... if anyone is interested.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/dec/08/manchester-united-champions-league-exit
One extract from here:
"Ferguson felt it necessary to issue a public apology after the Carling Cup quarter-final defeat against Crystal Palace last week, but what United's supporters would really like is an honest, detailed account about what is really happening behind the scenes, why the club have neglected the midfield issue and what happens next. But it will not happen. Ferguson, never slow to criticise previous regimes about not providing him with greater funds, will not have a bad word said against the Glazers and his press conferences have become such tense, joyless events that nobody should expect him to open up at Carrington on Friday morning.
There are rules in place – complex rules whereby difficult questions are not allowed and anybody who pushes the boundaries finds their invite revoked. Tancredi Palmeri, CNN's Italian correspondent, asked Ferguson in his pre-match conference in Basel on Tuesday whether, after leading 2-0, he had made any mistakes in the 3-3 draw against the Swiss side in September. Palmeri was shocked by the reaction, Ferguson staring at him like "ice" while "the press room broke into an 'ooooh'"
To me this seemed a genuine innocuous question by the journo rather than a WUM type question. It could easily have been answered by SAF and even if he didn't like the question he could easliy have been humourous, sarcastic etc. Also the press meeting was a day before the match and everyone expected us to go through so he must have been in a decent mood. It is this side of SAF that I sometimes don't like. But I guess his working class upbringing doesn't allow him to accept criticism easliy even if genuine. Anyways everyone has some flaws and he has given so much to us that we can hardly ever complain.
a very good article...
posted on 8/12/11
They are in decline, i think most man u fans kinda accept this although wont really admit it. I can see them geting beat at OT this season again and losing on their travels.
Livrpool, Spurs and certainly City are definitely on the up; all backed by money (not sure how spurs are managing it tho!) and its no secret that Utd have slowed in the transfer market.
With CFC, Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool ALL in a sort of transition it leaves City and Spurs to hit the top two places....we shall see, but it wouldnt suprise me at all to see spurs up there.
posted on 8/12/11
^^
Liverpool on the up
posted on 8/12/11
But yeah, a very good article.
posted on 8/12/11
comment by Got_Better (U6241)
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I would accept that we have been in decline, but we probably have been in decline ever since Ronaldo and Tevez left, but we still managed to win the PL without them. So even though it has been a decline it has not been a step-change. It has been a slow decline that is expected when top-performing players leave and the ones taking their place are not firing on all cylinders.
I also accepts that Liverpool, Spurs and City are on the up, however it is easy to go up when you are starting from a place somewhere below the top-4. As you get closer it becomes more and more difficult. Liverpool, even on the up, is probbaly not goign to end up int top-4. Spurs and city may be there but we will definitely push them (or Chelsea/Arsenal) for the top place. So yes we are in decline but when you have won the legaue 4 times in 5 years, you can't really go up. The decline has been slow and gradual, and with just couple of good players it can easily be reversed.
posted on 8/12/11
Maybe its more to do with the fact Fergie might be on the decline ..
Its not a criticism of the man ... but hes 70 nowadays and there will come a point when Fergie is not seeing it like he used to ..
Fergie is a proud man .. and maybe too proud to admit it when it happens ... its not like hes ever going to get the sack is it ..
Just hope he dont spoil his United legendary status by finishing with a couple of disastrous years .
posted on 8/12/11
Disastrous season, bit early for that?
Liverpool on the up? Aren't they 7th? Without the distraction of Europe.
posted on 8/12/11
comment by LLANLAD (U5316)
Just hope he dont spoil his United legendary status by finishing with a couple of disastrous years
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I don't think his legendary status will ever be in doubt even if we don't win anything until he retires. I also don't think he is the kind of person who really cares about how he is perceived after he is gone. He is someone genuinely interested in our club's success. Managing at the top-level is a difficult job and you cannot get it right all the time. Sometimes you just have to accept the failure and move-on.