As a Liverpool fan, seeing Manchester United struggle is one of the most pleasurable experiences in football, and after making their worst start for 24-years, it's clear that the Reds' arch rivals are in decline. Yes, it's only a couple of months into the season, but the reigning Champions have deep-rooted problems, and even at this early stage, retaining the league title is a fanciful dream for all but the most deluded United fan. Liverpool legend Jan Molby agrees, and he's highlighted the main reason for United's downward spiral.
In his column for Eurosport this week, Molby observed:
"Manchester United have gone from bad to worse. I'm starting to look at their players and wonder who, if any of them, would even get into the team at one of the other title contenders. Who would City take, for example?
"Fergie left David Moyes a very mediocre squad. Last season they managed to paper over the giant cracks between Rio Ferdinand at the back and Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney up front, but they're not going to pull that off this time".
I still find it amazing how United won the league last season with such a (comparatively) pedestrian squad. It just goes to show the difference a top class manager can make to a team, and despite the negatives, Alex Ferguson is a genius manager, and he's sorely missed at Old Trafford.
Fergie got out at the right time. Clearly, he could see the mediocrity in the squad, and decided to jump ship instead of sinking with his squad. Having said that, if he'd remained in the hot-seat, he almost certainly would've signed 2-3 top class players in the summer, which would've possibly improved the situation.
In my view, Man Utd will struggle again in January to attract top players. After the Ferguson era, many players will be apprehensive about joining the Moyes experiment, and will probably want to wait until the summer to see how the team is faring with him in charge.
Any top player looking at United right now probably suspects that they'll struggle to qualify for next seasons' Champions League, and that will have a major influence on decisions during the January transfer window.
There are obvious parallels between United's current decline, and Liverpool's downward spiral after Kenny Dalglish quit the club in 1991. In his column for The Telegraph this week, Alan Hansen - an integral part of Dalglish's team - noted:
"It was an ageing team, one which Kenny Dalglish was looking to break up and build again with new players. In the past the club had successfully combined winning and rebuilding, but this time was different. Liverpool began to flounder because they failed to replace good players with better ones and the club paid a heavy price in the two decades since".
Ferguson succeeded in 'knocking Liverpool right off their f**king perch', but all his good work is now being undone, and the ultimate irony is that Fergie's departure has exponentially increased the Reds' chances of climbing back onto that 'perch'.
About time, too!
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In his column for Eurosport this week, Molby observed:
"Manchester United have gone from bad to worse. I'm starting to look at their players and wonder who, if any of them, would even get into the team at one of the other title contenders. Who would City take, for example?
"Fergie left David Moyes a very mediocre squad. Last season they managed to paper over the giant cracks between Rio Ferdinand at the back and Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney up front, but they're not going to pull that off this time".
I still find it amazing how United won the league last season with such a (comparatively) pedestrian squad. It just goes to show the difference a top class manager can make to a team, and despite the negatives, Alex Ferguson is a genius manager, and he's sorely missed at Old Trafford.
Fergie got out at the right time. Clearly, he could see the mediocrity in the squad, and decided to jump ship instead of sinking with his squad. Having said that, if he'd remained in the hot-seat, he almost certainly would've signed 2-3 top class players in the summer, which would've possibly improved the situation.
In my view, Man Utd will struggle again in January to attract top players. After the Ferguson era, many players will be apprehensive about joining the Moyes experiment, and will probably want to wait until the summer to see how the team is faring with him in charge.
Any top player looking at United right now probably suspects that they'll struggle to qualify for next seasons' Champions League, and that will have a major influence on decisions during the January transfer window.
There are obvious parallels between United's current decline, and Liverpool's downward spiral after Kenny Dalglish quit the club in 1991. In his column for The Telegraph this week, Alan Hansen - an integral part of Dalglish's team - noted:
"It was an ageing team, one which Kenny Dalglish was looking to break up and build again with new players. In the past the club had successfully combined winning and rebuilding, but this time was different. Liverpool began to flounder because they failed to replace good players with better ones and the club paid a heavy price in the two decades since".
Ferguson succeeded in 'knocking Liverpool right off their f**king perch', but all his good work is now being undone, and the ultimate irony is that Fergie's departure has exponentially increased the Reds' chances of climbing back onto that 'perch'.
About time, too!
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
united- getting knocked back off our f**king perch
ReplyDeletehahaha...still managed to get LFC out of the cup!!
ReplyDeleteNot sure so about the downfall though because is just the started a few games. Too early to judge, but still it is enjoyable to see those cocky MU have to say.
ReplyDeleteI dont think it will get as bad for them as it did for Liverpool. Lessons have been learnt.
ReplyDeleteman liverpool fans are getting desperate, it is embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteNot one kop player would get into any big team whiles atleast half of United's team would walk into any other big team in football and that is fact, this is not a collapse, jsut a blip caused by that joke Moyes.
gonna win the title atleast are ya, 6 games in and you saying this rubbish, desperate. Only took the retirment of Fergie for liverpool to matter again, jsut like it took Busby retiring for you to matter, you cant win anything unless our top managers retire. We will be there when it matters, you on the other hand will not.
ReplyDeletelets hope so yeah because no one was good enough to over come the utd juggernault so their had to beg for yet another self collapse just like post sir busby, no one could knock utd off their throne and there fore begged for a self collapse because utd has and always will be englands one and only unstoppable force.
ReplyDeleteteams like liverpool arsenal, city and chelse will neevr know whats it like to build and unrivalled, unstoppable empire, they never forget thou how utd easily beat them into dust and ruled english football like nerver before, an era never to be repeated nor matched, utd the only club to self collapse off their own throne whilst everyone else was bear back with ease.
liverpool for one will never know how it fells to beat the true kings of england as their never earned their throne, just pounced on it, yet was easily knocked off by another
lets hope so yeah because no one was good enough to over come the utd juggernault so their had to beg for yet another self collapse just like post sir busby, no one could knock utd off their throne and there fore begged for a self collapse because utd has and always will be englands one and only unstoppable force.
ReplyDeleteteams like liverpool arsenal, city and chelse will never know whats it like to build an unrivalled, unstoppable empire, they never forget thou how utd easily beat them into dust and ruled english football like never before, an era never to be repeated nor matched, utd the only club to self collapse off their own throne whilst everyone else was beat back with ease.
liverpool for one will never know how it fells to beat the true kings of england as their never earned their throne, just pounced on it, yet was easily knocked off by another
lets hope so yeah because no one was good enough to over come the utd juggernault so their had to beg for yet another self collapse just like post sir busby, no one could knock utd off their throne and there fore begged for a self collapse because utd has and always will be englands one and only unstoppable force.
ReplyDeleteteams like liverpool arsenal, city and chelse will never know whats it like to build an unrivalled, unstoppable empire, they never forget thou how utd easily beat them into dust and ruled english football like never before, an era never to be repeated nor matched, utd the only club to self collapse off their own throne whilst everyone else was beat back with ease.
liverpool for one will never know how it feels to be the true kings of england as their never earned their throne, just pounced on it, yet was easily knocked off by another
How desperate are you Liverpool fans? Is this the best you got?
ReplyDeleteBefore you get too excited I think you need another 8 teams to collapse before you get a chance to win the league again.
If it hadnt been for Hillsborough fergie would have won nothing.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not buying this line at all. It is essentially the same team that won last year. It isn't a bad team at all. Their current form is a result of turbulence with a new manager and getting accustomed to each other and the fact that RVP isn't playing. ManU will be back as soon as they get on track. I'm sure they won't be league champs, but mediocre? No way. If our guys play them that way, then we'll find out wrong that notion is.
ReplyDeleteReally? Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard, Johnson? The only half decent player you have is RVP and maybe Shrek at a stretch.
ReplyDeleteIf Ferguson had stuck around, Man U would still be expected to challenge for the title and as usual they would.
ReplyDeleteHe regularly had squads, that on paper weren't any stronger than the competition, but the difference between him and everybody else was that he refused to make excuses for his team to fail and pretend that Top 4 was a massive achievement.
I'll continue to argue that Ferguson would have won the Premier League multiple times with any of the Big 4-6 teams in recent years, including Liverpool.
I am loving how bad they are looking but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were resurgent in the second half of the season. A Moyes trait he had at Everton for a long time. This is still the team that won the league easily and despite being one of the most mediocre United teams on paper in years that doesn't mean they are finished. But god I hope they are.
ReplyDeleteWhere have you actually seen a Liverpool fan say we're going to win the title this year??
ReplyDeleteBtw, I thought that if nothing else, being European Champions while Fergie was around made us matter?
United fans keep forgetting about the relegation taunts they gave us in the last 2 season openings....
ReplyDeleteLike Peter says those mentioned would, easily. Also who would have Anderson or Valencia? Ashley Young? I wouldn't want them anywhere near our side. Carrick? Gerard is three times the player. Truth is you have a good attack and a great but aging defence. This is no blip it just shows how much Fergies was propping you up. No other manger could have done what he did with that team.
ReplyDeleteThe Cup? The Cup hasn't even started yet. What you are referring too is a backdoor option for small clubs to get a sniff at Europe every now and again. We have and still are taking that competition far too serious. That competition is beneath us. Just like your club and its prawn munchers really...
ReplyDeleteIt would still be too late. Anyone with top 4 aspirations must be aware from the last 5 seasons that a strong start to the campaign is equally essential to a strong finish. United are already finished this season, unless Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and ourselves implode spectacularly. I don't think Rodgers, AVB nor Mourinho would let such a meltdown happen.
ReplyDeleteI'd actually lock ourselves, Chelsea and Spurs in for a top 4 finish, but while I wouldn't be so confident about Arsenal being among the 4, if they are among the 4, it could be as champions. Rodgers and AVB have a headstart on Pellegrini in terms of getting a better feel for their respective clubs which would definitely disadvantage City. Strong as the City squad is, our best 11 is better, so are Spurs' and Chelsea's.
His sides always played with patience, discipline and confidence fairly consistently, all of which are missing from Moyes' United.
ReplyDeleteThere are no lessons to be learnt. It's simply impossible to change a manager who has been there nearly three decades and not expect a downturn in results. Brining in new quality players. Who wants to play for David Moyes? Who is he? Any streetkid in Brazil knows who Alex Ferguson is and a man of such stature can convince anyone to come to his club. Just to work with him alone. Bayern Munich understood that, that's why they got in the one manager everyone is dying to play for at the moment. But Man United brought in Moyes. A nobody in the world of football's great managers. Just like Rodgers by the way. The one positive thing they do have over us and our demise, is that they have people in charge of the club who actually know how to run a business where we were stuck with Moores and Parry for far too long. So I don't expect them to go 20 odd years without a title now like us but they will never be the force they were under Ferguson again. Man U was the last of the Mohikans. Clubs don't rule their domestic competitions for decades anymore. Except maybe in Scotland...
ReplyDeleteLiverpool v Manchester United, still the biggest show in town, no matter what other teams come and go. Long may it continue, such good fun. Plus, it was always going to be hard to replace fergie, just like it was with kenny first time round.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be good for English football or footballing world itself if Man Utd decline as predicted. Liverpool and Man Utd should always be up there with the best, hopefully, we will see that in few years.
ReplyDeleteUnited's players that would walk into big teams:
ReplyDeleteRooney
RvP
Kagawa
Fellaini
Rafael
Our players who would:
Mignolet
Sakho
Agger
Suarez
Sturridge
Coutinho
Moses
Johnson
Only prem side Johnson wouldn't be able to walk into is Spurs. Moses is on loan from Chelsea. Barca would gladly sign either of Sakho or Agger. Chelsea and Man City regret letting go of Sturridge. Ateletico Madrid wants Coutinho. Which team wouldn't Suarez walk into? Now what facts are you talking about?
As Carra once said, SAF didn't knock Liverpool off the perch. It was Graeme Souness
ReplyDelete//We will be there when it matters, you on the other hand will not.//
ReplyDeleteWinning the Championship?
Looking at the premier league table, we aren't the ones desperate for another 11 teams to collapse.
ReplyDeleteHoq that is the ultimate truth that is hardly ever mentioned at all, there is no way things would have panned out the way they did without Hillsborough (and not to mention Heysel !) . It is also worth noting that about a year ago Thatchers former Chancellor Norman Lamont revealed that there was a covert policy at that time "To oversee a controlled decline of the city of Liverpool". With the new Hillsborough revelations about a network of collusion that went very high up in the Police and Government, it makes you wonder
ReplyDeleteHistory repeats itself!!!
ReplyDeleteGunners and Spurs are the two teams firing on all cylinders right now. We're not far behind, but we MUST win the games we are supposed win. Losing to Soton is a misfiring cylinder. It happened too many times last year and look where we finished. Swansea is a better team than their record shows, but we should have had three points there as well. We must win all of October to help us weather Arsenal/Everton away in November and that stretch of 12/21 thru 1/1--4 matches in 11 days.
ReplyDeleteHeehee! Now it's your turn!
ReplyDeleteWalker is better than Johnson?
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a player like Rooney. He is absolutely amazing. If Suarez goes, will miss lot of quality. I want a player as good as Suarez/Rooney to come to Liverpool as a replacement. I wonder if there is anyone left.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, but some people do. I'd say they're roughly on par. Johnson is more efficient. Walker is faster. I still like Alvaro Arbeloa best...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't get hopes up too much. I mean think about how many times over the last 15 years it's been said that Man U are "Not the force they once were" or "[Other team] establishing themselves as the dominant force of English football" and then Man U strike right back.
ReplyDeleteWe won't know if their dominance period is over until after it's over so let's not set ourselves up for disappointment here.
Lewondwski,ronaldo,bale,ozil,alcantra,modric,fabregas ,hazard,moura and nasri
ReplyDeletehave all rejected utd ,and there best player wants to leave top player dont care about prestige of a club unless its barca or real but their wages
so they cannot buy there way out
so it is irreversible
Whilst I agree with you about the Soto game I think it's worth noting that we were missing three of our best players and Sturridge looked out of sorts. On top of that we were trying to integrate two new players to the team who had only had one previous game. The Soto game was poor but I am not sure it is a good enough example of us misfiring as such as it is early and the reasons I mentioned. As for Arsenal and Everton we will hopefully have a a full strength team at that point and I think that such a team is a match for anyone. But we still need to win those games, or as many as pos.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will be as straight forward as that though I like your attitude.
ReplyDeleteI think, it might be even bigger. MU is sitting on stack of dynamites & it was Sir Alex who kept the book balanced through constant English success & CL Football. Just one year they are out of Europe, MU 'll be forced to reduce expense (Wage & transfer fee) considerably. Also, appointing Moyes 'll hurt MU in x-fer market - British Managers don't have any pulling power outside UK (which is obnoxiously inflated with hardly any top talent coming as well). I don't think they 'll be able to replace an aging side that easily. Among their top players only Rooney is under 30 & he might not stay long.
ReplyDeleteDuring 90s, MU got it relatively easy as LFC was in slump & there was hardly any competition with English clubs struggling financially (both from Europe exile & economic downfall). Even then it wasn't easy for LFC to come back straight way. Now there are at least 6 clubs in top rank & in Everton, Swansea, Southampton, Villa the next level is not far behind. & I think, NUFC & QPR 'll be coming back, may be even Fulham with the US/PAK money. Today, missing out CL hurts you much more than 90s, when only 1 club used to qualify; now days 4 clubs go & that's straight 50mn additional earnings, add another 25mn if you consider the ransom to be paid in transfer market not being in CL.
MU stands at 750mn+ debt, they 'll need at least 100mn to rebuild the squad immediately, without Sir Alex, I don't think the Glazers 'll be that aggressive. No emotional attachment, MU was just a business asset for them, now has become a bad one. In 90s, club football was still passion, & LFC was still a great club.
Also, I have mention Hysel & Hillsborough issues for decline of LFC. Otherwise we probably won't have slumped that badly.
ReplyDeleteAnd none could have got what he got out of the on-field Officials (Off-field as well, how many friendlies key MU players played during his time?)
ReplyDeleteSir Alex's team, would have never ended with a 1-2 result with WBA at home, after going behind with still 20 mins to play. It would had been either 3-2, 2-2 or might be even 1-3, but not goalless for last 23 min. Neither, LFC would have been able to hold a 1-0 lead for 91 min, could have won 2-0, 2-1, 3-1 even 3/4-0, but not 1-0. That desperation is missing from Moyes's MU.
ReplyDeleteThere was a small difference in last 15 years mate - Sir Alex Ferguson.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but it's early on and there's plenty of time to turn the corner.
ReplyDeleteThey were always going to struggle after Ferguson retired, I can't understand why anyone would want to be the manager who followed him, it's almost impossible to come close to matching and I doubt anyone in the world could do it.
Maybe this is finally it but I'm gonna wait until it's happened before I pop the champagne, too many false sunsets for my liking.
Most definitely mate. His influence was more than just on the players.
ReplyDeleteWhen a long term successful Manager leaves, there has to be slump. Great Managers creates a legacy, works on a philosophy & builds a dynasty within the team. It's not easy to continue the legacy after 2 decades of success. Historically, Arsenal struggled after Herbert Chapman, MU had first slump after Sir Bursby (I believe they were relegated sometimes early 70s) & both Derby & N Forest declined dramatically after Clough left.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone imagine that 1968 European Cup winners, or 1978, 79 double ECup winners 'll be relegated in 5/6 years time? LFC was lucky that the Shankly legacy was smoothly transited by his long-term deputy Paisely, then Fagan till KK. Actually, it wasn't KK's departure, rather the failure of Souness into another smooth transition that let us down. Also, English Football was going into a para-dime shift through EPL concept just when we were going through our worst possible period - on field slump & off field Hysel/Hillsborough aftermath.
After all these, LFC still maintained it's status as an elite club, kept the fan base & global reputation & kept the club within touch . We won 2 European titles, been finalist once, won some domestic cups & lowest we were is 8th, nothing shame in that, teams had been relegated in similar situation past.
I fear MU 'll suffer more that most are anticipating. Already, I can see the "No fear" attitude of the Old Trafford visitors. For 20 years I saw teams visiting OT with a scared safety first attitude, the exception been avoiding humiliation, but both WBA & CP matched their host's aggression this year. Sir Alex won most battles with fear even before the match & had seen teams conceding silly defeats in last minutes - no more physiological battle 'll be won now.
Honestly, I am loving it, with just a small notch - for 23 years it was a fun to watch MU, every match, with a great expectation to see MU & Sir Alex (No more Ferige, he is retired now & I have the highest respect for him) loosing. Now I 'll start to miss something - it was worth waiting to win over MU few & far between. & feeling vomiting thinking that our major rival from nearby Metro could be Man City in coming days. That 1-0 win was great, but it was something special beating "Fergi's Red Devils"
This time, I think its different. High chance it is the start of their decline. Moyes has almost the same team as Sir Alex but look at the way they play. Under Sir Alex, Man Utd was resilient and there was a strong fighting spirit when they are a goal down. Moyes has not nailed down who his first 11 is every week and they did not strengthen the squad over the summer.
ReplyDeleteBut in fairness to Moyes, it was never going to be easy taking over from a superb manager like Sir Alex and he has inherited Sir Alex team. He will need time to re-build it into his team.
Hopefully its the start of MU's decline and the beginning of Liverpool's ascend.
Just like BR , Moyes will need a season to get use to Man U. But once Moyes knows what to do with Man U things will be different. Lets enjoy the moment while we still can.
ReplyDeleteOne word mate: Sturridge.
ReplyDeletemr parker u saying liverpool fc do not know about ruling the english league u making a joke. liverpool rule the english tittle 60s 70s 80s what the hell u talikng .we still most decorated club.when liverpool was ruiling man u got relegated once. so dun talk crap here. the moment fergie retire the league has change not only for liverpool fc for most club .look at arsenal they performing well .so u should know the diffrence.we liverpool conquer both europe and english tittle. and u manu just two epl tropies more.while when man u won in 1993.94 we was 18 .spent about millions of money and help of fa.took donkey 20 over years to win the record.so dun talk crap.we have anthem our own was made by the famous beattles ynwa.is time for united to shut their perch stuff.\
ReplyDeleteya man u can easily win the record english football becoming a jokes recent years reffres facies man u. people are getting fed up. when liverpool was all conquerring in english king for many decade people loves the way liverpool fc played even rivals love to play at anfield. shakly is respected so as paisely fagan and so on. so please cox . the spirit of shankly is stil there. we still reconginze by the entire world.
ReplyDelete