Before the season kicked off, Sir Alex Ferguson gave an interview with the press with him suggesting Chelsea didn’t have much room for improvement because of the age of their squad.
I wrote about his comments at the time, after Ron Harris claimed Fergie was “talking out of his arse.’ Charming and TinyTears agreed.
I had a look at the stats to see if there was something more concrete, rather than just opinion, to support what Fergie had said. I didn’t need to delve very deep.
Chelsea’s top 3 goalscorers from last season were all in their 30′s, giving them an average age of 30.3 years old. At United, our top 3 goalscorers had an average age of 22.6 years old.
Of the four players with the top assists for Chelsea, two of them again were in their 30′s, with the average age being brought down by Kalou and J Cole, evening out at 27 years old. At United, the four players with the top assists carried an average age of 22.3 years old.
Chelsea have just two players in the first team squad (Mikel and Kalou) who are under the age of 25-years-old, yet had a massive nine players who were 30-years-old or more.
Ferguson wasn’t saying that ‘if you’re in your 30s, you’re passed it’, but he was simply asking how much more they could improve on last year. Once in your 30s, you’ve already reached your peak. If Chelsea’s most effective players, in terms of both goals and assists, were on the wrong side of their peak, then it is a worthy enough suggestion that there won’t be an awful amount of improvement from that group of players.
However, his comments got twisted with the use of the headlines, which has lead to Ferguson kicking off today, claiming he’ll never do an interview with them again!
Before looking at the press’ involvement in this, we should first take a look at what Ferguson actually said in this now infamous interview.
Mourinho won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup final, so there’s no one who can improve on his record really. They [Chelsea] would have to go beyond Mourinho’s performance to really worry us.
Scolari is fortunate. He is joining a big club and he is joining a team of internationals. Chelsea have a lot of experience and that was the one thing I was a bit concerned about last season, but I don’t know how far that team has got to go. It’s hard to see where there’s going to be a big improvement with a team that’s really very experienced.
‘Plateau’ is maybe not the word, but how can they [Chelsea] accelerate beyond what they’ve done up to now?” he said. “When you see the ages they’ve got, apart from Salomon Kalou [who is 22] and Mikel John Obi [21], they are an experienced side. I’m not saying necessarily that they’re old because, with the modern-day training methods, you should be playing in your thirties. What I am saying is that I don’t see outstanding progress in a team that’s in their thirties.
Yet what headlines did the papers go with?
The Guardian: Chelsea are too old to win title, says Ferguson
The Times: Sir Alex Ferguson puts ‘Chelsea pensioners’ under fire
The Sun: THEY SAY AGE is nothing but a number – but according to Sir Alex Ferguson – Chelsea’s superstars are too old to win the Premiership next season.
“You will never get any help out of me again,” ranted Ferguson, at the press conference ahead of our clash in Denmark against Aalborg at Uefa’s mandatory pre-match press conference. “I gave you access in South Africa and I shouldn’t have given you access .It won’t happen again. From now on, no matter how many miles you travel to get an interview, you won’t get one.”
So why is Fergie so angry? What is the difference between saying a team is too experienced to improve or that they’re too old to win the title?
It doesn’t matter so much how old the players are, rather, how old they are in relation to the teams around them. Manchester United has a group of players who are yet to hit their peak, who already proved themselves as our most effective players last season. Common sense would tell you that these young players, who have yet to even reach 24-years-old, have plenty of room for improvement.
In contrast at Chelsea, their most effective players have already seen their peak, and with every passing season, are a year away from their peak. Whilst they will be picking up more experience along the way, Ferguson simply questionned how much a player in his 30s could improve.
Ferguson is of course going to assume that his team can perform at the level of last season, at the least, so believes Chelsea are going to have to improve to beat us this season.
The headlines in the paper made it seem as though Ferguson was being disrespectful of our biggest title rivals, dismissing them as old and useless. However, Chelsea could have been the best team in the World last season, but Fergie’s comments had nothing to do with their capabilities, rather, could they improve on where they were at? Last season they were the 2nd best team in the country and reached the final of the European Cup, but with the most effective players being ones who had already seen the best days of their career, could the team making ‘outstanding progess’? Probably not.
I think Fergie has got a fair point here, as the papers really did make him out to be very dismissive of our title rivals, and therefore incredibly arrogant. Of course, he’s also getting a bit grumpier in his old age, which might account for some of this.
Regardless, he has already insisted he won’t ever speak to the BBC, but now is he seriously suggesting he won’t ever give an interview ever again? It is puzzling as to why he’s left it until now, some two months after the incident, to decide to get so hot and bothered. Did he just want to make them travel some distance before giving them the bad news and wasted journey? It remains to be seen, however, I can only assume we won’t be getting any further clarification from him in the press!
Man Utd News 24/7
Fergie’s paranoia with the media is hilarious. In fact, I’m not even sure it’s paranoia, I think it’s just an attempt to get them to play his game – after all, where would his famed mind games be if he didn’t talk to the press…
This sort of outburst just makes him look a bit silly, like his continued refusal to talk to BBC.
I don’t agree saying his “paranoia with the media is hilarious”, the meadia are not exactly an honest bunch at the best of times and you can understand a level of degree of paranoa, surely? The press sensationalize
any piece of infomation especially with United, so I can understand his frustrations. Also him for speaking to the BBC are due to family reasons which are understandable, and in my view don’t make him look “silly”.
Fair play Fergie, my favorite aspect of this story is that Fergie dragged them all to Aalborg and then told them to feck off.
I guess I’m happy as long as we get to hear from him in any respect, although it’s looking like bland old MUTV will be the only outlet he uses.
Paranoia? You obviously didn’t read the article. Either that or you are confused about the meaning of “paranoia”.
Fergie has every right to be angry about the way the media twist his words to paint him as some kind of ogre. An image that they never hesitate to promote, as is shown above.
As for the BBC, i can’t think of a reason, good or otherwise, why Fergie should back down from his stance towards the arrogance of the BBC. They conduct themselves in all areas with an ignorance The Sun would be proud of. But it’s hardly supprising that they have such a childish view of football when you see their flagship football show being hosted by such imbeciles as Lineaker, Shearer and Hanson. See no evil, hear no evil and say no evil. They regularly overlook indiscretions by other Premier League clubs but never hesitate to jump on the ABU bandwagon. Picking out every tiny flaw in United as a club and the players and management. Rooney’s a thug..JT’s a “hero”,….Ronaldo dives…Gerrard “has been clever”,….United win the double, but Chelsea “were the better team”. Whether it’s the BBC, Sky or the written media…it’s still fashionable for these people to knock everything about United.
Well, let them eat cake, i say.
So Chelsea only have 2 players under the age of 25 in their first team squad?
Franco Di Santo, Michael Mancienne, Scott Sinclair, Miroslave Stoch and Branislav Ivanovich presumably don’t count cos it mess’s up your theory.
kknob
Fergie is a clever clever man… look at the managers who have tried to take him on mentally and never won… the Govan man has done it again…
He has basically shit the press up… and he is tellin them play by my rules or ya get sweet fa..
The media do twist what he says… its true… but fergie likes it… coz he knows he is avin a dig at the other teams and all thanks to the stirring press… and to round it off, there will be no proof, as they are only twisting Fergies words… double whammy if you ask me.
The press dont realise that fergie has got his hands right up arses as though they are puppets and they aint got a clue that he is doing it..
Carry on SAF… i like your style !!
Redwank – Di Santo, Michael Mancienne, Scott Sinclair and Miroslave Stoch and part of Chelsea’s first team squad now are they?
How many games have they had this season between them?
Di Santo = 2 first team appearances (last 2 mins against Spurs, 10 mins in the League Cup)
Michael Mancienne = 0 first team appearances in any competitions
Scott Sinclair = 0 first team appearances in any competitions
As for Miroslave Stoch, there’s no record of him on Soccerbase, so I can only assume he’s never played for your first team.
United have a load of youth players that don’t play in the first team too, but what has that got to do with anything?
Dumb shit.
Do any of you really believe that Fergie isn’t aware of how the press operate and how they are likely to interpret what he says? He eased off manipulating the press for a while because he realised Mourinho was better at it, now Mourinho has moved on he’s again taking advantage, who could blame him?
Scott – you say that United’s current crop of stars are yet to peak? You are very wrong on this one mate, sorry. John Terry stated in pre-season that United have peaked, so you must be wrong… hahahahahahahahaha.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/13/manchesterunited.chelsea
I like it when Fergie sticks to his morals. I hate the press. Good article.
Redwank… you just made a right old twat of yerself.
It’s not just Fergie, Fat Sam and Arry do not speak to the BBC as well, so it’s easy to point the finger at “stubbon Fergie” but maybe the BBC should look at themsleves for a change rather than making accusations about other people, maybe they look internally and do a documentry about Gary Lineker’s external activities , that would be interesting.
Don’t expect the Press to report anything accurately. Remember when Mourinho arrived? He said, “…I’m not out of a bottle. I think I’m a special one.” Apparently, it’s historical fact that he said he is THE Special One. Anyway, what SAF says has no bearing on how Chelsea perform so I’m not sure why anyone actually gives a toss what he meant.
Scott, what he meant was that he won’t give individual interviews anymore. He’ll still do press conference, but don’t expect man-to-man interviews like the one he did with the cnut that started all this, Ian Ladyman.
Ferguson is an experienced man, he has played the press, and fellow managers, for the majority of Schole’s and Neville’s 30+ years of life.
When he says “I’m not saying necessarily that they’re old ” – that is exactly what he is saying!
Also “I don’t see outstanding progress in a team that’s in their thirties” can easily be reported as they’re too old to get better, (better by one place or two conceded goals -Wigan & Bolton) and win the title.
The press know this and lap it up.
But when the press out-wit him he loses the plot. He does the same when the FA out-wit him too. His comments on referees this season have been scandalous!
Fergie wants to play the ‘off-pitch’ game to his rules, and doesn’t like it when he loses. He’s the same on the pitch too.
His rant today is purely intended to re-kindle previous stories (you fell into that trap eh?). And to try and exert some power over the hacks.
I will miss him when he retires……
The truth is that age is totally irrelevant, it’s quality that counts. The table at the end of the season will show which team has the greater quality. And it won’t be youthful Arsenal…….
And you still miss the point. Ferguson is asking how much Chelsea can improve on last season, not how much quality you have.
Can you improve more this season than United will, when your most effective players are in their 30s and United’s are 23? Probably not.
Who cares how old they are? Only one stat you need to know, Chelsea old men are top of the league, United’s young kids are mid table. Fact!
Yes his words have been blown up a little to sell newspapers but is Fergie really unique in having his words used to create an eyecatching headline!? NO! it happens to every manager.
I think his dummy has been thrown out of the pram again. If he wants to play the mind games with other clubs then he should expect them to become headlines…that’s why he’s doing it!
He was probably pissed again….great manager but inflated ego.
Fergie has been around long enough to know how the press work. Since when has the press taking a quote and turning it around to say something completely different been a surprise.
Fergie should know better and we’ll see how long this self imposed exile lasts the next time he wants to get into mind games with Wenger, Benitez etc.
Grow up Fergie.
If ‘improvement’ were down to just age and a presumed ‘peek age’, of about 29, I’d agree. United do have more players under 29 (esp in forward positions) than Chelsea.
I still believe Chelsea have more quality – but I would wouldn’t I? The reason we fell inches short in 3 of 4 competions was down to the way we played. Avram Grant managed to take the quality from our players – he played a very negative/cowardly style where all midfielders were instructed that the first pass should be to JT or Riccy. 90% of Obi’s passes went that way last season, they won’t this! IMHO having been at over 30 of our games last season and in Moscow – Avram was clearly our weak link.
In Moscow he put Essien at right back and Fergie must have cheered! A simple switch for your number 7 and the winker skinned Essien at every opportunity. We had Paulo on the bench, a player who knows twinkle toes inside out and who had had the brylcreem boy in his pocket at Wembley. Every Chelsea fan was screaming for Paulo to come on but Avram Grunt didn’t see it….
However, this season we have seen our quality players begin to play with the defensive quality of Jose and the forward flair of Vialli’s 5 trophy winning team.
If we keep that up, you’ll be asking youselves the question…
Kids or Experience?
RomansUncle – what a clever come back, you know, trying to make out that the league table after 6 games means anything.
Remember this?
eastuppertoff – Don’t blame it on Grant. You didn’t win the league the season before either, when the Not So Special One was still in charge.
Scott Dumb Sh*t eh?
You said first team squad….. Those players are IN the first team squad officially they are also in the Champions League Squad ( except Sinclair who was prohibited because he was out on loan last season)
Typical Mancstain, spout sh*t get presented with facts change the goal posts!
You said Squad NOT appearances, so either change your article, or apologise. You are wrong, end off.
Redwank – yes, I do think you’re a dumb shit. However many players you have in your “official” first team squad means very little if none of them get to play. When we talk about first team squads, as normal football fans, we talk about the players rotated around in the first XI… not a bunch of kids named in the CL squad but never get a match.
Our under 25s are winning us matches, you’re under 25s aren’t even getting a match.
It’s not fucking rocket science rentboy.
its amazing how ignorant these chelski fans can be . its almost as if they started watching football just yesterday !
redwank – you want to talk about CL squads , check this out – http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/several-youngsters-named-in-champions-league-squad/
bet youve never seen so many kids in a single team sheet before
Scott, yep we didn’t win it the season before either. nor for 100 of our 105 year existence.
in 1982 we didn’t win in cos we were in div 2, one game away from div 3. It’s very hard to win it from there.
In 1955 we did win it and became the first English team to qualify for the European Cup, which we didn’t win, we didn’t even turn up!
In 1912 we had record 82,905 gate at the bridge…. Chelsea v Arsenal
What’s OT’s record gate, and who played in that game i wonder? 76,962 i believe, Wolves v Grimsby…. another tier on your south stand required to even up OT and match our record… but with £600m crunched debt, where’s the money coming from? oh yeah £150m for the ‘step over kid’ from Wastelands eh?
This year? this year, we’ll win all four
What am i doing on a MUFC site anyway, I’m off, have a good season!….
for 105 read 103 before some clever dick does the maths!
Ha ha ha…what a (unt
eastuppertoff – Was there a point to that rant? A Chelsea fan blamed coming 2nd on Grant, I was simply pointing out that you came 2nd with Mourinho too.
Just how big is that chip on your shoulder? Eeesh.