Man United under Sir Alex Ferguson; 

In 2004-2005, we came third. 18 points behind. We bought Rooney. In 2005-2006 came second. 8 points behind. We bought Van Der Sar. Then Vidic and Evra in January (they were also loathed if you remember). Phil Neville then left.

What did SAF do in 2006-2007?

He sells of Ruud Van Nistelrooy and just buys Michael Carrick. No one gave us a chance again. SAF was now a spent force for media and had now won the league for 3 seasons.*

2006-2007 result:

Premier League Champions 🏆

FA Cup Finalists 🏆

Champions League Semi Finalist🏆

Yes, we may have had Ronaldo and Rooney (they just showed potential earlier not the menacing force they became later) and we signed Larsson for 3 months, but the important thing was Man United thrived under pressure largely thanks to SAF and his man management.

SEASON 2018-19:

It's the same situation for Josè; He knows people have lowered the expectation. So now if this team grinds out results, the media would be scrambling for excuses, trying to question his methods again. He has already played the ball and put it in media’s court. From here on it’s his control. He has taken away the attention being put on the players. Now they are all talking about transfers and not about individual players. Also, I don’t think we are as bad as we look to be. It is just about how the players react to this situation. It is time for the players to stand up and be counted. A coach is as good as his team. We can talk a lot about Josè's behavior or his demeanor, but in the end we all know he is a serial winner. You can never count him out. For Josè being discarded is the motivation.

A manager of his level wouldn't quit or want to quit. Something that the club should be grateful for. Here he has won some trophies, but not trophies he shuts haters up with (UEL + Communy Shield + EFL is not a real success for his legacy).

In Zlatan’s words “Lions don't compare themselves with humans.”

Beware❗You might be in for squeaky lil bum time a bit early this season, but I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the ride later.

Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.

#Be21ve🔴

#GGMU🔴🔴

Post Ferguson era, a huge equation which remains  unsolved is the RIGHT WING.. Lack of quality delivery into the box and width has made us more predictable, leading to frustrating draws. Strikers in Martial and Rashford and number 10s in Mkhytarian and Lingard were asked to fill in a position pleading for a specialist to bring back the Beckham and Ronaldo days.. Valencia's ineffectiveness in delivering balls to Lukaku has left a huge hole in the heart of the attacking philosophy United has always believed in. 

We look at 3 potential signings Mourinho is looking at to massively improve the squad :

1.  Gareth Bale :

 Wonder goal in the Champions League Final, the post match controversial interview of him laying out a potential move out of Real Madrid, lead to this mystery.   146 Premier League appearances, 42 Goals and 20 assists with a proven premier league prowess made him Madrid's then record signing.

Four Champions league winner medals adding to his tally of silverware. Pace, strength, aerial threat, and a strong left foot can give goalkeepers and defenders a run for their money. Him seeking first team action and not living under the shadow of another superstar could lure him to United where he can strike a partnership with Lukaku Pogba and Sanchez. But with Ronaldo and Zidane leaving, dynamics of his move has changed where he could be the main man for Lopetegui. With few days left and a Zlatan video has all left the fans startled whether Mourinho and Woodward can pull this deal off? Time will tell

2. Willian :

 Mourinho's go to man where he lifted his team to premier league glory, the Brazilian winger can just be the man to feed in quality balls to Lukaku and co. Lack of set pieces and first time crosses have left strikers helpless at times. Prime example was Falcao struggle. Willian with 166 premier league appearances , 26 goals and 20 assists is the man that solves the equation being a specialist. Impeccable free kick technique with blistering pace can lead us to counter attacks being converted. Now with Barcelona opting for Malcolm instead, Woodward has a great opportunity to grab him into the ranks. Interesting negotiations over an asked price of close to 70 Million for a 30 year old is a tough gamble to play.. But a player of his ability will surely be of great value..

3. Ivan Perisic :

United failing to go that extra mile to sign him last season proved costly indeed when deep into the season , width and pace diminished. Mourinho esque , hardworking warhorse , pace , width and good eye for goals is the type of tenacious winger United are craving for. With a really successful World Cup campaign, Perisic is back again linked to us with being our last opportunity to sign him. With 29 Goals and 27 assists in his time at Inter, it will do wonders to United if we get a man with killer instinct. His link up play with number 10s  and working with space is what will help likes of Pogba and Lingard to operate freely dragging defence on his side. Are we really after him or just speculations? Interesting

Andreas Pereira has long been touted as a potential superstar, but he struggled to break through the Manchester United first team over the past few seasons. A loan move to Valencia last season allowed him to get a lot more minutes under his belt which helped him devolep more as a player.

Now, Pereira has taken a step forward from last summer and it’s great to watch! Quick decisions. Fast passes. Constantly looking to split the defence.

Pereira upped his work rate and positional awareness last year at Valencia and it’s paying huge dividends for himself and United. His technical quality along with what Fred will bring to this team will be a huge asset for our attackers begging for quality service to finish off.

He is a versatile player, who can play in a deep, creative role, a conventional number 8 or as an attacking midfielder, which will give Mourinho different options when selecting his midfield next season. It will be a blessing in disguise if he stays this year.

In most Manchester United fans' ideal XI for next season, defender Victor Lindelof doesn't feature heavily. Lindelof (one of nine United players to reach the World Cup quarterfinals) was one of Sweden's best players as they overcame Switzerland in the round 16, showing a maturity and authority not always seen for his club side.

Sweden kept three clean sheets (Lindelof featured in two of them) in their four games, with the 23-year-old Lindelof highly praised while against Mexico, he won every tackle he attempted without conceding a foul. Lindelof is as reliable as a Volvo for his country and he could be for United too, despite a shaky start to life in England.

Manager Jose Mourinho might still want to bring in another central defender, but United won't want another close season of multiple transfers, a tactic which hasn't worked in recent years. As Andreas Granqvist and Lindelof have shown for Sweden, a successful partnership takes time and stability; it doesn't come from chopping and changing every five minutes. United's finest, trophy winning sides have all had settled defences.

This summer, United have looked at central defenders around the world, from Uruguay's Jose Gimenez to Belgium's Toby Alderweireld, but the answer to their defensive issues may already be at the club. Lindelof just needs a regular foil, as he has had in Granqvist, and Eric Bailly looks perfect for the job: a Nemanja Vidic-like warrior to complement Lindelof's Rio Ferdinand-esque ball-playing style.

The Swede built up a good relationship with Luisao at Benfica but at Manchester United, there are too many options, each with their own qualities and weaknesses. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both feature regularly, as well as Marcos Rojo, while youngster Axel Tuanzebe is also highly rated and will battle for a spot.

It has taken time but after his £31 million move in 2017, Lindelof is finally ready to take charge of United's defence.

Lindelof had a tough start in England as he adapted to a more physical game than he played in Portugal. He was poor on his debut against Real Madrid in the Super Cup and then didn't start a league game until  appearance before that (not counting an injury-time run-out against Liverpool) was as a sub against Huddersfield, United's first league defeat of the season.

After that Huddersfield game, too many fans and pundits were hammering him rather than supporting a young man playing his first significant domestic minutes in a new country. That didn't help the confidence of a player dubbed "Ice Man" for his calmness at Benfica, but even after he acclimatized to his new surroundings he was never a regular. Lindelof started seven of United's 17 league games in 2018 and didn't start in the FA Cup beyond the fifth round.

For Sweden, it has been a different story. Lindelof bounced back quickly for his country after his error at Huddersfield, keeping things tight in two playoff games against Italy when Sweden didn't concede a goal. And his performances in the World Cup are suddenly seeing him widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading defenders.

"Victor has done the simple things well," Bojan Djordic, one of five Swedish players who have also played for Manchester United, tells ESPN FC. "He hasn't put himself in a situations that are risky or could be costly.

"He's been mature. If the ball is there to be cleared he does that. If there's a safe pass on, he sees it and starts the attack. He's got an old head on young shoulders.

"The 4-4-2 formation Sweden use suits both our centre-backs superbly. Both the central midfielders work their socks off to kill the space in front of them and give them the best possible protection. That allows them to concentrate on things they are good at: Granqvist, the leader; Victor with his calm head and great reading and understanding of the game. Both have been magnificent in the World Cup so far."

Lindelof is performing on the biggest stage for a team few thought would reach the tournament, let alone the quarterfinals. There will be plenty of United fans who don't want to see him on the winning side against England because they're English, but also because they will want him to return in plenty of time ahead of next season.

However, a deeper run at the tournament will only improve his stock further. Lindelof has already done enough to suggest that he will be a more regular starter for United in 2018-19, but Mourinho needs to put the same faith in the defender as his country does. 

CAN HAVE SAME IMPACT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED AS FOR SWEDEN

In most Manchester United fans' ideal XI for next season, defender Victor Lindelof doesn't feature heavily. Lindelof (one of nine United players to reach the World Cup quarterfinals) was one of Sweden's best players as they overcame Switzerland in the round 16, showing a maturity and authority not always seen for his club side.

Sweden kept three clean sheets (Lindelof featured in two of them) in their four games, with the 23-year-old Lindelof highly praised while against Mexico, he won every tackle he attempted without conceding a foul. Lindelof is as reliable as a Volvo for his country and he could be for United too, despite a shaky start to life in England.

Manager Jose Mourinho might still want to bring in another central defender, but United won't want another close season of multiple transfers, a tactic which hasn't worked in recent years. As Andreas Granqvist and Lindelof have shown for Sweden, a successful partnership takes time and stability; it doesn't come from chopping and changing every five minutes. United's finest, trophy winning sides have all had settled defences.

This summer, United have looked at central defenders around the world, from Uruguay's Jose Gimenez to Belgium's Toby Alderweireld, but the answer to their defensive issues may already be at the club. Lindelof just needs a regular foil, as he has had in Granqvist, and Eric Bailly looks perfect for the job: a Nemanja Vidic-like warrior to complement Lindelof's Rio Ferdinand-esque ball-playing style.

The Swede built up a good relationship with Luisao at Benfica but at Manchester United, there are too many options, each with their own qualities and weaknesses. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both feature regularly, as well as Marcos Rojo, while youngster Axel Tuanzebe is also highly rated and will battle for a spot.

It has taken time but after his £31 million move in 2017, Lindelof is finally ready to take charge of United's defence.

Lindelof had a tough start in England as he adapted to a more physical game than he played in Portugal. He was poor on his debut against Real Madrid in the Super Cup and then didn't start a league game until  appearance before that (not counting an injury-time run-out against Liverpool) was as a sub against Huddersfield, United's first league defeat of the season.

After that Huddersfield game, too many fans and pundits were hammering him rather than supporting a young man playing his first significant domestic minutes in a new country. That didn't help the confidence of a player dubbed "Ice Man" for his calmness at Benfica, but even after he acclimatised to his new surroundings he was never a regular. Lindelof started seven of United's 17 league games in 2018 and didn't start in the FA Cup beyond the fifth round.

For Sweden, it has been a different story. Lindelof bounced back quickly for his country after his error at Huddersfield, keeping things tight in two playoff games against Italy when Sweden didn't concede a goal. And his performances in the World Cup are suddenly seeing him widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading defenders.

"Victor has done the simple things well," Bojan Djordic, one of five Swedish players who have also played for Manchester United, tells ESPN FC. "He hasn't put himself in a situations that are risky or could be costly.

"He's been mature. If the ball is there to be cleared he does that. If there's a safe pass on, he sees it and starts the attack. He's got an old head on young shoulders.

"The 4-4-2 formation Sweden use suits both our centre-backs superbly. Both the central midfielders work their socks off to kill the space in front of them and give them the best possible protection. That allows them to concentrate on things they are good at: Granqvist, the leader; Victor with his calm head and great reading and understanding of the game. Both have been magnificent in the World Cup so far."

Lindelof is performing on the biggest stage for a team few thought would reach the tournament, let alone the quarterfinals. There will be plenty of United fans who don't want to see him on the winning side against England because they're English, but also because they will want him to return in plenty of time ahead of next season.

However, a deeper run at the tournament will only improve his stock further. Lindelof has already done enough to suggest that he will be a more regular starter for United in 2018-19, but Mourinho needs to put the same faith in the defender as his country does.

On July 13, 1930, France defeats Mexico 4-1 and the United States defeats Belgium 3-0 in the first-ever World Cup football matches, played simultaneously in host city Montevideo, Uruguay. The World Cup has since become the world’s most watched sporting event.

After football (soccer, to Americans) was dropped from the program for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, FIFA President Jules Rimet helped to organize an international tournament in 1930. Much to the dismay of European footballers, Uruguay, winner of back-to-back gold medals at the 1924 Paris Olympics and 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, was chosen to host the inaugural World Cup.

Due to depression in Europe, many European players, afraid their day jobs would not exist when they returned, were either unable or unwilling to attend the tournament. As a result, some of the most accomplished European teams, including three-time Olympic gold medalist England and football enthusiasts Italy, Spain, Germany and Holland did not make an appearance at the first World Cup. However, when Uruguay agreed to help pay traveling expenses, Rimet was able to convince Belgium, France, Romania and Yugoslavia to make the trip. In Romania, King Carol selected the team members himself, gave them a three-month vacation from their jobs and guaranteed the players would be employed when they returned.

Going into the tournament, Uruguay and Argentina were the overwhelming favorites, while France and the United States also fielded competitive sides. In the first round, France’s Lucien Laurent scored the first-ever World Cup goal. In its second game, France lost to Argentina 1-0 amid controversy over the referees ending the game six minutes early. Once the problem was discovered, the referees had to bring the Argentine players back onto the field to play the final minutes. After beating Belgium, the United States beat Paraguay to set up a semi-final match with Argentina, which they lost 6-1. Still, the semi-final placement was the best U.S. World Cup finish to date.

In the first World Cup final, held on July 30, 1930, 93,000 spectators looked on as Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2 in a rematch of the 1928 Olympic gold medal game. Uruguay went on to win its second World Cup in 1950 with a 2-1 win over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

World Cup tournament, the epitome of the sport, needed an iconic trophy to celebrate the tournament, and signify the magnitude of winning the World Cup.

But which trophy has been used to celebrate winning the tournament? Who designed it? Has it changed over time?

To answer these questions we have put together a brief history of the cup itself from the inaugural tournament in 1930, to the present day.

Jules Rimet Trophy:

The first World Cup trophy was eventually named after the third FIFA President, Jules Rimet. The Frenchman was one of the key men responsible for creating a World Cup tournament, after he passed the vote to start a global football championship in 1929.

A year later, the first World Cup tournament look place. The crowning achievement of his 33-year long FIFA reign at the top of the footballing body, Rimet started in 1921 and fought for the creation of the tournament.

The trophy was designed by Abel Lafleur, and depicts Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory holding a cup. Made of gold-plated sterling silver, it would start life simply being known as the ‘World Cup’ and would later be nicknamed ‘the Golden Goddess’.

As a result of his stewardship, the game grew massively, and the Cup would be renamed the ‘Jules Rimet’ trophy after the Second World War in 1946.

Uruguay and Italy shared the first four World Cups, Followed by West Germanyin 1954. Brazil then won three of the next four World Cups which meant, per FIFA regulations, they owned it outright.

War:

The Second World War, had a profound effect on the globe, and the trophy was not immune. Italy were the 1938 winners, but because they were heavily involved in the war, there was concern for the trophy’s well-being.

Then FIFA vice-president, Italian Ottorino Barassi decided to secretly take the trophy from a bank vault, and hid it under his bed to make sure the Nazis didn’t get their hands on it.

Stolen:

Another significant moment in the Cups history occurred in 1966. Four months before the tournament was set to take place in England, the trophy was stolen from a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall. Despite 24-hour security, the theft caused outrage, and the perpetrators demanded a ransom of £15,000.

In response, a replica was made just in case it wasn’t recovered, and the entire police force was mobilised to find the Cup. Ultimately, it would be found by a dog called Pickles.

Found in South London, Dave Corbett turned the trophy in immediately, and supposedly received £6,000 as a reward. Pickles was given a lifetime supply of dog food, the story goes.

FIFA would then buy the replica for over £250,000.

Mystery:

In 1970, the original was moved to Brazil, but in 1983, news came to light about another theft of the Cup. Stolen from the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio, four men were tried in absentia, but the cup was never recovered. It is thought to have been melted down, sold, or in a private collection. Another replica was made.

FIFA World Cup:

For the 1974 tournament, a new trophy had to be designed and made. After receiving many submissions, the winning design was selected.

Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga won, after the first of his two submissions was accepted. He would later also design the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Depicting two people holding the world up, the World Cup trophy is made of five kilograms worth of 18-carat gold.

Winning teams are engraved on the bottom base layer, and there will be no more room for engravings after the 2038 World Cup.

The Cup used to be kept by the winning team until the final draw of the next tournament, however, that is no longer the case. Instead the winner now receives a gold-plated bronze replica.

The original is permanently housed at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich. It will only leave there when it goes on its FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, and it is also present at Final draw for the next World Cup, and on the pitch and stands at the World Cup Final.