Ferguson's strength of mind, a characteristic that carried united to the title last season more than any other factor, including the signing of Van Persie, is proving their undoing this season.
Sergio's goal made him so consumed with reclaiming the title from us, that he became blinded to all other considerations and because of the power he wielded at that club he was allowed to do so without any consideration of the wider consequences of failing to rebuild as he had done so many times before. It has been apparent for some time, for example, that united's back four in particular was collectively reaching a tipping point due to nothing more than the sands of time doing their stuff.
When any Empire is built so intimately around one individual it creates the duel problem of no-one to question their bidding when they're there and no-one to adequately replace them when they're gone. united's succession planning has been truly appalling, another example of Ferguson's malign influence on the club, to contrast, in fairness with all that he delivered over an incredible 26 years.
The aura of invincibility that surrounded that club for a couple of decades has evaporated in the space of six months. The best example of this is referees, who previously, when making split second decisions would, more often than not, favour united due in no small part to the looming presence of Ferguson. Now, possibly harbouring subconscious feelings of resentment about being imposed upon by him, they seem to be going the opposite way. Once a bully loses its air of invincibility they don't tend to be treated too charitably by those who have suffered at their hands.
This really does have a decline of an Empire feel about it and the best thing is, like the decline of any other such body in human history, once those wheels start turning they are almost impossible to stop.
They aren't going away, they're too big a club for that to present a realistic prospect, but their days lording it over the rest of English football are finished and there's a certain poetic beauty about the fact that process this was accelerated by Ferguson's overwhelming desire to go out a winner.
Hope he enjoys his retirement.
