Sir Alex Ferguson, finally losing the plot?
07th January 2012

Turning 70 at the end of 2011, and now well beyond 25 years in charge of Manchester United, is Sir Alex finally nearing the end of his reign at the top of English football?

He has been Manchester United's most successful manager and arguably the most successful manager in English club football, though has his bully boy tactics and aggressive style finally got the better of him and has he been found out with a potential mutiny from his most respected players.

Most recently United have lost a brace of league games in a row, something that is almost unheard of for this North West club, and with the FA cup clash against local rivals Manchester City looming that losing streak may continue.

 Having recently dropped his star player, Wayne Rooney, who was an Everton youth player, and bought for a fee of over £25 million, and then subsequently losing the match to lowly Blackburn Rovers, Ferguson has upset the team and potentially lost the dressing room. This is so much evident with the abject performance in their next game against Newcastle United, a team who are struggling for form.

In this recent match Ferguson had to substitute his high priced strikers because of poor performances. Does this show that the team are no longer playing for their manager?

Recently questioned during the pre-match press conference for the match against Manchester City, Ferguson showed the strain he was under with his usual bully tactics when questioned about the current problems.

Is this attitude an indication that the 70 year old is feeling the pace and the strain of other teams overtaking United and leaving them as just another also ran team, after all these years of dominance?

The current crisis at Old Trafford is so deep that the papers are speculating that the club may be forced to make a bid for Chelsea’s veteran midfielder Frank Lampard. Although the press have dismissed this link, deep down Sir Alex would welcome the inclusion of a player he has admired for many years. United's policy of buying younger players would be no issue if Lampard would become available, reinforcing the centre midfield which is a problem area for the team.

Sir Alex once said that Manchester City would never be favourites in a match against United, though following the crisis in Salford and the fact that City had already thrashed United 6-1 in the league, this weekend's game is a promise broken.

Although Ferguson is a show of calm in these times of doom and gloom for the club, his bullying behaviour is always a sign that there is a problem with the club, and unless he resolves it quickly it could really spell the end for this once great manager.

Further Reading:

• The Real Enemy of Football?

• Premier League Respect

• Bullying in junior football

• Soccer Parent - Road Rage