Did Sir Alex overstay as the manager of Manchester United?

Any person would agree that he was the best manager that any club could have. He stood up and ensured that the legacy of Sir Matt Busby continued well into the 21st century. He instilled that sense of belief in his players to conquer the football world. He redefined the way football was played at United. He made what Manchester United today is. He is Manchester United.

But, did he overstay as the manager of Manchester United? Did his famed Scottish mentality hurt the team? Did his arrogance of stamping his authority over the club set the team back? But, he was the one who created this image of Manchester United, then how could he be blamed for the teams performances this season?

His arrogance at times HAS (and not HAD because he is the reason why United are faltering this season) cost the team dearly. His arrogance has certainly made the present day Manchester United what it is, but it has also led to the loss of high profile youngsters such as Pogba, Morrison, Fryers, etc. Paul Pogba, now in Juventus, has replaced the legendary Pirlo and won the European Golden Boy award. He is the midfield engine that the Old Lady now sings upon and a major reason for their consistency over the last two years. Apart from his ability to control the game in the middle of the park, he has an uncanny eye for goal as evidenced by his numerous screamers. Sounds like a certain ginger headed Old Trafford legend? Maybe. If only, Sir Alex had agreed to the player’s demand for a higher wage. To add to this disappointment, SAF had let the mercurial Ravel Morrison go as well. To a man who had managed hotheads like Cantona, Keane, Rooney, Ronaldo, et al., a volatile mind like Morrison’s shouldn’t have been much of a problem. Morrison, this season with West Ham, has been pretty consistent and the image of him ripping apart the Spurs defense is still afresh in many a mind.

Not only did Fergie undervalue the importance of youngsters in the twilight years of his managerial career, but he also had played a major role in the Rooney saga of 2013. Rooney stayed largely because of the in-coming David Moyes. Adnan Januzaj, the prodigy that United are relying heavily on this season was already knocking the senior team door at the start of 2012-2013 season. There were doubts being cast over the future of the lad’s Manchester United career as Fergie insisted on playing the out-of-form duo of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia. Moyes ensured that Adnan signed a long-term contract and gave him his richly deserved start. If not for Rooney and Adnan, United would have been hard pressed to make it to the top half of the league.

What if SAF had retired 2 years earlier? Okay, we’d have maybe missed out on the ever-important 20th title winning signing of Robin Van Persie along with Shinji Kagawa, but Moyes would’ve probably ensured (as in the case of Januzaj and Rooney) that Pogba and Morrison stayed on at Old Trafford. The gaffer’s midweek scouting of Pogba underlines the fact that Moyes admires this young talent. Had Pogba and Morrison stayed at Old Trafford then Moyes would’ve had the right platform for him to take the team forward. This would almost certainly have prevented the last minute panic signing of Marrouane Fellaini. By no means is the importance of the great man being undermined here, but Moyes is being made a scapegoat for what was already a lost cause. Had Sir Alex retired 2 years earlier, the following would’ve been the preferred starting eleven this season:

De Gea

Rafael-Vidic-Evans/Jones-Evra

Morrison-Carrick-Pogba-Januzaj

Rooney

Welbeck/Chicharito