Manchester United fans may be frustrated at their loss to City last night, but the panic button surely does not need to be pushed.
Over in America, Manchester United owners the Glazers got ruthless when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers endured a miserable NFL season last year, sacking the head coach.
On this side of the Atlantic, they surely wouldn’t dare, but when it comes to re-inventing United, Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit remains the nuclear option.
It has become the modern way to sack the manager when results don’t go well, indeed Sir Alex himself likely would not have made it through from 1986 to 1990 when he won his first FA Cup had the club not shown a patience so often lacking nowadays.
So given the fickle nature of football nowadays, it was hardly surprising to see a number of supporters calling for Ferguson’s head. Who next? Bring in recently departed Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola of course.
Here are a selection of tweets from United supporters:
@covidre31: Bring on Josep Guardiola to replace ferguson after last night squad and result
@drews: Ferguson must go..we need pep guardiola
@josigomero: Adios Ferguson, Hola Guardiola
@Vin_cen_t: Ferguson out…Guardiola In….Park Out…Hazard In…Now who won’t be happy out that
@DahoodAhmed: Yet another tactical blunder from Ferguson! How many times has he done that this season? Is Guardiola available?
@DanielHolmes96: I hope Ferguson retires and Guardiola takes the job
@HamSooley: Ferguson out, Guardiola in
Our reaction? Well we are not going to sit here and say Pep Guardiola would not do a good job at Manchester United, he will clearly be a success wherever he goes.
But to jettison Sir Alex Ferguson after this result? A little perspective is required. Only a month ago he and his United team were the finest thing since sliced bread.
Whatever happens over the final two games, he has still taken the team to being the second best in the country. A fine achievement in the context of underperforming rivals at Arsenal and Liverpool.
It is shaping up to be United’s first trophyless season since 2005. Back then it turned out to be the best thing to happen to United.
The club axed the dross, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, springing to mind, and over the next two seasons signed players including Carlos Tevez who would become integral to winning the league three years in a row and the Champions League win in 2008.
Players like Rooney and Ronaldo blossomed, and there is no reason why the current crop of talent at Old Trafford will not continue to improve.
Ferguson will be up for the challenge. Like Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, he has his blind spots, namely the centre of midfield, which requires major re-modelling.
Guardiola will be a man in the frame to take over from Ferguson, when he decides to call it a day, but not yet.
The Spaniard says he wants to rest any way, and that is the last thing Sir Alex will want to do right now.
When Ferguson leaves it will be on his terms, the American owners wouldn’t dare get rid of him, so supporters should back him and forget dreams of Guardiola coming in for now.
image: © edwin11
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