Sir Alex’s hypocrisy points to his fear of the Man City threat

He's a funny one, is Sir. Clearly bored of the uber laid back, calm and collected alter ego he's wheeled out for most of Manchester United's press conferences during pre-season, Ferguson turned nasty earlier this week when the subject of Man City came up.

Some probably innocent looking journalist asked Ferguson for his reaction to Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez ‘welcome to Manchester’ advert, and he obviously couldn’t help himself.

"It's City, isn't it? They are a small club with a small mentality. That arrogance will be rewarded. It is very poor stuff".

Clearly however, Ferguson’s memory is as short as his fuse.  It was only last April that he lost his temper again, this time with Benitez (fair enough, we’ve all done it) for labelling Everton a “small club”. Of Benitez’s comments about Everton, Ferguson scowled: “It points to his arrogance”.

I’m sure the irony is lost on him. But there’s something else about his anti-Man City tirade (read more about it – and his suggestion that Liverpool and Chelsea will be his main rivals - on the Guardian’s website here). Traditionally Ferguson has only really taken the time to launch verbal attacks against clubs he perceives as a threat – hence his battles with Wenger and, more recently, Benitez. Aside from the odd scuffle, it was strange that the touch-paper was never truly lit with Mourinho.

So I’m taking Ferguson’s comments as a sign that he expects Man City to pose a threat next season. In turn, we can expect more mind games and some occasional fireworks along the way. 

Look out for team-by-team previews of the forthcoming season on bridgeviews.co.uk in the next couple of weeks.

Comments

[Bluebob81]

Typical baconface really isn't it and typical yoonited all over! They can give it but they can't take it! If they're that angry about some fun being poked at them then maybe they should remove their banner at Old Trafford poking fun at how long its been since we've won anything! No? Didn't think so!

[Michael Hepp]

Certainly City wants to become a force and contend. Personally I would like to see another competitive team fighting with the big 4. It is sort of redundant to have the same 4 teams at the top every season. I love when the big 4 play each other and adding another team to that mix makes for another 2 games to really look forward to. Although I am not sure they are their yet, they are certainly trying.

[CFC_KD]

I think it's going to be a great season - as long as we're not the team that suffers in terms of getting the top four place! It's going to be tough this year - not just Man City, but also Villa and Everton as ever-stronger contenders. Did think Fergie's comments were hysterical though. He obviously doesn't like the competition in his own back garden. About time though - think how many tough derbys we have to play a season, Utd usually only have to play Liverpool. About time their local matches got a bit tougher.

[DaveC]

Michael,

I think if you look at utds record against City over the last few seasons you will see we take the derbies seriously.

[Russell Saunders]

Thanks for the comments everyone...welcome to the blog DaveC and bluebob 81 - good to have fans of other clubs pitching in.

I agree - having more sides (whether City, Everton or Villa) competing for the CL places can only be a good thing for the league.

DaveC - i'm not sure that anyone was suggesting City or Utd hadn't taken their derby matches seriously, although i think the idea that teams not based in London have fewer derby games to play. Agree?

[Dave Edge]

He really is a bitter individual isn't he! Top 6 is the City ambition this season. Anything better a bonus but no grounded Blue believes it is that easy. It could take a couple of seasons. Will the signings gel quickly? That's the question. Good Luck to Chelsea in beating the rags to the Champions League title.

[mm]

There are a few Lancashire derbies next season, with city, united, liverpool, everton, bolton, blackburn and burnley in the top flight, Russell. You should try travelling north of watford some time. It would be an eye opener

[Russell Saunders]

mm - point taken.

I guess if I was to play devil's advocate though I'd say that a Utd game against Burnley, Everton or Bolton wouldn't have the same intensity as a Chelsea London derby against Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham or Fulham. The Liverpool and Man City games are on a different level, I'd suggest.

It's about sporting rivalries that have grown up over decades...not just geographical proximity. But then I've never been to a game between Utd and any of those sides, so what do I know?

[Mr Bluesky]

Old pavement pizza face know his time has come at Utd. The mighty Man Utd are skint and he doesn't like it. I can see City finishing top 3, I think Chelsea will win it so where does that leave United ?

[DaveC]

Russell,
Thanks for the welcome.
well, if you look at it there are actually quite a lot of derbies for us. Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan and now Burnley (Burnley will always sound weird as a prem team but good luck to em) and, of course the rags are all as close geographically as say Chelsea and Tottenham, and I would argue that they all want to beat us and U*d more. Then you could also make an argument for Liverpool/Everton

What I hate is the Utd/Ferguson assumption we are a small team, No one can deny City has a history, and I am proud of that history (Cue inane comment from a teenage red)

Surely its good that there is now a challenge to the status quo of the top 4? Not this season I think, and maybe not next but City are coming and I love it!

To Dave Edge:
Was the bitter individual comment aimed at me? Fraid not mate. To be honest I would be happy with top 6, seen too many seasons to pin my hopes.

[DaveC]

Don't know how to quote but...

QUOTE

"mm - point taken.

I guess if I was to play devil's advocate though I'd say that a Utd game against Burnley, Everton or Bolton wouldn't have the same intensity as a Chelsea London derby against Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham or Fulham. The Liverpool and Man City games are on a different level, I'd suggest.

It's about sporting rivalries that have grown up over decades...not just geographical proximity. But then I've never been to a game between Utd and any of those sides, so what do I know?"

Also

QUOTE
"There are a few Lancashire derbies next season, with city, united, liverpool, everton, bolton, blackburn and burnley in the top flight, Russell. You should try travelling north of watford some time. It would be an eye opener"

These games are as fiercely contested as any. I've lived in London over 20 years and the only true derbies here are Arsenal/Spurs and Fulham/QPR, you could replace Chelsea for QPR dependant on Fulhams league position, and whether Chelsea give a toss!

No game I have been to in this town will match a City;U***ed game

[Sir Cecil]

Would we (or any Top Four side) be excited to obtain Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge or Adebayor?
Where are the Top Four club's offers for Lescott?
Would Chelsea rather have Barry than Lampard or Essien?
THERE ISN'T A PLAYER THEY HAVE BOUGHT WHO WOULD IMPROVE CHELSEA.
This Man. City hype is absurd. If anything, they will HELP Chelsea win the league by taking a few points here and there from our rival contenders.

[Bill]

This coming season, when I leave the house to go to the match, I must remember to adjust my small mentality, air my inferiority complex, always talk about Man U, and look enviously across the city in the direction of the Glazerdrome. Trouble is I keep forgetting to do these things. I forgot them all of last season, the season before, and countless seasons before that. Very remiss of me I know. I must tie a knot in my hankie to remind me to fit the Ferguson City stereotype! Tch!

[james]

chelsea were in for adebayor? yes/no? were chelsea in for tevez? yes/no?
i hope that chelsea do win the league this year because we wont but the fact is we are building a squad to rival any in the land, your best players are all approaching 30-32 and will need r eplacing soon and im sorry but sturridge is not the answer for you

[Christened at St Marks]

Sir Cecil
Chelsea wanted Robinho,Chelsea wanted Tevez,Chelsea wanted Adi,the bin dippers wanted Barry,Arse would take Lescott, Baconface wanted Tevez, Ireland should have won the PFA ,this is only the beginning.

[Wigan Blue]

Old Bacon Face's views are certainly no longer relevant. He announced that the rags had offered Tevez a 25 million deal, followed by a pronouncement that the player wasn't worth anything like that, once City had signed him. He's been mumbling about City since then, which I take as a good sign.

We'll be trying to upturn them this season, but we may need you lads as backup!