http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24330670 Manchester United risk repeating errors which led to Liverpool's problems in the early 1990s, says Alan Hansen. Hansen was part of the title-winning Liverpool side of 1990, but they have failed to win the league since. New United boss David Moyes made just one notable summer signing in Marouane Fellaini, and his side have made their worst league start for 24 years. "Liverpool began to flounder because they failed to replace good players with better ones," said Hansen. The former Scotland defender added: "The club has paid a heavy price in the two decades since." United won the Premier League last season under Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired at the end of the campaign and recommended fellow Scot Moyes as his successor. But the 50-year-old has had a tough first three months in charge at Old Trafford. United failed in their attempts to sign Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the summer and were also unsuccessful in moves for Everton defender Leighton Baines, Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera and Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao. The Red Devils were also linked with Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alacantara, who chose to join Bayern Munich. Moyes's side have lost three of their opening six league games to make their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1989-90 season. "It is too early to say we are now witnessing the end of the empire at Old Trafford," said Hansen in his weekly column for the Daily Telegraph. "But alarm bells are ringing and there are clear similarities between the United of 2013 and the last Liverpool team to win the title back in 1990. "I played in that Liverpool team 23 years ago and it was in the bottom three of the eight title-winning sides I played in at Anfield. "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." Hansen, 58, added: "United have more depth and quality than the 1990 Liverpool side, but I would say that the two first teams are comparable in terms of the issues they faced. "Both could be described as ageing teams that needed breaking up, but with issues over those brought in as younger replacements." United lost 2-1 to West Brom on Saturday and face a testing trip to Shakhtar Donetsk in a Champions League group game on Wednesday. Their start to the season is the worst by the defending champions since Blackburn Rovers in 1995. I think it's too early to even think that the current form is just teething problems and I fully expect Utd to recover and go on a run that will move them up the table. Does anyone think that Hansen may well be right and that this is more than a poor start for Utd?
We fell away because we failed to modernise. United atm are failing to modernise. You'v all seen Neville on Sky saying United must not change there system and preaching the United way.
You could say that we tried to do too much too soon (Souness) which would mean that taking time to move the club forward may be the safer option. I don't think they will have a good season but signings this January and the following Summer will send Utd one of two ways.
well I think hanson is generous to LFC> 1. to compare LFC to Utd is not possible in 1991 you could have 16 -18 players and thats loads. no europe! today utd have 4 competitions they are expected to compete at and need 25-30 players. 2. Hanson says all lfc did was fail to replace good players with better... Oh contraire!!! we replaced good players with total rubbish!!!! 3. In the 90s when this actually amtters Utd build a 76k statium. LFC whined and moaned about crawling to 45k with the centenary and anfield road stands. 4. In 1991 LFC only had an arsenal side under george graham for rivals for the league really. everton were gone off by then. We only ever had one rival at a time for it. Utd have 3 rivals in theory but in practice the certainly have 2 huge rivals in terms of cash and willingness to go for it. In short utd have an unlimited kitty of funds should they need it.... they made the wrong managerial appointment and we all know it. Once they reverse that and appoint a big name the players who said no this summer (or were not asked) will come flooding to them for the money if nothing else. Its quite simple, neville is right. follow the utd way, buy lots of quality for lots of money and play consistently each week. Utd have built a team, added a bit here and there each year and when ferguson needed to he culled and started again but the thread of quality ran though out. If they leave moyes to bring more tall men in and undo the ferguson way they are foolish. They need to build on RVP, Rooney and only a few others with a bright new team now... but in 2 years? if they leave it that long they will be looking at city with envy... and once you need rebuild a whole team the temptation do do what cheslea have done of what LFc did for 20 years on a smaller scale is huge... they could waste a lot fo money chasing the consistency. not to worry though... mourinho "cried" when he heard he was passe dover for the utd job acorrding to some rag or other. never mind he'd signe dup for cheslea well in advance of course.
Whilst we all laugh at their current predicament, I think with the team they have (only won the league last year by 10/11 points?), they'll be there in the end, however not sure if it will be driven by Moyes or the players reverting to "What would Fergie" do.. Similar to what Chav's did in their run to the CLs, for all his posturing (Di Matteo), you had a feeling that the senior players in that squad we're reverting to what Maureen would have done... I'd be surprised if they weren't in the top 4 come May, don't think they'll win it though, unless the rest of the teams cock it up big time! Can't see Untied getting rid (of Moyes), would make Fergie look stupid if they did, after all he was Fergies choice, if anything, he'll be given at least next year too, if he's still cocking it up then he may get moved on.. With regards to the squad, I wouldn't say its aging but the team could do with a refresh. If you look at their best 11, most of them are 27 years+ of the regular youngsters they have playing De Gea, Smalling, Jones, the Twins, Zaha and Cleverly, apart from De Gea and Rafhael, the rest of that wouldn't make it into any of the other top teams in Premiership (Zaha may do in time) but the likes of Jones, Cleverly (IMHO) are overrated! Still not our problem, so couldn't really give a flying, fully inverted ****!
Too many false dawns. I enjoy watching United struggle, but they have a core of young players that we didn't have in '91, and the finance to buy a complete new squad, if needs be (and the infrastructure to support it, FFP or not). Losing SAF was always going to be a jolt, and I truly believe that Moyes is not the long-term answer, but I still suspect that in five years time we'll be starting the season off thinking that the team that finishes above united will win the league. Till then....
It is going to be nice for United to wait for another 25 years for the title. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Rodgers had a terrible first transfer window when we signed Allen and Borini. Moyes experienced the same but you suspect he will improve over the coming transfer windows. However, he will need to keep in touch with the leaders and finish at least in the top 4 come the end of the season else Moyes's job will become a whole lot harder.
Nice piece of popcorning from Hansen, but as a serious piece that's a nonsense. Football in this country has changed beyond all recognition since the early 90's & United have created a club that can sustain a level of spending that will almost ensure their return to the pinnacle. They might not see the level of dominance that they have enjoyed in recent years, but there's no way they're heading the same way as Liverpool did i.e. 23 years & counting....
I think moyes will eventually come good if given time. I think he may struggle for top 4 in his first season though. The let off for everyone this season is that everyone else is dropping points. You afford to lose a few games this year.
Quite a bold statement from you. We don't know how Man Utd will perform in the future - but their current form is not good. They've had some poor results but the performances have been diabolical. That's not down to a lack of quality (as proven by the fact that they won the season last year) but would indicate poor tactical ability from the manager. Not only this, Fergie built a massive club which should be able to sustain itself after his departure. Problem is, Moyes came and got rid of the backroom staff - staff with great experience and knowledge of the club and winning trophies. David Gill has also left. There seems to be an inexperience feeling around the club - highlighted by their poor transfer window. It will take time for Moyes to get to grips with it, but they do run the risk of falling outside the top 4 which then makes the job even more difficult.
I said before the season started that it'll be fascinating to see where Utd go AF, and it's living up to my expectations. I had serious doubts about Moyes' suitability as a replacement and I'm not seeing a a lot to change my mind. It's a good sideshow to our own season, but I think it's best to sit back and watch rather than try to predict where it'll end up. Imo, those of us who are sure they'll continue to slide are just being hopeful, having lived in their shadow for a while now. However, I think that those who are certain they're too big to fail are being naive- it's entirely possible. (By fail, I mean drop to the 6th to 8th level that we've enjoyed for the last few years.) I'm just going to sit here on my fence and enjoy the show.
The thing is, over the past decade United have had a real 'fear factor', teams come to Old Trafford expecting not to get a point, and perhaps setting up for the draw. That's why for Moyes home form is very important, more results like the one at the weekend and teams will be coming to Old Trafford fancying their chances, knowing the pressure under Moyes and his players, and getting right in their faces. IF that fear factor starts to fade, and teams start seeing Man Utd in a completely different light then they may be in trouble (short term), one thing is certain, United have to take advantage of the run of fixtures they have coming up.
eh? sorry but no, utd will have to go some to improve enough for the thought of a ferguson title run in type form. If he struggles for top 4 this year he will not survive. even if he does eh will never "come good" cos he's small time and we know what happens when small time comes to a big club. the thought process is all wrong. moyes will just go negative rather than kill sides and half the prem will try and stand up to utd now at old trafford at least until they concede of course. right now moyes is depending on rooney who he wrote off and insulted to save him.. funny eh?
It's not a bold statement at all mate. United are now simply too big in terms of their financial turnover, to fail in the medium / long term. This is merely a blip under Moyes, if he doesn't get it right then they'll can him, bring in a world renowned successor & spend big in order to put themselves back where they came from. Their finances are so far ahead of the pack (& this will become exacerbated as FFP starts to impact) that a few short term managerial mistakes can't derail them to the level of 20 years + without a title. As much as you might hope for it, it simply won't happen.
Financially, yes they are very strong. But they still struggled to attract players even when Fergie was around. Now that Moyes is in charge, they've lost a bit of their star attraction. And then imagine if they drop out of the top 4 ... P.S - I'm not sure if you think I meant Utd would fail in terms of going into administration??
I think you're wrong for a number of reasons. United haven't got a golden core to build around. RVP is 30 and has a dubious injury record, Rooney blows hot and cold and has history with Moyes. The midfield haven't got the quality they had even a few years ago. The first choice defence is rapidly aging and the replacements aren't really of the same calibre. Only the keeper is a proper talent, and even he is occasionally flaky. Its not tinkering at the edges, its full blown surgery that's needed there. If they slip out of the CL spots this season, they'll have to give Moyes his cards and get a proper manager in. Money no object it may be, but will players be willing to go to United outside of European competition? As for the 'the United Way', its really just Fergie's way. There is no United way, unless you're saying Wilf McGuiness represents 'The United Way'. In which case, more of the same please! Wilf, Busby's annointed sucessor, did a great job following Sir Matt...
