24 Years, 1 Month, 14 Days - Busby is Beaten

Today, Sunday December 19th 2010 is a day of some significance in the history of British football and specifically in the history of Manchester United.

For today sees Sir Alex Ferguson emulate Sir Matt Busby one final time as manager at Old Trafford - today see's him become the longest serving manager in the history of that famous club.

Sir Matt Busby
When Ferguson took charge from 'Big' Ron Atkinson in November 1986, United had gone 19 years since winning a league title.

That league title of 1967 had been won under Sir Matt Busby. He was the man who built Manchester United into a force to be reckoned with after WWII and then, after the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, re-built the side again. He won five league titles, two FA Cups and the culmination of his career was winning the coveted European Cup against Benfica at Wembley in 1968. He was Mr Manchester United and the statue that stands outside the stadium in his honour serves to remind both fans of the Red Devils and those like myself who don't, that this was a man of great integrity who was respected by all who knew him.

Sir Alex Ferguson
Busby cast an understandly long shadow. Between his departure and Alex Ferguson's arrival, United went through 5 managers - Wilf McGuinness, Frank O'Farrell, Tommy Docherty, Dave Sexton and Ron Atkinson.

Despite a slow start, taking 4 years to win his first piece of silverware with the FA Cup in 1990, Ferguson has done what his 5 predecessors could only have dreamt of - reviving the Busby glory years with those of his own and some.

Feruson's record is stunning and will prbably never be beaten. United have won 26 major honours under Ferguson. They've won 11 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, a Cup-Winners' Cup and, most crucially – for Ferguson has always bought into the United philosophy that Europe's premier competition is the biggest prize – two Champions Leagues titles (the first one in 1999 ironically coming on what would have been Busby's 90th birthday).

Like Busby, Ferguson's main quality has been the ability to be ruthless where necessary to re-build a team. He's done so to great success and whilst his manner is more abrasive than his famous predecessor, no-one can say that he doesn't deserve the spoils of his success.

The Future?
But Ferguson has no time to look back. He's still looking forward and at present, his Old Trafford outfit are 2 points clear at the top of the Premiership. He's guided the Red Devils level with Liverpool on 18 league titles each. He'd love to steer them to a record 19th league title next May.

But today, he can take a day off and look back at what has been an extraordinary career at Old Trafford. At a time when managers are expected to have to make an instant impact at a club and when the likes of Chris Hughton and 'Big' Sam Allardyce have both been riduculously sacked in recent weeks, Ferguson's example should shine like a star to all of those foolish Chairmen across the land.

Ferguson today surpasses Busby's record as manager of Manchester United of 24 years, 1 month and 14 days.

How long will he go on for and who could fill his shoes when he does?

I don't know so I'll end with a quote from the man himself. Just a few weeks ago on being asked about retirement he said this: "Retirement is for young people. I'm too old to retire".

But there's one thing I do know. When he does retire, the United faithful would be mad not to erect another statue of the man alongside that of Busby. He deserves it.

Ian Holloway's Rooney Rant - Spot On.

Ian Holloway is a colourful footballing man. Indeed, we'd be the poorer without this intrepid breed of individual.

Today, he's outshone himself with his own inimitable take on the Rooneygate saga.



Holloway I feel, speaks for many of us, normal and run-of-the-mill football fans when he rants off about the situation.

I'm an Aston Villa fan. I could quite easily say two hoots to Manchester United and laugh at their predicament.

But I'm also a a football man and I dislike intensly the way that the game has been taken over by the money men in recent years. The increasing power of the agent is scarring the game. But having said that, ultimately it's the football player that makes the decision on what he wants to do.

The Shameful Wayne Rooney
So Wayne Rooney should rightly hang his head in shame at this moment in time. Manchester United are not ambitious? Are you joking or just stupid Wayne? Whatever is said of him, no-one can honestly take away from Sir Alex Ferguson all that he has achieved in the game. He will go down in football history in the same breath as Paisley, Shankly and Busby. Rightly so too - in this modern world of merry-go-round football management, the fact that he has remained at the same club for 24 years and counting is extraordinary.

So to see him looking completely bewildered at the press conference a few days ago was pretty sad. Rooney should be bloody well thankful for what he has been given by Sir Alex and Manchester United over the years. He's been paid a six-figure sum on a weely basis to play for one of the best and biggest teams in the world. I hear that there's figures of £300,000 a week being bandied about by the likes of Manchester City to entice him over.

This is incredulous. Quite frankly, if Wayne Rooney, or indeed any player can be so greedy as to want to play for the club who can pay the most, then the likes of Manchester United are better off without.

Am I being too simplistic in my thinking? Is Ian Holloway an out-dated relic of a bygone footballing age? Well if we are, what about Ryan Giggs?

The Ultimate Football Professional - Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs has played his entire career for one club - the same Manchester United as Wayne Rooney. An unprecedented near 850 appearances over 20 years. He was won more league titles than any other in the history of the game, two European Cups and countless other domestic trophies.

Yet, off the pitch, he has been an exemplar of good behaviour. Now married with a young family, you'll only see him on the back pages for his exploits on the pitch, not on the front pages of the tabloids for his exploits in a club or in someone's bed.

For any aspiring young footballer, for dedication and commitment on the pitch and for a level-headedness off it, they need look no further than Ryan Giggs.

Partly for the reasons that Ian Holloway pronounced in his rant earlier today, and for others, Wayne Rooney should certainly not be held up as a footballing role model to youngsters.

Well done to Ian Holloway for saying it as it is.

If this is what Wayne Rooney is all about, then Manchester United are better off without him. Sir Alex - sell him. Get rid of him. He's an idiot and doesn't deserve to play for a club like Manchester United (and this from an Aston Villa fan).

Football needs more Ryan Giggs's and less Wayne Rooney's.