Sir Alex Ferguson - one of the most successful managers in footballing history, SAF has had 20 years at the top, and what contrasting times they have been - turning the team around in the late 80s before launching an assault on the new Premiership that has led Manchester United to 9 league titles (so far).
Ferguson should be remembered for the collective style his teams employ, attacking and defending in droves and staying disciplined without sacrificing creativity. He will also be remembered for his bustups with some of his best players - it’s a heavy price to pay for greatness, but it’s a price any Manchester United fan would pay.
You can catch a selection of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most famous quotes on the SAF page on Red Rants - the best Manchester United blog around.
Guess who’s back? That’s right, me and the transfer roundup.
The season’s winding down and the rumors are heating up, so you’ll be seeing me in this space regularly.
Anyway, on to the good stuff!
Written by Eddie Griffin. 13 comments
Earlier this week Sir Alex Ferguson made an off-the-cuff remark which directly compromised the integrity of Premier League managers and the very institution of football that we, as fans, put their faith in.
He was answering a question about Eriksson’s predicament at Manchester City, and he said:
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 6 comments
Noun
catenaccio m. (plura; catenacci)
1. a bolt (for a door)
2. a system of defensive play in football
Catenaccio is a tactical playing scheme in the game of football. It consists mostly in a 5-4-1 formation alignment characterized by its defensive propensity.
Under the definition of catenaccio lie a series of modules and tactical schemes that define the main philosophy of the team’s defensive unit. The latter’s mission is essentially that of preventing the opposing team from scoring, an objective which is achieved by closing down (or precisely, “locking” or “bolting”) the area around the team’s own net.
The word ‘catenaccio’ has given origin to the term ‘catenacciaro’ in the Italian language (nowadays almost always employed with negative connotations), which is used to describe a manager or a team who, above all, are dedicated to all-out-defense tactics, to the destruction of the opponent’s plays and the renunciation to construct any type of attacking game, simply in order to prevent opposing strikers from getting a shot on goal.
Source: Italian Wikipedia (translated by Marco Pantanella)
The question all of you are now asking: how on Earth can the term ‘catenaccio‘ be applied to Manchester United? Sure, all they did against Barcelona on Wednesday was defend (hell, even Rooney and Tevez were playing center-backs at times) but the Red Devils are a team also capable of very attractive attacking-style football, a characteristic which they’ve demonstrated many times over in the Premier League this season. So… what gives?
Written by Marco Pantanella. 17 comments
On Wednesday, 9 April, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reached his fifth Champions League semifinal after his club progressed at the expense of AS Roma.
Only Carlo Ancelotti has reached so many semifinals as head coach in this competition. What’s interesting to note here is both Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez have made it to 3 semi-finals each, and at their (relatively) young age it’s quite likely that they will get to a few more semi-finals, assuming that they go in the upward trajectory that their career paths have suggested till now.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 7 comments
Manchester United play Arsenal on Sunday, 13 April needing to win to keep Chelsea at arm’s length.
Arsenal have been United’s trickiest opponents since Alex Ferguson took over at Old Trafford in November 1986. The London club have won 13 league fixtures against United in this period and collected 53 points, more than any other club. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has been in charge for eight of these victories, including three at Old Trafford.
Arsenal have won four matches at United since November 1986, a total bettered only by Chelsea’s five in the same period.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 10 comments
Sir Alex Ferguson says that Rio Ferdinand is close to agreeing a new contract at Manchester United, that Neville and Silvestre are fit and ready to play, that Vidic will be back for the semifinals and that, yes, we need to win our away games.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
What does being a manager mean? For teams in the Blue Square Premier and the lower reaches of League Two it means a much different thing to being the manager of a top Premiership side.
For those down there in the depths being a manager might mean sweeping out the dressing rooms, ringing players up to make sure they’re available and painting the lines on the pitch. All of that of course is as well as the main job of trying to mould eleven players into a fearsome and formidable unit.
I don’t suppose Messrs Ferguson, Grant, Wenger and Benitez sweep the dressing rooms too often. They can concentrate almost entirely on the job of moulding the team. There are top people employed to do all the periphery jobs that fall to lower league managers.
It is entirely possible that in the lower leagues there are coaches and managers who would be every bit as successful as the top four if they worked in similar circumstances. The difficulty in this age of instant success being demanded is in getting the opportunity to prove that you have the skills before you’re on the dole.
Written by Graham Fisher. 5 comments
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier says English footballers are pushed into top management jobs too quickly. He has told the BBC Inside Sport programme that he believes Bryan Robson, Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate all took on senior positions far too soon.
“In France, you cannot become a manager when you step out of your career as a player,” he said.
“Would a manager of a big company put somebody without experience into a key position in his company? No, he would not, but they do in football.”
Written by Graham Fisher. 6 comments
A very good morning to Tottenham fans and those who don’t like Chelsea - Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Carling Cup final yesterday in an emotional, gripping game that went to extra time (but thankfully, not penalties).
On to today’s news, where Nigeria are holding Moyes’s family hostage (or planning to, at least), Stan Collymore talks to Soccerlens, more insight into the Fifa bullies, Steve McClaren finally learns something about football management, Sir Alex Ferguson’s hypocrisy and a male football player feels up a female ref (we don’t make this shit up folks)…
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 6 comments
So, where to start?
Do I lead in with Liverpool’s crushing defeat at home, or do I kickoff things with Manchester United’s demolition of Arsenal?
Written by Eddie Griffin. One comment
Since Manchester United’s unforgettable, treble-clinching Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson has added several more memories - and trophies - in a tenure at the club that has now surpassed the two-decade mark.
But, the one thing that has eluded Fergie since that night in Barcelona is another trip to that promised land.
Written by Eddie Griffin. 12 comments
Image courtesy of ManUtd.com.
Today is an emotional day for Manchester United fans - and as a United fan myself, I share the feelings and the sense of loss. You only have to read (not even hear, just read) about Sir Bobby Charlton talking about Duncan Edwards to realise what Manchester United and England lost that day Since MUTV is free for today, you can listen / watch Charlton and all other coverage commemorating Munich).
But while everyone is focused on the past and what United and England have lost, I feel that we are missing something and that in the misty-eyed tributes a great opportunity might be lost.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 9 comments
In today’s Manchester United roundup - can Tottenham cause an upset, Fergie sticks it into Liverpool and Manchester City fans will need to behave themselves at Old Trafford.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 6 comments
After 3.75 million votes were cast by 277,985 users, the uefa.com Team of the Year 2007 has been revealed last week.
After much thinking and a lot of videotape viewing (mostly Champions League matches probably), the UEFA writers have come up with 60 nominations, which were then submitted to the general public of the uefa.com website. Users were asked to select eleven players and one coach to make up the Finest team of 2007.
Now, unlike awards such as L’Équipe’s All-Star Best XI of 2007 (voted by journalists) this award was made by popular vote, so even if you don’t agree with the selections (and I’m sure none of you will 100% 
) know that this team was chosen democratically. Nevertheless, feel free to give your 2 cents (and fire away your insults) in the comments section.
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Written by Marco Pantanella. 18 comments
Towards the end of 2006, certain pundits and magazines were proclaiming the birth of Sir Alex Ferguson’s third (for some, fourth) great team stemming from his 20-year tenure at Manchester United.
Written by Eugene Quinn. 28 comments
Grand Slam Sunday headlined Week 17 of the English Premier League season, with Manchester United edging Liverpool at Anfield, and Arsenal poking past Chelsea to remain on top of the league table.
But, that wasn’t the only action worth watching this past weekend, as there were eight fixtures on Saturday that preceded Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdowns.
Who came out of round 17 with reason to smile, and who was left to kick themselves? We’ve got the weekend’s winners and losers below, with a roundup of all of the action.
Written by Eddie Griffin. One comment
Anytime two of England’s biggest clubs face off, it makes for a must-see occasion.
But, today’s match at Anfield between north-west rivals Liverpool and Manchester United isn’t the only big ticket in England this weekend, as on Sunday, London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea battle it out at the Emirates Stadium.
Both clashes shape up to be pivotal in affecting the early-season standings, as the EPL’s ‘Big Four” are currently 1-4 in the current league table.
Arsenal - 37 points
Manchester United - 36 points
Chelsea - 34 points
Liverpool - 30 points
Aside from their excellence domestically, all four sides have qualified for the round of 16 in the Champions League for the third time in four years, with Manchester United and Chelsea topping their respective groups.
First billing goes to the showdown between the Reds and the Red Devils, and so without further ado, let’s kick off the preview of the match.
Written by Eddie Griffin. 11 comments
Not much to say after Manchester United’s defeat to Coventry last night - the Red Devils lost to a better team, at home, so let’s give credit where credit is due.
There are 2 points I would raise though:
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 38 comments
Will he or won’t he?
With wonderkid Wayne Rooney itching to get back to first-team action there were rumours that he could be brought back, in some role, for the Manchester United v Everton game. Highly unlikely that something like this would happen, what with World Cup 2006 still fresh in SAF’s mind.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 7 comments
Before discerning fans comment on the usage of ‘Liverpool‘ instead of Rafa Benitez, I want to remind them that in this case (as in most other cases) the manager represents the club and therefore Rafa’s actions and statements represent Liverpool. Feel free to disagree, but at least keep this in mind while arguing about it.
First it was the Premier League ruling in favor of Manchester United and not in Liverpool’s favor, which caused Rafa Benitez to seek conspiracy theories everywhere, including cribbing about fixtures and the apparent ‘ease’ with which Manchester United were able to sign Tevez.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 35 comments
A few news items to go through quickly this morning.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 9 comments
With Manchester United’s recent summer buying, many non-United fans and pundits alike have come out saying that United are now the same as Chelsea in the transfer market - that United are attempting to “buy” success and that they are spending uncontrollably; much like Chelsea did. As a true United and football fan, I say “no, thats not true” and my argument is an unbiased one.
Written by Shaheen Seedat. 97 comments
It is widely rumored that Roy Keane is set to lure former Manchester United team mates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt to The Stadium of Light.
Written by ChrisTraverse. 27 comments
Dear Sir Alex Ferguson…
(I’m hoping that you run a Google search on you name and come across this letter).
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Comments Off
There’s this movie I really took a liking to. Lord of War. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, if not actually seen it. At one point there’s this Zen-ish aphorism that the narrator spews out. “There are only two great tragedies in life. One is not getting what you want, and the other, is getting it.” Highly inspirational stuff, I assure you. Works better than the famed white snorting powder…
Written by k9. 16 comments
United have won the league. A lot of celebrations will be taking place all around. They deserved to win it, no one can deny that. But the question is, can they sustain this immense form and push for a second consecutive title?
Written by k9. 10 comments
In a hard-hitting interview, Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that if Manchester United win the treble this season, he will considering retiring on a high note.
Written by Ahmed Bilal. Leave a response
Today’s news has Ferguson saying that he’s at Manchester United for at least another 2 years.
Of course, nothing is at it seems - what Ferguson really wants is a Champions League win - for a manager of his stature and longevity one sole win is not good enough, nor would it be the same with winning it with any other club (although where would Ferguson go, if he chose not to retire from football but left Manchester United?).
Written by Ahmed Bilal. 6 comments
Man Utd are incredibly top of the pile at Christmas, and probably wondering how they got there. More pertinent a question might be who let them get there?
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Written by tda. 15 comments
Correct me if I am wrong, but are Manchester United on the verge of going into Christmas six points clear at the top of the Premiership?
Written by tda. 30 comments
