Fergie's report following his visit last night

[Frosty Jack]

He's often unfairly criticised, I think its cool that fergie chose to share that with us, i'm all for more transparency when it comes to managers planning before crucial games like this

[Bootle Buck]

He looked like he had been on the Gin since noon.

[Falconhoof]

Its not fair that he's given us 5 weaknesses and only 4 strengths.

 

That should be pinned up on our dressing room wall with a note underneath that says '

compare the total numbers of strengths and weaknesses and then think about what that says about you as players'

 

No further motivation should be necessary.

[Frosty Jack]

He should do our teamtalk

[Tyler]

Where is that from?

[BigBird]

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?h...d+by+cup+clash

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he can hardly wait for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Liverpool. The tie of the round pairs the North West rivals at Anfield less than a month after Rio Ferdinand's goal stole the points for United in Premiership action. Ferguson has never been shy to exclaim his love for this particular fixture, of the opinion that it is the greatest in English football's calender.

 

''Obviously both clubs are vying for second place,'' Ferguson told Sky Sports News. The atmosphere, the tradition of both clubs, the history of both clubs, the games between each other and the support - it's just a fantastic fixture. It's the game I look forward to most.''

 

When Ferguson arrived in Manchester over 19 years ago it was Liverpool that had a stranglehold on the top flight, with the Scottish tactician drawn to England by the prospect of breaking the Merseyside club's monopoly on silverware. Despite having done that and in the process created a dynasty of his own, the passion remains deep-rooted for Ferguson as Saturday's game draws nearer.

 

''To me, it's the reason for being here at Manchester United,'' he continued. I came down here 19-and-a-half years ago and at the time Liverpool were the champions and the team to beat. That was my main target, to beat Liverpool and to get on top of them. We did that.''

 

Do you agree that this fixture is, ?the greatest in English football's calender?, or is the senile old sot simply obsessed with England?s most successful club?

[Guest Jack Bauer]

We can't lose this one. Please!

[anny road]

it is the top fixture in the English game taking everything into account

[AE]

It IS the biggest game in English football whenever we meet.

We ARE the two biggest and most successful clubs and we both have something Arsenal / Chelsea et al will never have.

 

Bring them on!!!!!!

[Ostrich Man]

How many f*ckin times is he gonna give that same quote

 

The gin soaked old crone

not as often as you use that

[McBain]

The?

[realtarragona]

They've knocked us out on the last 8 occasions (or something similar) that we've met in the FA Cup apparently.

[Guest sniffer]

Strengths

 

1. they gain and keep possession well. we will have to be prepared to defend deep at times. need to put pressure on alonso, gerrard

 

2. they will look to play with width. gerrard may well put pressure on evra. need to get giggs/richardson doubling back and supporting.

 

3. they will try and get crosses in to a rested crouch to exploit vidic's unfamiliarity with the English game. need to stop danger at source, and get rio to lead. also, win the second ball.

 

4. they are solid defensively especially once they get men back. need to attack at speed. exploit relative weakness against pace of hyppia and riise

 

Weaknesses

 

1. LFC is a tired team, particularly in midfield. we have to attack them and play a high tempo. they need to hold something back for benfica. we must go flat out.

 

2. there is little pace in their team going forward and even gerrard is looking a bit marginal by his standards on the right, and tired. we can afford to maintain a high defensive line.

 

3. LFC looked a little weak on defending counter-attacks - alonso and sissoko got dragged out of position, and arsenal failed to stay onside in the ref's view. if we can have someone - ronaldo - carrying the ball through the middle, and rooney and RVN splitting to take the pass, we will cause real danger.

 

4. exploit morientes' lack of confidence. bully him.

 

5. they offer sangria. bring own stash.

 

And if they follow all that, they will easily get a draw....

[Cobs]

How many f*ckin times is he gonna give that same quote

 

The gin soaked old crone

i wouldn't mind but it's bolllocks - he makes out like it was United or him that ended our era - conveniently forgetting Arsenal finished above us in 91, Leeds, Man Utd, Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday, Man City above us in 92 and in his 7th season when United finally stumbled to their first Championship for 26 years we also finished below Villa, Norwich, Blackburn and QPR.

 

I think we fell off the perch, Ferguson. No-one knocked us off.

 

 

credit where credit is due however - Liverpool finished above Man U every season from 1969 through to 1991 and he ended that 4 decade () run.

 

so, well done.

Edited February 15, 2006 by Cobs

[cymrococh]

It IS the biggest game in English football whenever we meet.

More people around the world watch this than watch the world cup final apparently.

[Cobs]

that sounds like a made up stat.

 

[Guest Anders Honoré]

that sounds like a made up stat.

 

 

57% of all stats are indeed made up.

 

I'd say only Barca v Real is even close to getting as many viewers and even that is probably a distant second.

 

Not sure if it's a distant second. my impression over here is that it might be bigger than manu vs liverpool.

 

definitely the two biggest fixtures around though.

[Phil236849]

it now seems fergie's post-arsenal report was:

 

1. most liverpool players are slow. i'll pick all my little quick guys to run at them. then we'll score loads.

 

fergie's post-match thoughts were

 

2. crikey, they're big. i didnt spot that b4. maybe i should have picked some big men.

 

3. why didnt rooney, van nistelrooy or ronaldo score. they always do. i'll have to have a word with them.

 

next week: fergie's letter to rafa with tactical analysis of how lfc beat the mancs