn't great. Even though they kept finishing above Arsenal I was never impressed by them as I was when they had Ronaldo. Fergie got 100% out of everyone, but once he left the team needed re building. He made some atrocious decisions off field too such as Pogba.
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He didn't make atrocious decisions. Pogba wasn't picked and decided to up and go. Unfortunate but these things happen and it was a mistake to let that happen. Bebe an obvious mistake and you could argue Zaha but the fact that several top clubs wanted him shows he has the potential.
posted on 19/8/14
Sinking ship after 1 game in a season, I think it is time to consider leaving this forum
posted on 19/8/14
Perhaps you should read the very first word of the title (and check out the punctuation at the end of its sentence).
You have also missed out an entire season that I have brought into the equation.