Is this Sir Alex Ferguson's Final Season?

charlenefan

Seems to be more and more talk from supporters this season more than any other that he will call it a day at the end of the season which got me thinking about the way we're playing this season, most specifically the mentality of the team and the way we're defending and how it compares to prior seasons and the way we've started this season to me is most comparable with the 2001/2002 season which at that time was to be Fergie's final year

It's often spoken about how knowing the manager was leaving effected the players so I started to wonder whether the complacency that we've start games with this season, the way we've defended and even the way we've fought back (see the 3-5 at Spurs in 2001) is all due to the players knowing something that the supporters dont. This season has obviously also seen the unveiling of the statue.

So what do we think is this Fergie's last season Yes or No?

Ballache

I think he will retire when he wins the CL again. Seeing as that is unlikely to happen this season, i would say no. He will be here next season at least.

Hernandez - BFA

I think not.

Twigginater

I have a horrible feeling that it will be yes.

You just have to look at the naming of the stand. The statue. It feels like something they'd do now so they don't have to overshadow the next manager.

It scares me.

Shane88

I think it is. No great insight as to why, just a gut feeling.

IrishLegend

I just have a feeling it is, what with the statue and all.

Personally I think at the end of the season Fergie will step down (or upstairs more like it), JM will leave Real and replace Fergie.

Suedesi

I think it is. The stand, the statue....

KM

I think it is his last season. Horrible gut feeling.

verminater

I think so, for the reasons mentioned.
Giggs an Scholes, too.

Carl

I don't even think Fergie knows when he'll retire.

Ballache

would we really risk losing him, Giggs and Scholes in one season? I don't know, i Think Giggs and Scholes will leave this season and SAF will leave next season or the one after.

verminater

Not really the thread to discuss it, but even with half the midfield in the treatment room, most people don't want them in their starting eleven.

Edited for fuck-up.
Think Fergie may see it a tidy end.

RedDevilCanuck

Why would Fergie retire when he is smack dab in the middle of building his final team?

Cutch

I'm the same actually

Irwynwastheking

Shut up all of you. We shouldn't have to cope with this cold turkey.

Drifter

The revealing of the statue , did make me think seriously about whether SAF is winding down this season , but i feel he will give it another season.

sammsky1

No, 2 more seasons after this one at least.

Happy Dayz

acnumber9

If it was the people here complaining about him now would quickly learn how stupid they've been.

acnumber9

Most people are idiots.

Baxter

If we win the CL then I think so. If not, a couple more attempts to win it I think.

JustAFan

Basically for about the past 3 or 4 years I have been feeling that any given year could be his last. We all know it is probably close, so yes this season could be his last.

verminater

If I've put your punctuation in the right places, then where are the people here critcising him?

Sunny Jim

he will do Jock Stein. mark my words.

Ekeke

No. But its coming.

sammsky1

for purely selfish reasons, i hope that is his God willed fate!

Fergus' son

The statue was to commemorate his 25th year as far as I'm concerned, not reading anything more into that.

Sunny Jim

i too hope so

acnumber9

On the forum or in this thread? If you mean the forum in general many have done nothing but whine about his decisions all season.

kps88

The statue was in the works for a couple of years. So unless they knew two years back he was going to retire in 2013, I wouldn't read too much into it.

I think he'll carry on as along as he can. I certainly don't think he would have told the players even if it was his last season, so I can't see it having any effect on our performances.

verminater

No. I meant this thread, but if you were referring to the forum, then I can't disagree with you.

Sparky_Hughes

Nah, hes only just getting started.

manutddjw

No.

For all the flack they've been taking recently, we can thank both Giggs and Scholes for staying on and keeping Sir Alex from retiring. His last job will be finally replacing both of them and he won't leave United or his successor with such a huge problem in our midfield when they both retire and we have no one else to turn to. Besides he's currently in the middle of rebuilding his final squad and will probably want to see it through before retiring.

R0nald0

I think he will put the club first and so leave not when it suits him but when it suits us and there is a suitable successor. The fact that the two best managers on the planet after Sir Alex may be available this summer, may have a big influence.

verminater

I've followed the Doc, Sexton, BFR, yet I still can't imagine Fergie not being there.

Summit

I think it could be his last. Sir Alex has always said that he will carry on as long as he is fit and healthy. Well that still might be the case, but he did have that health scare in May of this year and maybe that might be playing on his mind.

acnumber9

I would like to think a thread about this possibly bein his final will continue to be conducted with he respect and admiration the man deserves. As far as he initial question goes. The players don't know if it's his last year so I doubt it's having any impact on performances.

Solius

No. All of you shut the fuck up. Lies.

Platato

Same here verm. Wonder how it feels for those who have only known Fergie as the manager of Manchester United.

Hard to say when he will retire. I think he wants another CL before he goes.
I also think some posters are entertaining the idea due to Pep's sabbatical ending this year and the possibility of Mou managing United but that type of discussion is for another thread.

Certainly will feel strange waking up and seeing a different face at the press conferences, in press releases and such.

Ruud10

No.

If we bag a treble this season, then yes. But I don't see us bagging a treble this season. 1, maybe 2 seasons after the end of the 12-13 season. Call me crazy, but I see Fergie landing one more CL trophy, then he steps down.

Timdbro

I haven't really had the impression that he's planning to leave, no. He might be forced to for health reasons or something but that's not really what you're referring to. I think he definitely wants to leave on a high (most mention the cl but a league title and a cl semi or final would probably do) but he also wants to leave a team that has a solid spine set up for years to come. He basically doesn't want to see us lose our position as best club in the country in his lifetime. That spine is very much a work in progress right now, so as I said I don't think he's planning on leaving at the moment.