Manchester United 74/75

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Ferguson's first FA Cup, achieved after a replay against Crystal Palace, at the time seemed to be a stand-alone success, one that possibly saved his job after another poor season in the League. But nine years later, it seemed that Lee Martin's winning goal against Palace lit the fuse for an explosion of unprecedented success. Covid restrictions continued to keep fans away from matches for much of 2020/21. In fact, supporters were not permitted inside Old Trafford until the final home game of the season, in May, when Edinson Cavani scored a stunning long-range goal in a 1-1 draw with Fulham. The Uruguayan striker was one of five players signed that season, alongside Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles, Facundo Pellistri and Amad, and Solskjaer's expanded squad achieved an improved Premier League position as the Reds claimed second spot behind local rivals Manchester City. Despite such feats, United could not maintain the winning run and, in 1911/12, the defending champions finished in a disappointing 13th place. Secretary-manager Ernest Mangnallbore the brunt of the criticism, and resigned to join United's neighbours and rivals Manchester City. The search for Mangnall's successor finished at the door of JJ Bentley, the president of the Football League. Under his guidance, the Reds claimed fourth place in the League at the end of the 1912/13 season. The end of that 2012/13 season brought the news that millions of Reds had been dreading for a long time: Sir Alex Ferguson was to step down as manager of Manchester United.His retirement was announced on 8 May 2013 and his selection as successor was named the very next day. David Moyesarrived from Everton, tasked with following in the footsteps of British football's most successful manager.

What they had not signed up for was bearing witness to Best entering the twilight seasons of his Old Trafford career – while around him a team of ageing greats would be under-replenished to the extent that in 1974, six years after becoming champions of Europe, the football world reverberated to the stunning eventuality of Manchester United being relegated to the second division. City's lightning start was rewarded when Foden swept home Bernardo Silva's cross after eight minutes before Haaland inevitably joined the action with a header from a corner 11 minutes before half-time. However, Arteta spent a long time debating with fourth official Simon Hooper about Lisandro Martinez's penalty box lunge on Saka, where he did touch the man and not the ball. Champions Chelsea had matched the Red Devils' bid , but missed out on re-signing their former player. As it turned out, Garnacho produced a decent first-half display but, with United failing to make the most of limited opportunities, Rashford replaced the 18-year-old at half-time.

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The 1913/14 term was a period of transition, while the following campaign was notable for a change of management - in December 1914, the roles of secretary and team manager were separated for the first time. Bentley became full-time secretary and John Robsonwas appointed to look after and select the team. Robson's team was a shadow of the one which had performed so well in the previous decade, as only George Stacey, Billy Meredith, Sandy Turnbulland George Wallremained from the 1909 FA Cup-winning side. Not surprisingly, the club struggled, only escaping relegation by a single point. Steve Anders recalls Manchester United’s only season in the last 75 years in the second tier of English football, which proved to be a year remembered for hooliganism With their Division One status restored Manchester United returned to top tier action at Wolves on Saturday 16 August 1975. On the pitch they proved too strong for a home side destined to spend the next nine months attempting to stave off relegation, Macari scoring twice as United ran out 2-0 winners. Of course it will encourage us for when we play the second game in a couple of days that if we play our game, we can beat them. We have to beat them. But you need composure all the time. In the last 20 minutes when it was 2-2 we created so many chances but the finishing was not always that good. We have to be more clinical." On the pitch, Man Utd experienced their only season at the second level in the last 75 years – a circumstance they have not come close to repeating since. At the other end of the table, Sheffield Wednesday, who had been League members since 1892-93, dropped into Division Three for the first time.

Rashford's indiscretion - missing a team meeting after oversleeping - was not on the same scale, but given Garnacho was stopped from playing during the club's pre-season tour because of persistent lateness, Ten Hag would view his actions as confirmation the same rules apply to all players, no matter what their status. The win moved United into the top four - the first time they have been in the Champions League qualification places this season. Mangnall also re-signed Meredith for City and despite his advancing years, it was perhaps no coincidence that United were relegated in their first season without him, winning only eight of their 42 matches in 1921/22. Chapman's team managed to climb out of the Second Division at the third attempt, when the on-field leadership of Frank Barsonhelped ensure promotion at the end of 1924/25. United finished second to Leicester City, after losing only eight games. The result means Erik ten Hag's side have reached their second domestic final of the season, having won the Carabao Cup in February.

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As hooliganism became synonymous with Manchester United away matches, it thus became a regular feature of television news broadcasts during the entire season.