Fergie - "I only ever had 4 world class players"

[Eyepopper]

"I don't mean to demean or criticise any of the great or very good footballers who played for me during my 26-year career at United, but there were only four who were world class: Cantona, Giggs, Ronaldo and Scholes.

And of the four Cristiano was like an ornament on the top of a Christmas tree."

Controversial...

 

[Tommy]

What year is it?

Going by his definition of World Class, I don't think it's too outrageous, except maybe the omission of Big Pete & Keane.

 

[spwd]

Where’s that quote from?, also he’s obviously wrong, that’s just his opinion .

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Evra, Vidic, VDS and Rooney and Rio.

 

[adexkola]

His definition of world class is unique.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

fecking Jose and his bullshit, again.

 

[spwd]

Evra, Vidic, VDS and Rooney and Rio.

What about Pete?

 

[Tarrou]

Keano surely?

 

[Eyepopper]

Where’s that quote from?

His book 'Leading'

 

[100]

No Dong?

 

[spwd]

Keano surely?

And Staam?

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

What about Pete?

I should have mentioned those were the players I've seen that he should have mentioned.

 

[Minimalist]

Wasn't this a quote from ages ago in his leadership book? (which was shite by the way)

 

[Eyepopper]

Evra, Vidic, VDS and Rooney and Rio.

He goes on to say that Irwin is the only sure fire name on the team sheet of his all time Utd eleven.

 

[Brwned]

His definition of world class is unique.

Fits in with the idea that he never used superlatives to praise his players, only a simple "well done" in almost all scenarios. He set an exceptionally high bar but it's interesting that Cantona stands above Keane, Beckham and Rooney.

Not sure about the last one actually. Do most people think Cantona was better than Rooney?

 

[Bastian]

To leave out Keano can not be anything other than personal. Schmeichel and Stam were definitely world class, no doubt about it. Vidic and VDS maybe too.

 

[Rory 7]

To leave out Keano can not be anything other than personal. Schmeichel and Stam were definitely world class, no doubt about it. Vidic and VDS maybe too.

It is personal. Ruud was world class too. Robbo. Rio. The list is a lot longer.

 

[Kag]

As much as most of us love the bloke, Ferguson (at times) always did talk a fair amount of shit. Particularly in his books...

He’s many things but infallible he isn’t.

 

[MarchingOn]

Not sure I agree with that one Boss

 

[Striker10]

It's not something that Sir Alex really should get into. World class is based on what? United had many great players but obviously we had to contend with difficulties with foreigners rule, budget/wages (missing out on Batistuta etc) and it was tough getting work permits for the south american talent. I disagree with Sir Alex. We were a bit unlucky in Europe at times - which i'm sure much of this is based on. We were a well run club who unearthed a lot of talent. I just think sometimes we were guilty of too much respect. Once we valued ourselves we could face top teams and match them or better them. Schmeichel, Keane, Ruud etc etc....we did ok. Even Ole talked of as a 'supersub' was a super player. Very underrated actually. But we played at such a tempo, it's natural that technique would (now and then) have to be sacrificed.

 

[Prometheus]

Rio was world class right? I must have the wrong definition of the phrase because if anyone other than Sir Alex Ferguson tried to tell me he wasn't I would laugh at them.

 

[Rood]

Fits in with the idea that he never used superlatives to praise his players, only a simple "well done" in almost all scenarios. He set an exceptionally high bar but it's interesting that Cantona stands above Keane, Beckham and Rooney.

Not sure about the last one actually. Do most people think Cantona was better than Rooney?

Absolutely - it's not even close for me, Rooney was too inconsistent.
In fact, the one I question the most is Giggs.

The one I think is unlucky not to get a mention is Schmeichel

Wasn't this a quote from ages ago in his leadership book? (which was shite by the way)

Yes this is not new at all

IIRC he does qualify his decision by giving a very specific definition of world class.

 

[MrBest]

I agree with Fergie, there is the generic world class term and there is actual world class.

Scholes Giggs Ronaldo and Cantona were street levels above the rest. Vidic Rio Peter Evra were the best at that specific time but I wouldn't not put the close to Messi Best Pele. I think that's what Fergie is trying to define, untouchable players.

 

[Dante]

Depends on where you set the bar for 'World Class'.

Those four are probably his four best players. Clearly, Fergie's cutoff is somewhere between Keane and Giggs. That's fair enough.

 

[AlecHDR]

Pete, Rio, Rooney at the very least for me. Evra, Keane, and Vidic have very strong claims too.

 

[the_irish123]

World class means nothing to me. Be more specific. Top5 in the world caliber player?

 

[el3mel]

Isn't that an old quote already ?

 

[DrRodo]

I mean, nutmegging figo has to count right? Unfair to Oshea there boss

 

[RedCurry]

No value in the market I guess then.

 

[rotherham_red]

Puts into context Pep's bleating that you can only win by having xyz players worth £50m a pop...

 

[Jippy]

I agree with Fergie, there is the generic world class term and there is actual world class.

Scholes Giggs Ronaldo and Cantona were street levels above the rest. Vidic Rio Peter Evra were the best at that specific time but I wouldn't not put the close to Messi Best Pele. I think that's what Fergie is trying to define, untouchable players.

That feels more like the argument that attackers always win the gongs, with defenders secondary tbf.

 

[Champagne Football]

I can remember back in the day Fergie often hailing Keane as world class but can't find old articles about it and that view obviously changed when they fell out

 

[haram]

How can he not mention any defenders?

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Very old quote and his definition of the word is very strict.

 

[tenpoless]

Tbf his definition of world class might be different than us mere mortals.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Fits in with the idea that he never used superlatives to praise his players, only a simple "well done" in almost all scenarios. He set an exceptionally high bar but it's interesting that Cantona stands above Keane, Beckham and Rooney.

Not sure about the last one actually. Do most people think Cantona was better than Rooney?

Yes, absolutely. In my mind maybe only Ronaldo is better, but Cantona influence on the game is second to none.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

There were seasons in the early 00s when Ruud absolutely carried the team.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

Jaap Stam is definitely a world class defender. The best defender played for Man Utd since i started follow EPL since 1997.

 

[devilish]

Everyone has his own interpretation of WC. From what SAF wrote it seems that he values WC as players who had a knack of dragging teams into victories on their own even though the team may have an off day. Scholes, Giggs (expecially against Juve), Cantona and Ronaldo were all capable of doing that.

I disagree with that interpretation of WC. For starters it punishes defensive players (especially goalkeepers) as they will never be able to drag teams to victory on such circumstances. No matter how good Schmeichel or DDG were/are they won't be scoring goals anytime soon. Which is why you won't see Schmeichel, DDG, VDS, Irwin, Stam, Rio, Vidic and Keane in that list.

In my opinion A WC player is a player who do extremely well week in week out for a long period of time (ie years). If you want to be particularly selective then you'll add the ability to do more then what is written on the tin which would then eliminate specialised players like goal poachers (RVN, Inzaghi, Vieri) or purely defensive midfielders (ex Gattuso or Ince)

If you ask me, SAF had been very disrespectful towards his former players. No manager, not even himself, can win so much with just 4 WC players.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Hello 2014