Life After Sir Alex Ferguson: Summer of Embarrassment

Remember those lazy Sunday mornings as a kid, when you’d wake up to some delicious pancakes, French toast and of course some fried bacon. It would happen almost every Sunday when dad was home, you’d laze around watch some TV, and enjoy a glorious breakfast cooked by him. The menu wouldn’t change for weeks, but you’d still look forward to it. Now, think of every transfer window that United went into with Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm and David Gill conducting business matters for him.

Sir Alex and David Gill's experience was the difference (Photo: Getty)

Yes, it was the same old tricks, treading ultra cautiously, holding all cards close to his chest, but Sir Alex almost inevitably got a player that he desired. Even if he did miss out, the wily Scot would hardly ever be left red faced as no one could ever be sure about his pursuit of any particular player. It was like a ride in a Rolls Royce, cruising along at our own pace, making a couple of quiet stops and then getting on with our business. Supporters and experts were used to the calming influence that United’s transfer policy had in the market.

So, when David Moyes took charge of the club, most expected a continuation of the same ethics in the so called ‘crazy transfer market’. However, what at the time seemed like a welcome change, has actually turned into an embarrassment.  United’s long protracted chase for Thiago allowed his former mentor Pep Guardiola to come in and sweep him out of our hands. It was as if you’d worked all night to get a lady into bed, but the moment you finally started to make a connection, the old lover comes teary eyed to take her away. And while the 22 year-old’s fiasco may have been understandable, his compatriot – Cesc Fabregas’ relentless public pursuit was just bizarre.

Fabregas was never going to leave Barca. ( Photo: AFP)

Making loud announcements of your transfer targets, and brandishing about the club’s deep pockets is something United just don’t do. What’s rather ironical in this whole scenario is the fact that the club’s so called ‘noisy neighbors’ have gone about doing their business quietly and have already made four clever signings.

Prior to the club’s expansive statements, most supporters would have been content with just one smart signing like a Fellaini or a Strootman and a couple of promising youngsters. But those callous remarks from both Ed Woodward and Moyes, have left the fans perplexed and even more unnerved about the direction the club is heading under the new management.

The chaos from the transfer window has also overshadowed whatever few positives there were from a particularly mediocre pre-season with fans unable to understand how Moyes’s United would play. Moving in a new direction is one thing, but having no idea where you’re going is a recipe for disaster. The former Everton chief recently said that he “can’t wait for the season to start” which seems to be a statement from a man who is already feeling the heat.

Moyes needs to act quickly, even his loyal fans are starting to get agitated. (Photo: AP) 

Stability is what has defined United over the last 26 years, with Ferguson’s red army knowing exactly what to expect in every match, every transfer window and in fact anything related to the club. The fans are hence used to a particular rhythm to a season; traditions have always been of the utmost importance at Old Trafford. With Sir Alex, we had a messiah like no other, a man who steered us through the most glorious highway in the best of times and in the worst. It was almost like being spoilt by your dad, who worked his heart out in the week and cooked a delicious breakfast on Sunday.