That really would be huge. He could be super diplomatic and say they've done OK by him during his managerial reign and whatnot but that it is in the club's best interest that they sell now. He can't really be silent and on the payroll while we potentially watch this opportunity fade and continue our journey into humiliating obscurity.
Will SAF use this moment to speak up?
- Thread starter Bastian
- Start date
I love big man but he will not go openly against Glazers. No chance.
As much as I love the man, one of the biggest gripes I had with him was how much he was shilling for the parasites. He was full of nothing but praise for them during his tenure.
Absolutely no chance. He's the reason they took over in the first place and never said a bad word about them. They basically let him run the club exactly how he wanted to, unlimited power.
He deserves to retire. If the club decided to pay him for a certain role so he can stay busy he also deserves it. Leave him alone.
With respect, that doesn't make sense. 'He deserves to retire' (I think you meant deserved) but also 'If the club decided to pay him for a certain role so he can stay busy he also deserves it....' (I think you meant decides) both can't be right. It is a cake and eat it situation, you retire and get a pension or you stay with the company and get paid, but the trouble is if you take the pension route and the company tanks you are blameless, but if you are still 'keeping busy' and it all goes wrong, you become part of the problem...
I've just been watching a youtube video - a chat show thing with Gary Neville and Roy Keane and it is very interesting. There was a bit about how ruthless Sir Alex was at the end of Keane's time at United which made me think: how odd that nobody has been ruthless with him.
Compare my club and yours: there were some calls to give Arsene Wenger a senior role after his many years of service at Arsenal, but it didn't happen. Even without that, his replacement Unai Emery struggled. But fingers crossed we seem to be over that now. Contrast that with United where a succession of managers have tried to replicate Sir Alex's success, but all the time with him in the background - it makes it ten times more difficult, it must do.
As regards the OP - he never will speak out against the Glazers, not even a little bit. As the Keane video showed, both that legendary midfielder and the legendary ex-Manager share certain characteristics - both are incredibly stubborn, incredibly self-confident and neither are likely to ever admit to past mistakes. Alex Ferguson speaking out against the Glazers? Man Utd. have more chance of winning the PL this season, than that happening.
He was manager and had to work with them. What good would it have been to slag them off? Do you slag off the bosses of who you work for?
And give up on the gravy train? Sadly, no.
I do think that the likes of Gary Neville should call him out for it, though. If you are going after the Glazers (as Neville is finally now doing), you also really have to go after those who cover for/protect them.
At some point you'd hope that Fergie (and Gill) would recognise that they are rich enough already and that watching the Glazers shredding their legacy is not something they are prepared to put up with any longer.
I do think that the likes of Gary Neville should call him out for it, though. If you are going after the Glazers (as Neville is finally now doing), you also really have to go after those who cover for/protect them.
At some point you'd hope that Fergie (and Gill) would recognise that they are rich enough already and that watching the Glazers shredding their legacy is not something they are prepared to put up with any longer.
No chance in hell he speaks against them.
I assume you've had a job before.
Do you think it would have been wise to openly come out against your manager/company owner?
Probably wouldn't be the wisest bet.
No. Simply put. It won't ever happen.
SAF likes his money. He won't say anything against those who allow him to be a director at age 80
Absolutely no chance.I agree. Neville has called on Ronaldo to say something. It would be far more powerful to call on SAF to do so. I love Fergie but he is watching the club burning, I feel like he should say something tbh.
Respectfully but...
People really need to let go of SAF. We need to move on from him.
That's a myth. Magnier would have cashed in on his shares eventually, horse lawsuit with Fergie or not.
He was the manager. The best manager I agree. But still he was an employee and he had Gill above him too. For sure he must have a non disclosure agreement too. There is no reason for him to speak up against them. They were good to him. He was their employee only.
Sir Alex is not an answer to our current problems and we should’ve moved on a long while back.
He’s still on Glazers payroll and he never said a bad word about them. GOAT manager and the biggest legend of our club (perhaps of British football in general) but the sooner we manage to make a clean cut from the Glazers-post SAF era, without giving too much power to former managers and players, the better. Let’s leave him out of this discussion because if we were to be brutally honest some could really claim there’s a conflict of interest between United fans and Sir Alex at the moment.
He’s still on Glazers payroll and he never said a bad word about them. GOAT manager and the biggest legend of our club (perhaps of British football in general) but the sooner we manage to make a clean cut from the Glazers-post SAF era, without giving too much power to former managers and players, the better. Let’s leave him out of this discussion because if we were to be brutally honest some could really claim there’s a conflict of interest between United fans and Sir Alex at the moment.
People forget Fergie has a good personal relationship with the Glazers. Anyone expecting him to speak is deceiving themselves.
He probably has a sense of loyalty to them after they made sure he was well taken care of since their takeover. There's even a snippet in his book where he mentions that they gave him a clause in his contract that would bump his salary higher than the highest earning player, so he could symbolically be the top earner at the club and maintain that authority over everyone.
With all respect, let's forget about Alex Ferguson.
He was the greatest part of our great past, but at age 80 he will not be part of the future. Leave the man alone.
He was the greatest part of our great past, but at age 80 he will not be part of the future. Leave the man alone.
No onus on Ferguson to stick his neck out. He’s a professional and a gentleman. Not an hysterical, blabbering fan such as Neville (who I do mostly agree with).
Absolutely no chance of that. He had plenty of opportunity over the years and said feck all. I can't see him starting now.
Sorry to be depressing but I think people are vastly overestimating this ''moment''. It's one news story about a billionaire who might be interested in buying United some day in the future, the Glazers are selling a tiny percentage of shares and a walk out protest which will most likely fail to empty even half the stadium.
Is he due to speak about it or something? Or are we just hoping he talks off his own accord?
Nope but I don't openly lick their cracks either... He said that the Glazers were a great family and were excellent for United, they were not, then, now or ever.
I mean, apart from the obvious mentality difference, it’s worth noting that one is paid by the Glazers while the other is making money through his meltdowns, social media engagement and jumping on bandwagons that get most clicks and views. At the moment I have little doubt they both prioritize their own interest and it would be silly to be surprised by this.
Not a chance. He didn't have any issues with them when he was manager and he's currently employed at the club as a director.
Absolutely, good point.
We all adore footballs greatest manager but I've never really understood why he doesn't speak out against them. He's the Godfather of management and the biggest hero for all United fans. He doesn't need the directors seat.
Well there will certainly ever be a moment with this kind of thinking.
No value
SAF is gone
Can we let him stay gone please.
He managed United in a different era and it will never be the same again. Ever.
Can we let him stay gone please.
He managed United in a different era and it will never be the same again. Ever.
Redcafe and thinking anyone in their right mind openly talks shit about their employers. The most iconic duo.
david squires in his weekly guardian strip, refers to SAF as the 'only me' character from harry enfield's show; it's the perfect analogy for him.
Why would he ? Why should he ? He is another director of this organization. You don't go against your employer when you are in their payroll.
People are so blind to see the most relevant things.
People are so blind to see the most relevant things.
It's not the money imo. It's that it would reflect badly on the club, in his mind.
We can't think(Or post)our way to the Glazer selling the club. It's nice that people are optimistic but not a lot has change. Dare I say Fergie(The guy knows United better than anyone else and in his younger days organised workplaces) has a better understanding of power then fans wanting to lob golf balls onto the Old Trafford pitch or people who thinking leaving a match they've already paid for is somehow ''hurting'' the owners.
I agree with @tenpoless, although worded incorrectly.
He has a role as a director, but its a specific role. He's semi retired, and has some duties as a representative or to give advice. It's not his responsibility to speak out, nor is it right to expect him to do so. He's an old man who has had major health issues. He doesn't need the burden. Nor, to be honest, do I think it's fair to assume he would even know what to say, or how exactly to fix the mess the club is in. He's not the messiah, nor is he a spokesperson for the fans, nor does have the power to change the ownership. Speaking out against the Glazers would do nothing except win him some brownie points with the fans, and he isn't exactly short of credit on those.