Legends' Verdicts

Tommy Docherty

I think United lost the title when they lost Vidic for the season.

He is a key member of the playing staff. Thats when the championship went Citys way.

But both clubs lost players at vital times of the season but that was a big blow.

And the 6-1 derby defeat at Old Trafford was key. You couldnt have got a bet at any bookmakers that City would score six past United that day. But they did and they played well on the day.

If I was a gambling man, I would back United to win it back next season.

Their young players, like Welbeck, have another year of experience under their belts.

David Sadler

I think we did much better than I expected at the beginning of the season, if Im honest.

I always thought it would be a transitional season with new players like Smalling, Jones and Young.

They are top quality but I would have thought there would have been occasions when it would have been too much for them, so actually I thought what we did was a terrific achievement.

Of course, they were helped along by the old stagers like Giggs, Ferdinand and latterly Scholes.

To run them as close as we did was a terrific effort. Of course, theres a lot of doom and gloom to lose the championship in that manner but I think there are a lot of positives to come out of the season.

Alex Stepney

Its quite simple really. United have to score more goals and concede fewer.

Both teams got 89 points and they only lost on goal difference. Its been an unbelievable, fantastic season.

I dont like going on about injuries because it happens to every team. But in losing Vidic we lost our captain and there was also Darren Fletcher.

Lets hope that they are back and! perform ing next season.

And the home form is an issue. The season before we only dropped a couple of points at home.

But the manager will assess that situation and also look at the form in Europe.

Really, theres not much wrong. Its the other teams below United and City that should be concerned.

Mickey Thomas

United had opportunities and never normally let them go but eight mad minutes against Everton cost them the title.

But theyve only just been beaten by a team thats spent millions and millions and only then on goal difference.

Of course, theyve had injuries and players out this year but they assemble a squad to be able to cope when that happens during a season.

But Fergie is the top man. Hes been there a long time. He knows City have a vast amount of money to spend and he has to try and stay with them somehow.

Its obviously been disappointing to lose in that way but theyve responded to setbacks in the past. The manager will obviously strengthen the squad and respond in the right way.
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Lou Macari

People always look at different games to see where it went wrong.

For instance, if we had not lost against Wigan, or conceded two late goals against Everton or lost the two games against City.

B! ut it ha ppens at the end of every season that the team that wins the league doesnt hold an inquiry, but if you come second its where did it all go wrong?

Of course, to lose on the final day of the season is disappointing for everyone connected with the club.

But it would not be worth playing the game if it was all win win win.

Jimmy Greenhoff

This season we have seen the great character of the United players.

They havent lost form for most of the season and they took it to the final couple of minutes and were just pipped.

Sir Alex has only really touched on it and I hadnt realised it but there have been a lot of injuries. He never moaned and groaned about that.

Hes had a lot of problems with the back four and never had a settled back two.

We kind of battled through that and then when Jonny Evans and Rio got together everything looked rosy.

Its a massive thing to have a settled back four and, unfortunately, Sir Alex never really had that.

I dont think you can point to one game and say thats where we lost it, for instance the Everton game. I think weve done well to hang on.

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