Fergie: I think ‘crikey here we go’ when GNev comes to my office

Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed the natural ability of Gary Neville when it comes to a future career of being a manager. Fergie admits that he gets nervous when GNev comes to his office to fight a youngster’s corner.

“He has definitely got coaching qualities,” said Ferguson. “He’s a leader and already looks after the young players at the club. I don’t know why they’ve got Gary. The ones he’s looked after owe him a large debt. When I see him about to come into my office on their behalf I think ‘crikey here we go’. But really I’d rather deal with him because I know he’s looking after the player’s interests.”

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53 Comments

bobkoh January 31, 2011

It will be soon before John Terry makes a play for.....Mrs Torres! and he will not apologize!

Doghouse January 31, 2011

I think if anything Neville is too honest and forthright to be a great manager, but definitely a great coach and a great assistant. It sounds odd I know, but I just think a manager needs to be, if not untrustworthy, then at least unpredictable. Look at how Fergie handled the Rooney affair as a case in point, nobody saw that coming. He's been in charge that long, he's dealt with so many high profile players, so many situations, and yet he's still able to surprise people. I don't think that is in Gary's nature, you can see that by how crazy he goes for the team, he's an open book.

Have to say though, if United do manage to convert many of our legendary players into legendary coaches, we're going to stay on top for decades to come. People don't talk nearly as much as they should about coaching staff, but if you look at United's success over the last two decades, think where it has come from, it's the alchemy our coaches perform. As an individual Fergie takes the lion share of the credit, of course, but the coaching staff are vital. The players that have been greatest for United under Fergie are rarely the big players bought in their prime, they are usually the uncut diamonds brought in young, or the hungry home grown kids. Without the capacity to refine talents like Ronaldo and Nani, or to nurture players like Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson and Cleverly pretty much from scratch we'd be proportionally weaker, and frankly, we'd probably not win a damn thing.

I mean if you look at Liverpool under FSW, or Chelsea, there you've got clubs where players generally stagnate, or even get worse. Little or nothing coming up from the academy, weak squad players and the star players just marking time, rarely working on their game. You can win stuff with teams like that, but your squad is inevitably thinner unless you've got infinite wealth, and you're at the mercy of the transfer market. The only teams at the top end of football that seem to get this are United, Arsenal and Barcelona. The philosophy not only makes for a healthier squad, it makes for one that players respect and want to play for. It's a very positive cycle.

kel February 1, 2011

He loves the club a lot and would do anything. Remember tevez stuff! Time is running out with him and hope he gain back his fitness if not i like to see him coach the reserve team.

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