Why Ferguson is Sir Alex Ferguson - Part II by Avinash Wadhwani @AvinashW1

Sir Alex Chapman Ferguson’s first full time managerial role, was to lead a club called East Stirlinghsire, at the age of… 32. A club which had a handful of “fellows” who could kick a football around. This was a place where Ferguson learnt to create a football team from scratch. A skill that was to define him and set him apart from the best of the rest and ensure that his teams can survive without their “star” men and also ensure that every formation of his has a different point man.

East Stirlingshire was where Ferguson developed a fetish for midfielders and youth. He laid out the club and also managed his personal interest. One of which has the same characteristics of Fergie, alcohol, which this fan is informed just gets better with age, while becoming more potent and smooth. Ferguson’s stay at East Stirlingshire was short and he quickly switched to St. Mirren which though a club below ES, was one which was blessed with a bigger stadium. It was him who pushed the club management at Manchester United into doing, increasing it so as to ensure that the number of fans who followed united BECAUSE of Ferguson could be accommodated. 

The only notable features that were prominent about Ferguson during his stint at ES was his manner of running a football club and his nobility, which of course was officially recognized when united won the treble and he was called upon to accept knighthood. Ferguson acquired the title of a “frightening bastard”. Again a Fergie legend has it that in the event of a player not performing well, there was no better luck next time, it meant the next day, the player was guaranteed a training session which would temporarily paralyze his limbs.

The nobility factor can be noted from the fact that before moving to SM, he ensured that he sought the permission of the authorities. A feature, many players now at the blue end of Manchester, would do well to imbibe. At St. Mirren, Ferguson promoted the team and ensured they won the league. Ofcourse its definitely not worthwhile mentioning the fact that he did it with a bunch of kids, something this blessed soul had the opportunity of seeing repeated with Manchester United (you will never win anything with kids). The league was won with a brand of football that definitely has to be called the SAF effect. 

The captain of that team was all but 20 years old. A figure less than SAF’s tenure manning the touchline at Old Trafford. Such was Ferguson’s will to win that he was sacked for it. The club authorities seemed to do a Roman and could not bear the fact that things were “ebbing out of their control”(Something that SAF will never stand) and fired him. There was ofcourse the case which followed and the first of two games that Ferguson lost. The other being the Rock of Gibraltar.  The rock of Gibraltar incident is the only reason this fan can accredit the Glazers of doing some good to United for, ensuring United did not do a St Mirren and fire Fergie. Ofcourse this was not football, else I’m sure the gaffer would’ve won and would’ve done it in style too. Aberdeen was next and his first taste of continued success. Like any other bloodsport, where the taste of blood spurs you on, Fergie acquired success in football, something that he would become addicted to. Ferguson here broke the dominance of Rangers and Celtic.

Ferguson went on for four years without a trophy, finishing second in the league on one occasion, a feat he was set to repeat with United. He did lose the Scottish cup final replay to Dundee Untied and learnt another valuable lesson, never to be shy of chopping and turning a team. He became such a master at the art that when united finished second in the league, behind leeds, he is said to have proclaimed that 17 players would receive a league medal due to the number of games they played. A testament to both the depth of Ferguson’s squad and his endavour to ensure that every member was honoured for their role in the squad. Then started the flood, a flood of trophies. Ferguson, won the league,  the Scottish cup and went on to Europe. Ofcourse once again, it is not worthy to mention the fact that Munchen and Spurs were left in the wake for the scalp of Madrid awaited them in the finals. Ferguson continued his success with Aberdeen and went on to manage Scotland, when his long time friend, Jock Stien vacated the job on his calling from heaven. Here developed Fergie’s first distaste towards Liverpool.

For, being the genitals that they are, Kenny and co refused to acknowledge a legend when they see one. Unfortunately for Kenny and Liverpool, the legend in waiting was to knock them off their fucking perch. Scotland not having qualified for the World Cup, Fergie decided the time to seek a change of climate came.

Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, all came and went but Fergie, who has an eye for greatness, wanted only 2, either United or Barcelona. Then came United, when Atkinson was shown the door so as to usher in the era of SAF. He inherited a team of hoary drunkards who believed that their roles were supererogatory and also to act as managers for their goodselves. Ferguson ofcourse held the door open for them. Arsenal and Liverpool shared the league twice and Everton came between, but then again Ferguson was busy recruiting, Giggs and Beckham, while keeping an eye on Scholes and ensuring his Fledglings’ put up a Fergie fight everytime.

Then came to the forefront, his eye for a good buy and a desperate need to ensure he broke transfer fees. Ofcourse, along the way, Ferguson considered it his right to buy players off Aberdeen, for he
had formed them and they worked best, like chemicals such as testosterone, when in contact with Ferguson.   I feel not necessary to state the buys he has made that are worth gold for the trophies they collected. WE have all witnessed that. What is of greater interest though is the manner in which the teams were built. Ferguson ushered in an era of fitness and precision, speed and passing. Pass and move is now called tiki taka, but Ferguson decided to use it in his own manner so out went Strachan, who was to deny United the title with Leeds. In the intermittent, he survived a job scare, the wrath of fickle fans who now swear by him, fortunately, I was not born then and did not have to make a decision of whether to love him or not, the shadow of Busby and ofcourse a constant struggle for better terms on his contract. He did fight off Manchester City for Giggs, if you can picture Giggsy in any other colour.

During this period, Ferguson tormented referees. There was always the word in the ear, not necessarily a whisper when they went in the tunnel and a barrage of words for the inexperienced one, who dared fall within earshot when he was overseeing the match. He was ably assisted by Knox, who some say were worse, it was only when Kidd came, who could drag Ferguson off the tunnel mouth did the refs have some relief. Ofcourse Kidd could do nothing about them getting their mothers mentioned when they walked back onto the field. Then came the title, this was when Ferguson called upon the other catalyst that United should have dedicated a trophy to, Cantona. a man who reminded old Fergie of young Fergie, a man who never shyed away from a fight, sometimes cos he knew kung fu and someone who knew never to stop even after the fat lady sings. 

The league began with one summer buy and then fergie did a scoop during the winter and boy it
was sure a double choc coated, ice cream sandwich, topped with gold scoop. After the French manager suggested him to Ferguson, Fergie being the statesman he is, as would be evidenced by his advice to Tony Blair and Campbell, while fending off interest from leeds in one of his players, coaxed the manager into selling Cantona. This is when United won the league. The final act of Fergie, which gave him confidence and also the team the impetus to impose on English football an era of United/Fergie,  Ofcourse I stop with Cantona cos every United fan has learnt or read what has happened next. I prefer not to sit as a lecturer to the glory hunters with regard to what is to follow. It is an experience to have watched Ferguson grow. When I mean Ferguson in the statement, I mean United. I will not insult the true fan by imposing my opinion on them.

The growth of the kids, the doubles and then the treble, followed by ensuring we did not die after a brief period of success and continuing to be a European superpower is something that cannot be written in words for so many events have taken place and they would require a book. I apologize for not having given a chronological series of events or for that matter, mentioned certain matches that United folklore is filled with, but then again this is a tribute article, highlighting the character and important events in the life of the first and the last Alex Chapman Ferguson.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not to be read by those who follow united, this is to be read by those who bleed united. A reading of this article is to evoke in you emotions, towards the man who now defines the club and who will be pictured walking around the touchline, long after he is gone. This article,will set out the glory hunters from the fans. For, when the fans will notice the making of Ferguson, a glory hunter will find the need for facts and figures and a refusal, a very deliberate one, to mention the years of dominance.


SIR ALEX, I BOW BEFORE THEE, FOR THOU HAVE BLESSED ME... MAY YOUR NAME
ECHO AT OLD TRAFFORD FOR ETERNITY AND MAY NO PLAYER EVER BE AS GREAT AS
YOU!!!!