How dare Sir Alex Ferguson question the professionalism of a once convicted drug cheat? How dare he question a captain who turned on his own team, and publicly humiliate his teammates, or simply say what we were all thinking of David Beckham?
Okay, so I may be a bit biased when it comes to Sir Alex Ferguson. He’s been like a footballing father figure to me, he’s given me happiness and always put a smile on my face, and he is the only footballing mentor I’ve known since I was seven years old.
But I’ll try to be unbiased in my write-up about his much talked about autobiography. I am almost finished reading it, and I am quite hooked.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about – I’d be quite chuffed if the greatest manager in the world thought enough of me to put me in his 400 or so pages.
In all seriousness, I get why some players are a little hurt by his honesty. It’s kind of hit them now, what they were like as professionals.
But to come out and call the man who gave you an opportunity – the man who ultimately made you who you are today – disloyal and a coward is both disrespectful and utterly ridiculous.
I love Mark Bosnich’s on-screen rants where he says what everyone is thinking about Sydney FC and the Socceroos, but who is he to call Sir Alex Ferguson a coward for not wanting to speak to him?
Has he actually said he didn’t? Or is Bozza just trying to bring some attention to himself for an ego boost?
The simple facts are that he was overweight and unprofessional, he was caught out for substance abuse, and he wasn’t a world beater at what he did.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s critique was just about right.
Now onto Roy Keane, one of the most brilliant but bitter footballers to have ever graced the field. No United supporter will ever forget what he did for the club, and there really hasn’t been a man like him in the middle since he was shifted out.
But in the end, his exit from United was completely justified.
You just don’t go out and bag your own club and your own players – you go out to protect and nurture, and you do your grumbling behind closed doors.
Keane has been on United’s and Sir Alex Ferguson’s back since, so it was about time he was served up some of his own medicine.
We all love us some David Beckham – he is a beautiful man inside, outside and on top of the footballing pitch. But there is no denying he chose fame, and the sparkly life of the Hollywood Hills, over a proper footballing career.
His tenure at LA Galaxy has done wonders for promotion of the game in the States. But now that he’s retired, what periods do we actually look back on when talking about his on-field legacy?
We talk about his years at United and Madrid. That is when he was on top of his game, that’s when world football were in awe of on-field contributions.
Weren’t we all thinking what Sir Alex Ferguson wrote anyways?
His marriage to Victoria really changed his outlook when it came to football and his off-field interests. The latter-day Becks had nothing to do with his on-field contributions, but what he did off it.
And why are we all surprised about Sir Alex’s criticism of Liverpool?
United and Liverpool are bitter rivals.
Did you expect him to write a love story about his relationship with Rafa and co? Yes, his suggestions about Steven Gerrard were a little off the mark, but his telling of Dalglish’s actions during the Suarez saga and Benitez’s facts were justified.
All the media talk has been about the hit list in the autobiography, but it doesn’t bring to note the special side of the book where he talks about his maternal pride in nurturing and bring through the youth – and not just his class of ’93.
Nor does it mention how he felt about his Fledgings, or Messi, or Ronaldo, or any form of praise he heaped.
It’s all about the negativity.
Before you pass judgment, read the book for yourself – there is much more to it than what the media are presenting. It’s honesty in its most brutal form.
This book was all about settling old scores he simply couldn’t while United boss; about telling his side of things, the side that we all wanted to know during his tenure at Manchester United.
Adrian
Guest
Poor Bozza, for all his taits in Mancheste, Fergie, only remembers how Bozza ate, like he could eat a horse.
David V
Guest
To replace someone like Peter Schmeichel, in brutal truth, was never an easy task for even the best managers. Schmeichel had superb qualities, not only in his dominance of the penalty area but also his very occasional but decisive forays forward. He did once score a goal in European competition, but in the Champions' League final in 1999 his coming forward late in the game made a very big difference.
Towser
Guest
This selective publicity j binnie , annoys me at times. Liam Miller is often described as an Ex ManU player, but he hardly made a dent there.Ex Hibernian,Sunderland player more like it. Same with Adelaide United's Fábio Ferreira often described as an ex Chelsea player,apparently he played 8 times for the reserves,then moved to Oldham Athletic on loan, made one first team appearance & ended up in the Portuguese third division,poetic licence indeed.
j binnie
Guest
Now that the emotion has been expended perhaps it is time to look at the real situation at Man U over the Feguson years.Having had probably the best goalkeeper in the world in Peter Schmiechel ,on his retirement ,Fergie started to comb the better leagues for a replacement "flashing the card" as they say. His signings during this time reads like a who's who of goalkeeping & the cost to the club??????? Barthez (France),Talbi (Italy),Van Der Gouw (Holland),Bosnich (Australia),Carrol (Ireland) Felipe (Spain),Howard (USA) & Culkin (England) to name a few. (This lot cost in excess of $18 mill,a considerable sum back then). Then he finally landed another "super" keeper the Dutch veteran Van Der Sar and the search stopped for a while. It could be argued from this info that picking goalkeepersis is not one of Fergie's better talents. Back to the theme of this discussion. Bosnich was signed as a young man direct from Australia & played 3 times for United before leaving.He moved to Villa where he played179 matches & one must assume with the "search" going on, & an 8 year gap, he was once again given a "trial run "at United before,after another 23 games, he left for Chelsea. Based on these figures,apart from the charisma angle,it is a bit hard to understand why Bosnich would be described as ex-Man U.(26 games in 2x2 yr spells) as against his sterling career at Villa,179 games over 7 year sojourn. Such are the vagaries of selective publicity. jb
Cameron
Roar Guru
Well if you gave me the respect of answering my question I would more than happily admit I'm wrong. Don't be so petty.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Ok, on the basis someone disagrees with you, they must be wrong. You win. Your dad is probably bigger than mine too. Well debated mate, top stuff.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Regardless of who you support then, my point stands to otherwise be corrected.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I'm a Chelsea season ticket holder mate.
Cameron
Roar Guru
So you watched Sunday shootout? Did he call him a coward or did he say he would be a coward if he didn't afford Bozza the respect of a face to face reply whilst at the Melbourne Cup? Either you misheard him or I did and I'm fairly confident he said what I have put forward.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Steven, I, at no stage, defended his so called professionalism. I asked the question of "If Mark Bozza was as mentioned, then why did he purchase him twice?" Desperation...? Ok, why was he let go in the first place? Just to be resigned later on? Because if he was let go due to his professionalism then why did he pick him up again? If he signed him up again due to his ability, then the argument or so called reasoning given by Zee is made irrelevant! That is what I am questioning, not his actual professionalism. Maybe being Man U fans, if you guys read the question correctly and provided a well thought out response then this discussion would be dead and buried.
Zee
Roar Guru
Right on Steven .. questioning Professionalism is completely different than questioning ones ability. If Bozza stuck to his talent rather than sniff his way into the high life than SAF would probably have less to say.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I really don't agree Cameron. This signing him twice thing is an irrelevance. He was signed twice because of his supreme talent and let's be honest he was a wonderful keeper. He was however binned off for his lack of professionalism and attitude and that is what is referred to in the book. Ferguson is not questioning his ability as far as I can see.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Both on right counts Towser.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Zee I agree with you pretty much on everything. Bosnich is a red herring that people are latching on to as reason to Fergie bash with some taking it personally because of his nationality - there are far better reasons to bash him I can assure everyone. Bosnich could have been a legend such was his talent but he chose another path, Ferguson calling him out on that is hardly controversial and his time at Chelsea vindicated SAF. If I was Ferguson I'd have probably done the same and settled some scores, why not? I do however have some sympathy with players as there is usually a code that what happens in the dressing room stays there. Keane mentioned that this was something that Ferguson didn't need to do but at the same time Keane went on MUTV to slate his teammates so they are both culpable for me. Both are single minded winners with a win at all costs mentality so it hardly surprising they see collateral damage as anything worth worrying about. Check my medals as they say. After this amount of time he's clearly going to have developed some strong opinions and the likes of Benitez have felt his ire fully. I actually think there's a lot of pent up resentment towards Ferguson - that's what happens when you win that much - and people are using the book to turn things around on him. I think he's probably earned the right to have his say, buy the book and read it if you care, forget it and move on if you don't. I'm a Chelsea fan by the way in case anyone thinks otherwise.
Zee
Roar Guru
Its not MY response, its SAF response. He admits, signing Bozza twice was a big mistake. He was desperate, Schmeical was gone, he failed to sign VDS, and was too shy of signing Petr Cech so Bozza was always a temporary fill in
Cameron
Roar Guru
This piece and response just reaffirms my extreme displeasure - and that's being nice - with most United fans. The only player who was signed twice by the arrogant man and your response is desperation... go figure!
Punter
Guest
Towser, I think you are correct & that is exactly the way it panned out. Ferguson with coaching record he had, would not have been possible being to be on the soft side & he has sure burnt many in the game along the way. This is his book & am sure it will sell very well, because he is the BEST & people are interested in his opinion. However, if someone like Ferguson called me unprofessional, I think I have every right to reply. I think Bozza has been very professional about it all.
Zee
Roar Guru
Last week his comments were fine. But to go on the Sunday Shootout and call SAF a coward and say he isnt brave based on NOTHING. Thats absolute bollocks
Zee
Roar Guru
Desperation... Fergie admits that Purchasing Goalkeepers was never his strong point
Towser
Guest
Personally if I had a coaching record like Alex Ferguson's I'd write what I want, about who I want, in whatever way I want. Then again if I was one of the poor sods on the end of copping a boot in the gob,I'd be entitled to throw one back.