Knight Of 1000 Games
This week "Sir" Alex Ferguson will lead his Red charges into a Champions League game against Lyon for his 1000th time in charge. A mammoth achievement in a job where 200 games is considered as a "good knock". What do I remember about any of those 1000 games? I remember watching Sparky Hughes smash one in from a tight angle to win the Cup Winners Cup. Fantastic. I remember Cantona popping one through a crowd of Liverpool players to secure an FA Cup Final win. As a Liverpool fan I have been able to blame the entire FA Cup debacle on the dodgy cream suits the Spice Boys wore on the day. I remember Cantona flying through the air into the front row at Selhurst Park. I remember the dramatic European Cup victory at the Camp Nou, secured in the dying minutes of a game where he had witnessed his team being totally outplayed by Bayern Munich. Who could forget the Beckham goal, also at Selhurst, surely the moment that captured the birth of "the kids" of whom Alan Hansen famously claimed "would win nothing". These are significant landmarks of the Ferguson era at Manchester United.
Ferguson is named alongside the mangerial greats of the game: Ramsey, Shankley, Paisley, Clough, Stein, Busby et al. In my opinion his name should never be uttered in the same sentence as any of the aforementioned legends. On his success and trophy haul with United, not to mention Aberdeen, he deserves credit but all of the credit bestowed is besmirched by the cantankerous, bad sport, who's team, according to him, have never lost a match to a better side. A decade littered with "we didn't play well today", "the referee has had a bad game", "we allowed them to play", I don't need to list more, we have heard them all.
The "Sour Grapes War" he has waged with Arsene Wenger in recent seasons has grown into a tabloid monster. Even when the last encounter was won by his team he could not leave it alone. Taking the war to new levels by complaining that Arsenal's Ashley Cole had "stolen nearly ten yards" when taking a throw in. Outside Anfield there is a statue of Bill Shankley with his arms held out in a salute to the people approaching the ground, copied from a famous photograph of him in front of The Kop. If they ever erect a statue to Ferguson outside Old trafford then he will surely have veins bursting out of his neck with his face contorted in rage and his right hand pointing at his left wrist. The game ain't over until Alex says so.
What I find staggering is that a man whom he mentored into management, Steve McLaren, is one of the most gracious, reasonable, uncomplaining managers I have ever seen on telly. How could this paragon of good sportsmanship have grown in the shadow of the poisonous Ferguson. Bad refereeing decisions are greeted with "Well, sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't". Poor team performances are delivered with "We didn't play well today but we will be working to improve on today's performance". Never 0ver-the-top in his praise of his own side or the opposition. Basically, a man who calls it how he sees it and doesn't get carried away with himself.
For all his glorious triumphs and achievements at "The Biggest Club In The World", I will remember "Sir" Alex for the day he kept his mouth shut and said nothing. I can still see it now, a packed St James' Park, the Great Dane is a bit too far away from his line, the majestic Belgian casually approaches the edge of the D, and dinks a little looping shot clean over his head. Phillipe Albert!!! Newcastle 5 Manchester United 0.
Ferguson is named alongside the mangerial greats of the game: Ramsey, Shankley, Paisley, Clough, Stein, Busby et al. In my opinion his name should never be uttered in the same sentence as any of the aforementioned legends. On his success and trophy haul with United, not to mention Aberdeen, he deserves credit but all of the credit bestowed is besmirched by the cantankerous, bad sport, who's team, according to him, have never lost a match to a better side. A decade littered with "we didn't play well today", "the referee has had a bad game", "we allowed them to play", I don't need to list more, we have heard them all.
The "Sour Grapes War" he has waged with Arsene Wenger in recent seasons has grown into a tabloid monster. Even when the last encounter was won by his team he could not leave it alone. Taking the war to new levels by complaining that Arsenal's Ashley Cole had "stolen nearly ten yards" when taking a throw in. Outside Anfield there is a statue of Bill Shankley with his arms held out in a salute to the people approaching the ground, copied from a famous photograph of him in front of The Kop. If they ever erect a statue to Ferguson outside Old trafford then he will surely have veins bursting out of his neck with his face contorted in rage and his right hand pointing at his left wrist. The game ain't over until Alex says so.
What I find staggering is that a man whom he mentored into management, Steve McLaren, is one of the most gracious, reasonable, uncomplaining managers I have ever seen on telly. How could this paragon of good sportsmanship have grown in the shadow of the poisonous Ferguson. Bad refereeing decisions are greeted with "Well, sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't". Poor team performances are delivered with "We didn't play well today but we will be working to improve on today's performance". Never 0ver-the-top in his praise of his own side or the opposition. Basically, a man who calls it how he sees it and doesn't get carried away with himself.
For all his glorious triumphs and achievements at "The Biggest Club In The World", I will remember "Sir" Alex for the day he kept his mouth shut and said nothing. I can still see it now, a packed St James' Park, the Great Dane is a bit too far away from his line, the majestic Belgian casually approaches the edge of the D, and dinks a little looping shot clean over his head. Phillipe Albert!!! Newcastle 5 Manchester United 0.
posted by Nasher at 5:54 PM
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