I think he would. We took our foot off the peddle in some seasons when the league was wrapped up early. He could deffo get 95+ points with some of our sides.
Probably would. Usually found a way to adapt
He wouldn’t compete I’m afraid. I think his style of management would’ve succumbed to the Instagram generation, powerful agents etc and he’d ultimately have fallen behind.
Times change.
Well he was a successful manager for over 30 years, one thing he has always done is adjust with the times.
I think that was his greatest asset, building teams for a new era and adapting. That's where the likes of Jose have not done so well, as he hasn't adapted I think. I have no doubt he would still compete at the top level.
comment by #TopLad || Sir Alex Ferguson ||✓ (U10161)
posted 8 seconds ago
Well he was a successful manager for over 30 years, one thing he has always done is adjust with the times.
I think that was his greatest asset, building teams for a new era and adapting. That's where the likes of Jose have not done so well, as he hasn't adapted I think. I have no doubt he would still compete at the top level.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fergie wouldn’t have adapted to social media and agents who control Twitter. He got out at the right time.
Interesting question. I think it deffo would’ve hit harder, cos of our owners. I don’t think SAF gets to spend a billion over 10 years. The pariahs would’ve squeezed every ounce of his genius rather than help him.
With the whole social media/culture change, I think players would’ve respected playing for him, and have not acted out like todays players. SAF himself would have changed to be more accommodating. Plus being older he couldn’t carry on the way the way he was before purely for health reasons.
But we still would’ve had a better decade than we’ve had, pretty sure of that. But still think City and Liverpool would’ve been dominating.
He would have still had Woodward to work with which I doubt would have gone well.
I think we'd still be competing. We probably wouldn't have gotten certain players we bought over the last few years and SAF has always taken on new ideas. We may not have been as dominant as we were in the 90s and 00s but the cliff we fell off after he and Gill shows that a good manager and team can get a lot of of a team.
I’m assuming you’re talking hypothetically, with Fergie in his prime as opposed to the actual ‘today Fergie’?
In that case he would absolutely be competing with City and Liverpool. He’d be similar to Klopp where he wouldn’t consider signing a player who wouldn’t toe the line. You very rarely hear stories of these things involving Liverpool players, that’s because they respect the club and Klopp too much. That hasn’t been the case post Fergie at United, the players do what they want.
Like has already been said he always found a way to adjust United’s style to keep challenging and that wouldn’t change. Obviously, they wouldn’t dominate but would almost certainly be comfortably in the top four.
Impossible to say. However, those who cite the fact that things have changed and his methods wouldn't work today overlook the fact that one of Fergie's greatest strengths was his willingness to constantly learn, adapt and when necessary to import expertise. Why would we assume he would be deploying the same coaching drills, formations and man management strategies today as he did 15 years ago?
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
Fergie would know he'd have to increase the levels of his team in order to get them competing with current Liverpool and City. Just like when he had to suck it up when Mourinho came in, he bought Ronaldo and came back stronger and saw them win 3 titles on the bounce. I doubt he'd have that sort of dominance but he'd be able to nick a title or 2 and win other silverware.
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 4 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe Lingard could teach him the three seashells technique
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
He wouldn't have been as dominant but we'd still have won trophies. He was at the top for a ridiculously long time. Most of the best managers don't stay at the top for so long. In order to remain where he did for so long he had to adapt and move with the times. He'd still find a way to compete now (if he was in his prime).
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that what he did in his latter years was right up there. He tightened the purse strings due to the debt we were in and as a result our football suffered, but we still won trophies.
Last time United won a league title without Fergie was 1966/67. He was the one who made United the domestically dominant team that they were. Yes I think he'd be competing with Pep and Klopp.
I’d say prime SAF is late 80’s to mid ‘00s. Even though it’s arguable that he created his best team in ‘08-‘11.
That was a slightly different, more assured SAF.
The rep he had by then was that of a God. Instantly feared.
Where come say 1990, that drive, that hunger, that fight, that vision was insatiable, unstoppable, and he never let up.
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that what he did in his latter years was right up there. He tightened the purse strings due to the debt we were in and as a result our football suffered, but we still won trophies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He knew after losing the title to City he had to do something, and so he got the best striker in the league off Arsenal and it helped him get the title back. He was a true winner who did what was necessary to win titles. It's why he has back to back titles, something that only Pep and Jose can boast in the PL. The fact he won 3 titles in a row from 06-09 when the PL was really strong at the top could also be considered his best achievement.
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 58 minutes ago
He would have still had Woodward to work with which I doubt would have gone well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This.
Tbh I don’t think Ed would have lasted long under SAF
He already had 8 years as understudy to Gil.
Glazers loved him. We might’ve seen a tragic case of power play by Ed, to oust SAF.
The ego on Ed was unreal, don’t think he ever acknowledged he made mistakes.
Yeah not sure how it would have gone tbh. Clearly the fans love Ferguson but Ed was instrumental in the Woodwards getting the club hence why they seemingly showed so much trust in him for so long.
Liverpool and City aren't brilliant just because they both have great managers, its also because they’re run very well and are excellent with recruitment.
soz MU’82… ‘The Woodwards getting the club’
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yeah not sure how it would have gone tbh. Clearly the fans love Ferguson but Ed was instrumental in the Woodwards getting the club hence why they seemingly showed so much trust in him for so long.
Liverpool and City aren't brilliant just because they both have great managers, its also because they’re run very well and are excellent with recruitment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's true. Klopp was just a nearly man at Liverpool, like Poch at Spurs, before they spent the Coutinho money.
Sign in if you want to comment
If SAF was still the gaffer
Page 1 of 2
posted on 7/5/22
I think he would. We took our foot off the peddle in some seasons when the league was wrapped up early. He could deffo get 95+ points with some of our sides.
posted on 7/5/22
Probably would. Usually found a way to adapt
posted on 7/5/22
He wouldn’t compete I’m afraid. I think his style of management would’ve succumbed to the Instagram generation, powerful agents etc and he’d ultimately have fallen behind.
Times change.
posted on 7/5/22
Well he was a successful manager for over 30 years, one thing he has always done is adjust with the times.
I think that was his greatest asset, building teams for a new era and adapting. That's where the likes of Jose have not done so well, as he hasn't adapted I think. I have no doubt he would still compete at the top level.
posted on 7/5/22
comment by #TopLad || Sir Alex Ferguson ||✓ (U10161)
posted 8 seconds ago
Well he was a successful manager for over 30 years, one thing he has always done is adjust with the times.
I think that was his greatest asset, building teams for a new era and adapting. That's where the likes of Jose have not done so well, as he hasn't adapted I think. I have no doubt he would still compete at the top level.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fergie wouldn’t have adapted to social media and agents who control Twitter. He got out at the right time.
posted on 7/5/22
Interesting question. I think it deffo would’ve hit harder, cos of our owners. I don’t think SAF gets to spend a billion over 10 years. The pariahs would’ve squeezed every ounce of his genius rather than help him.
With the whole social media/culture change, I think players would’ve respected playing for him, and have not acted out like todays players. SAF himself would have changed to be more accommodating. Plus being older he couldn’t carry on the way the way he was before purely for health reasons.
But we still would’ve had a better decade than we’ve had, pretty sure of that. But still think City and Liverpool would’ve been dominating.
posted on 7/5/22
He would have still had Woodward to work with which I doubt would have gone well.
posted on 7/5/22
I think we'd still be competing. We probably wouldn't have gotten certain players we bought over the last few years and SAF has always taken on new ideas. We may not have been as dominant as we were in the 90s and 00s but the cliff we fell off after he and Gill shows that a good manager and team can get a lot of of a team.
posted on 7/5/22
I’m assuming you’re talking hypothetically, with Fergie in his prime as opposed to the actual ‘today Fergie’?
In that case he would absolutely be competing with City and Liverpool. He’d be similar to Klopp where he wouldn’t consider signing a player who wouldn’t toe the line. You very rarely hear stories of these things involving Liverpool players, that’s because they respect the club and Klopp too much. That hasn’t been the case post Fergie at United, the players do what they want.
Like has already been said he always found a way to adjust United’s style to keep challenging and that wouldn’t change. Obviously, they wouldn’t dominate but would almost certainly be comfortably in the top four.
posted on 7/5/22
Impossible to say. However, those who cite the fact that things have changed and his methods wouldn't work today overlook the fact that one of Fergie's greatest strengths was his willingness to constantly learn, adapt and when necessary to import expertise. Why would we assume he would be deploying the same coaching drills, formations and man management strategies today as he did 15 years ago?
posted on 7/5/22
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
posted on 7/5/22
Fergie would know he'd have to increase the levels of his team in order to get them competing with current Liverpool and City. Just like when he had to suck it up when Mourinho came in, he bought Ronaldo and came back stronger and saw them win 3 titles on the bounce. I doubt he'd have that sort of dominance but he'd be able to nick a title or 2 and win other silverware.
posted on 7/5/22
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 4 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe Lingard could teach him the three seashells technique
posted on 7/5/22
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
posted on 7/5/22
He wouldn't have been as dominant but we'd still have won trophies. He was at the top for a ridiculously long time. Most of the best managers don't stay at the top for so long. In order to remain where he did for so long he had to adapt and move with the times. He'd still find a way to compete now (if he was in his prime).
posted on 7/5/22
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that what he did in his latter years was right up there. He tightened the purse strings due to the debt we were in and as a result our football suffered, but we still won trophies.
posted on 7/5/22
Last time United won a league title without Fergie was 1966/67. He was the one who made United the domestically dominant team that they were. Yes I think he'd be competing with Pep and Klopp.
posted on 7/5/22
I’d say prime SAF is late 80’s to mid ‘00s. Even though it’s arguable that he created his best team in ‘08-‘11.
That was a slightly different, more assured SAF.
The rep he had by then was that of a God. Instantly feared.
Where come say 1990, that drive, that hunger, that fight, that vision was insatiable, unstoppable, and he never let up.
posted on 7/5/22
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 6 minutes ago
This ain’t Demolition Man, where we freeze him in cryo-stasis!! Of course I’m taking into account the passing of time. He’s dealing with a younger Gen, culture changes, and him ageing.
Prime SAF, then it’s a 3-way battle and all hell breaking loose!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When was prime Fergie anyway? Many United fans say he left the United team weak for when Moyes took over, but he also won the league then with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Smalling, Jones etc. which could arguably seen as his best achievement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that what he did in his latter years was right up there. He tightened the purse strings due to the debt we were in and as a result our football suffered, but we still won trophies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He knew after losing the title to City he had to do something, and so he got the best striker in the league off Arsenal and it helped him get the title back. He was a true winner who did what was necessary to win titles. It's why he has back to back titles, something that only Pep and Jose can boast in the PL. The fact he won 3 titles in a row from 06-09 when the PL was really strong at the top could also be considered his best achievement.
posted on 7/5/22
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 58 minutes ago
He would have still had Woodward to work with which I doubt would have gone well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This.
posted on 7/5/22
Tbh I don’t think Ed would have lasted long under SAF
posted on 7/5/22
He already had 8 years as understudy to Gil.
Glazers loved him. We might’ve seen a tragic case of power play by Ed, to oust SAF.
The ego on Ed was unreal, don’t think he ever acknowledged he made mistakes.
posted on 7/5/22
Yeah not sure how it would have gone tbh. Clearly the fans love Ferguson but Ed was instrumental in the Woodwards getting the club hence why they seemingly showed so much trust in him for so long.
Liverpool and City aren't brilliant just because they both have great managers, its also because they’re run very well and are excellent with recruitment.
posted on 7/5/22
soz MU’82… ‘The Woodwards getting the club’
posted on 7/5/22
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 8 minutes ago
Yeah not sure how it would have gone tbh. Clearly the fans love Ferguson but Ed was instrumental in the Woodwards getting the club hence why they seemingly showed so much trust in him for so long.
Liverpool and City aren't brilliant just because they both have great managers, its also because they’re run very well and are excellent with recruitment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's true. Klopp was just a nearly man at Liverpool, like Poch at Spurs, before they spent the Coutinho money.
Page 1 of 2