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| Sir Alex Ferguson’s updated book flags marginalisation at Manchester United | Sir Alex Ferguson’s updated book flags marginalisation at Manchester United |
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| Probably the most revealing part of the additional chapter 27 – “United In Transition” – in Sir Alex Ferguson’s updated autobiography is just how marginalised he has become since it became apparent to the other directors at Manchester United that he had got it terribly wrong with David Moyes. | Probably the most revealing part of the additional chapter 27 – “United In Transition” – in Sir Alex Ferguson’s updated autobiography is just how marginalised he has become since it became apparent to the other directors at Manchester United that he had got it terribly wrong with David Moyes. |
| Ferguson writes of there being a “methodical procedure” to identify Moyes and seems at pains to make it known it is not all his responsibility. Yet what can never be disputed is that he was the driving force behind it. So just consider the chain of events, according to Ferguson, that led him to hearing that Moyes had been sacked. “I was in Aberdeen as the events unfolded,” he writes. “On the Monday, I was flying back to Manchester and sitting next to me was a lad with a newspaper headline that ran: ‘David Moyes to be sacked’.” Ferguson flew back in a state of confusion. Moyes had texted him but Ferguson was not sure what to say “because I was unsure what was happening at that exact moment.” | |
| That bit came next, according to Ferguson. “I spoke to [the chief executive] Ed Woodward when I got back and established a final decision had been made.” Nobody had called him to let him know the outcome. Nor is there any detail of being asked for his opinions or recommendations about who should follow next; just a passing reference to the fact that “Louis van Gaal’s name was soon in the frame.” | That bit came next, according to Ferguson. “I spoke to [the chief executive] Ed Woodward when I got back and established a final decision had been made.” Nobody had called him to let him know the outcome. Nor is there any detail of being asked for his opinions or recommendations about who should follow next; just a passing reference to the fact that “Louis van Gaal’s name was soon in the frame.” |
| Ferguson plainly has nothing like his old influence at Old Trafford but this book, which is officially released on Thursday, is his chance, to use his description, to “clear up a few misconceptions.” It is some defence, too. Ferguson says the appointment of Moyes was a Glazer-led one. And this is his opportunity to respond to the criticism that his presence in the background – even keeping an office at the club – made it even harder for Moyes. “I retained a respectful distance, as any ex-manager should do. At the same time – was I meant to disappear?” | Ferguson plainly has nothing like his old influence at Old Trafford but this book, which is officially released on Thursday, is his chance, to use his description, to “clear up a few misconceptions.” It is some defence, too. Ferguson says the appointment of Moyes was a Glazer-led one. And this is his opportunity to respond to the criticism that his presence in the background – even keeping an office at the club – made it even harder for Moyes. “I retained a respectful distance, as any ex-manager should do. At the same time – was I meant to disappear?” |
| It was only the media, he says, who made an issue of the fact he was often caught on camera looking anguished by the team’s performances. Moyes? “He was glad to see me there.” | It was only the media, he says, who made an issue of the fact he was often caught on camera looking anguished by the team’s performances. Moyes? “He was glad to see me there.” |
| For the most part, the general tone is one of sympathy for Moyes, describing it as “very sad” and talking about a manager who “still has plenty going for him … on his record it will show that he was selected to be manager of Manchester United, which is a rare occurrence.” In 11 seasons at Everton Moyes “had been hardworking and displayed great integrity. True, he had not won a trophy during that long reign. But that detail was misleading.” | For the most part, the general tone is one of sympathy for Moyes, describing it as “very sad” and talking about a manager who “still has plenty going for him … on his record it will show that he was selected to be manager of Manchester United, which is a rare occurrence.” In 11 seasons at Everton Moyes “had been hardworking and displayed great integrity. True, he had not won a trophy during that long reign. But that detail was misleading.” |
| Yet there is a killer passage about the way his successor slowed down United’s playing style, along with the other observations that it was a “massive jump from Everton” and “he hadn’t realised just how big United is as a club.” | Yet there is a killer passage about the way his successor slowed down United’s playing style, along with the other observations that it was a “massive jump from Everton” and “he hadn’t realised just how big United is as a club.” |
| Ferguson had always wanted his teams to operate with speed. He comes across as pained by the change that Moyes brought in. “It was our way: energy and determination in the last third of the pitch. These were expressions of me, my nature. Allied with superior skill it provided a potent combination.” If his teams had allowed their tempo to drop, he explains, he would have been “into them at half-time.” | Ferguson had always wanted his teams to operate with speed. He comes across as pained by the change that Moyes brought in. “It was our way: energy and determination in the last third of the pitch. These were expressions of me, my nature. Allied with superior skill it provided a potent combination.” If his teams had allowed their tempo to drop, he explains, he would have been “into them at half-time.” |
| Ferguson says it was not true that he was ever abused by United fans during the Manchester derby. He is bemused, too, by the reports that all the directors met at a hotel to discuss Moyes’s fate. “I would like to know which hotel because I wasn’t there.” | Ferguson says it was not true that he was ever abused by United fans during the Manchester derby. He is bemused, too, by the reports that all the directors met at a hotel to discuss Moyes’s fate. “I would like to know which hotel because I wasn’t there.” |
| And yet, there are still plenty of unresolved issues. Not once does he tackle the million-dollar question about whether, in hindsight, he considers it a mistake on his part. “Surely people don’t really believe the Glazer family would allow the new manager to be chosen by one person?” Well, actually, yes they do, unless we are expected to believe it was Joel, or Bryan, or Avi perhaps, who decided the best candidate was the manager from Everton, with no Champions League experience, no previous silverware and no form when it comes to working with a major budget. | And yet, there are still plenty of unresolved issues. Not once does he tackle the million-dollar question about whether, in hindsight, he considers it a mistake on his part. “Surely people don’t really believe the Glazer family would allow the new manager to be chosen by one person?” Well, actually, yes they do, unless we are expected to believe it was Joel, or Bryan, or Avi perhaps, who decided the best candidate was the manager from Everton, with no Champions League experience, no previous silverware and no form when it comes to working with a major budget. |
| “Did players come to see me to complain?” Ferguson continues. “Did they hell. Utter nonsense.” Except the following passage then regales how Rio Ferdinand did “ask my advice on his future.” The same Ferdinand, you may recall, who has just released his own autobiography in which he states very clearly that “long before the end, I’d decided to leave the club if he [Moyes] was going to stay.” So it is difficult to imagine how they had that conversation without Moyes’s name cropping up. | “Did players come to see me to complain?” Ferguson continues. “Did they hell. Utter nonsense.” Except the following passage then regales how Rio Ferdinand did “ask my advice on his future.” The same Ferdinand, you may recall, who has just released his own autobiography in which he states very clearly that “long before the end, I’d decided to leave the club if he [Moyes] was going to stay.” So it is difficult to imagine how they had that conversation without Moyes’s name cropping up. |
| Ferguson goes on to explain that he had a similar conversation with Patrice Evra and it is mentioned as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Yet it would be intriguing to know if Moyes was aware of these conversations because, if not, this is straying dangerously close into Sir Matt Busby and Frank O’Farrell territory – exactly what Ferguson said would never happen. | Ferguson goes on to explain that he had a similar conversation with Patrice Evra and it is mentioned as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Yet it would be intriguing to know if Moyes was aware of these conversations because, if not, this is straying dangerously close into Sir Matt Busby and Frank O’Farrell territory – exactly what Ferguson said would never happen. |
| Ferguson is so effusive in his praise of Van Gaal that it inadvertently re-ignites the issue of why he had felt Moyes had superior credentials the previous year. “Louis is what I would call a managers’ coach. He’s one of those committed ultra-professionals. If I had to choose one word for him it would be ‘formidable.’ He was a good choice.” | Ferguson is so effusive in his praise of Van Gaal that it inadvertently re-ignites the issue of why he had felt Moyes had superior credentials the previous year. “Louis is what I would call a managers’ coach. He’s one of those committed ultra-professionals. If I had to choose one word for him it would be ‘formidable.’ He was a good choice.” |
| The appointment of Ryan Giggs as assistant manager was “a terrific decision … Louis could help Giggs learn about this business; Ryan could help Louis in understanding the inner workings of United.” | The appointment of Ryan Giggs as assistant manager was “a terrific decision … Louis could help Giggs learn about this business; Ryan could help Louis in understanding the inner workings of United.” |
| As for himself, Ferguson admits he found the transition hard to make and admits he felt “a little bit disorientated.” | As for himself, Ferguson admits he found the transition hard to make and admits he felt “a little bit disorientated.” |
| He adds: “I had been the United manager for the best part of 27 years, and now I was in a directors’ seat with fans asking me for autographs.” | He adds: “I had been the United manager for the best part of 27 years, and now I was in a directors’ seat with fans asking me for autographs.” |
| That was early last season when his top three for the league were United, Chelsea and Manchester City, Liverpool’s form was “amazing, brilliant” and if that sounds odd coming a man of his instincts, there is one last piece of classic Fergie in his analysis of the champions. “There was no question that City possessed the best group of players, though the fact they have twice won the league so narrowly leaves a question mark. Why is that?” | That was early last season when his top three for the league were United, Chelsea and Manchester City, Liverpool’s form was “amazing, brilliant” and if that sounds odd coming a man of his instincts, there is one last piece of classic Fergie in his analysis of the champions. “There was no question that City possessed the best group of players, though the fact they have twice won the league so narrowly leaves a question mark. Why is that?” |