Are Dirty Leeds Indicative of a Wider Malaise?

Even Alex Ferguson acknowledged Leeds were well worthy of their victory (despite bleating on about stoppage time AGAIN. He sounds like a cantankerous grumbling old grand-dad). This was no Championship Manager-esque ‘team who has twenty shots loses to team who had one’. Beckford made Wes Brown look far from an England international class defender, which must be worrying for Capello as he looked a good option to cover at both right back and centre back at the World Cup. United’s midfield looked inept, and Rooney and Berbatov – assembled at a cost greater even that Peter Risdale’s greatest excesses at Leeds – failed to penetrate.

Upset this was, freak it was not. Leeds were better all over the field. And that must be worrying for United. Here are a few other causes of concern…

• Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes and Gary Neville – to increasing degrees – look to be on their last legs. They represent a dynasty of success and when they do imminently move on, are there the winners to replace them? Is Gabriel Obertan the new Ryan Giggs? Is Darron Gibson the new Paul Scholes? In short, no.
• Alex Ferguson’s inane ramblings about stoppage time are becoming increasingly tiresome, and like the last great long-term manager before him (Clough), raise concerns that he is losing focus and growing resentful and introverted in his later years. Not speaking to the press doesn’t help. I won’t go as far as to say he is, like Clough, a raging alcoholic – but that nose is VERY red.
• Replacing Ronaldo will be a millstone around Ferguson’s neck; none of Nani, Tosic (who they actualy pulled out of signing), Lajic, Obertan or even Valencia (the most impressive of them, and only recently) look even remotely like stepping into his shoes. How many more shit wingers will he sign?
• Furthermore, where is all the money?! £60m has seemingly dropped into the Glazer’s void, and without that Ferguson simply cannot compete with Chelsea/Man City etc in the transfer market.
• Which raises further concerns; is United’s debt serviceable? Are they in serious financial strife? Even if they can afford the repayments, they still need funds for players, without which they will only go backwards and, ultimately, miss out on the CL qualification which allows them to cover the interest.
• Without money Ferguson will be – indeed is – forced to look out for canny free transfers and players coming out of contract – that is simply not a good or big enough talent pool for a club like United.
• The United Youth Academy must dream of another intake to rival the Beckham/Butt/Scholes/Nevilles/etc – the likes of Welbeck are just not good enough. But Ferguson is famous for his trust in youth – if he continues with this faith results will suffer.
• United’s side is actually not that good – certainly amongst the weakest they have had in recent memory. Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher and Rooney are immune – but the rest all have question marks over them. Which must be a little peturbing.

So, United are being run by a senile alcoholic, are in piles of debt that they cannot afford to pay, and have only half a good side with no decent players waiting in the wings. With no money for re-enforcements. Cause for concern, United fans?