…or can it? Someone clearly thinks so, and the most depressing thing is that he may well be right:
An article from the Times:
‘Sir Alex Ferguson has been accused of many things in recent times — not least, it is said, by Roy Keane — but he has not lost sight of which side his bread is buttered. Faced with the prospect of open revolt on the terraces at Old Trafford this evening, he talked yesterday about the role to be played by the club’s “wonderful” supporters and how he had no doubt that they would fulfil it. It is not only opposition managers whom he seeks out for his notorious mind games.
‘The front cover of this evening’s match programme has a picture of several United players celebrating Darren Fletcher’s winning goal against Chelsea this month, with the headline “Altogether now!”, with the word “now” writ in huge capital letters, as if to indicate that somehow unity has been restored to the club in recent days. Next to it is another quote from Ferguson: “Against Chelsea, the supporters showed how much they care for the club.” For any would-be dissenters, it may be thought provoking stuff.
‘Ferguson went further. Both in his programme notes and in yesterday’s press conference at Old Trafford, he alluded to the Munich air disaster and the unbreakable bond that has existed between the club and supporters ever since.
‘“It’s not by accident that when we lost the team in 1958, there was a phoenix on the club badge for the FA Cup Final,” he said. “That’s because this club rises all the time. You go back to 1990, when everyone was predicting my demise before a game against Nottingham Forest. We had that many injuries, but the fans weren’t injured and they made sure we won that game. That’s the kind of fans we have. They rise to every challenge and they will do so again against Villarreal.”
‘It is something of an assumption on Ferguson’s part. Even though, far removed from the “prawn-sandwich brigade” stereotype, United’s match-going supporters are among the most vocal and passionate in the country, their faith in Ferguson’s team — and, more pertinently, his judgment — is far from total. “Every single one of us loves Alex Ferguson,” they may sing this evening. That love is unconditional, but increasingly it is characterised by respect for what he has achieved over the past 17 years rather than excitement at the prospect of good times ahead.
‘United supporters have suffered more than a few knockbacks in recent times. While they could brush off recent accusations of “stupidity” by Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, some were so disenfranchised by the Glazer family’s takeover last summer and by the perceived lack of resistance shown by men such as Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton that they sought to establish a breakaway club, FC United of Manchester, who are ploughing their way through the Moore & Company Construction Solicitors second division and targeting a place in the Football League by 2012. The Glazer takeover was not the only reason for the formation of the breakaway club. There was a growing feeling of alienation in the stands from the team, from multimillionaires with little regard for those who were indirectly financing their glamorous lifestyles.
‘One only had to be at the Stade de France two weeks ago, the evening before he effectively sealed his fate with a scathing attack on Ferguson and Queiroz at the training ground, to realise where the supporters’ sympathies lie. As Rio Ferdinand and Co went to applaud them after an abject 1-0 defeat by Lille, they were greeted by jeers, V-signs and chants of “There’s only one Keano”.
‘Ferguson will get his wish for a united front from the Stretford End this evening, but Keane’s name is certain to be belted out with more gusto than the manager might like. “Altogether now!” may be written on the front page of the match programme, but for how much longer?’