The Best and Worst Moments of Manchester United's Post-Sir Alex Ferguson Era

It was a question that seemed to capture the imagination: "What have been the best and worst moments of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United?"

That question opened the floodgates, with people keen to share their thoughts on what have been a very mixed few years for United fans.

It seemed a timely question for two reasons. The first is that November 6, 2016, marked the 30th anniversary of the 74-year-old's appointment as manager of the club—an occasion well worth recognising.

The second is that, while his long shadow still falls over Old Trafford, the hiring of Jose Mourinho represents the end of the interim period.

Mourinho may or not make a success of things, but he is the third permanent manager in charge since Ferguson's retirement. More than three years have passed, and many of the current squad never played under Sir Alex. Whatever happens next, this is the beginning of a new phase.

So the time has come to look back on the interim between United's most successful manager and Mourinho's arrival.

Of course, there is a reason that many of United's younger supporters on social media refer to that period as "the banter era." United have not always been good, but if you enjoy gallows humour, they have often been funny.

So let's take a look at some of the best and worst moments of the "banter era." It has been tough going, but it hasn't all been doom and gloom...

Along with the FA Cup win under Louis van Gaal on May 21, 2016, this was perhaps surprisingly the most frequently cited positive.

Patrice Evra's thunderbolt of a strike at the Allianz Arena in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Bayern Munich on April 9, 2014—with the Bavarian side on their way to winning a treble—was an incredible moment.

United had been so totally abject in their previous European away game—the infamous trip to Olympiakos—but they soon found some professional pride from somewhere.

Sure, there were 3-0 losses to Liverpool and Manchester City around that time, but they had fought back from a 2-0 away-leg deficit against Olympiakos with a Robin van Persie hat-trick and a 3-0 home win.

The home leg of the Bayern Munich tie was a backs-to-the-wall 1-1 draw, so when Evra scored in Germany, it meant United went ahead in the tie.

Of course, rarely has there been a quicker extinguishing of the flame of false hope. Patrice's magical moment became precisely that—a moment. Bayern hit straight back, going on to win 3-1, and David Moyes' United career was effectively over.

But for that moment, when Evra hit the ball so very sweetly, anything seemed possible.

Let us deal with those two issues separately. To get it out of the way, let's start with the Fulham game.

It was extraordinary to see the number of people who mentioned this game from February 2014.

If it were not for the combination of social media and the age of specific football data collection, perhaps history would have recorded this game as unremarkable. Sure, Fulham getting a draw at Old Trafford might have been a little unusual, but that sort of thing happens in football.

Instead, this was a game that confirmed the "banter era" was most certainly up and running. Over and over again Moyes' side crossed the ball into the box. When United finally made the breakthrough to take a late lead, they immediately conceded an equaliser.

After the game, Fulham central defender Dan Burn—who had played non-league football for Darlington—said, per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson: "I was just saying to the lads that I've never headed that many balls since the Conference. At the end of the day I'm happy for them to play like that." 

Fulham were indeed happy for United to play like that. For many fans of the Red Devils, though, this was the game that made it obvious that Moyes' appointment was not going to work out.

While Evra's goal in Munich proved a very brief false dawn, this was a more extended sunrise. People had been waiting for the "click" since Van Gaal had arrived. It had happened at Bayern when he was in charge there—a moment when his side just seemed to get it all of a sudden, when they seemed to have inculcated his philosophical approach well enough to act on it on the pitch.

It took a long time to come at United, but when it arrived in mid-March 2015, it was beautiful. There was a change in formation to a 4-3-3, brought on by some key injuries and suspensions. Michael Carrick held at the base of midfield, with Marouane Fellaini ahead of him to the left and Ander Herrera ahead of him to the right.

Ashley Young and Juan Mata played on the wings, with Wayne Rooney through the middle. There were passing triangles everywhere. United swept all before them, first beating Tottenham Hotspur, then Liverpool, then Aston Villa and then Manchester City. All seemed very right with the world, and there was even talk of a late title push.

Ironically, it was Mourinho who put an end to this, parking the bus at Stamford Bridge where, without Carrick at the helm, United were unable to find a way through. An Eden Hazard winner meant Van Gaal's winning run was over, and worse than that, Mourinho had offered a template for how to stop the Dutchman's side to the rest of the division.

There were good moments left for Van Gaal, including silverware, but neither the football nor the feeling around his chances of making it work at United were ever as good again.

Coming hot on the heels of that purple patch, Van Gaal's excitable turn at United's end-of-season awards attracted plenty of attention. Plenty of people believed for those few moments...

As if it were not obvious, this refers to the markedly different halves in United's 5-3 loss to Leicester City in Van Gaal's first season in charge. The first saw a side inspired by Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao tear the Foxes apart. The second saw an almost metaphysical collapse in form and confidence as Leicester went from 3-1 down at the break to 5-3 winners.

That aforementioned purple patch aside, this game left a legacy of ever-increasing conservatism for the manager, who seemed to learn from this that he could not trust his team and so felt he had to protect them from this ever happening again.

The "Banter Era" has been replete with many fine commercial deals. United's on-pitch ridiculousness has been matched by the sheer volume of ridiculous copy that has emerged from its marketing department about the latest and greatest brand to be associated with the club's once-proud name.

And for the avoidance of all doubt, the above tweet was not meant to be taken entirely seriously...

"

@UtdRantcast best: Rashford Worst: Stoke away last year. Never seen a less united type performance in my 30 years.

— Alex (@Alex_riesel) November 8, 2016"

That performance at Stoke City on Boxing Day 2015 in Van Gaal's second and final season was truly dismal. It lacked any fight, any coherence and certainly any quality.

However, this tweet is not included for its reminder of those dark times. Rather it is the light that emerged from United's bleak midwinter to which we turn our attention. "Best: Rashford" is a simple way to point to the brilliance of Marcus Rashford's arrival on to the scene.

He was frequently cited as a positive by those who replied, and how could he not be?

From the goals against FC Midtjylland on his surprising first start on February 25, 2016, through to his magnificent winner in the Manchester derby later that season and a star turn in the FA Cup final, he gave ample indication that he was the real deal.

Van Gaal was backed into a corner by an epic injury list when he turned to Rashford, but millions of United fans are delighted he did.

Nothing needs to be added to the above. What an electrifying moment it was.

And some people wonder why people would call it the "Banter Era."

"

@UtdRantcast it didn't last but the feeling when Giggs walked out as manager vs Norwich, and the 4-0 win - the Moyes misery was over.

— Will Robinson (@Willrobinson97) November 8, 2016"

On an entirely personal note, standing in the Stretford End while Ryan Giggs emerged suited and booted from the Old Trafford tunnel to take charge of United late in the 2013/14 season was properly emotional.

Hearing his chants sung and the enthusiastic cry of "Attack! Attack! Attack!" that went up upon the game's kick-off made it feel like something special could be about to unfold.

That was not to be, of course, but it was a great moment nonetheless.

Needing a goal against Wolfsburg to qualify from the Champions League group stages in December 2015, Van Gaal inexplicably substituted Mata for Nick Powell.

Banter. Era.

Say "Juanfield" to any United fan and they will instantly know you are talking about Mata's magical performance at Anfield during the Van Gaal purple patch in March 2015.

The Spain international scored a brace, running the game from the right flank, and one of his goals was up there with the best ever scored in a United-Liverpool game.

And good to see another mention for Stoke City away. That really was a stinker.

A few quick hits, there...

"

@UtdRantcast Best: Martial v. Everton FA Cup. Worst: Shaw's injury against PSV. Think that had a bigger effect on squad than most realize.

— Clint Thrasher (@ClintThrasher) November 8, 2016"

The two trips to Wembley in quick succession for the semi-final and final of the FA Cup won United much-needed silverware and produced two magical moments. Anthony Martial's magnificent late winner against Everton provoked scenes of pure joy.

Then Jesse Lingard ensured Martial's goal had really been worth celebrating with a belter. United won the cup and, in theory, Van Gaal got to end on a high.

The rumours began swirling around social media, quite literally, while Van Gaal was climbing the Wembley steps to receive the FA Cup. It was not officially announced that day, of course, but it was immediately apparent this would be his last game in charge. It is understandable that fans should feel the club lacked a little dignity in its handling of events.

So there we have it; a potted guide to the post-Fergie era so far. Mourinho and his staff will be hoping that a lot more positives are to follow in the coming months and years.