In an interview for the New Statesman, Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that his biggest mistake as manager of Manchester United was allowing defender Jaap Stam to leave the club, while his biggest regret was not signing former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne. (The Times)
Fergie wanted gazza?
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Yep, it's a well-known story. Fergie talks about it in his autobiography.
Fergie thought he had Gazza signed until Terry Venables gazumped him by promising Gazza that if he moved to Spurs he would soon be in the England squad.
Considering Fergie's clamp down on the drinking culture at United you have to wonder whether things could have turned out differently for the footballing genius that was Gazza.
His personal problems are well-documented but what a player he was. He would have been immense for us.
Fergie thought he had Gazza signed until Terry Venables gazumped him by promising Gazza that if he moved to Spurs he would soon be in the England squad.
Considering Fergie's clamp down on the drinking culture at United you have to wonder whether things could have turned out differently for the footballing genius that was Gazza.
His personal problems are well-documented but what a player he was. He would have been immense for us.
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pity really he signed for the glamour of a london team like spurs. maybe under the teachings of fergie and with robbo to look out for him he could have become an even better player and not have his current problems.
RE Newstatesman interview: £3 for the magazine to read whole interview
RE Newstatesman interview: £3 for the magazine to read whole interview
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I know Gazza is messed up by more than just drink but I honestly think, if Fergie had signed him back in '87 or whatever, he could have really helped him. He wouldn't have gone off the rails, or maybe not as early as he did, and perhaps would have been an even better, not to mention more successful, footballer under Fergie's leadership.
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Shock Horror!
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gazza told fergie he was signing for utd ,then fergie received a phone call while on holiday saying that he had signed for spurs ,because spurs bought gazza's parents a house.
i think gazza regrets it far more than fergie when you consider how things have turned out.
i think gazza regrets it far more than fergie when you consider how things have turned out.
Good point. The whole gazza story is sad, but if he had one to United his life could have turned out so much differently. I guess we will never know.
But if he had Fergie keeping an eye over him rather than living it up in London he could have been twice the player.
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I try not to think about it too much because it hurts. Not just as a United fan but because of the way his life has gone and it could have been so much easier.
Imagine if we'd signed Gazza and Shearer!
Apparently also, this is slightly off topic, but apparently we tried to sign Pele after the 68' European Cup win but he chose to stay in Brazil! Can you imagine if we had Pele, Law, Best and Charlton in one team!!
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We also nearly signed Alfredo di Stefano but FA wouldn't let us pay the money... ********.
The one that always makes me laugh is Sheffield United nearly signed Maradonna but then decided against it... inspired lol.
The one that always makes me laugh is Sheffield United nearly signed Maradonna but then decided against it... inspired lol.
Funny that, i was going to mention diStefano when I read Richie's post. After the Munich crash he kindly offered to come play for United. I never heard about the FA bit though
I guess last week, should be ten years ago as well...
Godlike post, need more people like you on this forum.
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I thought that was di stefano, might have got the two the wrong way round ie. Di Stefano board didn't want and fa stopped sheffield signing Maradonna... i remember readin about them both a while ago... i'll find out for certain and comment on this.Funny that, i was going to mention diStefano when I read Richie's post. After the Munich crash he kindly offered to come play for United. I never heard about the FA bit though
You got a source for that? Cuz its the first time I've ever heard that about him or Pele. That would have been awesome, If we had him.Funny that, i was going to mention diStefano when I read Richie's post. After the Munich crash he kindly offered to come play for United. I never heard about the FA bit though
I got confused about diStefano joining. It was actually his team mate, the great Ferenc Puskas who offered to join United after the Munich disaster. However he didnt speak English and the move never materialised.
never heard about the Pele bit though.
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Who knows what would have happened, but too bad really and mostly for gazza. no doubt fergie would have turned him around.
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