We're ManchesteROFL United, we do what we want

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed on the points about Fergie getting out knowing he was approaching a mammoth task of rebuilding yet another side but without the core strength he'd had before or the relative financial muscle to fix things as 'easily' as he had done before.

The squad he left behind was, IMO the worst and badly balance he'd managed in 20 years at United. Who failed to address the long term problems in midfield or succession planning at the back? The club or Fergie?

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Agreed on the points about Fergie getting out knowing he was approaching a mammoth task of rebuilding yet another side but without the core strength he'd had before or the relative financial muscle to fix things as 'easily' as he had done before.

The squad he left behind was, IMO the worst and badly balance he'd managed in 20 years at United. Who failed to address the long term problems in midfield or succession planning at the back? The club or Fergie?

greed 100% fergie knew exactly what he was leaving behind.

not sure who to blame for the long term ignoring of the back 4 and midfield honestly.

[YateleyRoyal]

Well clearly not fergie, as two successive managers haven't done anything about it either...

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Firstly - i absolutely cannot stand Utd, Fergie or their fans, but...

Anyone who is suggesting that Fergie somehow thought he was "getting out at the right time" so as not to tarnish his record is absolutely bonkers. The man clearly loves the club more than anything (including his own health, family etc). If he was 5 years younger, who would have put it past him doing yet another rebuilding job himself? As mentioned above he'd done it 3-4 times before - and from worse starting points than the current team.

IMHO he stepped down as yes he knew there was a rebuilding job, but he quite rightly wanted a team built under, and for, a new manager - for the long term. It's only hindsight that shows its perhaps a more difficult starting point than first expected. Who honestly thought Moyes wouldn't do a decent job there given a year or more? Of course there were questions over how many trophies etc, but given the work he'd done at Everton on a modest budget, he absolutely looked like a manager in the same mould as fergie to take them on.

[Whatevs]

I wrote something similar and then deleted it as i CBA'd with the back and forth. When Ferguson retired hewas a 72
year old man in need of a hip operation 4fs.

A few half decent signings (i.e. not Fellaini) would have left United in reasonable shape. For what it's worth Fletcher
and Young were standout performers in pre-season* against decent opposition. They have been uttershite in the two
prem games

[Winston Smith]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00H2UDWSS/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?redirect=true&ref_=pe_336571_53125311_em_1p_11_ti

[Winston Smith]

Welcome to England

[Platypuss]

A valuable away point there.

[windermere_royal]

What is it with this TV love affair with this wetched club? 4 out of 4 games televised live. you will have to wait till Sept 27th before they play a game thats not on live TV. after that it`s Nov 8th. 10 of their 1st 11 games Live, not bad for a mid table side

[Franchise FC]

What is it with this TV love affair with this wetched club? 4 out of 4 games televised live. you will have to wait till Sept 27th before they play a game thats not on live TV. after that it`s Nov 8th. 10 of their 1st 11 games Live, not bad for a mid table side

It's so they get the meaningless mid-table teams out of the way before the meaningful stuff later in the season

[Whatevs]

A valuable away point there.

just 38 more to go <fingers crossed>

[Ian Royal]

Utd are the most successful English club of the last 20 years with the biggest following in the country. And they're now mediocre. There is barely a football fan in the UK who is not either
a) thoroughly loving watching them fail, or
b) desperately watching in the hope they'll start winning.

They've got to be an even bigger draw for televised matches than ever now.

[Man Friday]

Only an idiot would think Fergie left a weak squad. The team that Moyes and Van Gaal inherited and that everyone says are useless, including Nani, Anderson, Smalling, Young and Cleverly, thrashed Arsenal 8-2, beat Chelsea 3-1 and lost out on the league title on goal difference. If Van Gaal can only achieve by spending £180m then he ain't up to much.

[Ian Royal]

Only an idiot would think Fergie left a weak squad. The team that Moyes and Van Gaal inherited and that everyone says are useless, including Nani, Anderson, Smalling, Young and Cleverly, thrashed Arsenal 8-2, beat Chelsea 3-1 and lost out on the league title on goal difference. If Van Gaal can only achieve by spending £180m then he ain't up to much.

But Anderson, Smalling, Young and Cleverly are no more than mediocre PL players.

[paultheroyal]

Piss myself if Falcao deal falls through.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Piss myself if Falcao deal falls through.

looks like it has, no confirmation yet.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

strike that, just confirmed.

still not sure why they need 3 world class strikers, mata, and di maria...there is no way they can play them all and someone is going to be unhappy.

[Vision]

LOL @ Louis Van Gaal "supercoach" now needing to do a Man City and Chelsea just to be competitive.

That said Di Maria and Falcao (if fit) are immense signings. Rooney might have to get used to playing on the left or not at all.

[YateleyRoyal]

LOL @ Louis Van Gaal "supercoach" now needing to do a Man City and Chelsea just to be competitive.

That said Di Maria and Falcao (if fit) are immense signings. Rooney might have to get used to playing on the left or not at all.

Why would you make someone your captain, then play them out of position and risk upsetting them?

[YateleyRoyal]

strike that, just confirmed.

still not sure why they need 3 world class strikers, mata, and di maria...there is no way they can play them all and someone is going to be unhappy.

What a horrible problem to have. Reading's injury crisis and the way Nigel deals with it must be a doddle in comparison.