The records show that Fergie is the greatest manager in the history of the Premier League by a country mile.
Many will go further still and claim with some justification that he is THE greatest British manager of all time.
So why, with all that respect, with all those trophies, does Fergie continually lower himself by vilifying referees?
His latest rant against referee Alan Wiley at the end of United's 2-2 draw against Sunderland on Saturday was uncalled for and distasteful to say the very least.
Criticising a referee's decision is one thing. But questioning Wiley's ability to run a Premier League match was personal, cruel and beneath a manager of Ferguson's stature.
In the eyes of the United manager referee Wiley was physically not fit enough to keep up with the high tempo of the encounter at Old Trafford.
But all the referees who officiate at the highest level are given vigorous fitness tests before the start of each season.
And in every Premier League match the referee is wired to a monitor which records how far he runs during the 90 minutes. And that information is taken on board by the referees' parent body.
Fergie's argument against Wiley was that he was "taking 30 seconds to book a player and I think he was taking a rest. He just wasn't fit enough for a game of that standard."
I watched the match and Ferguson is right - the referee did take time when booking players but that's because players no longer accept a booking with a shrug of the shoulders - these days they stand there arguing the toss with the man in black.
What makes Fergie's rant against Mr Wiley so unexpected was that only a week earlier the pair of them were sharing a joke and a laugh on the touchline during the Old Trafford derby.
For long periods of Saturday's game Sunderland were the better team. That's not a "Bitter Blue" venting his spleen on the old enemy. That's a fact.
The truth is that Fergie's side took the day off against Steve Bruce's lads. There is no shame in that. The greatest teams have an occasional off day.
So when that happens to United why doesn't Fergie simply hold up his hands and admit that his team were under par?
Why try to divert attention from a poor performance by attacking the referee in the manner he did. Alan Wiley may or may not be the worst referee on the planet.
But he certainly wasn't responsible for United dropping two points against Sunderland and he certainly didn't deserve to be humiliated like that by the Old Trafford manager.
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Elements are true, Sunderland were the better team for about an hour of the match, Fergie didn't have to say what he did, but at least he's brave enough to say exactly what he feels.
He's aware he'll get the FA on his back, and sobeit, he'll take it like a man, and he'll do it again.
He doesn't beleive his team should fail against anyone and he lashes out, whether he's made a mistake, his team have or whatever.
I like fergie for his entertainment value and the premier league would be a much duller place without him. There's nothing worse than on match of the day when a manager is blatantly seething yet says "i'd best not say anything about that" - say it man, get it off your chest and let the tirade start - stop being so prissy.
there are obviously many things worse than that, but none the less it gets my goat!
Well Said.
United peformed (if that is the right word!) well below the high standards they have set themselves. Ferguson berating a referee who often have a hard enough job with the abuse they receive from players and fans, without well-respected managers making distasteful remarks to deflect attention away from a team who didn't perform.
I am a loyal United fan, but I'm disappointed with Fergusons' comments about the referee after the match.
By the way, I thought Sunderland constributed fantastically well to the match. They didn't come to defend, they pressed the ball all over the pitch, stopped United playing, and played some excellent football themselves.
I have to admit to getting frustrated with the mud top 4 managers in particular throw at referees when their teams fail to perform, or are matched by a so-called 'smaller team'. It seems to imply they believe they have a god given right to 3 points every time the referee blows up for full time.
Uhh. Referees will get all they do not want and more. Part of the job, ya know.
But yr right, "Fergie's side took the day off." A bit unfair on the fans, what with the international break coming up. And especially the fans who paid to be at OT. Now instead of being ahead of Chelsea we are two matches behind.
Grumble. Grumble, grumble, grumble.
And hey that "was" a penalty that he did not give, deliberate handball and that's a fact as you and the mad Rafa like putting it.
Hince even though your comments often against Manu but on this you're spot on. Fergie should accept the fact that our boys were too far below against Sunderland of all people. Reason for this as far as I'm concerned is that this rotational policy is not working. It'll lead to a greater disaster if SAF doesn't return back to continuity. The midfield has been the worst victim of rotational policy or tactics of tinkering SAF. On Saturday the evidences were glaring.
SAF, for the 1st time need to hear the voices of the people even theough he's the undisputable boss and best of the bests.
No Christmas card for the Hince household this year.
I think it's difficult to argue ith a word Paul Hince says here. As a red I've a lot of good times to thank ferguson for and hope he's at the helm for a long time to come, but lets face it, he does make a fool of himself on occasions and this is one such.
Shropshire Red.
i HAVE NO IDEA WHERE fERGIE IS COMING FROM ON THIS ONE. We had a bad day and they played well so let's give Sunderland a bit of credit. Wiley did look a bit shagged at times but they should not have to chase these spoiled brats to give them a card. Call him once and then tell their captain that the player is a hair away from red. Enough of the nonsense, use their captain and get on with the game. People talk about Schole's tackles but how about Cattermole? Every tackle is borderline and Bardsley is turning a bit nasty. Fergie will be sitting in the stands for a few weeks I believe.
SAF has achieved what he wanted. Everybody is talking about his post-game comments, not how poor United were and how wrong the team selction was.
I agree both with the fact that these were harsh remarks and with the fact that Fergie does infact add to the entertainment side of things by saying what he feels, rather than just keeping his complaints to himself.
However, truth be told, the ref does have some explaining to do. Not awarding the penalty, whilst could be included in the normal stats of mistaken ref decisions, coupled with time not added on and a rather sizable belly, is infact something of a menace to the high tempo of play.
Refs get paid well, and the effort and high standards of those involved in the EPL these days make it that much more important to make sure all are up to speed. Despite the fact that Utd did play poorly for the major part of the match, the effort they put into composing themselves towards the end shouldn't go without notice.
I really don't understand this kind of reaction, particularly when it comes from a journalist — especially when it does. What exactly are we saying, that managers should not be allowed to express an opinion? That they do not have the right to say that, in their opinion, the referee is not fit enough? In all likelyhood, Sir Alex was attempting to deflect the attention away from an abysmal performance, and to take the pressure off his players, but we have no way of knowing that for sure, and it is also possible that he really does believe that Alan Wiley isn't fit enough to referee at that level. Is he seriously not allowed to say so if that is what he believes?
Of course, when you think about that for more than five seconds you begin to understand the implications. Referee's become almost untouchable, no matter how poor their performance and preparation. It's not as if we ever hear from them, and we rarely, if ever, hear from the people in charge of them. So, who exactly is supposed to make sure that they are in fact prepared, and how would we know if they weren't? We know little or nothing about many of the people that run the game, which is a recipe, not for corruption, necessarily — though it often is — but for slack attitudes due to unaccountability.
There is no question that certain forms of speech should be limited, such as questioning a referee's integrity (explicitly accusing them of conscious bias, etc), but I simply don't buy the idea that questioning the referee's fitness should be seen as a similar kind of offence. It isn't.
It appears to me that public discourse has become so sanitized that we can no longer distinguish between robust criticism — which should be allowed with absolutely no restrictions in all walks of life — and things like slander and libel. Who gave the FA the right to restrict free speech, anyway? That is the fundamental right that should not be restricted, except in limited and specific areas, and bodies like the FA have decided, with little or no consultation, to restrict it in ways that I find both baffling and highly offensive. And the inevitable outcome is an ever more sanitized game, with little access to players, managers or officials, which is directly linked to the amount of made up nonsense that is printed in the daily newspapers, because they have absolutely nothing to work with. And people wonder why the slightest incident is blown up to become a great controversy!
Oh and by the way, a fact is distinguishable from conclusions or opinions in that it is true, regardless of opinion. I may agree with you that Sunderland were the better side for long periods on Saturday night, but it certainly isn't a fact that they were.
Ridiculous to defend SAF for such a personal attack on Wiley. Most fair minded people will admit that Wiley is a decent ref. Of course the guy get things wrong from time to time but SAF's conjecture that he is too fat to keep up with the play is just an insult. Yes he got the penalty decision very wrong. Aside from that the only thing he did wrong in the game as far as I'm concerned was not add maybe 30 seconds of additional time for the goal. However we've had our fair share of luck already with additional time so it's a bit rich to complain about that! Riley wasn't on our right wing messing up every corner or every ball that was played to him, Riley wasn't in central defence getting nowhere near Bent for his goal, Riley wasn't moping around upfront like he has a divine right to be allowed space on the ball. Get real here people, this argument by Fergie is pathetic. He can complain about the penalty decision - that's fair - but this guy doesn't deserve to be ridiculed.
Fergie chose the wrong team and the wrong formation simple as. His persistence with Nani only fuels his reputation for pig headed stubborness. His record is second to none but he got it wrong this time. He should apologise to the ref and admit he used it as a smoke screen for poor management on the day.
Joga Bonito, welcome to the boards!! That was a brilliant post, and a wonderful read.
the comments were meant to deflect criticism of a poor team performance.
scholes was harshly booked for his first foul. bardsley must have made a dozen dubious tackles before he was booked. united should have had a penalty and it's true the ref was often too remote from play.
Bobbydazzler,
Frustrating watch though! Last year it was play for 20 mins and go on a snooze, this year its like you don't even have to get up for the game. Snoozy time permanent. And ya what's with the dumb refs booking Scholes for nothing (almost) every game. Wish I could have booked him for the misplaced passes though! It was like he had tied his shoes right left or left right or whatever, wrong shoes on wrong feet and the wrong dream whichever way we look at it.
Joga Bonito,
The old man should ha' poked the fourth official in the eye for that Scholes booking. And then the ref in the stomach for the ungiven penalty. Then we would hear no end from the FA and FIFA could ban us for upteen months from playing with socks on or something. That Le Fundle chap is going on about the Pogba transfer. And now the Fundlers are willing to talka talk: so maybe we can just pay them a bunch of money to go away to the French Alps to get eaten by a mountain goat.
Wow this game of football....how serious it has become. Let's not get carried away here.SAF was upset with his team more than he was with the ref. It takes 5mins and one tackle to yellow card Scholes, and 65 mins and 15 tackles to yellow card Bardsley. Also, a handball outside the penalty area is the same as a handball inside but they seem to miss them a lot for United,these days. Having said that United did have an off day,yes and the ref was well trimmed,athletic and handsome. Get a hobby,Mr.Hince, for crying out loud!
wahablue,
5/10/2009 at 13:15
A City fan reminds the world of Fergies' greatness.
Well done Mr Hince, for not launching a vicious tirade out of jealousy and spite. Instead he gives a balanced view. Fergie was wrong but how many of you lot out there, hasn't gone off on one, when it matters to you?
I'm lucky, I just spit my dummy out and Lois gives me a cuddle!!
SAF has achieved what he wanted. Everybody is talking about his post-game comments, not how poor United were and how wrong the team selction was.
JTS62
5/10/2009 at 14:00
Spot on.
By the way has anyone seen the RED & WHITE Bentley that Steven Ireland has bought his girlfriend?
Team selection all wrong against Sunderland with no mid-week or weekend games what is the need to rest the players against a team like sunderland who aren't the worst team in the league.Wellbeck on the left wing where's Tosic or De-laet who are both left-sided players,can't understand S.A.F line of thought sometimes,if they were out all week carrying blocks up a ladder to a brickie then they might need a rest.
United were p..spoor on Saturday,the ref no different from any other premiership ref, and SAF knows it as well as Hince. He's also big enough to take the flak & get on with it. His real beef will have been in private with the team. They are probably still cleaning up the tea stains in the dressing room even now.
Out of the 17 paragraphs, only 5 were attributed to the actual match and poor performance. No mention of the 7 changes or even worse the 'Ronaldo Factor'.
You can bet whatever you like that the ref didnt get a mention in the dressing room.
Sounds like great management!
Only got to watch 2nd half , presume S`land were better team for long periods in 1st half ? They only got in our half twice in the second . Match stats Posession 62/38 goal efforts 12/5 corners 15/1 all in Uniteds favour and we should have won it in the last minute .
So after 8 games hows life without Ronaldo and Tevez , we`re 2 pts better off than last yearand have scored 5 more goals but we`re conceding bad goals which nearly cost us in derby and cost us on Saturday . Foster is running out of chances , no doubt .
Perfectly happy with start to season ( also top of our Champions league group with max pts ) I used to have row after row at OT with reds sat near me moaning about this that and the other , all experts of course , looks like a few post on this site as well .
MUFC
Fergie knows the rags were poor Saturday against a better Sunderland team. So what does the old red nose do, he finds fault with everyone except himself. Who will Fergie blame next, the ball boy for not getting the ball quicker.
Steve Wilson,
Stevie Irelands birds car is Pink and white, not red and white.
Should have gone to specsavers!
So long as SAF ensures the players don't follow his example then I have no problem with him pulling up the wheezing gimp "controlling" the game. He obviously did it to deflect from a poor performance - a tried and tested method of taking the pressure off individual players. He's not the first and won't be the last to employ these tactics.
He may get the book thrown at him but it will have been worth it. For sure he needs to stop the players from taking his lead but if that happens then its all in a days work. As for Wiley he will take it on the chin - its not an equal opportunities employer you have to be up to the task fitness wise. Its not like they get we love you chants at the end of every match - it will probably make him more popular at most other grounds lol.
Much ado about nothing. Of course the bitters will be going purple with rage. Even better!