Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Who Should Replace Alex Ferguson?

If you are a Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal fan, please stop reading and please forget about putting in suggestions - we don't need to hear from you lot. It was surprising to hear Ferguson saying that he wanted David Moyes to get his job. According to the bookmakers, they have Jose Mourinho as the favourite.



Well, what can you say about Jose, you will only love him if he's in your team, or he is with the team that helped beat your biggest rival.

David Moyes may be Ferguson's choice because of his Glaswegian roots, I don't know. Never know how close men in kilts are. Ferguson's choice could be shaped by him wanting a British to take over the reins. I do think that that is a critical factor - to ensure Manchester United being able to retain the culture and traditions befitting a great British football club, I think its vital that the manager remain a British.



As good as Arsenal became under Wenger, it lost a lot of its culture, just look at the mix of players they have. You can place Arsenal in the Bundesliga or Italian League and be none the wiser. You can be a pragmatic football club like Arsenal or Chelsea where results matter the most, or you stay a prominent football club because of traditions, because you want to maintain the roots, the legacy and the memory of how they got to where they are today.

While I recognise David Moyes' achievements with Preston and Everton, I think he lacked the "genius switch". Moyes is a grinder and a pragmatic strategist, he does not have that jenaisequa (pardon my Japanese) quality that I seek for to lead such an illustrious and special club like Manchester United.

Like it or not, Ferguson has that genius switch, so did Bill Shankley and even Mourinho - its the ability to assemble a team that clicks, its the ability to make 1+1 that equals more than 2. Its the ability to devise strategy that works brilliantly as though luck played a major part in it. Its that instinctive factor of knowing what works and how to manage over inflated egos, and maintain the strong club spirit.

My number one pick to replace Ferguson: Martin O'Neill. He has proven himself time and time again with a so-so side. I like his temper and his passion, I like his "longer than usual tenure" with clubs, his stick-with-it-ness. I think he is a brilliant football strategist and a perfect fit for Manchester United.



p/s On a separate note, I think its very sad that Lorena Ochoa of Mexico is leaving golf, and after playing professionally less than 10 years. I think she is the best female golfer... ever, and at the same time, the most under-rated female golfer ever as well. I get so pissed off the way mainstream media only focus on the American ladies, heck, even the Korea lady golfers get better coverage than Ochoa. If you look at her stats, she is the female Tiger Woods, but some things are more important to her. Best wishes Ochoa!!!

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