United in need of a rethink

It is, of course, highly debatable whether getting rid of Pogba last summer would have changed Mourinho's fate at United.

There's no arguing that the aura of invincibility that the 'Special One' exuded at Chelsea appears to now have deserted the 55-year-old, while he should have long ago figured out that his penchant for publicly berating players is not a tactic suited to the modern game and the fishbowl world of social media it inhabits.

The problems at United, however, run much deeper than the manager's job.

The club's tendency to pander to the likes of the marketable Pogba is symptomatic of United's increasing focus on branding, financial results and all that entails keeping club owners the Glazer family happy, to the detriment of results on the pitch.

Since, Ferguson's retirement, United has literally taken its eye off the ball, so much so that his work in usurping Liverpool at the top of the English game has been undone.

Yearning for a return of the days when autocratic managers like Ferguson held the balance of power at clubs is unrealistic.

However, United would be well advised to afford Mourinho's long-term successor significantly more influence over transfers and player discipline if it is to ever properly replace the legendary Fergie.

Should that be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was appointed interim boss until the end of the season on Wednesday, or the bookmakers' favorite Mauricio Pochettino, we will have to wait and see.