One embattled manager, two elite youngsters, new power brokers, a season climaxing with an FA Cup final and trouble brewing with senior players. But enough about the Manchester United of 2004-05.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned 20 in February 2005 and the 19-year-old Wayne Rooney was a man when he was a boy at Everton. United were appropriately dressed in black for the final against Arsenal at Cardiff as supporters mourned their 'death' ahead of the imminent takeover by Malcolm Glazer.
A red and white banner with "RIP" written in black was unfurled. Another said, "It's the end of our club as we know it."
United's final was arguably more one-sided than the previous year's stroll against Millwall, only their profligate form continued over two draining hours in the rain. With his last kick in Arsenal colours, Patrick Vieira's spotkick ensured the FA Cup had red and white ribbons tied to it.
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The new overlords gave United an air of transition. Their recruitment also contributed. Eric Djemba-Djemba had been sold, Kleberson and David Bellion never played for United again and Tim Howard never made another Premier League start for the club.
Ronaldo was the exception from the 2003 intake. Rooney arrived a year later and trumped the Portuguese's debut against Bolton with a blistering hat-trick on his bow against Fenerbahce.
Sir Alex Ferguson staked much in Rooney and Ronaldo spearheading the next great United side. After the title-killing draw with Sunderland on Good Friday in 2006, he lamented: "With young players, you don't get the consistency. Tonight when we expected the most, Wayne Rooney
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