Ferguson salutes United golden oldies

1st January 2009, 11:25

Quote:

SIR Alex Ferguson celebrates his 67th birthday today convinced United’s golden oldies are going to lead him to yet more silverware.

Fergie watched his side move to within seven points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with victory against Middlesbrough on Monday and he is sure the experience of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville will steer United’s New Year charge.

The three veterans played their part in back-to-back wins over Christmas, and Ferguson reckons their title-winning know-how will see United close the gap on Rafa Benitez’ side.

“It has been a great year,” said Ferguson. “We’ve won four trophies, including the Community Shield – and want more.

“They are a young side and they are hungry, but what really helps them is Neville, Giggs and Scholes.

“You saw them at Stoke and not one of them made a mistake. Between the three of them they were magnificent.

“I brought on Neville and Scholes against Middlesbrough and that made a difference.

“They are showing the rest of the players how you win titles. It’s that experience that will help us.”

Ferguson accepts that the biggest threat to United’s title defence is an impending fixture backlog.

They already have two games to make up on Liverpool and Chelsea, and they could have yet another if they reach the Carling Cup final.

But Fergie is confident he has built a squad strong enough to cope with the four-pronged assault on the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.

“The key now is how we handle the second half of the season,” he said. “We haven’t taken this on blindly.

“I have been planning for this pressure by creating a squad that gives me options, and the manpower to make changes without weakening the team.

“Our pool of players is getting stronger, as the younger lads mature and come into the squad at a level where I can play them, knowing that they will perform.”

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...._golden_oldies

Feed Me · 1st January 2009, 12:04

They've been there and done it over and over again. It is great to have recourse to the likes of Scholes and Neville from the bench!

None of our rivals can match us in the depth department.

a_devil_inside · 1st January 2009, 13:11

what about Edwin

Feed Me · 1st January 2009, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_devil_inside

what about Edwin

He's not really part of the group in the sense that they all came through the ranks together.

Edwin has a lot of experience, but has been at United for only a relatively short spell. Ronaldo is more of a United veteran than VDS.

Brwned · 1st January 2009, 13:53

He's right too, Neville and Scholes were two of our best players in the last two matches IMO.

There's no doubt they're still an important part of our team as a group and as individuals.

Successful · 1st January 2009, 14:52

I was thinking about all the praise Wenger gets for his youngsters and how he produce his own players the other day when we had a team filled with home grown players. It is probably up for discussion but is it fair to say Ronaldo/Rooney came through our ranks? I mean they were 17-18 when they came here. It's not as if Wenger give birth to his own men either.

We had
O'shea
Neville
Scholes
Giggs
Gibson
Welbeck
Evans
Fletcher

And up for discussion due to SAF turning them into what they are now or for the sake of just being young.

Rooney
Ronaldo
Rafael
Possebon
Nani
Anderson

On top of that SAF manage to hold on to his players and get 100% use of the gold he turned them into, apart from Wenger who produce players but lose them whenever they get any good or they just tend to fade away. BIG DIFFERENCE in coaching style!

Having these players like Giggs, Scholes and Neville coming on instead of some fresh card like Benayoun, Babel, Arbeloa... Ramsey, Song, Eboue etc, how could you even compare it??

JezChan · 1st January 2009, 14:59

Don't forget Anderson!

EZee · 1st January 2009, 15:03

Neville---Brown---O'shea---Neville
Beckham-Fletcher---Butt---Giggs
----------welbeck--Scholes------

evans, martin, gibson, campbell, robins

not a bad team there... though i cant think of any keepers who have come through....

then when you add in the players he brought for not a lot at a young age...
rossi, pique, rafael, fabio, possebon, sharpe, foster...

and the young players he spent a lot on
rooney, ronaldo, nani, anderson...

well its pretty impressive...

-------------------Foster---------------
Neville-----Brown--------O'shea---Neville
Beckham----Scholes----Anderson---Giggs
------------Ronaldo-----Rooney---------

9 of them still at united and beckham + neville still playing for top clubs...

1st January 2009, 14:52	#6 (permalink)
Successful Straight Guy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On top of the league Posts: 3,471	I was thinking about all the praise Wenger gets for his youngsters and how he produce his own players the other day when we had a team filled with home grown players. It is probably up for discussion but is it fair to say Ronaldo/Rooney came through our ranks? I mean they were 17-18 when they came here. It's not as if Wenger give birth to his own men either. We had O'shea Neville Scholes Giggs Gibson Welbeck Evans Fletcher And up for discussion due to SAF turning them into what they are now or for the sake of just being young. Rooney Ronaldo Rafael Possebon Nani Anderson On top of that SAF manage to hold on to his players and get 100% use of the gold he turned them into, apart from Wenger who produce players but lose them whenever they get any good or they just tend to fade away. BIG DIFFERENCE in coaching style! Having these players like Giggs, Scholes and Neville coming on instead of some fresh card like Benayoun, Babel, Arbeloa... Ramsey, Song, Eboue etc, how could you even compare it?? Last edited by Successful; 1st January 2009 at 15:18. Reason: Forgot about Anderson

RedCafe.net

The Leading Manchester United Forum

Member's Login

Site Announcements

Ferguson salutes United golden oldies

Latest Forum Topics

Jump to Forum

Not yet registered?

1st January 2009, 12:04	#2 (permalink)
Feed Me Bobby Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Berbatov has Cantona’s knack of being the man amid a stampede towards the door who stops to notice a side exit that nobody else has seen. Posts: 12,557	They've been there and done it over and over again. It is great to have recourse to the likes of Scholes and Neville from the bench! None of our rivals can match us in the depth department.

1st January 2009, 13:11	#3 (permalink)
a_devil_inside Big footed hermaphrodite Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Little Britain Posts: 29,984	what about Edwin

1st January 2009, 13:53	#5 (permalink)
Brwned Even with a deformed penis, talks more sense than ILF Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jairzinho: "When the ball is at Ronaldo’s feet it’s like the team has already scored half a goal." Zidane: "Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation." Posts: 23,586	He's right too, Neville and Scholes were two of our best players in the last two matches IMO. There's no doubt they're still an important part of our team as a group and as individuals.

1st January 2009, 14:59	#7 (permalink)
JezChan Reserve Team Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,272	Don't forget Anderson!

1st January 2009, 15:03	#8 (permalink)
EZee First Team Sub Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Where Angels Play Posts: 9,509	Neville---Brown---O'shea---Neville Beckham-Fletcher---Butt---Giggs ----------welbeck--Scholes------ evans, martin, gibson, campbell, robins not a bad team there... though i cant think of any keepers who have come through.... then when you add in the players he brought for not a lot at a young age... rossi, pique, rafael, fabio, possebon, sharpe, foster... and the young players he spent a lot on rooney, ronaldo, nani, anderson... well its pretty impressive... -------------------Foster--------------- Neville-----Brown--------O'shea---Neville Beckham----Scholes----Anderson---Giggs ------------Ronaldo-----Rooney--------- 9 of them still at united and beckham + neville still playing for top clubs...