Cantona, surely? Or maybe Bryan Robson? I'm sure there are plenty of convincing arguments for why Utd are in decline. But then there have been plenty of convincing arguments for it for most of the past twenty years. Cantona went, Schmeichel wasn't replaced, we collapsed in 2002, Keane made his MUTV rant, Beckham got the boot, Forlan, Veron, Kleberson and D-D were ****, Chelsea won the lottery, Arsenal went unbeaten, we were trophyless in 04/05, the Glazers, Chelsea dominated for two years, we went out at the group stage in 05/06, Ronaldo sold, Rooney unhappy, Scholes not replaced, the list goes on. But fortunately so does our ability to win things
I thought this was a piss take at first. Surely the same guy who wrote "Shredding his legacy at every turn" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/jul/31/sport.comment) about SAF in 2006 wouldn't be so monumentally ******ed to do it again.
He's like that bloke who keeps predicting the end of the world. "My prediction of Utd's decline completely right, I just haven't worked out the exact date yet..."
It is simply nature that the game and clubs evolve. One club has dominance, then declines. To think otherwise is simply absurd. Compare United's trophy haul in recent years - say the last 4 - to their period of real dominance in the 1990's. 3 PL titles. No FA Cups. 2 League Cups. No EC's. This season you are not dominating the PL, and out of the EC. The PL haul is impressive, but if simply points to the decline in the quality of English football as a whole against the since 2008 compared to Spanish and Italian football. As I have stated - it will not be an immediate decline, but a slow slide, similar to Liverpool's.
Poor effort. Over the last four seasons we have won three PLs, one EC, and two league cups. The only comparable period of dominance we've had prior to that was from 99-02 when we won three PLs, one EC and one FA Cup. Or maybe 93-97 when we won three PLs and two FA Cups. And in neither of those periods did we reach three European finals (08, 09, 11). Try again.
Riiiiight. You meant it WILL be a slow decline. So it will happen some time in the future but you don't know when. United are Ok for the time being...The dominance is because the other teams are bad but yet United are declining. You have got to make your mind up...
Enjoy it whilst you can. I predict ManU will not win another PL for the next 10 years or so, esp.when Ferguson steps down. You're simply not the force you used to be either domestically or in Europe. it happens. Accept it. ManU are in for a long, hard season.
