Mar 18
What Would You Ask Sir Alex Ferguson?
Ever wondered what it’s like to ask Sir Alex Ferguson THE question? Well now, courtesy of our football crazy mates at Betfair, you have the chance to do so.
Simply post your question in the comments section below before Friday 19th March and then tune in to www.betfairfootball.com to see one lucky reader’s question answered.
Click here and have a £25 free bet on Man United beating Liverpool this weekend.
Related items from Red Rants:
- A Tribute to the Boss
- FA shafts Ferguson
- Anderson talks – puts speculation to bed
- FA charge Ferguson over conduct
- Video: Ferguson pays tribute to Sir Bobby Robson
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (542)
Stephen (500)
RedDevilEddy (463)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Fred the Red: Shearer wouldn’t have made a difference back then mate. Sure he might have scored a few but our problem was systemic. Our tactics were all wrong. We were playing like English clubs. Pace width but no possession. Long balls and lack of discipline. We finally got smart in 99 because we realized the key to winning in Europe is holding on to the ball and not pressing all over the field. Many of us today complain about our sagging zone defense (me included) but this is the way they play on the Continent. They do not expend energy wastefully by chasing lost causes all over the pitch. They wait for a mistake and then they counter. And when they aren’t in a countering situation, they build up slowly by holding on to the ball and prefer to bring it up through the middle. Well United still kept their width but we became much more tidy than in the past. And despite having learned from past horrors, we never returned to the final until 2008. Just shows you that even if you play things correctly, the Champions League is a tough nut to crack. Just too many teams just as good as us playing with the same tactical prowess and discipline. Hell we had Cantona and couldn’t win.
Players are only part of the puzzle. Fergie was too stubborn for too long before he caught on and learned that he could not play old school United football and expect to win. We would have done well in the 80′s as the European clubs had a hard time adapting to the English clubs. By 1990 the reverse was occurring. Now Fergie has the right tactical system but sometimes I wonder if he has the complete package in players. Barcelona exposed us for what we were last year. Ill equipped up the middle and unable to cope with another teams quick accurate short passing game that was a clinic in ball possession. We fell behind and then panicked and started playing like Bolton sending long ball after long ball to a solitary target up front. It was disgusting. I trust we have learned from that but I still think we are a few players short of matching Barcelona man for man.
Like?
0 
0
Joe Cole is really not looking upto it based on his recent performances. Maybe its the injury. But is he worth the risk and worth 80-100K salary if the rest of the season he does not show much improvement???
And what we badly need is a Sneijder like player next season. Who would be potential buys similar to Sneijder and of course realistic buys??
Like?
0 
0
Why aren’t Ahmed Bilal and Co. offering odds on the CL Draw??
My god man, you think the interest in what question SAF answers, has a greater drawing power than the speculation over who we could meet next? You must not be serious!!
How many of us do you think are betting types anyway?? I think you are definitely barking up the wrong tree here mate.
If you want to make a little cash, try selling tee-shirts or Green and Yellow scarves, or Fergie signed hair-driers, for gods sake!!
I have to say that all this betting promotion stuff is more of a turn off than an attraction to me – and I’d wish you’d just fuck -off with this dodgy fund raising effort. Read our messages, and target our needs!!
When has anyone here ever shown the slightest interest in laying their hard earned cash on the odds that Betfair or you have promoted.
You must think we are all low lives, who have nothing better to do with our money or our passion toward the club, than recklessly, in a Glazer like fashion, squander our future in the long odds that you are offering.
What has happened to RR’s insightful intro’s to current events or upcoming games? A spark for vibrant conversation and a method to focus our attention.
Instead, we are served a ration of “let me see if I can extract some profit from all of this passionate chatter”.
For me, I’ve had enough! The people on this blog are loyal and true to the United cause – offering insights and friendship to each and every one of us.
Can’t you come up with something better than trying to drag us all down into the world of betting addiction and ruin – perhaps a less contrived way of corrupting what is mostly a young audience. It could help us all, and perhaps boost your esteem amongst us!!
In a time when we are trying to come to terms with a destructive regime at United, you seem fit to sully the proceedings by offering another vice to the fools that dare to follow.
Be true true to yourself, mate, give up this vile quest, and make Red Rants, once again, a proud and true thing to follow!!
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: Hear hear! Plus BetFair is not accessible to American readers.
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: Very fair point. But the fault is not Ahmed’s it’s mine. If I had more regular posts this betfair thing wouldn’t be an issue. I always thought we can have the betting related posts (which is really targeted at search engine visitors) I don’t expect the regulars here to put their money in this. The betting guys would know where to look.
I have yet to explain myself which I am in the midst of doing right now. Post will come up in a few hours, which will seek to explain the reasons behind my absence all along.
If I had posted more regularly the regulars could have ignored this betting stuff.
At the end of the day, the site costs money. And I don’t really profit from the site revenue to be honest.
All I could have done was to dilute the spamminess of the betting posts with my posts. But well… anyway, wait for my post.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Yeah, I know, what happened to Scotland and it’s players?
Twenty/thirty years ago Celtic and Rangers were more than a match for the top English teams, and as you say, the Scotland side always presented a problem for England in the Home Internationals, that were played at the end of each season.
It’s only been since the influx of foreign talent, that Scotland have spiraled downwards. Their appeal and resources were no match for the climes and wealth of their southern neighbors.
The interesting thing is that Celtic and Rangers now know that their ultimate survival in in integrating within the PL. The PL, in an effort to not dilute its core base, is not at all interested.
I wonder if the demise of the SPL is really just a long-term goal of the FA – making for a bigger talent pool, and eliminating it’s closest rivals, all in one foul swoop!
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: I realize the economics of all this is not a motivating factor, but to align with a Betting Shop, is a cheap solution to your problems.
Other sites have great success in selling United merchandise and memorabilia, and I for one one would shop frequently if this one did. The lesson here is that (a) WE ARE UNITED FANATICS, and (b) WE ARE NOT LOOSERS.
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: I wouldn’t mind selling Memorabilia but it costs me time and effort to come up with an appealing design — which is assuming I can design, which I truly cannot. I am an engineer and not a designer. If I were to hire a designer on the other hand it involves over heads which means an investment from my side which may or may not pay off.
Football blogging is a tough sector to make money. In fact if you are in football blogging to make money you may as well forget about it. Betting is the only source that can pay dividends. I’ve tried to resist it in the past, because I am personally not a bettor, but I call it an uneasy alliance. If I had a better way out I would do it.
The other United sites you talk of that sell memorabilia — I can think of just RoM. But then Scott is an excellent designer, and I know for a fact that all the design work he’s done on his own. So it takes care of overheads for him. Also he’s on the same betting partnership as this site.
It’s an uneasy deal, and the only thing I could do is to dilute it with more posts. So that regulars can ignore it.
Like?
0 
0
@Redrich: All valid reasons but I also wonder why the Scottish talent pool has fallen so badly? Forget about the the SPL for a second, why does Scotland no longer produce good enough talent that can play in England and be stars? They used to have tons of quality players and united was positively brimming with great Scots. Somewhere down the line the country just stopped being a football factory. It no longer produces great talent. It has got to do more with grass roots problems more so than the SPL.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: @Redrich:
Another interesting theory about Scottish football history. Tim Vickery was saying this: the Scots till the 30s and 40s were known to be a pretty passing team with high emphasis on technique and skill over brawn and blue collar ethic. The roots were very much to do with the early settlers in Argentina. (The father of Argentine football is said to be a Glaswegian)
Scotland have had a rich footballing history that’s sort of corrupted by the English influence on their game.
Like?
0 
0
1)who do you think would be your ideal suuccessor as a manager?
2)which area of the team you thin needs to be strenghted?
3)do you tink rooney is better than messi?
4)who would be your next major buy ?
Like?
0 
0
OK. My post is up. Read. And then curse me.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: alright grognard, did’ent mean to go mentioning names last night m8, i’d had a few shandy’s and i was disgusted at a certain linesman in the wolfsburg game, so i thought i would come on and vent some anger, but sure there was nothing to bad said. what about the draw the day, could not of asked for a better draw, lyon’s probably the hardest match stopping us getting to yet another final, not saying bayern will be easy, but i’d take united all day over 2 legs against them. ps to FRED (the brain dead) RED, i do hang on every word the great man says yes, but anymore comments from you and i’ll tell everyone you still have man utd quilt covers on your bed. MUFC bring on the scum
Like?
0 
0
@RicoTheRed: Mate, one more like that I see and you’re out. Seriously.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: Yes I have heard that too and I would also add that the large settlement of Greeks to Scotland was also a reason for these changes in style. The port cities were just saturated with Greeks and even today Greek traditions and heritage have kind of melded in with Scots. A great point in knowing the history of Scottish football. I always like the way the scots played in the 70′s and early 80′s Players like Jordan, Strachan, McQueen, Buchan, Gemmill, McGrain, Bremner, Dalglish and of course Dennis Law before them etc. Physically hard but possessing flair and creativity. A really great football nation for a long period of time. Sad to see what has become of them. They have gone from Bravhearts to Bravefarts.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: one more like what m8, exactly what did i say to offend anyone
Like?
0 
0
@RicoTheRed: No problem mate. I’ve been there too. As for the draw, disgusted really. My worst case scenario. My two favorite football clubs meet at the quarter finals stage. The one team I never wanted to face due to my love and allegiance to it. But make no mistake, I will be pulling for United. The only positive thing to come out of this is that at least one of my teams is assured of making it to the semi’s. This will be very tough for United but I also think it will be a high scoring series. Bayern have great attacking players with imagination, polish and finish. They are well managed and pose a real threat both at home but especially away. United should prevail because I do believe that their defense is superior to Bayern’s.
Like?
0 
0
Well I am in shock and completely gutted over this draw. At the end of the draw I will be happy for one team and very down for the other. I would have preferred that kind of problem in the final or at least the Semis knowing one team would be in the final. Pissed off that Inter got such a free ride like CSKA and that two French sides get a free pass from meeting a true giant. Instead the draw has pitted the four best clubs against each other. Just rubbish. FIFA really need to take a lesson from tennis and start seeding teams. No way should 4 time winner Bayern be meeting 3 time winner United this early when there are four teams that have never won the trophy before and three of them have a considerably easier road to the semi’s. If there was justice, United and Barca should have been paired up with either CSKA or one of the french outfits. A worse case scenario would have put us up against Arsenal, but no, we get the third toughest team in this competition in Bayern.
As for Barca, they will have a tough time with Arsenal as Arsenal have the kind of attack that could cause them problems. Thank god for Barca that Arsenals back four are pants and that they have to play all their games without a goalkeeper. I mean ALmunia is crap with a capital C.
I see Barca taking care of Arsenal, 5-2 on aggregate, Inter having a tough time but getting by CSKA 3-1 on aggregate and Lyon outmuscling Bordeaux in a defensive stalemate 1-1 on away goals.
My breakdown of the United vs Bayern clash is as follows;
Goalkeeping – Big edge to United. Butt has had a remarkable season but he is no EVDS and he is also prone to mental mistakes. He is known to be streaky however and when he is hot, nothing seems to get by him. EVDS is experienced and a cool cookie. But van Gaul has managed him. I hope he is not aware of some weakness in Eddy’s game that Bayern shooters can exploit. Like high shots to his left for example.
Defenders - Big edge to United. Barring injuries United get to start three world class defenders in Rio, Vidic and Evra while Bayern presently only have one in Philip Lahm. van Buyten is a very serious threat in the attacking zone on corners and set pieces but defensively he is slow and can be had despite his size. Badstuber is a potentially young superstar in the making much like Jonny Evans, biut he is young and experienced teams and players can cause him problems. The LB issue is a problem for Bayern due to injuries but they do have this 17 year old Austrian wunderkind who is also destined for stardom. His name is David Alaba and the kid is their Rafael. Still, United have too much class and experience in their back four provided either Rafael or Neville play well enough to contain Franck Ribery on the right side of defense.
Midfield - United has a slight advantage. I do not consider Bayern a 4-4-2 team. They are 4-3-3 and as far as manpower and quality of players, Bayern are strong with the physical and very capable van Bommel in the middle keeping things tidy. Schweinsteiger is class and has plenty of skill but he is also a little slow and may struggle against players like Nani or Valencia. The other starter would be another wunderkind in Thomas Muller. Great skill here and the finishing of a striker. This kid along with Toni Kroos and Ozil are the future of German football. Strong and very good on the ball but very young and inexperienced. Bayern has some good depth primarily in the attacking Hamit Altintop and the defensive pressure of the Ukrainian Tymoschuk.
Unite on the other hand counter with either three or four quality players. Fletcher is world class right now and Carrick is no slouch. I see Park utilized in defensive position in the midfield setup and right now he is in the form of his life and can be the shadow the team need to place on either Ribery or Robben. Giggs, Scholes and Gibson round the team out in that area. Strong but ancient legs can help but I would not put too much emphasis starting them because Bayern’s speed and class will wear both out, especially Scholes.
Attack - Advantage Bayern. Yes you read this right. Bayern have the advantage despite the great season Rooney has had. Bayern have too many great and highly experienced weapons. The most dangerous of these men are Ribery on the left side and Robben on the right. Both lightening fast, great dribblers, great passers, crossers, set piece artists, and players who live for the one on one challenge and cutting in and having a go at goal. Positively frightening when I think of Neville and Rafael on our right side being turned inside and out and even worrying about the Evra reverting back to his Skinned Sausage form of last year where a player like Robben could cause him great trouble. Bayern also have Ivica Olic who is very dangerous and who can come in as a sub or even start and cause havoc. In the middle we have the good but overrated Mario Gomez who is also in great form this season having found himself and his scoring touch again. But for me, the threat of Klose either starting or coming off the bench scares me because of his ability to finish and his strength in the air. A clutch player and a man that has also scored 10 goals in the World Cup. No mean feat.
United counter of course with the great Rooney and the improving Berbatov in the middle. Hard to say if Fergie goes 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 but if i was him I would go with 4-5-1 because we need to clog the midfield and cut off room that both Ribery and Robben can exploit. So I expect to see very little of Berba. Valencia and Nani will need to show their quality. I expect little from Nani because he will most likely be on the left side and that cause him to be neutralized by the great Philip Lahm who is great at tackling and covering wingers. Valencia is the key man here as he will probably face the kid Alaba or if Demichelis is healthy enough to return, I could see Bayern move Badstuber over there. Either way, Valencia’s role in this tie will be massive because he will have the one area of the pitch that should be entirely owned by United, the right side. Shoul either Nani or Valencia be injured or unavailable, this cause problems for United. I would generally say that we have more depth but with our injury problems I would now say that Bayern has the edge in depth. They can count on class players like Klose and Olic, Altintop and Tymoschuk to come off the bench for them. We have old goats in Giggs, Scholes and Neville to count on as well as too many kids who have yet shown they can compete vs Wolves yet alone the likes of Bayern Munich.
Managing - Edge to Sir Alex. Both managers are class and both have managed winning teams in the CL. Both are proven winners and great leaders and motivators. But Fergie is arguably the greatest club manager of all time and although I question him a lot out of habit, I’ve got to believe he has a cunning plan in place. But make no mistake, the Bundesliga may not be as competitive in European competition but never lump Bayern into that assumption. Bayern are a class team and a massive organization with great players and coaches. They will be a much tougher test than Milan was.
Prediction: United by a hair 4-3 on aggregate.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: If it was what he said about me that led you to warn him I must tell you that Rico is a work colleague of mine and was only bantering mate. Hes a SAF fan which was why I was bantering him in my previous post. Hes passionbate about United and loves SAF, but hes not the sharpest tool in the box.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: I think your doghouse Groggy has the longest lease of tenancies than Fergie’s own famour leper colony
.
Like?
0 
0
@swapnil: Mate I can think of one eminent game of JS Park that made him worth his place alone – the semi final CL game at OT. He worked his very arse off and covered every inch of the field for us the whole game. He tackled Barcelona’s best until his feet bled, and his battery was still running long after our other players were pooped. No way did he deserve to be dropped from the final in Moscow, even Fergie said he felt bad about leaving him out after his display in the semi. I do agree with Grog in the one area that JSP needs to stay on his feet, get some composure in and around the box, and work on improving his end product and goal scoring efforts. I think he is trying to do that though, and I hope he manages it!
Like?
0 
0