Good post, very interesting and important point. It is about the culture within the club. Post SAF we have lost focus, ambition and authority from both the executive and on the pitch.
Real Madrid (think Bayern too) do not tolerate poor standards within the club. They expect and demand the best. We have stopped doing that and you can see that over the years. Player's join us and just take the p***. Look at Jones, Martial, Sanchez, Lukaku etc.. it wouldn't happen at Real or Bayern, no way. Madrid have Butragueno, a club legend overseeing many big decisions at the club, he is the external face of Real. Bayern have Karl-Heinz Ruminigger, another absolute club legend. We should have the same, those people don't tolerate falling standards.
An additional concern is that some of our fans seem to have also dropped levels of expectations, suggesting average players are now good players.
Man United need to recapture that unforgiving, clinical, demanding, belligerent character that personified in players.. Hughes, Bruce, Ince, Evra, Eric, Giggs, Scholes, CR7, Teddy, Cole..I could go on and on and on. Alll had a definite edge to their game...