Is this the end of the line for Ferguson?
It is an inevitable truth. Everyone and everything, however successful, has a shelf life.
As Manchester United flew out to Hungary yesterday for their Champions League qualifier against
Zalaegerszegi the question would not go away. Is Alex Ferguson reaching that stage?
It might seem churlish to direct a question usually reserved for long-life milk to the most successful manager in British soccer history before a ball has been kicked in the new season, but in the 16 years Ferguson has reigned at Old Trafford it has never appeared more valid.
Not just because last season saw United finish trophyless for the first time in four years though the manner in which they surrendered their Premiership title, losing six matches at home, suggested Old Trafford was no longer the intimidating fortress of old.
But because rarely have United gone into a new season so beset by niggling problems.
It does not help that their record £29.3million signing Rio Ferdinand and French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez miss the trip to Hungary and probably the start of the domestic campaign against West Brom on Saturday, especially as the defence remains Ferguson's primary cause for alarm.
It does not help that captain Roy Keane is once again submerged in controversy and could be the subject of an FA investigation after admitting in his autobiography to taking revenge on Manchester City's Alf-Inge Haaland at Old Trafford in April last year.
Keane has long been a respected and inspirational, if never universally liked, captain a man who has led United in Ferguson's own abrasive image to triumphs.
His influence cannot be underestimated but, following his snarling spat with Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy which saw him sent home from the World Cup, there is a destructive tendency about his demeanour which is hardly conducive to team bonding.
Mostly, however, pessimism surrounding United's Champions League credentials stems from the fact that Ferguson, in his quest to emulate the stirring deeds of Barcelona 1999 and Wembley 1968, seems incapable of facing up to some harsh facts the most unpalatable of which is that United's failure last season fell squarely at his own feet.
From his inexplicable decision to push defender Jaap Stam out of the club after the Dutchman had dared to criticise the manager's regime in his autobiography criticism which pales when set aside the recent comments of Keane and his accusations that his team-mates are 'Yesterday's heroes'.
To the swirl of uncertainty which surrounded the club as they attempted to find a successor to Ferguson before his unexpected change of heart over retirement and decision to sign a new three-year contract.
Then there were those who questioned some of Ferguson's team selections. Whether to play with one or two strikers, whether Ryan Giggs should play wide or through the middle. Ferdinand, it's true, will bolster a shaky defence but then the problem remains whether Keane and £28m Juan Sebastian Veron can play in the same midfield.
For the past year Ferguson has defended his purchase of Veron, dismissing critics with fearsome glares.
Yet the fact remains United have received from Veron little more than fleeting cameos and tactical indiscipline. If ever a man failed to live up to his reputation it was Veron in the World Cup showdown with England in Sapporo when he was dragged off at half-time. Quite how that humiliating experience will have affected his psyche remains to be seen.
And yet to write off United would be folly. Just ask the doubters who heralded the collapse of an empire after three consecutive defeats last December and looked somewhat absurd when United were back on top of the league a couple of months later.
With David Beckham and Gary Neville nearing full fitness and the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having been fully rested, United's chances should not be discarded.
They will always score goals, lots of them, and their ability to sweep forward with daring enterprise remains uniquely invigorating.
Yet as they kick off a campaign in Budapest which they hope will end in a final at the Theatre of Dreams in May the words this morning of Brian Clough, back-to-back winner of the European Cup with Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980, seemed hauntingly appropriate.
''Fergie made a big mistake when he announced he would retire at the end of last season and then changed his mind,'' said Clough in his new autobiography.
''Managers who have won all there is to win should not hang around any longer than is necessary.
''It would be heartbreaking to see him abused from all angles should things not go according to his plans. That is the risk he takes by staying in the trenches.''
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