What you can’t legislate for is losing so many players in the same position at the same time.”Neville, though, admitted the team lacked form and belief. He is convinced they will recapture both and, given a couple of judicious signings, and the return to fitness of key players, United could yet mount a last hurrah. Of his summer signings only Tim Howard has been a success although players from different cultures, such as Kleberson, often need a season to settle while it should be remembered Cristiano Ronaldo is still a teenager.Ferguson has also been unfortunate with injuries, notably Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s as the Norwegian was inked in as Beckham’s right-flank replacement while Ronaldo settled.The latter’s arrival showed Ferguson was aware that the team needed regenerating. By introducing players such as Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher he aimed to rebuild without suffering a transitional phase. Ferguson might have got away with it in the domestic game but for two external factors.

Roman Abramovich’s purchase of Chelsea means United are no longer the wealthiest club in Britain, the consequences of which were made clear when Arjen Robben went to Stamford Bridge. United’s football has stagnated with Ferguson’s failure to replace Carlos Quieroz, just as it did in 2002 after Steve McClaren left.It remains a bold move to call time on Ferguson’s United. Meanwhile Arsenal have taken their football to a new level, one presently out of United’s reach.In Europe the signs of decline have been more obvious. Despite spending vast sums on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ferdinand United have been unable to follow up the 1999 European Cup win A lack of coaching support has been a factor. Had the club admitted he was at fault the case would have been considered earlier and, in all probability, a lighter sentence delivered.

Ferdinand might even be playing before the end of the season.Either way Ferdinand’s absence has been as crucial as the loss of Eric Cantona through suspension in 1995 and Roy Keane with injury in 1998, both occasions in which United surrendered the title. Once again the squad was not strong enough, in personnel and mentality, to overcome the loss.All of which begs the question why Ferguson failed to sign Gareth Southgate either in the summer or in the transfer window after Ferdinand was banned Not that this is his only misjudgement in the market. The Magnier dispute occupied Ferguson’s attention at a time when he needed to concentrate on his team and created uncertainty over the club’s ownership and governance. The high-handed response to Ferdinand’s failure to take a drug test was the biggest error. The once approachable Scot has appeared increasingly arrogant and his belief that the world is against him borders on the paranoid.