Your post is bang on about how The Red Filth have got away with this sort of play down the years, especially under Ferguson. I was reminded of when I attended a game against Norwich at OT in 1993 when my United supporting brother-in-law had a spare ticket.
This was the season after The Red Filth had won their first Premiership and when Norwich were making waves with their great, open football revolving around Jeremy Goss and (dare I say it!) Gary Megson in midfield, with Ruel Fox and Chris Sutton up front. The previous year they'd finished 3rd behind United and when they went to OT that day they were still close to the top with games in hand. And this was also the season they beat Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. They were a good side under Mike Walker, very pleasing to watch.
They really took the game to United and just after half-time Fox scored a penalty to make it 2-2. United were really struggling to keep them out, even at times to get the ball back off Norwich.
My brother-in-law and I were sitting in the front rows of what was the first cantilever stand built there, towards the Stretford End. After about 15 minutes of the second half, with it becoming increasingly obvious that Norwich were most likely to win the game, there was a short stoppage due to an injury. Ferguson called Cantona over to the touchline for a word. Cantona then quickly went around every United player transmitting instructions before play restarted. I said to my brother-in-law 'I think United are rattled.. this will be interesting!'
What followed was the worst 20 minutes of 'football' I've ever seen, with every (and I mean every) United player taking out at least one opponent wherever the ball went. Harshest treatment was reserved repeatedly for Fox, with Goss not far behind. Gary Megson was trampled on in one challenge by Brian McClair. Chris Sutton approached the referee at one point to complain about the stuff The Red Filth were meting out but, as ever, got short shrift from the referee. They just kicked Norwich out of their stride and as a result got a point, avoiding a damaging defeat to a rival at the top of the table. And the only player booked that day was Norwich's keeper, for time-wasting if I remember correctly!
Many on here will have seen the video of United doing the same, calculated thing to Arsenal in that infamous game when Mike Riley bent over for them as referee. The Norwich game, in my view, was just as bad. A few weeks later, just after Christmas, Walker went to Everton and Norwich lost their way in the title race.
Of course, that lot across town have never been called out for their use of sly thuggery down the years, with the press/media continuously eulogising the 'United Way'. Whereas when you compare it to the media coverage of City nowadays, that Fernandinho and his pals at City with their 'systematic tactical fouling' ought to be taken out to the nearest gibbet and strung up.. it's the only language they understand..
