Premier league 2011/12

[Iron]

Don't be surprised if Manchester United finish fourth or fifth.

Not very likely, although I'm biased!

Man United not only have a very strong squad, but they also have great team spirit, and are really enjoying themselves on the pitch. That's a deadly combination. As we've seen with Chelsea, you can have a team of world class players, but if they aren't firing on all cylinders, they won't necessarily win trophies...

I do wonder what Berbatov's morale is like though. He was joint top scorer in the Premiership last season, yet Fergie hasn't started him this season.

Jeff

[SilentDave]

United have a very deep squad.
This 11 consists of players who didn't start against Arsenal:-

Lindegard
Fabio, Vidic, Ferdinand, Rafael
Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs
Berbatov, Hernandez

Wenger is making the usual excuses saying they have players out but so too did United. You need a good squad to compete over the course of a premiership season. Troubled times at the Emirates.

[Iron]

Arsenal's results will only improve when they sort out whatever's causing the problem. It might just be that Wenger has been too pig headed to accept that he needs new players, but there may have been things going on behind the scenes.

But whatever the causes, IMHO it's a case of 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always had'...

Jeff

[freddy]

Utd have the strongest squad in the premier league by far imo, i said the same last season, but most did not agree, but i think they will by the end of this season .

[Iron]

Hi Freddy

Not sure I'd agree.

We have some very good players, but so do Chelsea and City. Success this season may boil down to which teams play with the greatest passion and focus.

Jeff

[freddy]

Exactly wich is why City will come up short imo,

a team of very expensive players, thrown together does not necessarily make them a strong squad / team.

Maybe on paper Utd and City seem equal,
but in the real world Utd have the edge

[Iron]

Possibly, although they have a very good manager and they've been in great form lately.

Chelsea's problem IMHO is that Abramovic won't simply stand back and let the manager call the shots. If he did, Morinho would probably still be in charge, and Chelsea would be winning titles for fun...

Jeff

[pdupre1961]

Chelsea's problem IMHO is that Abramovic won't simply stand back and let the manager call the shots. If he did, Morinho would probably still be in charge, and Chelsea would be winning titles for fun...

Jeff

Totally correct, IMO if Mourinho was still running Chelsea- they would have 7 Premier titles by now.

By the way I don't support Chelsea or Arsenal. But, can see the the reality of facts. Ferguson is NOT a good man manager. And, Man Utd only win the premier league by default. If something goes wrong with their finances they could disappear over night like Leeds.

Paul

[Iron]

Hi Paul

I wouldn't like to have Fergie as a boss, but I disagree. He gets the best of his players, whether it's by inspiring them or putting the fear of God into them!

That's why he's been able to compete with much wealthier clubs. He'll spot the raw talent in an under-rated player like Ronaldo or Chicharito, and turn them into a top performer.

If Fergie were a horse trainer, he'd specialise in buying 33-1 types, and turning them into odds on favourites!

Jeff

Ferguson is NOT a good man manager.

[pdupre1961]

Not true, if he worked in commerce - he would have been sacked for bullying.

And, if the Beckham incident was true - in jail as well...

[Iron]

Not true, if he work in commerce - he would have been sacked for bullying.

Quite possibly, although that doesn't mean it's not an effective approach.

He reminds me of a traditional army sargeant. If you work hard and do exactly what he says, he'll respect you. But if you're a free spirit and express your individuality, you're probably going to fall out with him, as David Beckham found out!

He seems to inspire a great deal of loyalty amongst his players, and I suspect he's one of those guys who you either love or hate. I imagine players either look up to him as almost a second father, or hate his guts!

Jeff

[pdupre1961]

The Man Utd fans may enjoy the success, however if the players themselves are bullied - what is the point. Life is a journey and if the journey is horrible you might as well give up.

Being bullied is a mind numbing experience - not enjoyable at all; which is why I left my job. For me I'd rather have nothing than allow someone else to control my life.

Ferguson is a bully full-stop. Anyone who praises that bastard is as bad as him. Not talking to the BBC for 7 years is pathetic, childlike. All bullies act like children. They should be outcast not revered, it's disgusting behaviour.

[Iron]

I agree about life being a journey, and I also despise bullying.

But if someone isn't playing with focus and passion, and a manager has tried friendly encouragement, there is a case for being more robust. If that player puts their all into their game as a result of the rude awakening, they'll benefit, as will the team. I'd liken it to a parent reading the riot act to an unruly child.

In a former job, I sometimes had to ask colleagues for assistance. Often, they'd dismissively tell me they were too busy, before continuing to chat about last night's Eastenders with the guy sat next to them.

I had a colleague who was a bit of a bully. When she needed help, she'd demand it, with thinly veiled threats to go to the MD if she didn't get it. Unsurprisingly, she got more co-operation than I did (although I don't approve of her methods). Sometimes the carrot doesn't work, and you need to use the stick...

Jeff

[pdupre1961]

Jeff,

I understand your point of view - but don't agree with it. Children should be treated like children (ie. carrot and stick - the moulding process) and adults should be treated like adults. If adults don't want to do some thing either sack them or point out the error of their ways. Don't bully them that's just childish.

Bullies get away with it because people are scared to stand up to them. It's an incompetence situation. If you can't get someone to do something the way you want it done it's not their fault it's yours. I had one boss I would always do what he wanted because I knew that he knew what he was talking about. Whereas my last boss knew less than me about my job. So, he tried to bully me into doing what he wanted - even though I knew he was wrong.

Maybe, you should take a course in psychology - then you would understand my point of view. And, not just accept the normal procedures you lay out above.

Paul

[freddy]

I understand why some people may not like Fergie as a man, based on the media perception,
but to say he's not a good man manager and has won everything by default is quite frankly ridiculas .

He is one of the best managers of all time
the stats just don't lie.

As for being a bully, well the players know where the door is if they don't like it and the fact that the likes of Giggs and Scholes and many many more have stayed with him for their whole career's speaks volumes.

It's not easy to deal with ego's the size of most professional footballers im sure.
Some need a arm round them and to be given a confidence boost, others need a massive bollocking from time to time. Fergie clearly does both and very very well.