It is not uncommon to see several comments per post comparing our current style/current players/current manager to Sir Alex Ferguson. Indeed, even some former players are guilty of this. While striving for success at his level is one thing, wanting our team to do it in exactly the method (playing style, coaching method, motivating techniques, etc.) he did it is entirely another. Imo, it is just completely unhealthy for us as a fanbase or (if it applies) for the players or the board to expect that a manager will simply replicate the preferred playing style or coaching methods of SAF. Yes, it is true that they worked terrifically for him, but the fact is that using that logic to then say that other managers should do the same is just fucking stupid. SAF liked quick, counterattacking play with pacey wingers and used the hairdryer treatment more than once. Other managers don't do any of those things. That's okay.

To preclude the inevitable comments, this is not an apologist post. I do not think that LvG's coaching methods and playing style suit the players he currently has at his disposal, and I hope that he can leave at the end of the season with some of his dignity intact. However, if Mourinho (or whatever other manager we may or may not get) does not perform up to the high standards that we as United fans expect (which, contrary to the many opinions of this sub, is entirely possible), I know that there will be any number of comments saying, "SAF didn't do this, why is ______ doing it?" or, "SAF never would've bought him." Sir Alex put in over two decades of legendary management for us, and that is a great thing that we all can and should look back upon fondly. However, we simply have to cut the cord. We will never advance forward as a club as long as so many of us are clinging to some unrealistic expectation that a manager will come in and be the 2nd coming of SAF. This was the mistake I think the board and SAF himself made by choosing Moyes - a manager who in many respects was similar to Sir Alex.

Many fans talk about the "Man United" way as adhering to a certain style of football, which probably traces back to around the time they started watching the club. We say that the "United way" is about fast, attacking football. I quite simply don't understand why this is the part you mark out as special. I hate to break it to you, but this is not unique to us. Again, this is my opinion, but the only truly unique "United way" is relentlessly winning and being the most hated fucking club by opposition fans because of our monopoly on winning. That is, imo, the United way, and I refuse to believe that only Sir Alex Ferguson (or another manager who replicates him down to the way he chews gum) is the man who can return us to those heights.