Football Betting: Fans' love can't match wrath of Sir Alex

Premier League / Tareq Quiroz / 11 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

The authority wielded by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United is unrivalled at any club in the world and Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo are about to be left in no doubt as to who calls the shots, says Sir Alex Ferguson.

Every week I think the levels of euphoria and despair can't get stretched any further but how wrong I am. Our wonderful game was at its heartbreaking best when Iniesta swung his right boot on Wednesday night. With the play-offs, relegation deciders, the FA Cup Final and the Champions League final on the horizon, there are plenty more highs and lows to come this season.

If Wednesday night was a nerve jangling high octane event then the preceding semi on Tuesday night was dull by comparison. Not that Sir Alex Ferguson or any Man Utd fan will be complaining. It was a comfortable passage to the final for the defending champions, a final they are trading at [2.02] to win. Despite being in the midst of one of their most successful seasons ever it is still interesting to note that even the best have their problems with players.

Everybody knows that Ferguson is not to be messed with. Many have tried and all have been dispensed with in one way or another. When he first took over the club he recognised straight away that Bryan Robson, Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside were a problem for him. They were a trio of immensely talented players but Ferguson made the decision they were destructive to the overall club and consequently he sold Whiteside to Everton and McGrath to Villa. United fans were far from happy but Fergie was putting his stamp on the club 20 years ago.

There isn't another manager anywhere in the world that has the control that Ferguson has. Managers, directors and players all come and go so nobody can ever be bigger than the club but Ferguson comes close. Maybe his own perceived status is what leads him to take down others who get too big for their boots. Ferguson was reportedly upset with Jaap Stam following his autobiography and before you knew it he was on his way to Lazio despite being one of the best defenders in the world. Ruud Van Nistelrooy went the same way after throwing a tantrum after being left on the bench for the League Cup final in 2006. The following summer he was sold to Real Madrid despite a quite unbelievable 95 goals in 150 games for Man Utd.

Sir Alex is nearly always very coy over about what is going on behind the scenes but he subtly leaves you in no doubt as to who is in charge. He is the governor and regardless of what any director may say he runs the club as we the public see it. Carlos Tevez has spent the last two weeks speaking to anyone who will listen about how he is being treated by United but so far we have had no real comment from the club. It appears that Tevez feels that he has something special in the fans love for him but he will soon learn that that counts for nothing with Ferguson. There are only two outcomes to his situation with the most likely one being that he leaves in the summer. The other being that Ferguson tells him he can stay but we he will be used in the same impact sub way as he has been this season.

Figureheads like Sir Alex Ferguson don't come around too often but when they do they make sure they leave their imprint on thw game. Ronaldo may be the best player in the world but he too must watch his step as I am sure his manager will be having a stern word with him following his petulant respose to being substituted on Sunday in the win over Man City. That is a win that has United tantalisingly close to the title and trading as short as [1.05] in the Winner market. Fergie will leave Ronaldo in no doubt who makes the decisions.

Down the years we have had plenty of managers who have had long stays at a club with some success, but nothing like Ferguson. Bob Paisley was a phenomenal success at Liverpool over nine years and Brian Clough did unthinkable things with Forest in his early years there especially. For anyone to still be in a job after 22 years in charge of a Premier League club they have to be doing a remarkable job and that is exactly what Fergie has done.

Just like those before him, Ferguson's time to call it a day will come too. I dare say most United fans cannot face that prospect. Successful managers are notoriously hard to follow. Ferguson, however, has so much power that when the time comes he will be instrumental in choosing his successor.

The options for United are simple. They could go with the personality of Jose Mourinho, who is currently trading at [4.5] in the Next Man Utd Manager market. I think the fans will love him once they got over his history with Chelsea. If not Mourinho then possibly they will edge towards the slightly eccentric genius of Martin O'Neill. This passion-filled manager would certainly bring an exciting brand of football that the fans would appreciate. He is currently second favourite at [5.3]. The final option for United would be to bring back an old player. Steve Bruce, available at [23], is the most likely option but by no means the only one.

One thing is for sure though - when Sir Alex does hang up his stopwatch, Old Trafford will never be the same again.