carlyluvsunited
18-11-2007, 01:18 PM
Is Mark Hughes really the bookies’ favourite to succeed Sir Alex when he steps
down as United boss?
That’s what the Manchester Evening News is saying. A hack at the Lancashire
Telegraph went further and added credibility to his tip by quoting a William Hill
source.
“Even Sir Alex cannot go on forever, but he will be a tough act to follow and there
will be no shortage of world-class candidates” said Hill’s spokesman Graham
Sharpe.
“Roy Keane and Carlos Queiroz are joint second favourites, followed by Martin
O’Neill; Jose Mourinho; Marcelo Lippi and Sven Goran Eriksson.”
Both newspaper hacks were clearly impressed. After all, bookmakers don’t amass
Bentleys and mansions by acting on wrong intelligence. As such, the MEN
scribbler claimed that not only was the succession done and dusted but that
Hughes would take over from Ferguson to universal acclaim.
“When that day eventually arrives there wouldn’t be a dissenting voice among
the Reds’ faithful if the 44-year-old Welsh warrior was handed the job,” the
newspaper thundered. “Take a look back in the archives of the kid from Ruabon,
in North Wales, and it’s a career path forged by the football gods. His progress
will be monitored closely in the red half of Manchester and it might just be worth
a flutter - the bookies are seldom wrong.”
Hughes’ candidature would have looked so much stronger had United not
sauntered past his Blackburn side just one week ago, as Sir Alex was quick to
remind her Majesty’s press corps.
“Whenever I play a team managed by one of my former players it crops up. It’s
unfair and I’m almost being shoved out of the door quicker than I want to! But
I’m fit and healthy and as long as I am I’ll want to carry on.”
Yet as the manager starts his 22nd year in charge at United and edges ever
closer to 70 years of age, the list of those worthy enough of inheriting the Red
Kingdom is being refined. Hughes, smart, resourceful and a rising manager with
impeccable Red credentials, has never had so many media champions.
Writing in the Telegraph, telly pundit Alan Hansen stated: “If you are a chairman
of a leading club, you do not necessarily want a manager for whom flamboyant
football comes as standard. You want someone whose first priority is to make
the side hard to beat and who then builds on that. You want someone whose
record in the transfer market is solid - because you would be trusting a manager
with £20 million cheques. Hughes’ record in all these respects is very similar to
that of Ferguson himself.”
Hansen had more to say in a long homage to Hughes but the Welshman hardly
requires another to talk up his right to be considered a serious contender for the
United throne.
“I like to think that the job I’m doing, people think that I have the capability to
take a top job,” he volunteered. “As a player I always wanted to be the best
that I could be, and as a manager I’ll try to do the same. How far that takes me
we’ll have to wait and see.
“I’ve shown I can affect football teams and make them better than they were
before I was involved. I think I’ve shown I can do that on two occasions now.”
Nevertheless, the casting for the new United king is unlikely to be a Red beauty
contest. Despite Hughes’ qualities, the gaps in his CV surely defy the bookies’
favourable odds. His record as Wales boss is mixed but deserving of more
respect than current Wales boss John Toshack has mustered. European failure
also counts against the Red legend too.
However, his work at Blackburn is impressive, even though the team has yet to
contest a major cup final or threaten seriously the Champions League grip of the
Big Four. Last week’s Old Trafford mauling gave little hint that Blackburn are
better prepared for the task this term.
When the Glazers, or their successors, sit down to choose the new United
helmsman, Hughes is likely to feature on the shortlist. Surely, only Ferguson’s
insistence that he should be followed into the hot seat by his former leading
striker would put Hughes at the very top. Having tipped Carlos Queiroz as
a “strong candidate” last September, Ferguson has already given a powerful
indication of his preference.
Louis Saha is another United striker with much to look forward to and a lot more
to prove, as he revealed to United radio listeners.
“I get fed up always talking about my return, so I’m very happy to be back on the
pitch,” he said. “The team are playing good football, scoring goals and are up for
the challenge of maintaining this form for the rest of the season.
“The confidence in the dressing room is high. We have three world class players
in Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, and it’s tremendous to
have them in the side.
“They’re all younger than me but I can learn so much from them. I’m pretty happy
right now and I couldn’t ask for more. I like to see the team playing well and
scoring goals, so if I can be part of that I’m happy.”
Saha’s joy is matched only by Sir Alex’s contentment as he surveys the strongest
squad he has directed in 21 years at United.
“The point I make is that in terms of the size of the squad and the quality I think
it’s the best we’ve had,” he said. “This is what I have been working towards. I
don’t like the short-term fix — I prefer to see a pool of players emerge and
develop into something special which, believe me, is what is happening this
season.
“The signs are good, although we have to keep winning to show how good we
are.”
What possessed the manager to make public such private confidence? The
Guardian offered an essay in deciphering Ferguson’s motivation.
“A manager’s comments are seldom dictated by a craving to tell the truth and
Ferguson could be determined to wrench away a spotlight trained on Arsenal,”
the newspaper advised. “Such a message might also be designed to maintain
excitement at Old Trafford.
“Ferguson’s current delight is probably specific and one of his purposes was to
stress the sheer number of accomplished players in his squad. That wealth of
alternatives has already served him well and it is harder than ever to be certain
of what the strongest Old Trafford line-up now is.”
What is certain is that Ferguson has added fresh urgency to the inevitable
discussion of how success will be measured this season? Not so long ago, former
boss Tommy Docherty was roundly scolded when he claimed that United needed
to win the Quadruple in order to justify Ferguson’s summer spending. That is a
pipe dream now but if this is Ferguson’s strongest ever squad, is it not right to
imagine that another Treble is within United’s compass?
Surely, massive disappointment followed by recrimination will be the order of the
day if United cannot match the silverware delivered last term, as a minimum
requirement. Perhaps, that was Sir Alex’s point – a mind game on his own
players?
However, the Mirror’s Oliver Holt and other Fergie-baiters will know a hostage to
fortune when they see it. Their vitriol in the event of a United stumble will be
terrible and dreadful.
The Guardian advertised why some observers still believe United have questions
to answer and cannot take for granted an open-topped bus tour around the
streets of Manchester next May.
“In some respects the awe over United depends on a mass outbreak of
amnesia,” the newspaper ventured. “Have the memory banks truly been robbed
of the recollection that the Premier League schedule opened with a goalless
draw at home to Reading? Half a dozen fixtures ensued in each of which United
scored just once.
“It is too soon to visualise United as winners of the Champions League. Has
enough altered since Milan’s contemptuous 3-0 victory at San Siro in the semi
-finals?
“For the time being the present line can nurse its dreams while being proud just
to have stirred memories of great days at Old Trafford.”www.absolutelyunited.com
Click below to join manutdtalk.com and read all
breaking news on all things United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
down as United boss?
That’s what the Manchester Evening News is saying. A hack at the Lancashire
Telegraph went further and added credibility to his tip by quoting a William Hill
source.
“Even Sir Alex cannot go on forever, but he will be a tough act to follow and there
will be no shortage of world-class candidates” said Hill’s spokesman Graham
Sharpe.
“Roy Keane and Carlos Queiroz are joint second favourites, followed by Martin
O’Neill; Jose Mourinho; Marcelo Lippi and Sven Goran Eriksson.”
Both newspaper hacks were clearly impressed. After all, bookmakers don’t amass
Bentleys and mansions by acting on wrong intelligence. As such, the MEN
scribbler claimed that not only was the succession done and dusted but that
Hughes would take over from Ferguson to universal acclaim.
“When that day eventually arrives there wouldn’t be a dissenting voice among
the Reds’ faithful if the 44-year-old Welsh warrior was handed the job,” the
newspaper thundered. “Take a look back in the archives of the kid from Ruabon,
in North Wales, and it’s a career path forged by the football gods. His progress
will be monitored closely in the red half of Manchester and it might just be worth
a flutter - the bookies are seldom wrong.”
Hughes’ candidature would have looked so much stronger had United not
sauntered past his Blackburn side just one week ago, as Sir Alex was quick to
remind her Majesty’s press corps.
“Whenever I play a team managed by one of my former players it crops up. It’s
unfair and I’m almost being shoved out of the door quicker than I want to! But
I’m fit and healthy and as long as I am I’ll want to carry on.”
Yet as the manager starts his 22nd year in charge at United and edges ever
closer to 70 years of age, the list of those worthy enough of inheriting the Red
Kingdom is being refined. Hughes, smart, resourceful and a rising manager with
impeccable Red credentials, has never had so many media champions.
Writing in the Telegraph, telly pundit Alan Hansen stated: “If you are a chairman
of a leading club, you do not necessarily want a manager for whom flamboyant
football comes as standard. You want someone whose first priority is to make
the side hard to beat and who then builds on that. You want someone whose
record in the transfer market is solid - because you would be trusting a manager
with £20 million cheques. Hughes’ record in all these respects is very similar to
that of Ferguson himself.”
Hansen had more to say in a long homage to Hughes but the Welshman hardly
requires another to talk up his right to be considered a serious contender for the
United throne.
“I like to think that the job I’m doing, people think that I have the capability to
take a top job,” he volunteered. “As a player I always wanted to be the best
that I could be, and as a manager I’ll try to do the same. How far that takes me
we’ll have to wait and see.
“I’ve shown I can affect football teams and make them better than they were
before I was involved. I think I’ve shown I can do that on two occasions now.”
Nevertheless, the casting for the new United king is unlikely to be a Red beauty
contest. Despite Hughes’ qualities, the gaps in his CV surely defy the bookies’
favourable odds. His record as Wales boss is mixed but deserving of more
respect than current Wales boss John Toshack has mustered. European failure
also counts against the Red legend too.
However, his work at Blackburn is impressive, even though the team has yet to
contest a major cup final or threaten seriously the Champions League grip of the
Big Four. Last week’s Old Trafford mauling gave little hint that Blackburn are
better prepared for the task this term.
When the Glazers, or their successors, sit down to choose the new United
helmsman, Hughes is likely to feature on the shortlist. Surely, only Ferguson’s
insistence that he should be followed into the hot seat by his former leading
striker would put Hughes at the very top. Having tipped Carlos Queiroz as
a “strong candidate” last September, Ferguson has already given a powerful
indication of his preference.
Louis Saha is another United striker with much to look forward to and a lot more
to prove, as he revealed to United radio listeners.
“I get fed up always talking about my return, so I’m very happy to be back on the
pitch,” he said. “The team are playing good football, scoring goals and are up for
the challenge of maintaining this form for the rest of the season.
“The confidence in the dressing room is high. We have three world class players
in Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, and it’s tremendous to
have them in the side.
“They’re all younger than me but I can learn so much from them. I’m pretty happy
right now and I couldn’t ask for more. I like to see the team playing well and
scoring goals, so if I can be part of that I’m happy.”
Saha’s joy is matched only by Sir Alex’s contentment as he surveys the strongest
squad he has directed in 21 years at United.
“The point I make is that in terms of the size of the squad and the quality I think
it’s the best we’ve had,” he said. “This is what I have been working towards. I
don’t like the short-term fix — I prefer to see a pool of players emerge and
develop into something special which, believe me, is what is happening this
season.
“The signs are good, although we have to keep winning to show how good we
are.”
What possessed the manager to make public such private confidence? The
Guardian offered an essay in deciphering Ferguson’s motivation.
“A manager’s comments are seldom dictated by a craving to tell the truth and
Ferguson could be determined to wrench away a spotlight trained on Arsenal,”
the newspaper advised. “Such a message might also be designed to maintain
excitement at Old Trafford.
“Ferguson’s current delight is probably specific and one of his purposes was to
stress the sheer number of accomplished players in his squad. That wealth of
alternatives has already served him well and it is harder than ever to be certain
of what the strongest Old Trafford line-up now is.”
What is certain is that Ferguson has added fresh urgency to the inevitable
discussion of how success will be measured this season? Not so long ago, former
boss Tommy Docherty was roundly scolded when he claimed that United needed
to win the Quadruple in order to justify Ferguson’s summer spending. That is a
pipe dream now but if this is Ferguson’s strongest ever squad, is it not right to
imagine that another Treble is within United’s compass?
Surely, massive disappointment followed by recrimination will be the order of the
day if United cannot match the silverware delivered last term, as a minimum
requirement. Perhaps, that was Sir Alex’s point – a mind game on his own
players?
However, the Mirror’s Oliver Holt and other Fergie-baiters will know a hostage to
fortune when they see it. Their vitriol in the event of a United stumble will be
terrible and dreadful.
The Guardian advertised why some observers still believe United have questions
to answer and cannot take for granted an open-topped bus tour around the
streets of Manchester next May.
“In some respects the awe over United depends on a mass outbreak of
amnesia,” the newspaper ventured. “Have the memory banks truly been robbed
of the recollection that the Premier League schedule opened with a goalless
draw at home to Reading? Half a dozen fixtures ensued in each of which United
scored just once.
“It is too soon to visualise United as winners of the Champions League. Has
enough altered since Milan’s contemptuous 3-0 victory at San Siro in the semi
-finals?
“For the time being the present line can nurse its dreams while being proud just
to have stirred memories of great days at Old Trafford.”www.absolutelyunited.com
Click below to join manutdtalk.com and read all
breaking news on all things United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php