Henry Winter: What Sir Alex Ferguson has done for English football deserves respect

They berate and banish Sir Alex Ferguson for a stupid comment about a slightly chubby referee and cravenly ignore all the good the Manchester United manager has done, all the glory he has brought to English football, all the talent he has helped mould for the cause of St George.

So who do you want influencing football? Pen-pushers or Treble-winners?


Ferguson's verdict on Alan Wiley's fitness was undoubtedly insulting and iniquitous. Referees, even those like Wiley slightly lacking sleekness, deserve respect. The alternative is mayhem in the opinion-forming playgrounds of the Premier League and subsequent anarchy in the UK schoolyards.

Those brought up to bow at the altar of "the referee is always right even when he is blatantly wrong'' cannot tolerate Ferguson's stance.

The belittling of officials is a widespread modern curse that needs combating. Even Fabio Capello ambushed the referee in the tunnel in Dnepropetrovsk, raging about decisions against England, using language that would make Ferguson blush. Did the FA call Capello to account? No chance.

"As the senior statesman Fergie should be setting an example,'' reflected an England supporter. "A lot of young managers look up to him, but any other manager probably would not have been punished so harshly. The FA have got to be more consistent really. Players abuse the officials weekly.'' And escape.

The case against Ferguson lacks perspective. It is like hounding Barack Obama for double-parking outside the White House. The FA must see the bigger picture with Ferguson.

This is an individual whose managerial feats have been worth tens of millions of pounds to his rivals, raising the Premier League's coefficient to permit a fourth side into the Champions League.

At the risk of straying further into Monty Python territory, what has Ferguson ever done for English football? Well, this is a leader of men who has built on David Moyes's fine work at Everton to nurture Wayne Rooney into England's one saving grace.

This is the club boss who could supply more than half of England's starting XI in Ben Foster, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Rooney, let alone cultivating Ravel Morrison as a potential gem for 2014.

Better than Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere, certainly up there with Jack Rodwell, if Morrison does emerge as the pre-eminent English footballer of his generation, it will be because of a certain Scot's shrewd guidance.

I can't remember the last time the FA acknowledged Ferguson's role in shaping England's present or future.

Crassly imitating a scene from Swift, Lilliputian no-names attempt to bring down a giant of the game. The cast of pygmies includes Alan Leighton, a rep from referees' union Prospect, an unknown organisation in football until its pushy principal began piggybacking on Ferguson's fame.

Apparently, Prospect represents referees. So Leighton will know that Ferguson was the first manager to inquire after Mark Halsey's health.

It is the inconsistency of individuals such as Leighton that is particularly galling. Ferguson makes a mistake and gets pilloried. Leighton's members make shocking errors, ignoring beach-balls and bad challenges, yet the Prospect chief stays silent.

The FA seems to have been swayed by a union man stamping his feet and spouting off on the airwaves. Football would be better place if a wise owl such as Ferguson, for all his acerbic outbursts, was advising the FA and its hordes of amateurs on how to run the game.

In a land where many FA types just worry about guaranteeing their free tickets to Wembley every year, Ferguson plots how to take his team there again and again. Ferguson contributes so much to the game that the FA fails to note.

England's most important player, Rooney, rallied to his manager's defence yesterday, detailing why Ferguson should be cherished.

"First of all the trophies he's won,'' began Rooney, "and the type of football he wants you to play – attacking football all the time. Sometimes you feel you can't do it but he keeps you going. At his age [67], he still wants to win all the time. That's incredible to see.''

Ferguson should show more respect to referees – and football should show more respect to Ferguson.

Ho-ly £#%&!.

I'm shocked.

High praise for Morrison but let's get one thing straight, nobody is better than JACK WILSHERE. Nobody.

let alone cultivating Ravel Morrison as a potential gem for 2014.

Better than Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere, certainly up there with Jack Rodwell, if Morrison does emerge as the pre-eminent English footballer of his generation, it will be because of a certain Scot's shrewd guidance.

The rest is a shock, but that is a hell of a compliment. Gibbs & Wilshere have already appeeared in the PL ffs

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Ho-ly £#%&!.

I'm shocked.

Me too. Can't really argue with any of that.

Originally Posted by Baron_van_Marlon

The rest is a shock, but that is a hell of a compliment. Gibbs & Wilshere have already appeeared in the PL ffs

For lesser clubs.

Originally Posted by Grimson

For lesser clubs.

Originally Posted by Grimson

For lesser clubs.

Originally Posted by Coracao

Zing!

You know what I meant, smart arse!

Originally Posted by RedMenace

High praise for Morrison but let's get one thing straight, nobody is better than JACK WILSHERE. Nobody.

go back and read through this cringeworthy pile of cack.

http://www.utdforum.com/forum/showth...=Jack+wilshere

From what I have seen, morrison must be unmatched in terms of the raw talent he has. maybe giggs comes close at 15.

He should improve his attitude though. any other player would have been released. united know they could risk losing a potential superstar in him and hence are giving him more chances.

Originally Posted by Baron_van_Marlon

Zing!

You know what I meant, smart arse!

I didn't mean it as a zing. Arsenal don't have as big or deep a squad, so it's easier for a young player to get a game.

Good article but I always remember one thing about Henry Winter.

About 12 yrs or so ago - on that Football discussion show on Sky ' Hold the back page' - he stated that John Curtis would go on to win more caps than Rio Ferdinand...

Also - on top of those England players he mentions - I'd add Welbeck. He's the 21st century Andy Cole.

Originally Posted by rafabio

From what I have seen, morrison must be unmatched in terms of the raw talent he has. maybe giggs comes close at 15.

He should improve his attitude though. any other player would have been released. united know they could risk losing a potential superstar in him and hence are giving him more chances.

the only thing that will stop him becoming a superstar is himself. He needs a serious attitude adjustment.

Originally Posted by Coracao

rofl !!!!

Originally Posted by Baron_van_Marlon

rofl !!!!

That's £#%&!ing crazy. When you see things like that you just pray he has the character to make it because he could do fantastic things for us.

Where did we pick this Ravel lad from?

Originally Posted by Mr_Ed

Where did we pick this Ravel lad from?

Stretford...I think.

Originally Posted by Coracao

Jesus H. Christyballs.

Watch them on Youtube and you'll see loads of them at the side thingy.

The good thing about this lad is that he has a great touch and is also strong. It's usually the weaker players who fail to step up, hopefully this guy will be a gem. I wonder how much Real Madrid would pay us for him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xe29Nc9D5I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4BFIDy_ARA&feature=related