If Sir Alex Ferguson’s season continues in the same traumatic vein then there is every chance Rio Ferdinand’s ban for missing a drugs test will be increased from eight months to 12 when his appeal is heard on Thursday.
Just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Ferguson.
So much so that there are simmering pockets beginning to question whether the U-turn on his planned retirement two years ago was a mistake.
The question is on the lips of his gleeful enemies, even if by right it should be too impertinent to ask of a man who by some distance is Britain’s most successful football manager - a legend of the game who has secured for the Old Trafford trophy cabinet eight Premiership titles, four FA Cups, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, one League Cup and the Champions League trophy.
In 18 years at Old Trafford Ferguson has built teams which have always played with boldness and panache, ones which have rarely failed to confer honour and fame on English football. His greatness is assured but, as ever in football, there is always a but.
Pale shadow
United went out of Europe in heartrending fashion against Porto, they languish 12 points behind Arsenal in the Premiership and are such pale shadows of their former selves that on Sunday they lost 4-1 to neighbours Manchester City, a side which had not won at home in the league since October.
Ferguson points to individual errors and a dearth of confidence. He says little of his own follies which are now so well documented most United fans could rattle them off in their nightmares.
The arrogance and misjudgements which surrounded Ferdinand’s missed drugs test. The bitter feud with John Magnier over stud fees for Rock of Gibraltar. The failure to bring in a number two to replace Carlos Queiroz. The raft of unsuitable midfield transfers.
And the readiness to show David Beckham the Old Trafford door last year, a departure which followed the infamous incident after the cup defeat by Arsenal when an incandescent Ferguson kicked a boot in the changing room which struck Beckham above an eye.
Ferguson would never admit it but there is no doubt Beckham’s exit has ripped the heartbeat from his team. That explosive incident, however, perhaps had even more relevance for Ferguson than ever he imagined.
For one, Beckham stood up to the manager that day to the extent that he had to be restrained by his team-mates.
For another, having seized the moral high ground Beckham wore his heart on the butterfly stitches dressing his wound and ensured the whole world saw it.
True, United went on to beat Juventus in Europe and win the Premiership for an eighth time but the rift with Beckham was never healed.
Eroded
Perhaps Ferguson’s famed ‘Fear Factor’ was also eroded in that incident because it is apparent sections of his squad no longer retain their hunger for the work ethic which has been his driving force since his days in the Govan shipyards.
As much was confirmed by captain Roy Keane whose recent criticism of the younger elements of United’s squad as ‘slackers’ highlighted the difference between United at their peak, winning the Champions League in 1999, and the United of today.
Back then Ferguson’s squad had its disparate elements, for instance Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham barely spoke, but the core was unwaveringly loyal to the man who had nurtured them from adolescence.
It is no coincidence that the disaffection of what was the most talented group of youngsters since the ‘Busby Babes’ has accompanied Ferguson’s traumatic season.
Beckham has gone, Nicky Butt has been out of the side and on the transfer list for much of the season, Ryan Giggs is not the force of old and while Paul Scholes remains one of England’s most accomplished midfielders Gary Neville has too often been injured and brother Phil too often asked to fill holes in midfield and defence which are beyond his talent.
Add to that the cyclical nature of sport and no wonder there has been a dip in United’s fortunes.
Most damning for Ferguson, however, has been the loss of Ferdinand and the manager’s inability to gauge the affect his absence would have on United’s defence.
Ferguson claims he did not attempt to buy cover for Ferdinand in the January transfer window because he would not have been able to acquire a defender of sufficient talent, though surely someone as experienced as Middlesbrough’s England defender Gareth Southgate, for example, would have helped to steady the ship even if at a fee over the odds.
What United saved in not buying is a pittance compared to what they have missed out on in Champions League prize money.
So United’s season comes down to an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal - but even with confidence shattered and form dreadful those tempted to write off United should be careful.
The return of Keane, Gary Neville and Louis Saha would spice up the challenge and United still carry an attacking threat.
They just no longer possess a defence of sufficient quality. The same increasingly might be said of Ferguson.
Is it time for Fergie to go, or is he still the man for the job? Have your say here