Manchester United FC 2013/14

Sport
981

Sir Alex’s address after the last home game against Swansea last May makes for entertaining reading 11 months on

I’ve actually no script in my mind. I’m just going to ramble on and hope I get to the core of what this football club has meant to me.

First of all, it’s a thank you to Manchester United. Not just the directors, not just the medical staff, the coaching staff, the players, the supporters. It’s all of you. You have been the most fantastic experience of my life. Thank you.

I have been very fortunate. I’ve been able to manage some of the greatest players in the country, let alone Manchester United. All these players here today have represented the club in the proper way. They won the championship in a fantastic fashion. Well done to the players.

My retirement doesn’t mean the end of my life with the club. I’ll be able to now enjoy watching them rather than suffer with them.

But if you think about it…those last minute goals, the comebacks, even the defeats are all part of this great football club of ours. And it’s been an unbelievable experience for all of us, so thank you for that.

I’d also like to remind you that we’ve had bad times here. The club stood by me. All my staff stood by me. The players stood by me. So your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important.

Before I start blubbing I just want to pay tribute to Paul Scholes, who retires today. He’s unbelievable. He’s one of the greatest players this club has ever had and ever will have.

Paul, we wish you a good retirement. I know you’ll be around. Also I’d like to say another word wishing Darren Fletcher a speedy comeback.

I wish the players every success in future. You know how good you are, you know the jersey you’re wearing. You know what it means to everyone here. And don’t ever let yourself down, the expectation is always there.

So I’m going home, well, I’m going inside for a while. I just want to say thank you once again to all the Ferguson family – they’re all up there! Eleven grandchildren!

Thank you. Thank you.

982

The next manager is also going to struggle. It will take time like Liverpool to get back competing for trophies

983

3-1 Demechelis

984

Why would Real sack him?

985

Real sacked Heynckees in 1998 when he only managed to deliver the European Cup. They have very exacting standards.

986

Wouldn’t be the first man to manage both Manchester United and Iran at different stages in his career, after Frank O’Farrell.

987

Think they sacked Del Bosque after winning either the league or European Cup also. If they win nothing this season, other than the Copa Del Rey, he could get the boot in the summer. Wouldn’t be logical but then Real Madrid fire managers on a whim.

988

Playing both van Hooijdonk and Hasselbaink on the left-wing at Lansdowne Road was genius.

989

Can’t see it myself. Think they will win the European Cup. Serious firepower there.

990

Manuel Pellegrini was also very unlucky to lose his job after getting 96 points in a season. Perhaps he was too much of a gentleman for that club.

991

De Boer

992

Didn’t they finish that game with something like five strikers on the field?

993

Madrid have had a ridiculous amount of managers in recent times alright (last 10 to 15 years anyway).

Queiroz, Pellegrini, Capello, Del Bosque, Mourinho, Ancelotti and probably a few more I am forgetting.

994

Van Gaal used an old tactic of mine from Championship Manager 94/95 where he put a 0-5-5 formation in place as the Dutch tried to chase the game. The only difference was that he kept a goalkeeper back whereas I was a bit more cavalier.

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[QUOTE=“dodgy-keeper, post: 934778, member: 1552”]Madrid have had a ridiculous amount of managers in recent times alright (last 10 to 15 years anyway).

Queiroz, Pellegrini, Capello, Del Bosque, Mourinho, Ancelotti and probably a few more I am forgetting.[/QUOTE]
Yea, what sort of Club would sack a manager without giving him one whole season in charge eh.

996

Laurent Blanc might get the gig. Unlike the most recent United managers he speaks English.

997

Wes Brown to be brought in as his number 2 to learn from him.

998

He inexplicably took off Overmars in that match when he was destroying us and caused Gary Kelly to be rightly sent off.

Of course most uninformed clowns rave on about Keane’s challenge on Overmars in the first minute.

:rolleyes:

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Keane made a magnificent tackle on Overmars early that day. Really set the tone and kept him quiet.

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[QUOTE=“farmerinthecity, post: 934813, member: 24”]He inexplicably took off Overmars in that match when he was destroying us and caused Gary Kelly to be rightly sent off.

Of course most uninformed clowns rave on about Keane’s challenge on Overmars in the first minute.

:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
I was at that match and I really don’t remember Keane doing that much although I’ll grudgingly admit he was superb against Portugal. The general consensus around me was that Damien Duff had been Ireland’s best player, but because Keane got away with a stupid tackle in the first minute and held onto the ball in the lead up to the goal his performance somehow took on a mythical status it didn’t deserve - we’ll never hear the end of it from cunts like Ger Gilroy.