Ferguson slams United ageing criticism

Aladdin - You are reading far too much into the history of Fergies tenure at United. I only mentioned it to correct an observation you had made, that in his first "full' season he finished 16th in the table. You had said they were never outside the top four.Nothing more nothing less. I was looking at the more amusing,cynical,if you like,situation where he had gone into print in a book of all things as to his thoughts on Moyes' performance claiming that the measure he used was the fact that he had left Moyes a "championship squad" and he had failed to make better than 7th in the league. .What I found amusing was that Moyes' successor has done what many people thought he would do, and many others claimed he didn't need to,he has decimated Fergie's "champioship squad" to the tune of $500 millions and from all reports is not yet finished.Now for the cynicism.What does Fergie say if asked about what Van Gaal has done to his "championship squad".Get where I am coming from?. Cheers,keep up the good work. jb

jb - I fail to see the correlation between Fergie taking over and Moyes taking over. Ferguson did not take over a side that had just won the league by 11 points, in fact they were second bottom when he took over from Atkinson - making the 11th place finish a lot more respectful. The fact that LVG is splashing the cash has nothing to do with the claim that Moyes should have done better with the squad and resources at his disposal when he took over. If Ferguson claims he handed Moyes a championship squad, it is factually correct. I guess it is just a matter of opinion on whether you think Moyes should have done better. I certainly do, as did the united board. If Fergie is culpable of anything at all, it is for his role in the selecting of Moyes as his successor.

Aladdin -Thank you for the reply but I need to make slight correction on your claims. When Frgie took over United in mid season the team finished11th in the league(we will be naughty and blame it on his predecessor Ron Atkinson), the following year,Fergies first full season the team dropped to 13th in the league and it is widely accpepted that 2 factors saved his job then,the presence of his mentor,Busby. on the board and the fact they won the FA Cup granting them entry back into European competition. The next season they did improve finishing 6th but in winning the European Cup Winners Cup his presence was cemented.That is 2.5 seasons he was given to turn the club around,not the 8 months Moyes was given even though under him they finsished 7th However that was not the point of what I wrote.He has made statements about Moyes in a just released book claiming with a championship squad he should have been able to finish higher than 7th. Now if you accept the fact that those statements must have been made some months ago (books are not written and produced in a week) then it brings us to look at what has happened under Van Gaal. Fergie's"championship squad " has been decimated to the tune of $500million and there are strong indications the Dutchman is not yet finished.With "free" goalkeepers attending the last game and rumours abounding about a new centre back combination being sought. it could be that in coming weeks the "championship squad" that Moyes' inherited will mostly have gone from United. Makes the claims in the book a little silly does it not?Cheers again jb

I guess it depends on his definition of capable. I Don't think the squad Fergie left Moyes was 'capable' in the sense it needed rebuilding - my gripe with Moyes is that Ferguson rebuilt the utd squad several times throughout his time at utd without the team ever falling outside the top four. Even after Moyes spent 70-odd mill on new signings, all he could muster was 7th. After winning the league comfortably the year before, that turnaround is crazy, and I don't think you can blame Ferguson for that. If he had have stayed another year, I'm fairly certain utd would have finished much higher. I'm also of the opinion LVG would have had the team finishing higher also, but that's all it is, an opinion.

aladdin- Haven't come across you before but am quite willing to have a discussion about Fergie,Moyes,Van Gaal and Utd in general. First of all I am not a Utd fan neither am I a United "hater" but one thing I do like to pass comment on is the pontifications that emanate from coaches and are apparently put into print without too much questioning on the part of the people who record such meanderings. You would have noted I did point out that under normal writing and publishing criteria Fergie would have to have made his comments at least 3 or 4 months ago. obviously before the badly handled sacking of Moyes and the hire of Van Gaal.Nowhere did I suggest Fergie did not have a long successful career at United I simply reminded readers that in his first season his team finished in 11 th place in the top league at that time as against Moyes' horror 7th place last season. You then go into areas that I seriously doubt you have the "inside running" on which to quote.You admit Fergie had a hand in Moyes' appointment but go on to describe backroom "goings on" that I am quite sure you know nothing about other than what you've read in some sports column.My opinion is that coaching staffs do not play in games therefore do not win or lose games so that the sacking of one or two of Fergies sidemen has nothing to do with onfield performance.Most managers at that level have their own "henchmen" and you will find they usually follow their erstwhile bosses when they move to a new job.You assume that Moyes only identified 2 necessary signings but could I put it to you the 'purse strings"may have been tightly closed by owners. That brings us to the appontment of Van Gaal.Surely you agree he must have assessed the squad before he went out and spent $500,millions on new players.Not only that but in his most recent game this weekend he appears to think Fellaini and Mata will fit very nicely into his plans,(so much for your thoughts on those 2 players signed by Moyes). Now perhaps Moyes tried to change the team's style but from what I saw when watching them he was having to use players who were not,or no longer United class. Hence we have the departures we have seen and the rumoured new signings that will take place soon,a goalkeeper was seen in the stands at the weekend and it is no secret Van Gaal would like an established leader for his backline.If those two positions were filled in the next window and with Falcao injured it could mean that the the remaining "Fergie five" that played in last weekend's game could be reduced to a "Fergie 3 or even 2" in coming weeks. Now my question to you. Do you think Van Gall agrees with Fergie's assessment that Moyes was left a capable squad less than a year ago.I await your thoughts on that answer. Cheers jb

Hey jb, Regardless of where opinion sits about the ability of the squad Moyes was left with (which varies wildly from person to person), I think it's hard to argue that you can lay the club's performance under Moyes on Fergie. Fergie himself went through several rebuilding phases where utd went without major trophies for a few seasons at a time, but never to the degree that they bottomed out and finished outside top 4. Moyes was a poor decision as a replacement, and Fergie should rightly be accountable for the major role he played in his appointment. However, some of the criticism Fergie has copped is crazy. It was Moyes who sacked two thirds of the coaching staff, Moyes who failed to identify appropriate transfer targets (you can argue that Woodward missed top targets, but back up plans should always be in place, fellaini was woeful business and mata, despite being an excellent player was a panic buy), and it was Moyes who lost the players with his slow, negative tactics and his loser mentality. I will never forget his comments when Liverpool came to OT, nearly fell off my chair with embarrassment. Also out of interest, a quick question for you. I've noticed you comment on many pieces about utd, so I'm tipping you're either a disgruntled fan or a massive hater. Which is it? :)

A strange ,strange offering from SAF. The reader will note he is quoting from his latest book which one has to assume was not written in a day or a week last month so we are looking at "old" statements. He said the job was too big for David Moyes and goes on to say he left him a "championship" squad who should have performed just as well even if he wasn't there, but goes on to hint that he was "around the traps" to give advice if it was required. As we all know he would have had input into Moyes' selection so there appears to have been a short memory lapse at work in SAF's mind when one consideres his first year at Old Trafford. Then we get back to that championship squad that Moyes was left with, and struggled with, to finish 7th in the league at season's end.while Ferguson's adopted squad finished 11th in that debut seasonin 1986/87 Then to the biggest laugh of all, When the new manager arrives to replace Moyes he takes about a month to sort out that "championship squad" by spending $500 million on new players and as late as last weekend used only 5 of the players Ferguson had left but did use the 2 players Moyes had signed. There was also a goalkeeper of note seen sitting in the stand and it is no secret Van Gaal would like a more dominant centre back.So what is the message SAF is rather belatedly trying to get over to his loyal fans??????jb .