Manchester United WI

We've got enough of war and political WIs around, so how about a change?

Let's say Sir Alex retired in 2010 for health reasons or something else, how would this change things? Would Man United continue to rule the English Premier League, or would other teams had a shot at the title (like Man City this past season)?

Indeed, an alternate Man United first-team line-up would be interesting... :p

Marc A
 
Are you just talking about the 2010/11 season then, since City did win this year?

Well, if someone other than Fergie became coach in 2010 it would butterfly the subsequent season(s), would it not? ;)

Besides, I'm kind of looking for a way to get Thomas Muller to play for United... :D

Marc A
 
I thought Mueller was using the "United and Chelsea are interested in signing me" headlines as a way of getting a big wage increase at Bayern after the World Cup? I'm not sure he was that serious about leaving, and since Bayern did resign him for a much higher salary then the only way you would probably get him to United is for Bayern to decide they didn't want him, so he becomes a free agent. I can't see that happening though considering his WC success.

But the Wayne Rooney saga also happened that year, and from memory it was supposed to be the heart-to-heart talks with Ferguson that kept him at United. So, without Ferguson there's a good chance Rooney leaves, and as much as I despise the half potato man-child without Rooney they are a much weaker team. So perhaps no title for United in 20120/11?
 
I thought Mueller was using the "United and Chelsea are interested in signing me" headlines as a way of getting a big wage increase at Bayern after the World Cup? I'm not sure he was that serious about leaving, and since Bayern did resign him for a much higher salary then the only way you would probably get him to United is for Bayern to decide they didn't want him, so he becomes a free agent. I can't see that happening though considering his WC success.

But the Wayne Rooney saga also happened that year, and from memory it was supposed to be the heart-to-heart talks with Ferguson that kept him at United. So, without Ferguson there's a good chance Rooney leaves, and as much as I despise the half potato man-child without Rooney they are a much weaker team. So perhaps no title for United in 20120/11?

As much a United fan as I am I seriously think we can't dominate forever - it's no fun, like, at all. I'm not against Chelsea winning 2010/11 ITTL. ;)

For the Rooney thing, how about this (probably ASB, but let's have a go at it): after FIFA 2010 (ITTL a German win :D) he decided "fuck this shit I'm leaving", so Man United traded him for Mueller, with an undisclosed amount of fee attached. Berbatov inherited No. 10, Javier Hernandez got 9, and Mueller got 14.

I'll admit the above is authorial fiat. :)

Marc A

P.S. Anyone else got ideas as to how would the Red Devils do w/o Fergie? I'm thinking whoever's in charge would try to get rid of old blood like Giggs and Scholes (don't have anything against them, but let's face it - they're old and not the awesome players they once were)
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
Let's say Sir Alex retired in 2010 for health reasons or something else, how would this change things? Would Man United continue to rule the English Premier League, or would other teams had a shot at the title (like Man City this past season)?

Manchester United rules the Premier League? Pardon me, but have you forgotten the existence of a little team called Chelsea which has won the league title three times in the last decade?
 
Manchester United rules the Premier League? Pardon me, but have you forgotten the existence of a little team called Chelsea which has won the league title three times in the last decade?

Of course I haven't (2003/2004 comes to mind :(), but compared to the 19 league titles Man United won... ;)

Marc A
 
I think a more interesting POD would be if he had decided to follow-through with his initial plan to retire ten years ago, at the end of the 2002 season. He felt that the team significantly underperformed after he announced that he was leaving at the end of the year, and decided to sign a new contract.

It'd be very interesting to see what would happen then. Who would take over?
 
I think a more interesting POD would be if he had decided to follow-through with his initial plan to retire ten years ago, at the end of the 2002 season. He felt that the team significantly underperformed after he announced that he was leaving at the end of the year, and decided to sign a new contract.

It'd be very interesting to see what would happen then. Who would take over?

Huh, that'd be interesting indeed... perhaps we'd get Jose Mourinho? :D

Marc A
 
My Opinion

For what little it's worth My Opinion would be if you wanted to do one where Fergie does retire he would at least have a say in who his replacement was so you'd be looking at possibly Mourinho if he retires somewhere between 2008 and 2010 if before he might look at a manager similar to himself in the Brian Clough mould so then you could have Walter Smith or David Moyes or possible Martin O Neill.
 
For what little it's worth My Opinion would be if you wanted to do one where Fergie does retire he would at least have a say in who his replacement was so you'd be looking at possibly Mourinho if he retires somewhere between 2008 and 2010 if before he might look at a manager similar to himself in the Brian Clough mould so then you could have Walter Smith or David Moyes or possible Martin O Neill.

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:
 
I think Ferguson's original protégé was Steve McClaren - sadly, he took the England job way too soon, which has effectively ruined his career in England at least. In 2002, Jose Mourinho wasn't well-known; he didn't win the Champions League until 2004.

It'd be rather amusing if his old buddy Arsene Wenger took over. :p
 
It'd be very interesting to see what would happen then. Who would take over?

Capello, in all likelihood. This was almost a done deal IOTL - he'd been sounded out by the United board, and he certainly wanted the job - but then Fergie had a change of heart.
 
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