FA Cup

[DRT]

I have just watched Match of the Day and I have to say that the whinging and mud-slinging from the Man United managment team following their defeat at home by Portsmouth has made them look amature, small-minded and unsporting. What a shame. The managers of the top teams in a league should have the sense and self-control to react to these situations with dignity.

What I have heard this morning is worse than I hear from stupid parents when I watch our 10 year old boy playing football on a Saturday morning.

Well done Pompy and Barnsley. And well done Chelsea for accepting defeat graciously.

Man U - you let yourself down badly.

Derek

[Overtired and emotional]

Derek,

They may be hugely successful, and rich beyond the dreams of avarice, but the football establishment of my home city still have to pass around the one brain cell they have between them.

John

[DRT]

John,

Agreed. But even people of low intelligence are capable of behaving better than this. Perhaps Sir Alex should have his "Sir" removed for being a bad example to the children of our country. Which he certainly was yesterday.

Some may argue that it is the passion that drives these people to be the best that also drives them to lose control in this manner. I can't say I've seen the latter trait from Tiger Woods.

Derek

[Conky]

Oh Behave yourselves!!!!

Fergie, or Sir Alex, is not a Role Model. He is a Gladiator of the Modern Age. He is Tribal, Competitive and Brutal. If you want a role model, turn to Parents, Teachers or even Policeman.
We are a Country who achieves things, wins wars, yet drinks beer and laughs at itself. That tradition was created, for example, by Raleigh, Churchill, Nelson and Clive. Dont look into the personal life of any of them, or how they would shape up as Role Models. Just marvel at their achievements.

So to my good friends, I say Balderdash and Bunkum...

Alan

[DRT]

Well done Conky, you've just done a sterling job of proving Johns point!

Derek:lol:

[Conky]

I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer I gave, some moments ago.

[DRT]

Alan,

Sir Fergie is not a Gladiator. He is an ignorant, unintelligent, arrogant and unsporting oaf who also happens to be good at managing a football team. I really don't see that there is much to admire there, unless, of course, you happen support that same football team.

There are plenty of sporting greats who can be admired and who have every bit as much passion and commitment to their sport as he does.

Despite what you say, people like Fergie are, unfortunately, role models for the young people from certain sectors of our scociety. He is not doing a good job in teaching those youths how to behave. So long as this or any other country tollerates ridiculous and idiotic behaviour from people in promonent positions we will continue to have large numbers of people who believe it is acceptable. It isn't.

I watch 10 year olds playing football every Sunday morning. Some of the teams are already showing worrying signs of moving on to the worst traits of the professional game in diving, arguing with the referee, disrespecting their manager and bickering amongst themselves. Other teams show discipline and respect and are chastised by their parents and managers if they dare to step out of line. One very noticeable outcome is that the teams who display discipline invariably win. The ones who behave like thugs, and those who manage and coach them, certainly don't come across as Gladiators. They just look stupid.

Derek

[Conky]

Derek,

Utter twaddle! These Middle England Chattering Classes talk some piffle. If your child misbehaves on a football pitch, you sort him out. Dont bleat about the greatest manager British Football has ever seen. All I see in today's society is apologists and victims. Do-Gooders who are keen to excuse and empathise. Take personal responsibility, and sort out your own.
We have a Government that represents your viewpoint at the moment. It sticks its head in the sand over the real issues and personal responsibility. But Good God, they can tell you about Plastic Bags, and road charges. Its a disgrace. Shut the borders, build more prisons, discipline children, reduce taxes. And tell the Chattering classes to get their heads out of there arses!

Alan

[DRT]

Utter twaddle! These Middle England Chattering Classes talk some piffle.

It's the first time I've been accused of being one of them but I'll let that one pass for now.

If your child misbehaves on a football pitch, you sort him out.

We do. Others don't because they believe that to behave like the people they see on TV, including Al-F, is acceptable. That's my point. It isn't, and no-pone should condone their behaviour far less hold them up as some sort of God. People who share your view are the problem, not Al-F.

Dont bleat about the greatest manager British Football has ever seen.

I'm not bleating, and he isn't.

We have a Government that represents your viewpoint at the moment.

No we don't. I think they are all complete gits with no moral fibre or integrity.

It sticks its head in the sand over the real issues and personal responsibility. But Good God, they can tell you about Plastic Bags, and road charges. Its a disgrace. Shut the borders, build more prisons, discipline children, reduce taxes. And tell the Chattering classes to get their heads out of there arses!

Agreed. It's time people started being honest with themselves and telling the truth rather than being blinkered by their own agenda. If Al-F managed the Bin-dippers you would think he was a complete !??*!?

[Conky]

Good to see we agree about the current Government. Gits of the Highest Order!

So you sort your kids out, and I sort out mine, wont that do? Those weak dopes who cant, and then look for excuses shouldn't be encouraged by your Fergie diatribe! They should be highlighted as lilly-livered pillocks, who bring up the brat culture.

If Fergie isn't the Greatest British Manager, who is?

If Fergie managed the Vermin, I would be in hiding, but like Paisley, I would reluctantly accept his pedigree.

Judges and Policemen shouldn't be bent. Politicians who trumpet the Secondary School system shouldn't send their children to private schools, etc. But leave Football Managers alone.

[DRT]

Good to see we agree about the current Government. Gits of the Highest Order!

Agreed. This issue is now closed.

So you sort your kids out, and I sort out mine, wont that do? Those weak dopes who cant, and then look for excuses shouldn't be encouraged by your Fergie diatribe! They should be highlighted as lilly-livered pillocks, who bring up the brat culture.

I agree with the first bit. But Al-F is as bad as they are, if not worse, so deserves the same treatment. Need I mention Eric Cantona and Kung-Fu?

If Fergie isn't the Greatest British Manager, who is?

Jock Stein or Ally McLeod - take your pick.

If Fergie managed the Vermin, I would be in hiding, but like Paisley, I would reluctantly accept his pedigree.

I doubt that is true. Even if it was, you would never dream of publicly defending him.

Judges and Policemen shouldn't be bent. Politicians who trumpet the Secondary School system shouldn't send their children to private schools, etc. But leave Football Managers alone.

No. They have chosen a public profession and accept the huge and in most instances unwarranted and undeserved rewards and son are open to criticism, especially when they act like idiots.

Derek

[Conky]

If Fergie isn't the Greatest British Manager, who is?

Jock Stein or Ally McLeod - take your pick.

If Fergie managed the Vermin, I would be in hiding, but like Paisley, I would reluctantly accept his pedigree.

I doubt that is true. Even if it was, you would never dream of publicly defending him.

Judges and Policemen shouldn't be bent. Politicians who trumpet the Secondary School system shouldn't send their children to private schools, etc. But leave Football Managers alone.

No. They have chosen a public profession and accept the huge and in most instances unwarranted and undeserved rewards and son are open to criticism, especially when they act like idiots.

Derek

I'll accept your bizarre patriotism for that claim about Jock Stein!

Of course I wouldn't publicly defend a Vermin Manager. But I would privately acknowledge their achievements.

A football manager is not a public servant. He is the head of a private football team. The fact we are overly interested does not require a Saintly existence. If he breaks a law, he is a subject who requires that incident to be examined. If he is a poor role model, thats just hard cheese. John had a fair point, they are highly paid individuals who often forgoed their education to achieve their sporting excellence. So why do we suddenly expect morals?

In golf, it has nothing to do with the individual sportsman. That's the myth, but dont you believe it. If a golfer digresses and is found to have cheated, he is banned sine die. That has an impact that reverberates throughout the sport. Tennis and cricket sold its soul, long may golf be the last bastion of honesty and morality.

Alan

[DRT]

I'll accept your bizarre patriotism for that claim about Jock Stein!

First British manager to win the European Cup and achieved with a team from one of the smallest nations in the competition with, at best, a second-rate league structure. It's hard to argue with the truth.

Of course I wouldn't publicly defend a Vermin Manager. But I would privately acknowledge their achievements.

Is that the same as crying in your beer?

A football manager is not a public servant.

I didn't say he was. But they do accept a job in the public eye in the full knowledge that large sectors of scociety will scrutinise and idolise their every move. That, and the rewards that such a job brings with it, mean that they must accept responsibility for their actions and the affect that those actions have on others.

John had a fair point, they are highly paid individuals who often forgoed their education to achieve their sporting excellence. So why do we suddenly expect morals?

Morality does not require intelligence or education. You either have it or you don't.

In golf, it has nothing to do with the individual sportsman. That's the myth, but dont you believe it. If a golfer digresses and is found to have cheated, he is banned sine die. That has an impact that reverberates throughout the sport. Tennis and cricket sold its soul, long may golf be the last bastion of honesty and morality.

You have just made my point for me. The golfing establishment has refused to accept loutish behavior in any form. That is why the participants comply with the rules and a code of ethical conduct that makes the game what you hold dear. Rugby used to be similar but is now going to the dogs. Tennis and Cricket sold out long ago as you rightly point out. Football is filled with idiots who cheat, whinge and lie in order to win. I think we now agree on the matter.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If Fergie isn't the Greatest British Manager, who is?

Jock Stein or Ally McLeod - take your pick.

I beg to differ. The question was not who is the greatest Scottish Manager but who was the greatest British Manager.

I offer Walley Barnes, who might only have managed the Wales National Team for two years but was - to the best of my meagre knowledge of Association Football - the only player-manager of a national team in the last 50 years.

[DRT]

Alex,

The fact that the three Greatest British Managers all happen to be Scottish does not impact the question that Conky asked. The last time I checked, people who come from Scotland are of British nationality.

As for Walley, I don't think I should comment given my experience of his countrymen last week. An experience that you are familiar with and in some way shared with me so I'm sure I need not explain further.

Derek

[Conky]

Jesus Wept!!!

Walley Barnes and Jock Stein?

It's a good job your on a Port Thread! You'd be Legends on a Football Forum, and be mentioned in folklore...

Similar to some dope on the one I go on, who read a Post telling him the Draw for the Champions League had already been annouced in Australia, as they are a day ahead. So he asked what it had been!!!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Have we drifted off topic yet?