The Fergie Faith

Over the years that I have supported United (ok all you long timers, I know it’s not that long) I have always been, how should I put it...fascinated by the strange and undying faith that we United fans put into, yes, you guessed it -- Sir Alex Ferguson, the infamous and slightly controversial manager who has guided us to two Champions League titles, eleven Premier League titles, five F.A cup titles and four Carling Cup victories. Together with other smaller awards, a staggering thirty-two trophies. Now while that may be an overwhelming result for one manager, he also has things that lead people to question his tactics or even sanity at times.
But I myself was interested to find out what a man can do to take the sceptical crowd of United fans and turn them into worshipers that will rarely question his judgment or opinion. I mean, sure, you get the odd fan saying ‘hey I don’t really know why he didn’t do this or did do that’ but it is always followed by a ‘but I’m sure he knows best. I mean he’s Sir Alex Ferguson’. So what spell has he cast over us? Why do we respect and trust the red nosed Scott.
If you look at Ferguson’s playing career you will notice that he is a very ordinary, very normal person...who had/has problems with authority  and was constantly either getting kicked off his club or leaving because of his temper. He was restless and always on the move. Definitely not the material that most great men are cut from, it seems. He retires at thirty two and takes on managing the same year with a club named East Stirlingshire. He quickly forms the reputation of a disciplinarian but gains the respect of his players and achieves a measure of success. He then moves on to St.Mirren but is sacked for breaches in his contract and unlawful payments to players, using intimidating behaviour with staff, badgering them and confiscating their keys from them. He was described as petty and immature and without the qualities of a great manager (petty and immature...hmmm, that sounds like something my parents would say)...(not to me of course)...(cough cough).
Not growing out of his notorious anger problems, he inspired a sort of fear/respect from his players (he once fined a player for overtaking him on a public road). Luckily for us, he turns down job offers from Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves to join Manchester United after the sacking of Ron Atkinson (no it’s not Mr.Bean. Imagine him giving a halftime team talk).
From there I’m sure you all know Fergie’s story, his unforgettable game against Nottingham Forest where he was one game away from being sacked...or his memorable season where he discovered the talents of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, and the Neville Brothers. In all, Fergie built a couple of world class teams, winning countless trophies on the way. Though there have been major errors throughout his career he has covered them with wins.
But as has been apparent, he never wanted to share the limelight. It is funny to see how he reacts to a fellow manager becoming successful and endangering his title. When Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitiz were enjoying success, Ferguson was constantly picking fights with him, but as soon as his team was no longer a threat, he praises and compliments him. None to say, my personal opinion is that it takes someone with a controversial and maybe slightly crazy personality to really become a success at Old Trafford, and almost any big club, and while some may question his impulsive decision habits, who can question him? I mean he’s Sir Alex

Copyright@2010 by Salem Brooks
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