Football

[Butts]

Wigan losing has guaranteed West ham and swanseas place next year in the premier league mathematically. We might as well say stoke are safe as well as 6 points clear with a massively superior goal difference.
To think a few weeks ago we were saying here stoke were doomed. Villa need only 2 points for safety now

Apart from Chelsea what is their other remaining fixture ?

 

[SS4]

Apart from Chelsea what is their other remaining fixture ?

Wigan (A)

 

[Butts]

Wigan (A)

Wow , that could be some decider if appropriate

If Wigan win the FA Cup and get relegated will that be the first time that has ever happened ?

 

[Darandio]

If Wigan win the FA Cup and get relegated will that be the first time that has ever happened ?

I believe so.

A couple of years ago when Birmingham won the League Cup and got relegated this was stated as a first in the major cup competitions.

 

[balne-wonderer]

Lots of speculation about Fergie.

If he does go, what is going to happen to injury time at Old Trafford!

 

[gazzak]

Having watched Watford v Millwall home and away this season I would hope for all Wolves fans sakes that Kenny Jackett doesn't end up there. As much as he's a legend at Watford, the football Millwall played was probably the worst I've seen for many a year.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It has just been announced that Sir Alex Ferguson will retire from his managerial role at Manchester United at the end of this season.

The timing of the annoucement was made in time to meet the conditions of the Stock Exchange.

 

[island]

Lots of speculation about Fergie.

If he does go, what is going to happen to injury time at Old Trafford!

Moves to Wigan? 9 minutes last night?

 

[Darandio]

Moves to Wigan? 9 minutes last night?

Yes, but "Fergie Time" gained notoriety for being given when there had been little incident to warrant it, it was gained merely by a tap on the watch from the man himself. At least in the Wigan game it was completely warranted.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

It has just been announced that Sir Alex Ferguson has retired from his managerial role at Manchester United....

Oh god, that means we have weeks of "wasn't Fergie great" on Sky, MOTD and the like. Anyone taking bets on SPOTY yet?....

 

[CC 72100]

Well, you can say what you like about his conduct (which I haven't agreed with at times), but I don't think we will ever see another manager who is at a club for over 25 years winning trophies right up until the end.

This is a big, big moment in the club's history. Going forward from this is going to be tough.

 

[Butts]

Well, you can say what you like about his conduct (which I haven't agreed with at times), but I don't think we will ever see another manager who is at a club for over 25 years winning trophies right up until the end.

This is a big, big moment in the club's history. Going forward from this is going to be tough.

So will Jose go to Man Utd rather than Chelsea ?

 

[ACE1888]

Fergie going will 'liven' up the Premier League next year, I reckon United may go for David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, like Brian Clough was in the 1970's, would be too big an 'ego' for United. Like him or Loathe him, Sir Alex Ferguson will be remembered as a Legend, up there with the Best of them...enjoy your retirement A.F

 

[Oswyntail]

.... Going forward from this is going to be tough.

So will Jose go to Man Utd rather than Chelsea ?

Look back at Manchester's history, at the succession to Matt Busby. Manager after manager, all of them good at their job, found it impossible to succeed because the "great man" was there, looking over their shoulders all the time. Can anyone imagine Ferguson resisting making "helpful" comments? There are two possible ways forward for MUFC. Take on someone with the chutzpa to tell Hamish to sling his hook and stick by it - but that might be an almost impossible task, and the likely candidates will have no shortage of alternative jobs. Or accept second best until Hamish is finally out of the way, and hope that the club can succeed on his momentum
As an off-the-wall candidate, perhaps the current Peterborough manager might find himself available soon.

 

[Butts]

Look back at Manchester's history, at the succession to Matt Busby. Manager after manager, all of them good at their job, found it impossible to succeed because the "great man" was there, looking over their shoulders all the time. Can anyone imagine Ferguson resisting making "helpful" comments? There are two possible ways forward for MUFC. Take on someone with the chutzpa to tell Hamish to sling his hook and stick by it - but that might be an almost impossible task, and the likely candidates will have no shortage of alternative jobs. Or accept second best until Hamish is finally out of the way, and hope that the club can succeed on his momentum
As an off-the-wall candidate, perhaps the current Peterborough manager might find himself available soon.

Jose is arguably big enough to step into Fergies shoes with his track record, how about Benitez as a "wild card"

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Don't think his successor could 'win' either way, he'll always be compared to Ferguson. If he does badly people will say "he could never live up to the achievements of the man before" (or worse), and if he does well they will just say "Fergie got the team to where it is, this guy hasn't really done anything" (or worse).

The only hope of real praise would be winning the Champions League, but even then I imagine it would be "on the back of Fergie's achievements".

 

[Ivo]

It had to happen sooner or later.

The club now have 20 League titles and a parade through Manchester later (I think it's tonight anyway), and the last day match against West Brom will be his 1500th in charge - what a number to end on. As precise as his tactics, and as mammoth as his trophy haul.

As for who takes over, Mourinho seems most likely to me - with Moyes second. I hope Moyes doesn't go but if he does I wish him well and know he will continue to excel in his job. I just hope we can get someone of the same calibre to replace him...

how about Benitez as a "wild card"

 

[Butts]

It had to happen sooner or later.

The club now have 20 League titles and a parade through Manchester later (I think it's tonight anyway), and the last day match against West Brom will be his 1500th in charge - what a number to end on. As precise as his tactics, and as mammoth as his trophy haul.

As for who takes over, Mourinho seems most likely to me - with Moyes second. I hope Moyes doesn't go but if he does I wish him well and know he will continue to excel in his job. I just hope we can get someone of the same calibre to replace him...

Don't forget what he won at Aberdeen as well Titles, SFA Cups and of course The European Cup Winners Cup

 

[ReverendFozz]

I cant stand the man and not too fond of the team either, I thought he would end up going the way Jock Stein went, in a pine box.

To think 1990 and he was 1 defeat away from the sack and look at his accolades he got over the years simce then

Marxista Fozz

 

[familyguy99]

Love him or hate him, English football will never have Manager again who be at club for 25 years and won 38 trophy with them and manager 1,500 games for club, other thing is that Man Utd could announced a new manager by end of this week, if so then Man Utd must have someone already line up to replace Ferguson before his retire was announced then.

 

[Butts]

Love him or hate him, English football will never have Manager again who be at club for 25 years and won 38 trophy with them and manager 1,500 games for club, other thing is that Man Utd could announced a new manager by end of this week, if so then Man Utd must have someone already line up to replace Ferguson before his retire was announced then.

I just hope it's not David Moyes - he has a commendable record at Everton but has not actually won anything, not even The League Cup

His supporters are probably the same as those who put Harry Redknapp forward as "the only choice" as the next England Manager. They all went remarkably silent and have remained so after the appointment of Roy Hodgson (just look back on here :roll

This job requires a proven winner of the calibre of Jose or Rafa or Pep

 

[SS4]

Would have been interesting to see if he'd have been able to win at a smaller club without the financial resources of Manchester United.

Have to give the old man some credit though, he knows how to steal the limelight from especially Wigan but also Manchester City when the football talk should be about the FA Cup final :roll:
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This job requires a proven winner of the calibre of Jose or Rafa or Pep

What about Howard Webb

 

[Oswyntail]

.....
What about Howard Webb

If they want a grumpy Scot with success at the highest level...is McLeish available?

 

[Butts]

If they want a grumpy Scot with success at the highest level...is McLeish available?

No but Dalglish is - and has the success at the highest level (but not recently)

 

[richw]

All the newspapers are tweeting Moyes will be unveiled within the next 24 hours.
I dont think Jose will be considered, have you ever seen Jose develop youth teams through to the first team? The income chief exec has said they will be looking at someone who brings on talent and not buys ready made talent. This comment alone eliminates Jose, as he just buys ready made talent

 

[familyguy99]

Do anyone think if Moyes become Man Utd manager then Wigan manager Martinez might go to Everton?
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What about Howard Webb

^^ 1000/1 that is odd for Howard Webb to become Man Utd manager, do anyone fancy putting bet on that?

 

[Butts]

All the newspapers are tweeting Moyes will be unveiled within the next 24 hours.
I dont think Jose will be considered, have you ever seen Jose develop youth teams through to the first team? The income chief exec has said they will be looking at someone who brings on talent and not buys ready made talent. This comment alone eliminates Jose, as he just buys ready made talent

No Jose is to busy winning things ....this Moyes insanity has to be stopped..the guy has won nothing ..others have with less resources than those available to him at Everton
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Do anyone think if Moyes become Man Utd manager then Wigan manager Martinez might go to Everton?
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No, Rafa

 

[familyguy99]

I think Rafael Benitez will do well at Man Utd like he done at Chelsea but I don't think Man Utd support will be happy if he become they new boss and I don't think Alex Ferguson will be happy too.

 

[richw]

No Jose is to busy winning things ....this Moyes insanity has to be stopped..the guy has won nothing ..others have with less resources than those available to him at Everton

Moyes fits the role.....Angry tempered Scottish man.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I truly, genuinely believe Fergie has left it about 5 years too long - over the past few years United have got gradually worse, to the point now where I believe they are quite a shadow of the team that won the 2008 CL Final vs. Chelsea, when I believe Fergie should have called it a day. Since then the squad has got weaker, the fact that they now play Anderson on a regular basis is a sad testament to this. In comparison to the other top European teams now (as this year's CL showed) Man Utd are increasingly losing their grip on the very top - Bayern, Real Madrid, B. Dortmund, Barca, PSG and Juventus etc all now look more prosperous than them - back around 2009 it was just them and Barca who ruled the roost.

Further, a few games since then have shown up Fergie's tactical nous - usually in Europe, remember when they were annihilated against Barca in two CL Finals. SAF did nothing at all to stop the rot, he looked on almost hopelessly as United carried on getting absolutely done. Similarly there appeared to be a lack of action against Real Madrid when they went out this year - I don't think such would have happened a decade ago (perhaps because they also had a better squad that had a lot less above average players!). There are also some comments he's made over the years (again particularly recently) that have been arrogant and even show contempt, even towards the Old Trafford faithful. Remember Newcastle being a 'small club in the North East' and his comments about OT's atmosphere?

I do think though there is only one man to succeed him, and it's the only man whose ego is big enough to make him immune to the constant comparisons during his tenure to Sir Alex, and that man is the Special One.

I await the months of ar*e-licking by the BBC, Sky, ITV etc now about how wonderful he is - the former will probably forget that he hated them for the best part of 8 years. It kicks off tonight with a 45-minute Football Focus dedicated to the man...

Apparently fans are to hold a minute's applause in the 98th minute v. WBA to show their appreciation.