Sir Alex Ferguson's aim to still be managing Manchester United in 2015 may be optimistic, but the last phase of his career is likely to be as eventful as the rest
He says that he is good for another three years in the job, leading some to assume that he has finally set a deadline. But in 2001 he told us that he would be retiring two weeks before his 60th birthday, which fell in the last day of that year, and in 2008 he promised that he would not be celebrating his 70th ? which fell last Saturday ? as the manager of Manchester United. Why should we believe a word Sir Alex Ferguson says, at least on this particular topic?
I don't believe him. I think three more seasons, after this one, will be too long for both the man and the club. My bet is on him to step down in the summer of 2013, by which time Jos� Mourinho may have achieved his twin ambitions at Real Madrid ? a league title in a fourth country and a third European Cup victory ? and made himself available for a return to English football.
Whatever the fates have in mind for the date of Ferguson's departure and the identity of his successor, we can be sure that the last phase of his career will be as eventful as the rest. He cannot have anticipated the need to drop his most creative player for disciplinary reasons from the side selected to play a game coinciding with Saturday's celebrations, but he evidently did it without qualms and with the same decisiveness that led him to discipline Paul Scholes for refusing to play in a Carling Cup tie, to sell Jaap Stam after perceiving indiscretions in the player's autobiography, and to ensure that Gabriel Heinze was not sold to the club of the player's choice.
What did Wayne Rooney do on Boxing Day, a few hours after helping United to beat Wigan Athletic 5-0? He and his wife went out for a meal with his team?mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson and their respective partners. There was a training session scheduled for the next day, followed by a day off, and then two more days of training before Saturday's home fixture against Blackburn Rovers. Apparently they were not quite at 100% on the morning after, but given what professional footballers ? not excluding Rooney ? have got up to in the past, it hardly seems an offence for which the manager had to impose a sanction that probably cost him the chance to go into the new year three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Perhaps Ferguson was angered that he had not heard about the players' night out in Southport from his famous network of spies in the field, as he once learnt about the famous party at Lee Sharpe's place. He was told after the players had discussed it the next morning, which suggests the presence of an informant in the dressing room. It makes an interesting contrast with the way, on the other side of the city, Roberto Mancini has been handling Mario Balotelli, whose various escapades have been wryly tolerated as part of the baggage accompanying wayward genius.
Ferguson's unexpected proclamation of "three more years" was clearly provoked by the latest incident, asserting the continuation of his authority at the club into the foreseeable future. Looking ahead, he added: "There are new players that have come in, like [Phil] Jones, [Chris] Smalling, Ashley Young and [Danny] Welbeck, and they haven't won any league medals yet." It reminded me of his behaviour in April 2001 at the press conference to announce the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy, when I asked him if, only a few months away from the date of his announced retirement, he was not experiencing a pang of regret that he would not have long to work with such a talented player. "Ahm no' answering that," he said, switching in an instant from geniality to withering brusqueness and bringing the proceedings to a summary halt. A few weeks later, he announced his change of mind.
I'm glad he's finally seen the point of my question, even if it took him a decade, but I don't think I'll hold my breath waiting for the apology.
Paterson a big name without the bulk
Although the news of Chris Paterson's decision to retire from international rugby received less coverage than Jonny Wilkinson's similar announcement a week or so earlier, it evoked similar feelings in this quarter. Both are exemplary professionals who share the quality of making you feel, whatever your own allegiance, that you want them to do well. Paterson never fell into the trap of believing that he had to increase his bulk in order to keep up with the physical requirements of the modern game. He looked like my idea of a rugby player, and he played like one, too, with movement that was a pleasure to watch and a fine range of skills as well as a near?infallible boot. Yet he suffered from the inclination of successive Scottish coaches to employ him as a utility player, sticking him at full-back or out on the wing when they should have been awarding him the No 10 shirt and making him the fulcrum of the team. In a new year honours list that rewarded short sellers and fraudsters while neglecting to bestow a merited knighthood upon John Surtees, an MBE for Paterson was a shining light.
The Blizzard has tales to warm the cockles
Twelve quid might seem a lot of money to spend on a football magazine, even if it only comes out four times a year. However, the latest edition of the already indispensable Blizzard contains interviews with Mario Zagallo and Tost�o in which Tim Vickery, a specialist in South American football, elicits responses that will fascinate anyone with an interest in the Brazil teams from 1958 to 1970, particularly on the subject of Pele. The measure of that team's greatness is that you can never tire of reading their stories.
Match of the day misses another open goal
The usual complaints about the presentation of Match of the Day by a cozy, dozy gang of highly remunerated ex-pros were reinforced on Saturday night after the programme had shown an interview in which Neil Warnock very pointedly accusing Robin van Persie of making persistent fouling part of his modus operandi. Could there be a greater authority on centre?forwards who flirt with illegality than Alan Shearer? He was sitting right there on the sofa, but no one asked him about it, and he volunteered not a word. A dereliction of duty, as well as a waste of TV licence?holders' money.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jan/02/sir-alex-ferguson-three-years
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