ACTUALLY, IT'S ALL THE FANS' FAULT

Last updated : 14 December 2005 By Editor

Yet again in a time of crisis, Fergie turns to those he calls “my fans”, clearly ignoring the old maxim that no one is bigger than the club. No doubt people will swallow whole this blatant attempt at diversion from the real matters at hand. The great unsaid of course, is that when the team are not playing well, it’s all our fault, instead of his or that of the players.

From Pravda.com:

Talking to a select few reporters from ManUtd.com, PA, Reuters and local radio, Sir Alex Ferguson said:

“Shielding the players [from criticism], I can’t really judge that because I don’t know how many of the players read newspapers. I certainly don’t bother with it.

“I know exactly where it comes from. They have a hatred of Manchester United. It’s always been there. It goes with the territory, I suppose, with us being such a high profile club. I can understand it a little, but they go over the top.

“They are trying to fragment the club; the players from the supporters, and the supporters from the players. But I think our fans are aware of it. I don’t think they will fall into that trap.

“I make the point and I make it strongly, we are at our best when the fans are right behind us. That is the only thing that should matter to us. We have to stick together.

“There is always a fantastic role for our fans to play. That has been proved so many times. You just have to look at when we beat Chelsea a few weeks ago, they were up for it. And when they are up for it, we get up for it with them.

“It has always been that way at this club – the supporters are a fundamental part of our success.”

Earlier Fergie had stormed out of a press conference with the national papers after just 74 seconds. There he said:

“Mikael Silvestre has got a bit of a groin strain, should be OK. Other than that everybody is fit. John O'Shea is fit again, he's the one who missed the game with a toe injury on Sunday. He is fit again.

“Really, I think that looking at the game Wigan have been fantastic this season. I am really pleased for the chairman Dave Whelan and everybody else at the club because they have taken that club to where they are.

"He is a straight talker. He cuts through the niceties very quickly. But he has the determination that has more or less forced Wigan to where they are now.

“The interesting thing is that he has had a few managers but he seems to have struck up a terrific bond with Paul Jewell. That's refreshing and that's the reason why they are there. So that's all I have got. See you later, I'm busy.”

From the Sun:

MANCHESTER UTD'S HOME WIN %
2005 P26 W13 D9 L4 50%
2004 P29 W20 D7 L2 69%
2003 P29 W22 D5 L2 76%
2002 P31 W23 D4 L4 74%
2001 P27 W17 D3 L7 63%
2000 P25 W21 D2 L2 84%
1999 P30 W23 D7 L0 77%