Is United's Empire Crumbling?

Manchester United was, up until recently, a bastion of power in the Premiership.
It was the prevailing superpower and Sir Alex Ferguson its unshakable Churchillian leader. Suddenly a shadow has been cast over Old Trafford and even the clubs own fans, famous for their (justified) cockiness, seem increasingly concerned.
Debt has hung over the Red Devils in recent years, and while this in itself is not so strange (few top flight clubs are not in the red to some extent) owners the Glazer family’s problems seem to have become increasingly grave.
Recent reports suggest interest rates on the Glazer’s PIK debts have risen from 14.25 to 16.25 percent, and whilst chief executive David Gill maintains these are saddled with the Glazers themselves, Manchester United Supporters Club (MUST) have noted that a clause in the club’s recent refinancing exercise allows £95 million to be drawn from the club.
Duncan Drasco, chairman of MUST, said: "We believe in the next 12 months accounts will start to show them taking even more money out of our club.
"They have already wasted more on interest and fees than the total sum of all season ticket money paid by every supporter in their entire five-year ownership.”
Speaking of which, season tickets are another matter for concern. Only 51,800 of the club’s 54,000 sales target has been achieved this season, this despite a price freeze. The fact the club chose not to increase prices, as in recent consecutive seasons, suggests Manchester United knew trouble was ahead. Gill has maintained that in the current financial climate they can expect to take a hit, but rivals Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs and notably Arsenal, with their stadium of comparable size, have all sold out of season tickets. Plus, weren’t we in a recession last year?
Another issue putting Mancunian noses out of joint is the failure to significantly strengthen the team over the summer. Despite a commendable campaign last season the squad has never recovered from the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez.
Giggs and Scholes continue to perform but at their age won’t play every week, and the likes of Gibson and Obertan simply do not bare comparison. The fact that Ferguson seems to constantly rotate his midfield, with Fletcher being the only ever-present, may come across as a display of squad depth, but equally suggests a lack of confidence.
Mexican prodigy Hernandez has been touted as a coup, the unique discovery who will propel the club back to the top, but few can predict how he will fair in the demanding Premier League, himself being very young and inexperienced.
Meanwhile, at the back, Chris Smalling has been added but again he is a player for the future and his real potential still has a big question mark over it. Johnny Evans does not yet look like Ferdinand’s replacement, and Ferdinand himself has developed chronic injury problems. Van Der Sar is still a world class keeper but at 40 years old this could easily be his last season.
Elsewhere, Manchester United players are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Portuguese acquisition Bebe was previously in the news as Sir Alex had supposedly never seen him play. Most managers will probably read that and tell you it happens more than you think, and that’s why they have highly paid scouts.
However the plot thickened when reports came through of the forward being pulled from training sessions due to lack of fitness (despite having played 6 pre-season matches in Portugal) and subsequently not making the cut for the Champions League squad.
For midfielder Owen Hargreaves, further treatment seems like a delaying of inevitable retirement. He suffered a relapse in his ongoing knee problem this summer, which renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman has described as the worst tendinitis he has seen in his 35 year career.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always been synonymous with everything about Manchester United; drive, devotion, and bullishness are all words that could describe both club and manager. But, as if unable to separate from the plight of his employers, the great Fergy has recently dampened his reputation.
A petty and costly quibble with the BBC is the last thing the club needs at the moment, but the Scotsman’s six year boycott of the channel now contravenes new Premier League rules, and will lead to fines and perhaps further punishment if it should continue.
Apart from success, Manchester United have consistently silenced their doubters over the years. If they do not on this occasion, we could be witnessing the beginning of the end of a footballing empire’s golden era.