Soccer: Beleaguered United outmuscled on and off pitch

Chelsea: Sir Alex Ferguson can no longer rely on United's glamour and wealth being greater than that of their rivals. With Roman Abramovich's billions, Chelsea can blow United out of the water, on and off the pitch.

The Glazers: With huge debt following the Glazer takeover, Ferguson is spending loose change compared with Jose Mourinho.

Roy Keane: The midfielder is 34, with retirement looming ever larger. Having given up the global search for a replacement, Ferguson is pinning his hopes on Alan Smith. This sums up United's lack of financial muscle.

Restless fans: Ferguson is fighting to hold on to supporters' backing. His decision to back the Glazers alienated thousands of fans and many are bewildered by what they perceive to be his abandonment of United's attacking principles.

Dressing room disharmony: Ferguson has been fighting fires in the dressing room in an attempt to quell disharmony over 4-5-1 tactics favoured by coach Carlos Queiroz. A summer row with Keane hardly helped matters.

The squad: A lightweight squad has been exposed following serious injuries to Keane, Gary Neville and Gabriel Heinze, not to mention injury-prone forwards Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Unlike Chelsea, United have weakness in depth.

Goal drought: Remember when United were the most feared attacking force in English and European football? In six games so far this season, they've managed just three at home in the Premiership and four away, despite the talents of Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Whatever happened to the likely lads?: The golden generation of Beckham, Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles emerged 11 years ago, but the flood of young talent has dried up. Ferguson's first batch of young talent saved his job in 1990 and the next group secured domination, but the current kids show few signs of emulating their predecessors.

Bad buys: Ferguson hit the jackpot with Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, but how much money was squandered on Juan Veron, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Diego Forlan, Kleberson and David Bellion?

Air miles: United's desire for global domination off the pitch has hampered Ferguson on it. Last year's US tour was blamed for their worst-ever start to the Premiership season, and a trip to the Far East this summer has not helped preparations.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY