1stepcloser said:
i don't really forsee any "really" bad seasons, ie. finishing outide of europe, although if that did happen it would be disastrous for them.
Are united in that much financial turnmoil? because they paid 14m for Carrick, were willing to spend whatever the price on Owen Hargreaves (and could still do so in january) and a few days ago in the news it was reported that they tried to sign Fernando Torres again over the summer, god knows how much he would have cost.
I think the what United need now is a change of manager perhaps (and your not getting your hands on Martin O'Neill!).
To take you up on the first point(probably showing my age off too much here) throughout most of the '70's, & '80's United were by and large an underachieving disaster zone, relegated in '73/'74, & just 3 FA cups throughout those decades, many seasons were over pretty much as soon as they'd begun, many seasons with no European football at all, yes times have changed and with 4 teams qualifying for C/L, it looks as though it would be almost impossible for Utd not to qualify, many fans probably thought they'd never be relegated so soon after winning the Euro. Cup in '68. With teams like your own, Villa, Spurs, & Everton showing signs of improvement its not impossible to think Utd might miss out on C/L sometime.
Second point, yes we bought Carrick, we recieved money for RUUD, & Obi Mikel, pretty much cancelled each other out, the other "targets" in my opinion never really were that. Utd knew Hargreaves was under contract, & after losing Ballack Bayern were always unlikely to let him go, Senna virtually had his bags packed and was ready to walk to OT, mysteriously the deal fell through, in my opinion it was never going to happen. Most of the others were just paper talk, trying to create news in the close season, because if nothing else Utd are good for selling papers.
Torres, might happen in the future, but, unlike the previous points, I can say this without the benefit of hindsight, if he ever comes to OT one major name will leave, likliest candidates there, Ronaldo, Rooney, or possibly Ferdinand, as they're the ones who'd fetch the highest price.
Third point, probably the biggest talking point among all United fans just now, The Manager, there's been talk for some time now among match going UTD fans about SAF, & should he stay or go,personally I think he should be able to choose when he wants to go, he's won more trophies than all previous managers put together, he's responsible for virtually everything UNITED are now, without the success he brought to the club, the merchandising side of the "business" would never in a million years be anything like as successful as it is, it was Fergie who initiated the overhauling of the youth, & scouting systems, just look at the names who've come through in the last decade & a half, even down to continually having the pitch relaid, one of the first things he actually had done, when he came to OT the playing surface was dreadful. Buts its not just all he's done, seriously think about it, what top class manager is going to want to follow in his footsteps, with no real clout in the transfer market, they'd be on a hiding to nothing, & with an owner who knows zilch about football would probably be out on their ear before ever having a chance to succeed. Yes as I've stated before you were very lucky to get MO'N, if anyone could have followed in his footsteps I think he's the one.
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