Is Fergie ‘Losing It’ ?… 31/07/2010
Entering his 24th full season at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the most influential figure ever in football, or even in sport for that matter. The 68-year-old Scot has vowed to stay at the World’s biggest as long as his health is in-check. But is the ageing gaffer losing his sharpness, writes Mancunian Red… Report By: Keith ‘Mancunian Red’, 10:55pm Today my season ticket came through the letter box, I’ve been to 20 odd games a season since the late 60’s when my Dad first started taking me. I remember many fans at the time saying the same thing about Sir Matt before he retired, he let the squad get old and Best get out control and we only bought 3 players between 1964 and 1972. Many many people have wrote Sir Alex off time and time again during his United career. Firstly when he sold crowd favourites McGrath and Whiteside, which was followed by a banner at OT demanding Fergie should Go and Quickly. And then travelling to Wembley in 1990 countless fans were actually saying it may be best if we lose the final against Palace as it may be the quickest way to get rid of Fergie. Even winning the title for the first time in 26 seasons didn’t stop some from writing him off when Fergie sold Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes and replaced them with kids. The question came up once more with three seasons without the title and Chelsea looking as if they would dominate before the boss roared back with three titles on the bounce and a Champions League to his name. To write Fergie off isn’t something new, and he has proved fans and pundits alike countless times. So why do I ask the question now ? – Believe it or not I have never wrote Fergie off before and wanted him to go although I confess I wouldn’t have been disappointed or shocked had he gone in the late 80’s as we were atrocious and Fergie had spent vast amounts of money. For me this time is different because I do not see the old Fergie, iin the past he has castigated, Martin Edwards and the PLC for not backing him in the transfer market despite spending huge amounts. Under the Glazer regime he has an enormous surplus – sales far outweigh spending and yet all we hear from Fergie is purrrs of satisfaction and back the Glazer regime and talk nonsense about lack of value for money in the market when he could have picked Robben and Sneijder up for a pittance with Madrid desperate for Ronaldo and to sell those players. I do not doubt for one second he has the funds as he would kick up an almighty fuss if he didn’t. Yet anyone look back at the squad/team which was the best in the world just a few seasons ago and won the Champions League and Premier League and the gulf with today’s players is monumental. Moreover the old Fergie would have accepted he made a massive mistake buying Berbatov and off loaded him and brought in replacements. Making bad buys is all part of the game, I don’t have a problem with it – it happens but trying desperately to justify a bad buy again isn’t the old Fergie’s way. This squad/team without another 3 or 4 top class buys will not finish in the top 2 and may struggle to get in the top 4. Rooney carried us last season but he will not be able to do that again – no one in the world could have done what Rooney did last season – he was burned-out towards the end of the season as we saw. Our keeper is 40 and on his way out, the back up cannot handle crosses and organise the defence and could play more than 20 odd games. We also have too many aging players who will not improve but are all nearly finished. Giggs, Scholes, Neville, VDS . Hargreaves has been out for 2 years and will never get back to the player he was and Rio is getting injured too often nowadays. We have a very ordinary midfield – only Fletcher stands out. We have a 40 year old keeper. At the moment we haven’t got a right back just 4 players who are injury prone and either nearing retiring or unproven. Rooney carried us last season without him I doubt we would have been a top 4 team. People compare this with the time the kids came through but firstly those kids were very special, secondly the rest of the team Schmeichel, Pallister, Bruce, Keane, Cantona, Cole, Sharpe and Irwin were top quality established players and so really was Giggs. Thirdly today we have to fight off much stronger competition than Newcastle. Fergie has proved so many wrong time and time again, I hope he adds me to his list, but this squad is very ordinary… Do I want Fergie to be SACKED absolutely NOT – Fergie has given me enormous joy and I watched live every one of those 26 seasons Fergie can name the day he calls it a day no matter if he gets us relegated ? I love Fergie, We all love Fergie ! Commentsbrian Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:02:58 pm i still trust fergie but if we dont sign anyone this summer and dont win anything this season. then its time fergie to go next summer a long with giggs scholes nevile but i said only if we dont win anything i am stll backing fergie abd the old golden boys. but we to win the prem our chanmpions league? if we dont then bring the special one he has a boy out clause each year so it would nto be problem, but if we dont win anything fergie still be here for years conme Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:06:30 pm José Mourinho would be the WORST THING that could happen to Manchester United FC in my opinion. He isn’t a club man, he isn’t a fan man, he isn’t a man’s man, he isn’t a player’s man and he isn’t going to be our man. Ole’s a God Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:18:18 pm Worth reading fair, balanced and well researched article. Jose Mourinho Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:19:05 pm How dare you call me overrated! Who has won the Champions League with 2 seperate clubs. I won the treble last year and immediately brought success to both Chelsea and inter. You incompetent rodent! Vince Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:22:12 pm Jose and United? Na… remember Ron Atkinson? Ok, jose is in a different league than Big Ron, but the characteristics are similar… any manager who considers his ego more important than the club does not fit in with the United ethos… I’d rather have Ole succeed Fergie some day rather than the self-styled “special one”… ozil to United Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:22:50 pm I agree that I don’t expect us to win anything next season and i don’t understand the bosses policy on sucking up to the Glazer’s and the reasons he isn’t buying players but I also think the words losing it in relation to his age are unfair. Joe Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:30:36 pm Who were the 3 players we bought between 64 and 72 is that really true we only bought 3 players in 8 years? Chorlton Red Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:39:12 pm Bit harsh we would have won the double last season had Rooney not got injured but it is very well researched and argued which most articles on the web aren’t. Toothy Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:48:07 pm I remember that banner if anyone knows of a link to it on the web please give us a link. Jay the Bugger Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:55:16 pm Fergie arse licking of the Glazer family isn’t typical of his history. jon Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:59:48 pm i agree that mourinho is a nasty little scumbag who is overrated and plays a very dull brand of football. Gobby Stu Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:05:26 am Top class article, really good stuff, liked the comparrison with Sir Matt and Fergie’s earlier problems with United’s crowd. Susan Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:10:35 am I think City will dominate football now for the next decade with their financial power. MJ Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:21:35 am People why dont you look at the big picture? brian Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:33:50 am if you dont want mourhino when fergie fianly goes then who do you want. thre is not better mangers out there at this monent only than fergie and mourhino. mourhino would win us the league straight he knows how to handle the perssure were sonme like david moyes might take 5 years to win us the prem . i would all you lot be happy wating five years to win the prem ? Charlie Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:38:17 am Fantastic article. Great read, and very well researched. You can never doubt Sir Fergie. Ole wud b a top manager at the club in say 10/15 yrs time. But in 5/6/7/8 yrs we need someone like O’Neil or Pep. Mourinho will Never be welcome at Old Trafford, so he can think 2ice about joining us. SAF won’t let that happen anyway! Chris Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:40:41 am I confess I don’t understand why Fergie hasn’t bought class if he has the funds On the Fly Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:47:09 am I also would like to know the 3 players bought between 64 and 72. Ted Perechalli Sun, 01 Aug 2010 2:39:22 am No matter what people say SAF knows what he is doing. Winning is in his blood. If he needs to buy he will. If he feels that MUFC has the youngsters who can step up and tear teams apart, I think that he can be trusted, no matter what the so-called pundits may say. Besides, how long will the Mourinhos of the world stay with the Club to build it up? Look at Mourinho’s track record, impressive though. How long was he at Chelsea and Inter Milan? Perhaps he will give MANCHESTER UNITED 3 seasons. Then what? No! We need someone who will get the team up and competing successfully after a failure – someone who will have his heart and soul in MUFC – someone who is not a mercenary. Perhaps that someone is already around in Great Britain … a British who has deep feelings for the Club. Let us hope and pray that when SAF decides to call it a day we will get a true gladiator with a heart for MUFC taking over. Choppin Hill Sun, 01 Aug 2010 3:21:05 am Good read this team has gone backwards, we had lots of genuine world class players back when we last won the CL and should have improved it. kevin Sun, 01 Aug 2010 3:22:13 am i think fergie should have gone for balotteli and offer 26mil and try to do a player plus cash offer for ozil maybe anderson and offer 7 mil…. ozil and balotelli and hernadez would make and unstoppalbe united sqaud…… Sarah Sun, 01 Aug 2010 3:37:47 am Kevin I’m not sure balotteli has the best attitude I’d like to have seen Sneijder at OT and that gonzalas from the World Cup Stretty News Sun, 01 Aug 2010 9:58:56 am There is not a hope in hell that Ferguson will ever be sacked. On the other side when Ferguson decideds to stand down as manager who’s going to come in? Jose would love to come I reckon, ever since Ferguson met Jose they have been close friends. Jose is a winner and he has proven that. Winning a Champions League with FC Porto isn’t something every manager could do without having lots of money which he didn’t really. I reckon when Ferguson leaves there are going to be a few managers till we find the right one, id like Jose to be that right one! Stretford Ender Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:41:21 am Lack of value in the market, what is that about and coming out supporting the Glazer family despite putting the club millions of pounds in to debt and not improving a very ordinary squad. Only Me Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:53:24 am Really enjoyed reading this I’m a younger fan and didn’t realise Fergie was so unpopular in his early days. Does anyone have a link to the banner that requested Fergie to Go spoken of in the article? I like articles where you learn things and are interesting and have a point, keep it up. I also would like the names of the three players who we bought between 64 and 72 stan stan the lavatory man Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:57:19 am Still time yet, we could yet still buy big in the transfer market we are just waiting for money bags City to finish spending brian Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:05:00 am breaking news ozil want to jion man united or chelsea www. sky sports news clock watch. will fergie ever make a fucking bid Theatre of Dreams Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:20:15 am I’d like to see the banner of Fergie out does it exist? susan Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:50:23 am thank you good read Brad Sun, 01 Aug 2010 2:26:01 pm Interesting article, are the young kids that good? Only time will tell Quorthon Sun, 01 Aug 2010 7:30:21 pm Fergie may have funds, but what if he is not using them for the good of the clubs future. If Ferguson has the money claimed but is unwilling to use them because it would risk the clubs future he is a hero in my eyes. Most managers wouldnt themselves take responsibility for the clubs financial status. No value in the market???? Sun, 01 Aug 2010 9:16:37 pm I largely agree with the article, but not on all points. The author thinks Fergie is telling the truth when he says that the funds are there, but that he thinks the market has no value. I don’t believe a word of it – and neither do an increasingly large number of fans. He is simply defending the cash strapped Glazers, as he knows they have the power to oust him before he has built his next big side. And boy is he taking an enormous gamble on these current crop of players. Ozil is 12 months from walking out on Bremen for FREE, so the club could easily be tempted with £12m to let him go now, which is why bookies slashed the odds to 1/5. Are you telling me that £12m for Ozil isn’t “value”? In fact, this Ozil thing finally gives us an opportunity to see if Fergie has been lying to us about money…as if we don’t make them an offer for this amazing, once in a lifetime player…then you can take it to the bank…we’re definitely broke. Simon Sun, 01 Aug 2010 9:31:30 pm How is anyone seriously calling this a good article? The grammar and punctuation was so bad I could barely make it to the end. Luke Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:36:36 pm Superb article Mancunian Red! Dobbin Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:40:59 pm I think the days of Fergie winning the title are gone but as you say he has suprised us before. Karim the Red Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:10:21 pm Excellent retort Simon, and equally well researched. The point I feel behind making a marquee signing is simply confidence – a trait sadly missing when we came up against the best in Europe and against Chelsea last season. Purchases such as Akinfeev for goalkeeper, Phillip Lahm for right-back, and Mesut Ozil in an attacking midfield position would resurrect our team’s confidence when playing against the best of the best. sonny Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:14:39 pm I don’t think Simon understands the English language he doesn’t know what a sentence consists of and his spelling is very poor. Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:56:41 pm Simon. Ray Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:24:07 am way to go Simon. Made yourself look like an utter plonker!?! Xavier Mon, 02 Aug 2010 1:02:20 am Since when is a keeper being old a problem? Sure his time is dwindling but the time to replace him is not now. Worry about that next season. Triggs Mon, 02 Aug 2010 1:29:40 pm Decent article, but don’t agree with all the points. Mancunian Red Mon, 02 Aug 2010 2:40:44 pm Triggs Triggs Mon, 02 Aug 2010 3:56:45 pm Sorry but the parallels of Cole and Berba are clear. Both signings were then records for the most expensive British transfers. Both players struggled in their first few years. Until Cantona left, Cole scored only 32 goals in two and a half seasons at United. He went on to become a very good player and more prolific for United. Berba has scored 21 goals in two seasons. Who is to say that Berba may turn it around this year himself? My point was that Fergie stuck by Cole in the early years despite his poor form, he was castigated in the same way Berba is now. Fantasy Football (Baddiel and Skinner) even made a song up about how cap he was in those early years. So to say that Fergie has never before stuck by a big signing who has struggled is incorrect. Mancunian Red Mon, 02 Aug 2010 7:48:02 pm Triggs Triggs Mon, 02 Aug 2010 9:51:47 pm I’m happy to agree to disagree on our views about the coming season. kevin Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:37:58 pm give it a rest triggs go to bed Mancunian Red Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:18:40 pm Triggs I have no problem with your opinion on Berbatov but remember this Berbatov couldn’t get in the United team against the top teams while Cole kept Ole out. Comments are closed. |