Ferguson�s retirement benefits
Wene Owino | Friday April 25, 2014 11:07
The departure of Sir Alex has debunked the notion that the Manchester United side he built into a winning outfit in his 26 years in charge was great. Instead it has unveiled what has always been a public secret. That Ferguson was a great manager in-charge of a middleweight team that was likely to unravel once he departs.Â
On countless occasions in his Old Trafford career, the charismatic Ferguson propelled Manchester United to win trophies solely through the force of his character and fear. He was such an institution in English football that even referees feared him.Â
The sight of a Ferguson furiously chewing gum on the touchline was enough for English referees to award Manchester United several penalties - many on the basis of a whispered rumour. Meanwhile, despite compelling evidence, the best many opponents got instead of a spot-kick was a dismissive wave of the hands from a referee sprinting fast from the scene of crime.
This is part of the explanation why his handpicked successor, Moyes, has been breaking the wrong records with annoying frequency in the 10 months he was in-charge. The lesson is that in the long-term, a team should be much more than the coach and Arsenal risk the same fate as Manchester United if they do not handle the post-Arsen Wenger era wisely.Â
The other benefit of the retirement of Ferguson is the cleansing of the crippling fear factor that had gripped English football. The debilitating fear he instilled in coaches, teams and match officials in England was stifling the game. It made the English Premier League a one-team competition.
No wonder, in the first season of Ferguson’s retirement, up to four sides were in the running for the title until a few weeks ago when Wenger and his charges went back to their bad old ways of promising much and delivering zilch. Still, Wenger regained some of his poise in the immediate post-Ferguson era and may be on his way to winning his first trophy since 2005.
Much more important, Liverpool have suddenly woken up from their slumber and are on the verge of winning the English title after 24 years of frustrations. Hail the retired king. Everybody knows that if the gladiator was still in the stomping grounds at Old Trafford, the story of the current Premier League campaign would be very different.
Definitely, one of the current teams in the top four would not be playing Champions League football next season because Manchester United would be very much in the mix fighting for the title. Â
May be by this time, the argument would have been settled and the title would be remaining at Old Trafford for another year. While few expected the successor to emulate the achievements of Ferguson in his first year in charge, the total collapse under Moyes is unacceptable by any standards. Under the former Everton coach, Manchester United suddenly became easy punching bag for all manner of lightweights both home and away.Â
Definitely the lugubrious Moyes must agree that finishing out of the top four in his first year was not an option - leave alone the eternally embarrassing seventh spot that looks increasingly likely.Â
The lesson? Giving a general’s job to a lance corporal is a sure recipe for failure, unless the junior is a sorcerer or a master tactician. That is why when generals departed from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea, they were not replaced by featherweights like Moyes.