Probably the greatest manager to have ever walked on God's earth. Club banter aside, the anti-Fergie comments are more than just immaturity...but show a blinkered view of football. Yes he stood up for his players and was biased in his post match commentary....yes he played mind games and tried to put pressure on referees...but that is not against the rules nor is he the ony who does it. Also, to put a lifelong Labour supporter in the same bracket as Thatcher is bizarre This guy is phenomenal...and to continue to win into his 70's...the physical vitality and mental dexterity is something to marvel...I'm sure many 40 year olds wouldn't be able to match his level of mental/physical health. Even Wenger looks older than Fergie despite the decade separating them. He's determination to be the best...to win...to succeed...is made of granite (probably coated with diamonds for added firmness!) You can add up the attributes of all the many thousands of people who resent or dislike him (inlcuding those on this board) but still you will not get a man that equates to one percent of the man that is Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rumour has it that 'Arry has turned up outside Old Trafford https://twitter.com/salsa7246/status/332126116762513408/photo/1
seconded. He may be a great manager but everyone hates him with a passion . Why is that . the manures will say it is because we are jealous or the success he has brought them . If success means we have to behave like him and his bunch of assholes , i dont want it thanks.
Quod erat demonstandum (QED) I support Arsenal...love Arsenal...but this does not prevent me from realising that you and I could not even dream of having even 1% of the attributes the legendary Ferguson has.
Behave like what exactly? Your own use of language raises a doubt on any ability you may have of forming a view on what constitutes virtuous or commendable behaviour. Serioulsy, banter is all fine and dandy but lets sprinkle a modicum of grace over the whole thing. At least we can say, that the only manager to seriously challenge the greatest manager in English football (and one of the greatest ever in the world full stop) for any length of time was our own Arsene Wenger. The only time he has been seriously rattled was the late 1990s and and early 2000s..Wengers golden era. (in my view Wenger was a greater threat/irritation than Mourinho - the only other one who could possibly lay claim to this mantle)
Uh oh ...Russell Brand syndrome , : the use of 20 words when 10 will do adequately . Unfortunately , this DOESNT add any weight to an arguement. i have SAID he was a great manager , but we cant stand the knobber . So , as a person , we wont miss him one jot.
Fair point that was verbose I just look at someone like him and just find it astonishing how he can maintain that drive to be the best for so long in the face of so much competition...and then, crucially, to win...and consistently win. If I'm being honest, I will have to say that he is nothing short of awe inspiring.
Wow! Just Wow. You may love or hate him, but anyone who doesn't acknowledge that SAF was a massive part of what made United successful, I think is completely bonkers. This will be a massive boost to everyone in the premier league, no matter what, and will introduce self doubt to a group of players that have never experienced it before.
dont forget to factor in a MAHOOOOOOOOSIVE slice of luck . They are the luckiest bastards in the league , beyond any doubt. He must have sold his soul to Beelzebub for sure to get such luck.
True and thats what I thought...I just wanted to point out his Labour support....though a multi millionaire like him will probably be more at home with the Tories. I'm also glad he's gone ....but only because it helps Arsenal's cause.
But I bet you've enjoyed the prosperity that this country has had because of Thatchers policies which are still benefitting the country. Without her financial polices we would be completely ****ed during this recession. I don't just mean a bit ****ed, I mean a really completely and totally ****ed. Just remember what the 60s and 70s were like - power cuts, industries demanding more in pay than they made, the country pretty much run by megalomaniac unelected union leaders, 80% tax rates, inflation out of control (this is the main benefit of Thatchers policies), etc. We had nearly 3 decades of prosperity based on her policies until Labours continued loosening of the financial regulations contributed towards the global meltdown. The similarity of Thatcher and Fergie is both had a few difficult years at the beginning which were hard but paved the way to years of prosperity.
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that. It was just meant as a general comment. Read it as as preemptive, please.
In my opinion, our economy is ****ed - precisely because of the Thatcherite policies that dismantled our manufacturing and industry economy and replaced it with private for profit financial based economy. The mantra of profit before service and need is exactly the mentality that has seen private business gamble and sell off our national assets, our national financial base and our national infrastructure. We went from a country that made things, to one that sold and gambled money. This same philosophy is what was responsible for the private banks to run up an £850bn whole in our economy, which is being paid for by you and me, the taxpayers and at the cost to our hospitals, schools, NHS and public services which have been decimated. So you'll forgive me for not reveling in the 'prosperity' that Thatcher's legacy created.
Fair enough fella I doubt there's anybody who doesn't recognise the impact he's had. But as gunner b alright has pointed out, he also benefited from a fair amount of good fortune, as well Chairmen who gave him healthy funds to spend on the squad, an extremely sympathetic media and a handful of sympathetic referees too.
Are you old enough to remember British Leyland cars? I ask because its the perfect example. They were building poor quality cars that with sales declining because of better quality being available to import. The wages in the industry were unsustainably high because sales could not generate enough profit yet the unions were calling the workers out on strike to get higher wages. The result was even more lost profit due to a fall in production figures and demands for higher costs in wages. My source was a production line worker who lost his job because of Thatcher and said he hated her for it, but with hindsight can see what was happening who was on the news after she died. This was backed up by the BBC as what was happening in cars and other manufacturing industries. I also know a lot of people who could not get jobs unless they had a union card, so were forced to pay for the unelected union leaders to destroy the country if they wanted to work. We now have a choice. If youre not old enough to remember before Thatcher ask your parents how many holidays people had and where they went, what cars they drove and what the quality of life was like. When you understand how much better we have it now you will understand why I think she did something that was harmful in the short term for long term benefit.
