I don't think Ferguson's record as the greatest ever manager of a club football side can be doubted and only a fool would find it hard not to admire what he achieved with a team that had spectacularly under-performed prior to his appointment. Without doubt, he has surpassed both Shankley, Paisley and Clough combined and I would suggest was fortunate to produce a side that exploited the rise in quality of the game that stemmed from the EPL being created. Likewise, Liverpool's fall from form at the same point in the early 1990's is reason why the Merseyside club will never match Man Utd. Odd that no one has really pointed out that Ferguson's ahcievement in Europe is vastly more impressive than any other English club and at a time when the competition became of an increasingly high standard. There is no chance of a team like Malmo reaching the final of such a competition these days.
However, in many respects I think he won't be missed. The constant harranging of officials at the touchline and the notion of "Fergie-time" are elements of the modern game which are not welcome. Man Utd have become all-conquering under Sir Alex and perhaps football is a little more boring now that provincial clubs stand little chance of making a lasting impact in the EPL. His support of his players when they have done wrong and reluctance to accept refereeing decisions which have gone against his team are a sad reflection of the way the sport has evolved and like Arsene Wenger who has also radicalised the football in this country, i think this has come at a cost. I feel that managers like Wenger and Ferguson have done a lot of damage to football and their reactions are not always the most sporting - and we should not forget that it is a sport that we are talking about.
It will be a shame if Moyes leaves Everton although a possible replacement with Martinez would be interesting as has been pointed out above- I too am not convinced that the Wigan manager is quite as good as is believed. Hopefully we can all look forward to another team replacing Man Utd as the dominant football club in England. I doubt if a provincial club like Forest can ever replicate past glories but I would like to see the game open up a bit more so that teams like Saints can have a good stab at taking the top spot.
Best Fergie moment? Beating Manure 3-1 at the Dell and him blaming the grey kit!
However, in many respects I think he won't be missed. The constant harranging of officials at the touchline and the notion of "Fergie-time" are elements of the modern game which are not welcome. Man Utd have become all-conquering under Sir Alex and perhaps football is a little more boring now that provincial clubs stand little chance of making a lasting impact in the EPL. His support of his players when they have done wrong and reluctance to accept refereeing decisions which have gone against his team are a sad reflection of the way the sport has evolved and like Arsene Wenger who has also radicalised the football in this country, i think this has come at a cost. I feel that managers like Wenger and Ferguson have done a lot of damage to football and their reactions are not always the most sporting - and we should not forget that it is a sport that we are talking about.
It will be a shame if Moyes leaves Everton although a possible replacement with Martinez would be interesting as has been pointed out above- I too am not convinced that the Wigan manager is quite as good as is believed. Hopefully we can all look forward to another team replacing Man Utd as the dominant football club in England. I doubt if a provincial club like Forest can ever replicate past glories but I would like to see the game open up a bit more so that teams like Saints can have a good stab at taking the top spot.
Best Fergie moment? Beating Manure 3-1 at the Dell and him blaming the grey kit!
