In my opinion (stated at the time of his retirement) people under-estimated the power and influence of Sir Alex Ferguson. It looks like I was even more right than I could have dreamed! When he was getting results, who was to argue? But Ferguson's incredible legacy should be tarnished by what he left behind. A lop-sided squad, with massive deficiencies left unattended - Scholes was never replaced and the defence was rickety at best - and the difficulties caused by the deflection of funds from their Transfer Kitty into the pockets of the Glazers caused a 'perfect storm' which only he could have dealt with/covered up - and that purely by the force of his character.
Winning the league by 11 points in his final season should be regarded as one of his biggest successes, but poor David Moyes - whatever his manifold deficiencies - had an impossible act to follow as Ferguson took the glory, but left behind the proverbial 'poisoned chalice'. It was only going to end up one way, but the speed of the demise of the team (and with it the club) can surely not have been foreseen?
I think that we all knew that Manchester United would struggle post-Ferguson, but as it turns out all their chickens have come home to roost at the same time. An unthinkable 7th-placed finish last season, followed by the sense of panic - despite the hiring of van Gaal (and by the way, if he's a tactical genius I'm a concert pianist!) - that has ensued since which culminated in the 'double whammy' of the payment of that ridiculous fee for di Maria and the 4-0 defeat at the hands of the mighty Milton Keynes Dons in one day - can only mean another season of real struggle. For fans of other clubs, to see the arrogance and sense of entitlement of Manchester United fans replaced by shame, embarrassment and utter bewilderment is priceless and after all those years the rest of us should milk it - it's what football fandom is all about!
And mark my words, it could go on for years. Witness how long and how much money it took Liverpool to get back into the Champions League after they slipped out. Witness the '4th place is a trophy' message from Arsene Wenger every year, at which people snigger. Look at the money and effort thrown at breaking into that elite by Tottenham. Up against the sort of money that Manchester City and Chelsea - let's face it, recent interlopers into the Top Four - possess, only two places are left. And three - or four - into two clearly doesn't go.
Once you're in that elite, it gives you the power and prestige to stay in it. So for an Arsenal team shorn this evening of Ramsey, Arteta and Giroud the Besiktas game is an early-season Cup Final and it must be won at almost any cost. And then Wenger must go straight back into the transfer market, armed with a Champions League place/carrot to dangle at the players he wants.
But for all the suffering of fans of Manchester United (and those of West Ham United, Leicester City and Burnley too - and the rest of us can have a good laugh at their expense), we have just a little nagging doubt. 'There, but for the Grace of God, goes I'.
lovely!
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