Man Utd: can they come back?

Students of history will know that the surprising factor is not that empires decline but that they last for so long.

It’s not different in sport. Manchester Utd took a long time – and tried numerous managers – before achieving success after Matt Busby.

Liverpool dominated the 1980s, but it took another great – Jurgen Klopp – to restore success. Milan were once as indomitable as Manchester City have been.

Twenty years ago Manchester and Arsenal dominated the Premiership.

So can Jim Ratcliffe,  Sir Dave Brailsford and Ruben Amorim turn the red ship round?

I  think not. It’s not just a beard covering a weak chin that reminds Amorim of André Vilas-Boas, now President of Porto whom he once managed to an unbeaten title after which he managed Chelsea and Spurs

Both had impressive records in a league vastly inferior to the Premiership.

I can foresee Amorim buying Victor Gjorketes for £80 million-plus and this proving yet another expensive misfit.

Jim Ratcliffe, as owner of OGC Nice – or Lausanne – did not pull up any trees, nor (in other sports) the Ineos Grenadiers in cycling, nor the Americas Cup.

As for Dave Brailsford, Sir Clive Woodward went on the board of Southampton and achieved little.

Jim Ratcliffe must be a brilliant businessman but these skills are not always successful in football, where a supporter wants trophies and a shareholder profit.

Venue revenue and Sky Money now dwarf season ticket and ticket sales. A club has to be financially sustainable as Man City are finding out.

Nor do I believe can Manchester Utd hark back to Sir Alec Ferguson’s era.

Players’ wages were lower and he could still terrorise a dressing room. He did not have to deal with social media. He could throw a boot at David Beckham. All has changed and – crucially – there is no David Gill. a superb administrator.