Roberto's Rant?

[Jarg Armani]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oc...r-alex-ferguson

Roberto Martínez has accused the English football authorities of being intimidated by Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that the Scot is treated differently to other managers in the game. The Wigan Athletic manager insisted that his Manchester United counterpart is allowed to get away with more than his Premier League rivals, who would be "crushed" for committing the same crimes, and is protected by a cabal of coaches who court his favour.

 

Ferguson has admitted a charge of improper conduct over remarks he made about the referee Alan Wiley following this month's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford. He has apologised for causing Wiley "personal embarrassment" by questioning his fitness and there have been calls for him to be handed a lengthy touchline ban. He also courted controversy over his suggestion that Andre Marriner lacked the experience to referee Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. But Martínez expressed doubts that the punishment handed down will be as severe as that meted out to other coaches, as there is little appetite for taking Ferguson to task.

 

"They have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him," Martínez said. "Any other coach would have been crushed for that." Asked if Ferguson dictates English football, Martínez told the Spanish paper AS: "Yes, a lot." He added: "Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight."

 

Martínez believes that Ferguson's position is strengthened by a group of disciples whom the Scot cultivates as loyal allies against his enemies such as the Liverpool coach, Rafael Benítez. There was a hint, too, that Martínez suspects Ferguson dangles the carrot of Old Trafford succession before the eyes of those loyal to him.

 

In April Ferguson attacked Benítez for having previously described David Moyes's Everton as a "small club" and for showing "contempt" for opponents with a gesture he made on the touchline during a 4-0 victory over Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers. Allardyce complained Benítez's gesture was humiliating – but only after Ferguson spoke out. He made no comment after the game about a signal Benítez said was a self-deprecating one to his own team.

 

Allardyce and Moyes are close friends of Ferguson. Moyes has been widely touted as a candidate for Ferguson's job when he retires while Martínez believes Allardyce has designs on the post, too. "Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others," Martínez said. "On the other side there's Rafa Benítez and he gets attacked from all sides."

 

The Football Association is being urged to commit Ferguson to an official agreement that he will curtail his criticism of referees. Ferguson has requested a personal hearing at which he will apologise again for accusing Wiley of booking players because he needed a rest from running but Alan Leighton, the national secretary of the trade union Prospect, of which referees are members, wants the FA to make an example of Ferguson.

 

"We welcome the fact that he [Ferguson] has admitted his guilt and hope he will now dedicate himself to furthering the Respect agenda," said Leighton. "If I was someone on the [FA disciplinary] panel I might be asking him for a commitment not to do the same thing again."

[Knox_Harrington]

Hello.

[dorgie]

The Spanish revolution is underway :-) To be fair, he's just saying what everyone on here has been saying for years.

[CarraLegend]

The comment about Allardyce is just genius. About time another stood up to the bullys.

 

Whelan will be foaming at the mouth with this!!

[stressederic]

I like Martinez. I like Martinez a lot.

[Cam]

but Dave 'DW' Whelan won't like it.

 

And as for "Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford"...

[stressederic]

We can only hope that Fat Sam would take over at United. That would be f***ing brilliant. He'd sign Diouf.

[Jarg Armani]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6892776.ece

 

same article from TB, even more shout outs for rafa in this one.

 

woop woop!

[stressederic]

This might turn into a cracking week.

[carrafan]

3 game ban for Martinez and a fine.

[yellow jumper]

oh yes.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Dave Whelan wont be happy with his johnny-foreigner manager - he clearly hasnt read his contract which says he must genuflect to the sir

[Gunga Din]

3 game ban for Martinez and a fine.

 

he'll probably be jailed for saying that?

[Benzo-13]

I'm loving this..

[Rory Fitzgerald]

We need another Spanish manaher in the Premiership to help our cause

[Hassony]

Excellent, Roberto is Ace

[Duncan Disorderly]

"Official ProZone statistics showed that during the game Wiley ran farther than the average player by 205.8 metres and covered 11,039.1 metres in total, the eighth most of any individual on the pitch."

 

That should've concluded by saying Berbatov is a lazy shyte!

[Ripley]

Watershed, line in the sand, turning point, tipping point.

 

Mr Ferguson will from now on be seen as the woman in a stained coat standing at the bus stop with a Tesco bag shouting incoherent abuse at passers-by.

 

Tony Pulis, this is your hour.

[Duncan Disorderly]

We need another Spanish manaher in the Premiership to help our cause

Encargado

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Rafa's press conference is a watershed moment.

 

Unfortuntately, it was viewed as a mistake because we didnt win the league, but now, it seems to be that first tough step towards doing the right thing.

 

After all, '.........all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'

Edited October 27, 2009 by Rory Fitzgerald

[sirstan]

I like Martinez, he's a good manager, no ties to anyone else, takes no s*** and he appears to call it as he sees it. Well in there Roberto

[Duncan Disorderly]

After all, '.........all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'

Bit of a hyperbole there. More like, "the loudest roar begins as a whisper"

[Stevie H]

Watershed, line in the sand, turning point, tipping point.

 

Mr Ferguson will from now on be seen as the woman in a stained coat standing at the bus stop with a Tesco bag shouting incoherent abuse at passers-by.

 

Tony Pulis, this is your hour.

ancelotti now. i'm emailing him in a minute. then wenger. the johnny foreigner cabal is moving.

[Duncan Disorderly]

I long for the day when that scum team are no longer the darlings of the media that they have been for far too long. That includes Chelski, cos they have to have a London team up there too.

 

Pricks!

[Dmitch]

Allardyce and Moyes are close friends of Ferguson. Moyes has been widely touted as a candidate for Ferguson's job when he retires while Martínez believes Allardyce has designs on the post, too. "Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others," Martínez said. "On the other side there's Rafa Benítez and he gets attacked from all sides."

 

 

Moyes take over at Manchester...... we can all but hope eh!