Manchester United

FCBarça · 2026-01-07T11:23:10+0000

Love this graphic, pretty damning overall but lots to unpack here too

Bruce Wayne · 2026-01-07T11:55:44+0000

FCBarça said:
Love this graphic, pretty damning overall but lots to unpack here too

View attachment 339279

You could probably make a decent argument for the fact that Ferguson left them with a pretty bad squad, and then successive managers bought high-profile players towards the end of their careers (Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Alexis Sanchez, Casemiro et al), who provided a short-term boost but were never sustainable. Meanwhile, the big money signings they made, like Lukaku, Pogba, and Maguire were all flops.

DanEFC92 · 2026-01-07T12:05:36+0000

Manchester United: Darren Fletcher sought Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing for interim manager role

Darren Fletcher says he sought the blessing of his old Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson before taking interim charge at the Old Trafford club.

www.bbc.co.uk

Nauseating stuff.

Ferguson's shadow looms large over that club and the fans, media and club itself will not move on from that era.

"this is Manchester United we're talking about" etc etc

Rita_Poon · 2026-01-07T12:07:48+0000

Bruce Wayne said:
You could probably make a decent argument for the fact that Ferguson left them with a pretty bad squad, and then successive managers bought high-profile players towards the end of their careers (Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Alexis Sanchez, Casemiro et al), who provided a short-term boost but were never sustainable. Meanwhile, the big money signings they made, like Lukaku, Pogba, and Maguire were all flops.

Is it possible the support had been spoiled, and so the rebuild transition ferguson oversaw a few times, specifically being given the time and money to do the turnover and upgrade job simply wasn't afforded to anyone else? They've spent money and had good players, they've even brought a few through their academy that've been notable for making it to international level.
They've let the stadium crumble, pushed prices up, moved lifelong ST's to worse specs, invented another layer of access, lost the pr battle over staff cuts, and then pursued every fancy dan manager who's looking capable for 5 minutes only to hatchet job them usually around 12-18 months in.

Players and agents know they're a cash cow, there's no expectation to perform, it's always someone else's fault, sign for these and you've made it - rich and off the hook just like that. I'm not sure the roy keane mentality is in players anymore. Maybe that aspect is an old world top flight character compared to the modern era.

FCBarça · 2026-01-07T13:08:45+0000

Bruce Wayne said:
You could probably make a decent argument for the fact that Ferguson left them with a pretty bad squad, and then successive managers bought high-profile players towards the end of their careers (Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Alexis Sanchez, Casemiro et al), who provided a short-term boost but were never sustainable. Meanwhile, the big money signings they made, like Lukaku, Pogba, and Maguire were all flops.

I'm sure

Even the caretaker guys like Giggs correlate to those shifts yet the momentum never altered the descent. Interestingly enough, their highest level was under Ole - even above Fergie's last couple of seasons, who coincidentally was given the most time

Still incredibly damning on Amorim who performed the worst of any others

Bruce Wayne · 2026-01-07T14:38:18+0000

FCBarça said:
I'm sure

Even the caretaker guys like Giggs correlate to those shifts yet the momentum never altered the descent. Interestingly enough, their highest level was under Ole - even above Fergie's last couple of seasons, who coincidentally was given the most time

Still incredibly damning on Amorim who performed the worst of any others

It seems a shambles, with Ashworth sacked after no time at all and Wilcox hired after less than a year in the role at Southampton.

bluenorthwarrior · 2026-01-07T15:18:52+0000

Bruce Wayne said:
You could probably make a decent argument for the fact that Ferguson left them with a pretty bad squad, and then successive managers bought high-profile players towards the end of their careers (Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Alexis Sanchez, Casemiro et al), who provided a short-term boost but were never sustainable. Meanwhile, the big money signings they made, like Lukaku, Pogba, and Maguire were all flops.

My Dad is a ManU fan and I have said to him numerous times over the last few years that they are exactly the same as Everton but at a different scale.

Multiple managers and styles leading to jigsaw squad, players on wages beyond their ability, big money flops, failing to achieve what would be viewed as a 'par score' season after season. The only difference is numbers, for our wage thieves it was 100k for theirs it is 250k(+); big money flops for us are 30m for them 70m; par score for us was top 10/not fighting relegation for them CL qualification every year.

We are currently stabilising (I know, I know...), they need to find a manager to do likewise or else it will be another 18 month rinse and repeat.