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Showing posts with label Ferguson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ferguson. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Wayne Rooney row: Ian Wright says Alex Ferguson has played it perfectly

Not for the first time, at a crucial part of the season, the Manchester United manager has given a key player an almighty boot up the a**e.


I reckon Wayne Rooney will now bounce back with at least a goal against Newcastle in the Premier League tomorrow night before scoring again to help knock Manchester City out of the FA Cup on Sunday.


Despite not actually breaking a curfew, Fergie is clearly unhappy Rooney went out at night and then trained badly the next day.


This episode involving three United players ? Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson were also there ? was clearly unacceptable for Fergie and true to form, he has acted swiftly.


What the Old Trafford manager has done is send a clear message out to the team, particularly the younger lads, in terms of the standards that have to be met.


We have seen many times before, most notably with Roy Keane and David Beckham, that Ferguson is afraid of absolutely no one.


You could argue that in terms of the team, the decision to drop Rooney did not work as a depleted United still lost 3-2 at home to Blackburn.


But I think for Rooney, it will make a difference and he will return more focused.


In the past, Rooney has always done well in pressurised situations and I expect him to play well over the next few weeks.


Yet to deliver for United you need to be bang on form.


To perform at your very highest level, you have to train well ? and it was Fergie's view that this wasn't the case for Rooney on that specific day.


This incident is yet another example that the modern player has to be so careful when socialising.


Ferguson seems to have eyes and ears all over the North West and if a player dines out ? even if he behaves himself ? then Ferguson will know about it.


If you are unconvincing in training the next day, then you have had it.


George Graham was very similar when I was at Arsenal.


Say I went out with Tony Adams and Kevin Campbell, the manager would even have known which drinks we'd ordered let alone our actual location.


While some people like seeing a famous footballer out during the evening, there'll always be one or two people who will get the hump. They are the people players have to worry about.


It seems the contract dispute between Rooney and Ferguson was a far bigger problem than this latest issue.


Equally, though, Rooney has to remind himself that when a player takes on Ferguson ? as we have seen in the past ? there will only be one winner.


And it won't be the player.


Ferguson has other problems, though, as Saturday's shock defeat proved.


The goalkeeping situation is a weird one as Anders Lindergaard has played seven times for United this term and incredibly, has managed six clean sheets. That is some record for any keeper.


Meanwhile, David de Gea is having a few problems yet Fergie knows if he drops the player now, it could completely destroy his confidence.This is why the clash against Newcastle is such a crucial one and United need to win.


And they will have been particularly frustrated on Sunday as they watched City lose at Sunderland ? that made the defeat to Blackburn even more painful.

Meanwhile, I want to give a special mention to Rovers manager Steve Kean.


I was delighted for him after the win at United ? although yesterday's disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Stoke will once again put him under the spotlight.


But I think the criticism he has received from the club's fans has been absolutely disgraceful.


No manager should have to put up with this and many of the Blackburn supporters have embarrassed themselves.


Yet those fans with the banners have now put themselves in a position where they cannot back down.


However, I'd like to see them show some guts and stop their protests before getting behind their team ? and the manager.


Otherwise, they could face a very long few months.

Friday, 23 December 2011

Manchester United news: Victory gives Alex Ferguson desired response

Defeat in Basel in midweek condemned United to the humiliation of life in the Europa League.


But Wayne Rooney and Nani both bagged doubles as the Premier League champions roared to a 4-1 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford.

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And Fergie was quick to praise England ace Rooney for ending his goal drought to take his tally for the season to 11.


The United boss said: "Wayne in particular, does go in spurts. He scored nine in the early part of the season.


"Now we are going up to an important part of the season, if we get the goal ratio again, it puts us in good fettle."


Ferguson was delighted with the performance of his players and believes their European humbling could turn out to be a positive.


He added: "We will take a lot of stick from critics and even from people we thought were perhaps on our side.


"But this was the right response. Some of the football was fantastic."


After seeing his side humbled, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy laughed off suggestions that United had been on the verge of a crisis before kick-off.


McCarthy said: "All the hype and talk about their demise is nonsense.

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Man Utd will qualify - Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side will qualify for the Champions League knockout stages despite drawing with Benfica.


United need a point against Basel in their last Group C game to reach the next round after the 2-2 result.


But hopes of topping the group look slim as they must better Benfica's result against pointless Otelul Galati.


"It will be a hard game in Basel. But when the chips are down I have every confidence in the team," said Ferguson.


"Benfica should win at home against Galati but we need to win in style."


Finishing second in the group would mean United could face the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich as early as the last 16, but Ferguson was bullish about the prospect.


"It makes it a bit harder of course, but maybe the bigger game will suit us anyway," he said, and added that he felt his side were now playing for second spot.


"Hopefully we are in that situation, in second place - because I don't think Benfica will lose to Galati. I'm sure they will win that match.


"Then the opportunities are against [a team like] Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.


"You have to judge that in this way - if you played them in the semi-final or the final, you would be only be too delighted, knowing the possibility there is to win."


Ferguson's men fell behind to the Portuguese side, who have secured their passage to the next round, when Phil Jones deflected into his own net.

Continue reading the main story Man Utd will qualify if they get a point at BaselThey can top the group if they better Benfica's result against Otelul GalatiIf Benfica win against the Romanian side they top the group (regardless of Man Utd's result)Basel can still qualify if they beat Man Utd

But they went ahead through goals by Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher, before gifting the visitors an equaliser a minute after taking the lead.


Goalkeeper David de Gea's poor clearance went straight to Benfica's Bruno Cesar and Pablo Aimar tucked in his cross.


"The goals were a bit freakish - an own goal and the bad kick out by David," Ferguson added.


"The pass back could have been better but David should have played it into the stands and we didn't hold on to the lead.


"We played well tonight, and the team deserved better. It's a cruel game at times."

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