I wonder who we'd of signed this summer had Fergie still be in charge, I'm not necessarily thinking a midfielder because let's face it he didn't address the midfield either but he'd of surely signed someone :/
I think Fergie would have been succesful with Thiago. Personally i think we lost out to Thiago for waiting around too long. Moyes seems very undecisive concerning transfers. While SAF was always quite resolute with his dealings. If he was sure about a player, and there was an opportunity to get him (like a release clause) he would never have waited to seize it. SAF always rated Thiago, he tried to sign him in 2011, i think he would have acted a lot quicker and with more resolve to get him at United before Bayern started sniffing around him. I red somewhere Moyes wasn't sure about him, and i think he lost time negotiating about the price because he refused to pay a few million more to resolve some contractual issues with the clause. Also we lost time because we had to wait until Moyes was settled in the job before approaching him, the transfer window was already open a couple of weeks by then.
I also think SAF would have brought in Benzema. He would not have accepted the situation with Rooney, but he would also not allow him to leave to a rival. I think he would have made an offer for Benzema involving Rooney in the deal. SAF has always been a Benz fan, and i think with the Rooney situation, this would have been his exit plan.
I don't know weither SAF believes we needed extra power in the midfield. I for one think we do, but i think SAF doesn't, because he has never made a move for such a midfielder. Perhaps he would have given up on Anderson. I really think Anderson's skin got saved with the Moyes coming in, new manager always more likely to give his players a fresh start and a new chance. We must remember for Moyes, the entire squad is new, so there aren't any absolutely useless players for him (yet).If SAF got rid of Anderson, i think he would have signed a replacement, probably one of either: Wanyama, Strootman or Fellaini (SAF would have also paid that release clause or close to it and not £16m).
Finally i think we wouldn't have bid for Fabregas with SAF still in charge.