It has been reported that Sir Alex Ferguson has updated his autobiography to include some amendments/additions, including one in which he jumps on the pro-Allardyce (and anti-West Ham Way) band wagon, hitherto ridden by the likes of MoTD’s Alan Shearer. Ferguson allegedly states: ‘before I die I hope that someone can explain the West Ham Way …. I never came up against a Hammers side who played football I was afraid of.’ In addition, he adds that all of the West Ham sides he faced in his 26 years at Man Utd were either ‘negative in their approach or lucky as hell against us.’
Now, two wrongs do not make a right and it has to be freely acknowledged that Alex Ferguson was a hugely successful manager domestically and in European competition. There is no disputing that, but it is also a fact that West Ham Utd were responsible for inflicting some notable reverses on Ferguson’s Man Utd over the years. Including those two memorable victories at Upton Park (in 1992 and 1995) that were instrumental in twice denying them the title, respectively handing it to Leeds Utd and Blackburn Rovers; the unforgettable Di Canio 0-1 FA Cup victory at Old Trafford and the PL double victory over them in the 2006-07 season of the ’Great Escape. They are just five such results, there are others and it is not an exaggeration to state that the Hammers were often a real bogey team to Ferguson.
One can only speculate why Ferguson has chosen to include such disrespectful references our club. It is certainly not something that one would expect of such a legendary figure and elder statesman of the game. The answer is at least partly that Ferguson is reputed to be close to Sam Allardyce and presumably saw it as an opportunity to publicly defend our present manager’s philosophy and methods. My response is that the West Ham fans were perfectly justified in their criticism of the quality of the football produced last season. The Hammers board recognised that, last May, and subsequently imposed the changes/recruitment policy that are now bearing such impressive fruit. So, one could legitimately argue that last season’s fan disaffection/criticism was an important factor in bringing those changes about. What would the reaction have been from Manchester Utd fans if they had to endure the one-dimensional fayre dished up to us last season? Of course we have an idea, because part of David Moyes Old Trafford downfall was not just about the poor results, but also the dour playing style. in fact, I well remember a Man Utd fan stating in a SSN vox pop interview that Moyes was not upholding the ‘Man Utd Way’ of playing. That says it all really!
Ferguson undoubtedly still harbours some deep seated bitterness concerning the key results/defeats that he suffered at West Ham’s hands? But there is also probably a commercial explanation for his his comments, namely the need to freshen up a stale publication, by injecting a bit of controversy, to reinvigorate sales. And West Ham and the club’s fans have presumably been mis-used for that purpose.
In the final analysis, Ferguson was a great manager, but be is retired now and who really cares what he has to say about our club, past or present. The best response is to rise above it and squarely focus on the performances being produced by this exciting Hammers squad. Hopefully, the players will prove a point for us when we next meet Manchester Utd on the field of play. After all, that is where it really counts!
SJ. Chandos.