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The criticism directed at Sir Alex is warranted

Can United win without Fergie? (AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES)
Expert
26th March, 2014
15

Manchester United fans have been extremely patient with their side’s performances so far this season. Yet the home defeat to their city rivals on Tuesday night saw the first signs of serious revolt in Stretford.

The supporters turned on the dismal figure of David Moyes sulking on United’s bench. Then, surprisingly, they directed their fury towards arguably the world’s greatest manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

This is a man who won 13 league titles at the club, taking them above fierce rivals Liverpool to 20 championships. A man who produced one of the best sides this modern era has witnessed was being lambasted for his part in Moyes’ appointment.

Can Ferguson’s decision to hand pick Moyes as United’s ‘chosen one’ really be criticised? Not entirely.

Ferguson can’t be held responsible for choosing a replacement that has failed to hit the ground running, or even jogging. Yet can he be partially blamed for United’s current plight? Probably.

United’s 20th league title was arguably won with the worst side the red half of Manchester has seen during Ferguson’s entire tenure.

Propped up by the blistering form of Robin van Persie, they won last year’s championship with aplomb. Yet what kind of squad did he leave behind?

One with key players nearing retirement? Check.

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A midfield lacking creativity and ingenuity? Certainly.

A strikeforce prone to injury and lacking depth? Definitely.

A defence in transition? Absolutely.

The United squad last year was one that looked bad on paper, but performed admirably. This is down to Ferguson’s managerial talent and ability to squeeze the best out of his players.

He will go down as one of the best in history. Yet he left United with a squad in serious need of revival.

Where were the replacements for Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes? Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley? Ha.

Surely, that should have been his priority over his last few years.

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Michael Carrick, as good as he is in his position, is not a goalscorer. He can’t thread through that killer pass, he can’t push his team forward.

United lack any creativity in the middle of the park. They need a Yaya Toure. Ferguson inexplicably let go of Paul Pogba.

Van Persie papered over a lot of cracks with his sensational form last season. Yet he was always injury-prone throughout his time at Arsenal. Injury has blighted his second year at United and left the Reds lacking up front.

Ferguson took a gamble to bring in Van Persie, but it was only ever going to be short-term fix. Where was the vision?

Danny Welbeck is not the player to lead United’s frontline. Rio Ferdinand, now 35, featured heavily last season. His ready-made replacement, Phil Jones, has had to play out of position in midfield at times this season.

Patrice Evra, probably the weak link in United’s backline, was not replaced.

Moyes should take some of the blame here, without a doubt. He failed to secure a left back – his pursuit of Leighton Baines proved embarrassing – and his signing of Marouane Fellaini was uninspired.

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Moyes spent his transfer kitty with apparent naivety, failing to identify the parts of his adopted squad that were in need of a boost.

Yet Ferguson deserves just as much of the blame. As a current director of the football club, he should have left the squad in a better condition. He should have taken some responsibility in rejuvenating the squad.

Instead he went for short-term fixes. He signed an ageing and injury-prone striker, albeit one with undeniable talent, and he continued to extend the careers of his best players without replacing them.

United’s mess is just as much Ferguson’s doing as it is Moyes’, and he should be taking some of the blame for United’s woeful league position this season.

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