5 costly mistakes by Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement

#4 Changing the transfer and youth policies

United had a very different transfer strategy before 2013

If we look at all the first team transfers in the 6 years preceding Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, we see a transfer strategy with clarity and a purpose. Robin Van Persie and Michael Owen were the only players above the age of 27 that were signed.

Owen on a free and Van Persie as a farewell gift for Ferguson. The rest, except perhaps Berbatov, were all signed based on their potential or on their ability to fit within the vision that the manager had for the club.

Since Ferguson’s retirement, and the inevitable subsequent downturn in on-pitch fortunes, the club has been desperately trying to get back to the top by splashing the cash on established superstars.

The result: United have been led on wild-goose chases by the likes of Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos while making some statement signings such as Alexis Sanchez, Paul Pogba, and Romelu Lukaku.

While the need to quickly get back to the top in the short-term is understandable, the club seems to have missed a trick in the medium to long-term by ignoring their old transfer policy of taking a punt on players with potential.

The youth system at the club has fallen behind local rivals Manchester City over the years. When United were conducting a root-and-branch review of their youth system, City had unveiled the Etihad campus and their youth team, alongside Chelsea's, is thriving in the FA Youth Cup.

The likes of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford may still be keeping the United academy flag flying in the first team, but the emergence of talents such as Phil Foden and Brahmin Diaz is a subtle evidence of a changing of the guard.

Taking their eye off the ball with respect to the youth policy may turn out to be the most costly error of all for United.