by Reg » Tue May 07, 2019 3:55 pm
I was swapping messages with an old friend of mine and a real football state. He made good points on the subject of eras...
There is a familiar pattern isn't there. After Busby retired in 1969 having been manager for 24 years and after winning the European Cup in 1968 with the famed Law, Best and Charlton, one could say United went into decline until Fergie won his first league title in 1993, 26 years after they last won it under Busby in 1967. Fergie stayed 27 years. From Shanks joining in 1959 to Dalglish walking out in 1990, Liverpool had a 31 year dynasty and since then its already been 29 years since we last won the league. Replacing such dynasties is difficult at the best of times and I think in todays world of football and the mega business that it has become, its probably now impossible. Modern day shelf life, 5 years? As an example, if Guardiola doesn't win the CL next season his position at City will become fragile. Its almost ludicrous to think that the most successful manager of the modern era (across 3 different countries) might be made redundant. But thats the way it is today. The top spending 4 or 5 clubs across Europe today are built for the sole purpose of winning the CL both from a glory and a financial viewpoint. Managers like Guardiola, Mourinho, Zidane, Ancelotti are installed to win the CL and anything else is failure. Klopp is still in a slightly different position. Firstly because Liverpool haven't spent the money that others have, they simply don't have it. Secondly because winning the PL is actually considered more important than winning the CL right now. Liverpool are probably the exception to the rule on this right now because winning the PL and getting that 30 year monkey wrench of our backs is very much seen as the catalyst for the trophy floodgates to open and the next dynasty to begin. Back to United, failure to even qualify for the CL is a major disaster and compounds their misery. I will counter bet your $100 that Ole doesn't make it beyond Christmas. Its only taken 3 months for the euphoria and sentimentality to wear off and for reality to bite, he is a much loved ex player but he is not going to take United anywhere. Punto. We know the story. We had Souness, arguably one of the best Club Captains on the pitch that Liverpool ever had but as a Manager was a disaster. Since Dalglish left in 1990, we have tried them all but in the end it took us 26 years to find the perfect fit in Jurgen Klopp and even he might only last another 2 to 3 years if he doesn't win something. Modern day football. United are in the Sh*t for a long time to come.