Ever since Arsenal offered Herbert Chapman twice his salary at Huddersfield, the idea of Organic Growth has always been a complete myth.
Old Trafford was the most modern stadium in England from roughly 1950 to the turn of the century when City, Arsenal, and then West Ham and Spurs all moved stadiums.
However, that was nothing to do with organic growth and everything to do with the Luftwaffe flattening the original construction and United having to rebuild from scratch using post war technology as opposed to Maine Road being almost 30 years older.
Ultimately that became a huge advantage, especially when Old Trafford was chosen as a 1966 World Cup Venue, and Government funding used for ground improvements.
Similarly, whilst the Munich Air Disaster didn't impact immediately on United's crowds, it certainly impacted on the fashion of the younger generation as Maine Road's average attendance declined alarmingly from 1958-1963, and even worse following relegation.
Compare this to the last full season before WW2 when despite being a division lower City had still recorded a higher average attendance than United.
I could make a similar observation about the Busby Babes never playing at Anfield because Liverpool were in the Second Division.
How did Liverpool fund their spending spree in the early 60s?
How did United fund their spending spree in the mid 80s, with English clubs banned from Europe, declining attendances and mounting debts?
Sometimes it's just about moments of serendipity, and whilst those clubs found themselves in the right place at the right time, they seem to have a huge problem with City benefiting from something as simple as Manchester hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Every club has travelled in different directions at varying pace so bollocks to what the media think.
