Semilong
JF-Expert Member
- Mar 5, 2009
- 1,712
- 219
If Manchester United win the title, it will be Sir Alex Ferguson's finest achievement. Not because he will have finally knocked Liverpool off their perch by claiming a record 19th championship. But because he will have done it with the worst team to ever lift the Premier League trophy.
This is not a vintage United side. Not by a long shot. Solid, yes. Effective, certainly. But there is none of the magic that normally characterises Ferguson's title-winning teams.
Despite the best efforts of the ever-improving Nani, Fergie doesn't have a Cantona, a Keane, a Beckham or a Ronaldo to lift the side in their hour of greatest need. Wayne Rooney's strike to win the derby last week was the best goal of this or any other season. But overall, the man who was expected to be a constant source of inspiration has been a shadow of his former self.
Indeed, the most influential members of United's squad are all in the twilight of their careers.
What Ferguson has done, at a time when other clubs have been spending tens of millions of pounds, has been astounding.
He has taken a couple of artists and a whole lot more artisans and stamped his personality on the group.
There are clubs in the league with better individual players than United, but they lack the organisation, know-how and sheer bloody mindedness of a manager who knows what it takes to win.
I've lost count of the times this season that people have said: "United won, but they're still not playing well."
Yet here we are in February and the Class of 2011 has lost just once in the league and seem certain to rewrite the record books.
Their collective spirit has eclipsed any individual weaknesses – and that is down to Ferguson.
He is the only manager in the top five who has been able to produce a team that is much greater than the sum of its constituent parts.
In previous years, United have won championships because they have the best players. It was that simple.
That's why I didn't think they had a chance of finishing top of the pile this time.
It seems that I was a fool to underestimate the influence of a certain 69-year-old Scotsman.
lakini ferguson kiboko, yaani ukiiangalia wale wachezaji hawatishi lakini as a team wako very effective
kila la kheri man utd
hongereni kwa kuchukua kombe kabla ligi haijaisha
This is not a vintage United side. Not by a long shot. Solid, yes. Effective, certainly. But there is none of the magic that normally characterises Ferguson's title-winning teams.
Despite the best efforts of the ever-improving Nani, Fergie doesn't have a Cantona, a Keane, a Beckham or a Ronaldo to lift the side in their hour of greatest need. Wayne Rooney's strike to win the derby last week was the best goal of this or any other season. But overall, the man who was expected to be a constant source of inspiration has been a shadow of his former self.
Indeed, the most influential members of United's squad are all in the twilight of their careers.
What Ferguson has done, at a time when other clubs have been spending tens of millions of pounds, has been astounding.
He has taken a couple of artists and a whole lot more artisans and stamped his personality on the group.
There are clubs in the league with better individual players than United, but they lack the organisation, know-how and sheer bloody mindedness of a manager who knows what it takes to win.
I've lost count of the times this season that people have said: "United won, but they're still not playing well."
Yet here we are in February and the Class of 2011 has lost just once in the league and seem certain to rewrite the record books.
Their collective spirit has eclipsed any individual weaknesses – and that is down to Ferguson.
He is the only manager in the top five who has been able to produce a team that is much greater than the sum of its constituent parts.
In previous years, United have won championships because they have the best players. It was that simple.
That's why I didn't think they had a chance of finishing top of the pile this time.
It seems that I was a fool to underestimate the influence of a certain 69-year-old Scotsman.
lakini ferguson kiboko, yaani ukiiangalia wale wachezaji hawatishi lakini as a team wako very effective
kila la kheri man utd
hongereni kwa kuchukua kombe kabla ligi haijaisha
