Although many will think we should also have a Sir Matt Busby stand no one can begrudge the appropriateness of the club’s gesture to Sir Alex. It is also important to note that we have named the street that leads to the ground ‘Sir Matt Busby way’
It remains to be seen whether the erection of the statue will prove more tribute than distraction. My personal feeling is that it is wholly correct a statue of Fergie should be outside of Old Trafford. Whilst he is still in the job of manager might be too soon though.
Nonetheless, at this stage of the season it is notoriously tricky to see how the rest of the campaign will pan out. Here is a selection of Fergie anniversaries from the great man’s 25 year tenure to chew over.
November 1986
United travel to League Cup winners Oxford and are beaten 2-0 at the Manor Ground, easily one of the countries worst stadiums. My dad was in attendance and remembers it being an unremarkably glum match.
End of the season:
United finish in 11th place, 30 points behind champions Everton. Although our home form is impressive, 13 victories, it is not enough to trouble the top of the table.
November 1991
Fergie’s fifth anniversary at Old Trafford was a bittersweet experience. Six months before he had brought home the club’s first European trophy since the sixties, winning the European Cup Winners Cup final against Barcelona. November 6th 1991 saw us bow out of the competition for the last ever time after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Athletico Madrid who won 3-0 in the first leg.
End of the season:
The season’s end bore witness to a spectacular Manchester United collapse. Favourites until the start of April, United slipped behind Leeds after playing four fixtures in eight days. The team from Yorkshire finished four points above us in first, but it was still our most successful season for 25 years.
November 1996
Having proven the previous summer that you could win things with kids, a double in fact, United kept the ball rolling as the new season got underway. A one nil victory over Arsenal was the first result Fergie recorded after 10 years at the club.
End of the season:
This time United were league champions ahead of Newcastle United for the second season running. This time, however, it was far less spectacular and United won out by seven points in the end. By this stage, winning titles was expected at United, the ground capacity had increased and the club was almost unrecognisable to the one Ferguson had inherited 10 years before.
November 2001
After dreadful losses to Arsenal and Liverpool United picked themselves up again with a 2-0 victory over Leicester in the league. Goals from Van Nistelrooy and Yorke were enough but alas, Arsenal were to beat us again before 2001 was out.
End of the season:
In a season muddled by Ferguson’s retirement u-turn at Christmas the side underperformed hugely finishing third in the league behind Arsenal and Liverpool. Interestingly, United’s form in the second half of the season (after Fergie changed his mind) was much improved on the first half of the campaign.
November 2006
November 2006 was far from a vintage month for the Glasweigian. United lost his anniversary match to Southend in the League Cup and were beaten by Celtic, managed by United old boy Gordon Strachan, in the Champion’s League group stages.
End of the season:
This was, however, the season when Cristiano Ronaldo evolved from pretender to contender. His goals over Christmas and form towards the end of the campaign were sensational and saw United crowned league champions for the first time in four years.
November 2011
Although United are on a run of four successive victories with four clean sheets there is a certain trepidation around the place. Despite starting the season in blistering form playing with young players the recent mauling by Manchester City has everybody on edge.
End of the season:
Good question…
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Posted by David Smith on 11/10/2011
We didn't put Liverpool to the sword, but your point is well taken, Mark. To be just five points back after those first ten matches AND having lost to Citeh, who have won all but one, is quite remarkable. We have a great chance between now and early January to put a string of wins together. However, 2012 will see us visit Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Citeh, so taking advantage of the upcoming schedule is vital. Glad to see Anderson dropped for the Sunderland win, although I did see Nani put over a couple of decent corners for the first time in his United career. Well done, Nani! Who knows, maybe we'll see a proper cross at Swansea or even a shot on target!?! I don't like the idea of the stand being renamed while the man is still in charge, but I certainly understand the sentiment behind it. Didn't think I'd ever see such an honour bestowed at Old Trafford, but there you have it. The statue will be well-warranted, but again, after he's retired. Thanks for everything Alex!
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Posted by kingsley enerson on 11/11/2011
the recent mauling by manchester city is one i will never forget so soon.
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Posted by Damian Garside on 11/11/2011
Here's what I think were Sir Alex's greatest achievements;
1. securing Eric Cantona from Leeds and man-managing him superbly -- this gave us a leader (and on-field guru/mentor for younger players)and brought an unpredictable fantasy elelemnt to our play
2. Securing Cristiano Ronaldo and getting the young man to flourish. Unfortunately his brilliant self-expression went hand-in-hand with swaggering arrogance, and he started to believe that he was not playing at the biggest club in the world -- that there was one bigger and he needed to be there.
3. creating my one rewally inincible great Ferguson team:the 1994 team. This team would never have conceded 6 goals at hoime -- and certainly not to City, no matter how many Black Italians and Argentinians they had in their forward line.
His failures: not using the 99 victory as a platform for domination. Lucky wins in CL finals, and horrible losses: but no o/s victories.
And the failure to give us a C Midfield for the last few years.
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Posted by Abdirashid "SHARDINHO" on 11/11/2011
First i wish Fargie long live in United Stadium Old Trafford
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Posted by Daniel on 11/11/2011
No one like Sir Alex... he is unique, the BEST!!!
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Posted by Kingsley on 11/11/2011
Sir alex more than anyone deserves all the accollades being heap on him from all over the world.
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Posted by johanzul on 11/12/2011
Congrat SAF,
Thank you for being, thinking, grooming, hair-drying, leading players, staff and club thru good and hard times towards success!
Just a quickie, before even thinking of retiring, bring us, the fans, more CL cups to overcome "Pool of Livers" ;) and make your own journey complete as the longest Manager in a club who had won more cups Domestic and Internationally.
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Posted by Rudolf on 11/12/2011
Sir Alex patient was what I admired so much
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Posted by Nifty Viva on 11/13/2011
Sir!!! I hail thee!!!
Achievements are so enormous! Thanks for making us (d fans) happy and proud. Pls, help us to acquire Wesley Schneida, our midfield is too porous! As for d City defeat, its jst a one-off! United rules!!!
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Posted by Dele on 11/14/2011
Sir Alex Ferguson Stadium, Old Trafford anyone... Heheh didn't think so. Ryan Giggs, Cantona & Sir Alex were the reason I started supporting the Red Devils as a boy. Forever may he reign!
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Posted by Nuruddeen on 11/14/2011
SAF achievements deserved recognition weather he is there or in absentia. However, he needs to beef up that midfield with a true anchorman not necessarily Schneider ( cup tied for CL). Can anybody tell me what are our scouts doing allowing Scott Parker to leave WH for Spurs for just £5m. We need no big names, but players with commitment and burning desire to succeed.
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Posted by Felix Yulizar on 11/14/2011
Sir Alex, hope you can strengthen midfield, and another winger. thanks for your dedication to MU.
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Posted by Eyob Garoy on 11/15/2011
Fegie the Great is special and has done unbelievable 'miracles' in MU. I hope he continues and live up to the fans' expectations of this Great Club.
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Posted by Jojo on 11/15/2011
I still don't know why we are not buying a proper, I mean a proper central midfield player. Tom Cleverly is good, but Anderson and Carrick arejust average. We need a strong CM player, who can dictate the tempo of the game, take charge, tackle, pass and cover the back four.
I know its impossible to replace Scholes ... but a replacement should have been made meanwhile.
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Posted by sao lamin on 11/16/2011
as a african,from sierra leone how can i be a member of a fam club.Because i love m u so much
Posted by Kingsley machine on 11/16/2011
Dear SAF, thanks for your effort in making us "(united fans) all over the world happy. I saw the vision in cleverly but he should have been an understudy to scholes before now. Never mind defeat to our noisy neighbours, it's our response that matters
Posted by China kriz on 11/17/2011
Kudos to SAF'pls do us a favour n get a scorin midfida.
Posted by dave on 11/25/2011
All very well, but why is Rio Ferdinand advertising cigarettes on television in Indonesia?
Posted by ManKiller on 12/03/2011
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Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
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