I know it had to happen, but there is a great sadness seeing Paul Scholes and Gary Neville retiring this season. Both have been Manchester United legends and simply they are irreplaceable. I don't mean that ability wise they cannot be replaced, but in terms of the loyalty and dedication that they have shown to the club it will be nigh on impossible to find players in the transfer market that will show such loyalty.
I don't mean this as a slight against any other players out there, but it is simply a statement of truth. These days loyalty always comes at a price and to expect to sign players that are not necessarily Manchester United fans and expect them to show the same loyalty to the club as Scholes and Neville have down the years is unreasonable.
The only player left from the class on 1992 is Ryan Giggs. There is no doubting Giggs's legendary status but at the age of 37 he probably only has one season - two at the very maximum - left in him. When he goes that is it. The backbone of Fergie's successful side will be gone and the future success of the club will be down to players like Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Wes Brown and so on to carry on flying the flag for young players coming through the club. There are other players like Darron Gibson, Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck to carry on the tradition of the club, but this means stepping up to a whole new level and it remains to be seen as to whether they can do that. I for one hope they do.
What is clear is that Sir Alex will have to go into the transfer market in order to resolve the issues of the midfield and goal keeper. The key question will be just how much money are the Glazer family going to allow Fergie to spend? There is no doubt that the club cannot spend on cheap prospects in order to fill the gaps.
In any event it is going to be an interesting summer and perhaps the most important one for the club in recent years.
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