It seems Redknapp has also given up on 3rd spot, ati at some point they were title contenders! Our worst start in 50 years yet we look set to finish 3rd....Wenger needs to get the transfers right this time.

http://www.dailymail.co....Spurs-settle-fourth.html

SAF could have goofed with Rooney's case but he is definitely a better man manager than Mancini. That aside, this Balotelli fellow is a disgrace. He was literally chased by Murinho. Anyone who Mourinho can't handle must be quite a character. Very shameful for such a talent. Song was lucky to escape unhurt in what seemed like a career ending horrendous play.

The Rooney case was not perfect but I don't remember SAF begging him. He actually snookered the guy. He addressed a press conference where he came out as a concerned father who had been let down by the son. He actually said he had given up on the issue. Rooney had no option but to put pen to paper.

I'm sure you are conversant with the following cases:

Jaap Stam: Sold to Lazio at the beginning of the 2001–02 season, because Ferguson was annoyed by the allegations he had made in his autobiography Head to Head about himself and the club. At the time Jaap Stam was the best defender in Europe. He had been voted best defender in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League.

David Beckham: And replaced him with a virtually unknown player by the name of.... eeeh... why I'm I forgetting his name?.... Oh, yes. Christiano Ronaldo!

Roy Keane: In Nov 2005 Roy Keane, who was sidelined with a broken foot was angered by United’s defeat at Middlesbrough, and castigated his team-mates in an interview. Ferguson reacted by cancelling Keane’s contract. He still one of the best midfielders Man U has ever heard.

Promoting "the kids": After finishing the 1994-95 season empty-handed, Ferguson sold Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis and promoted unheralded youngsters Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers.

Norman Whiteside & Paul McGrath Despite both being huge fans’ favourites and two of the outstanding players of the United squad, Ferguson ignored supporter anger and sold both in 1989 due to concerns over their fitness and off-field lifestyle.

ManShiteh should just cut their losses and pay the man his dues...because I do not see any club buying Balotelli...and if they do, it would be interesting to know the details of the negotiations....I see a pay cut!!

@Maichblack..I totally digress!!

Yes you have quoted some examples and one thing for sure Alex Ferguson is not a great manager, he just has EONS behind him, great managers are Mourinho,Wenger,Ancelotti,Van Gaal,Bielsa, Ferguson just happens to have played many more games well we all know bout the Law of averages.

Man U just like many other teams have won the title by breaking the bank from Rio,Berbatov,Tevez,Rooney and the list goes on there is nothing great in that. People castigate Marion, but forget alltoo often Rooney was a problem child and what about Cantona isn't he still a legend at Ol Trafford..selective amnseia i call it, the world needs this type of players and i'd pay money to watch Balotelli anytime but not Rooney, nothing special there.

@Smano, it's a widely known fact Man u gets favoured by the media/TV, Man U is an English club, sadly Chelsea, Arsenal are not Tottenham had joined the ranks and as always Liverpool. So it takes a very BOLD referee to make some calls at OL Trafford and small wonder "foreign" referres seem not to have this problem, hence we saw Bilbao and the rest pulled Man U's pants down? forget about the half baked truths fergie keeps on giving, the fact is they enjoy a considerable support from the referres/FA and Mourinho told Mancini long-time it takes a considreble effort to wrestle the title from Man u not just on the pitch!!