"Big Time Charlie" To United? You Having A Laugh??

Paul Ince was a player I loved as a lad. I loved his cocky nature, I loved his ability, I loved how he played, I loved his strength in the tackle, and like most lads in Manchester, I imitated his goal celebration moves that he carried out with Ryan Giggs. He appeared to love the club and love playing for us, looking like a potential future captain.

Ince’s career has had many twists and turns since leaving Old Trafford, however The People is running a story today saying that Sir Alex Ferguson is interested in bringing the former player back as his number 2.

Paul Ince could be heading back to Old Trafford as Alex Ferguson’s apprentice. The former Manchester United and England midfielder, who today leads out Division Two MK Dons at Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final, has impressed grand master Fergie so much that he is poised to offer Ince a ticket back to Old Trafford. Ferguson is considering handing Ince a role on United’s coaching staff – either as first team coach, or as his number two if cur rent deputy Carlos Queiroz opts for another crack at management abroad. Queiroz has recently been linked with Benfica in Portugal. The buzz around MK Dons is that an offer is imminent and club owner Peter Winkleman is believed to be drawing up a shortlist to replace Ince. Ince has admitted that Ferguson has praised the job he is doing at MK Dons – but the United chief’s admiration for his former player goes much further. Fergie watched MK Dons beat son Darren’s Peterborough side 2-1 at London Road in December when he spoke at length to Ince. “People know that we are a good side,” said Ince. “Sir Alex said exactly that after we beat Peterborough and that is the way I want to play the game.”

Now, before entertaining The People’s claim, it might serve some purpose to have a quick glance at Ince’s history, because alarm bells are ringing in my head at the mere suggestion of him coming back to United!

His move to United was one of controversy, with him appearing in the rags in a United shirt before the deal had gone through with West Ham. Ince explained that he was under the impression the deal had been done and that the pictures would come out with the story that the move had taken place. Their fans called him Judas, and that wouldn’t be the only time in his career.

Six years after buying him for £1 million, Fergie sold him on to Inter Milan for £8 million. Ince’s arrogance got too much for Sir Alex Ferguson, so the manager jumped at the chance to make such good money on him. We had Roy Keane now, Nicky Butt ready for the big stage and Fergie didn’t see the need in keeping a player with Ince’s personality at the club, the gaffer never being a big fan of anyone at United having an overinflated ego.

He did well in Inter but wanted to come back to England two years later. Not getting a look in at United, he signed for Liverpool, joining the useless Spice Boys. He won nothing in the two seasons he played for them. However, after scoring a late equaliser against us, he ran to the Liverpool fans, kissing his badge, and celebrating ecstatically. This can’t possibly be the man The People is suggesting would be welcomed back at Old Trafford by Fergie, with a place on our coaching staff available to him?

In a documentary, Fergie said of Ince: “he’s a bully, a fucking big-time Charlie,” clearly indicating there is no love lost between the two men. How could anyone suggest that a man who kissed the dipper’s badge in celebration of depriving us of three points would come back to our club? It certainly makes you wonder how these people earn a wage.

However, I must add, this is the same paper that asked Ferguson earlier this season if he’d like to see Liverpool win the league soon, bringing about the memorable response from our manager. “You must be joking,” he said. “Do I look as if I’m a masochist ready to cut myself? How does relegation sound instead?”

Paul Ince to return to United? I don’t fucking think so!