Fergie time was up. There were no more minutes to be added. It was a time that the fans of every other football club in the country had been longing for. A time that we had been dreading for years. A time that we had been told time and time again that was the beginning of the end for Manchester United. When the most decorated manager in football history retired at the end of the 2012/2013 season we all knew the future was somewhat unknown. We all had that worry of what would happen to our club.
We knew the transition wouldn't be seamless. But what few of us could have anticipated was the swiftness at which the demise of our form would occur. Last season was a complete disaster and it perhaps showed in all its glory the pure genius which we perhaps took for granted in Alex Ferguson's years at the club. It was always said that following Sir Alex was the impossible job and so it proved for David Moyes. A lot of people remarkably, although not without premise, lay the blame at Sir Alex's door for not investing in the squad. There were many factors in the rapidity of our collapse last season. New manager. New techniques. Ageing playing staff and lack of new signings.
They say a year is a long time in football but after today watching a United pre-season match that was played on the 24th July of this year; I would say that two months is a long time in football. It all started so well for Louis van Gaal with an impressive 7-0 victory over LA Galaxy. The Louis van Gaal era couldn't have started any better. Whilst watching this re-run from just over two months ago I couldn't believe it was the same club as I have been watching of late.
People in the press, fans of other clubs and various other sources were adamant, almost optimistic, that United wouldn't be able to attract players because we weren't playing Champions League football this season. I wrote a long time ago how it was the history of Manchester United. The unrivalled story of rising from the ashes to become the world's biggest football club. The prestige of playing at the Theatre of Dreams. These were the factors in players wanting to join our club. One season out of the Champions League couldn't eradicate all that has gone before that. Every player who signs for United always walks around Old Trafford, visits the museum, talks to ex footballing greats such as Bobby Charlton and Paddy Crerand. Understands that Manchester United is more than a football club. Once inside Old Trafford you can't help but to be drawn in by the history of the club.
However, even the most optimistic of United fans could not have envisaged the quality of signings we have made in the last two months. Herrera has settled incredibly well and his tough tackling approach has made him a vital player in the centre of midfield. Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo have put in some competent displays and seem to be improving with every match. Luke Shaw has been unlucky with injuries but we know from his time at Southampton what he is capable of and he has the potential to be our regular left back for many years to come. The two marquee signings of Falcao and Di Maria have been scintillating at times and their reputations that have followed them certainly haven't hindered their performances.
The difference between now and the squad we had on our pre-season tour of the USA is the sheer quality of personnel. People doubted our ability to attract big name players in the summer but now that we have, it is only a matter of time before we add more quality to the squad. Players still want to join Manchester United. And now we have a squad of players and a manager that players believe in. The change in body language and attitude of some of the longer serving players between that first game of the season against Swansea and the last game we played against Everton is there for all to see. Rooney's confidence, his will to win is back. The performance of David De Gea against Everton behind an ever changing back four was as good a goalkeeping performance as I have seen since Schmeichel's heroics against Newcastle back in 1996.
The signings we have made have given everybody at Old Trafford an injection of belief again. Falcao and perhaps more notably Angel di Maria have adapted incredibly quickly to the English game. Even now though, I believe that if they are this good after four or five games in the Premier League how good can they become after six months? After one year? After two years? This is a team who are still getting used to each other. Getting used to each others style of play. Getting used to each others capabilities.
To gel together as a team takes time and we are still in the very early stages of this group of players playing together. The point I am trying to make is what a long way we have come in an incredibly short period of time. And just who knows where this is leading to? A couple more transfer windows and we will not only be back in Europe's elite club competition but I believe we will have a squad of players capable of winning it. The future at United is once again bright. I don't want to get carried away after back to back victories but I am once again excited about results, about performances, about challenging for trophies, about big games against big teams. Last season we turned up against City, Against Liverpool, against Bayern and were hoping merely that we wouldn't get trounced. This season is different. The new manager has an aura about him. The new players have self-belief and are the quality signings that have given the current players, and the supporters, belief that we can win games again. This is a new era for Manchester United. A new chapter in our illustrious history. We are on our way back and it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
Written by Si Glen
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @sglen2001
We knew the transition wouldn't be seamless. But what few of us could have anticipated was the swiftness at which the demise of our form would occur. Last season was a complete disaster and it perhaps showed in all its glory the pure genius which we perhaps took for granted in Alex Ferguson's years at the club. It was always said that following Sir Alex was the impossible job and so it proved for David Moyes. A lot of people remarkably, although not without premise, lay the blame at Sir Alex's door for not investing in the squad. There were many factors in the rapidity of our collapse last season. New manager. New techniques. Ageing playing staff and lack of new signings.
They say a year is a long time in football but after today watching a United pre-season match that was played on the 24th July of this year; I would say that two months is a long time in football. It all started so well for Louis van Gaal with an impressive 7-0 victory over LA Galaxy. The Louis van Gaal era couldn't have started any better. Whilst watching this re-run from just over two months ago I couldn't believe it was the same club as I have been watching of late.
People in the press, fans of other clubs and various other sources were adamant, almost optimistic, that United wouldn't be able to attract players because we weren't playing Champions League football this season. I wrote a long time ago how it was the history of Manchester United. The unrivalled story of rising from the ashes to become the world's biggest football club. The prestige of playing at the Theatre of Dreams. These were the factors in players wanting to join our club. One season out of the Champions League couldn't eradicate all that has gone before that. Every player who signs for United always walks around Old Trafford, visits the museum, talks to ex footballing greats such as Bobby Charlton and Paddy Crerand. Understands that Manchester United is more than a football club. Once inside Old Trafford you can't help but to be drawn in by the history of the club.
However, even the most optimistic of United fans could not have envisaged the quality of signings we have made in the last two months. Herrera has settled incredibly well and his tough tackling approach has made him a vital player in the centre of midfield. Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo have put in some competent displays and seem to be improving with every match. Luke Shaw has been unlucky with injuries but we know from his time at Southampton what he is capable of and he has the potential to be our regular left back for many years to come. The two marquee signings of Falcao and Di Maria have been scintillating at times and their reputations that have followed them certainly haven't hindered their performances.
The difference between now and the squad we had on our pre-season tour of the USA is the sheer quality of personnel. People doubted our ability to attract big name players in the summer but now that we have, it is only a matter of time before we add more quality to the squad. Players still want to join Manchester United. And now we have a squad of players and a manager that players believe in. The change in body language and attitude of some of the longer serving players between that first game of the season against Swansea and the last game we played against Everton is there for all to see. Rooney's confidence, his will to win is back. The performance of David De Gea against Everton behind an ever changing back four was as good a goalkeeping performance as I have seen since Schmeichel's heroics against Newcastle back in 1996.
The signings we have made have given everybody at Old Trafford an injection of belief again. Falcao and perhaps more notably Angel di Maria have adapted incredibly quickly to the English game. Even now though, I believe that if they are this good after four or five games in the Premier League how good can they become after six months? After one year? After two years? This is a team who are still getting used to each other. Getting used to each others style of play. Getting used to each others capabilities.
To gel together as a team takes time and we are still in the very early stages of this group of players playing together. The point I am trying to make is what a long way we have come in an incredibly short period of time. And just who knows where this is leading to? A couple more transfer windows and we will not only be back in Europe's elite club competition but I believe we will have a squad of players capable of winning it. The future at United is once again bright. I don't want to get carried away after back to back victories but I am once again excited about results, about performances, about challenging for trophies, about big games against big teams. Last season we turned up against City, Against Liverpool, against Bayern and were hoping merely that we wouldn't get trounced. This season is different. The new manager has an aura about him. The new players have self-belief and are the quality signings that have given the current players, and the supporters, belief that we can win games again. This is a new era for Manchester United. A new chapter in our illustrious history. We are on our way back and it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
Written by Si Glen
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @sglen2001