The term 'the United Way' has almost become an embarrassment, a euphemism, in the way its used by some people, when in reality it means different things to different people.
For me it encompasses many things, specifically the clubs adventurous approach to football and in a way it was first underlined when Sir Matt Busby, in the late 1950's defied advice (and pressure) from the English League President and took United, as Division 1 winners into the European Cup Competition (now the CL); how the club has always sought to produce young players from within its own Youth system as well as pursuing top players through transfer activity, many times breaking the UK transfer record. On the pitch Sir Matt did allow the top players to 'play their own game', but to the more journeyman-type players he always gave instructions, perhaps the most famous one attributed to Sir Matt being when he told Nobby Stiles, "Nobby you win the ball son... then give it to Bobby".
SAF added to that 'United Way' ability to entertain a crowd, by instilling a winning mentality in all his teams, he not only praised them, he also goaded them when necessary, to get a result. When the media was 'having a go' he reputedly stuck the offending newspaper article on the inside of the dressing room door, saying "look lads that's what they think of you "... some said that sometimes that was the extent of SAF's pre-match team talk!
There is of course OT itself, yes its now becoming somewhat dilapidated, but as we saw against Villarreal... its still the 'theatre of dreams' sometimes when I witnessed late goals like that, magnificent comebacks, etc I really do think the place is enchanted.
This for me is 'the United Way', Busby started it, SAF made it world famous and successful by adding to the entertainment value a 'will to win' mentality, Ole now has to develop 'finding a way to win' for me that means not just entertainment, not just a winning mentality, but a methodology that carries this forward in a world where discipline and game management on the field are just as important as anything taking place off the field, that includes player rotations, substitutions, what to do when you go down to ten men, etc.
SAF said it took him a number of seasons to realise that he had to adjust things to become successful in Europe. Hopefully Ole will pick up that baton and apply it in the PL as well...that for me would be evidence that 'the United Way'was still viable...and necessary.