I was Gunner be Arsenal -- Ferguson

[Biafra]

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed how he turned down the chance to be Arsenal manager just months before taking over at the helm at United.

The offer came early in 1986 and Fergie was keen to take Walter Smith to the Gunners with him.

But Scotland's World Cup campaign in Mexico that year meant the move to Arsenal fell through.

The Old Trafford chief made the revelations in the match programme for Rangers’ Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against Dundee United last night - Smith's final match in charge at Ibrox.

"I was offered the Arsenal job and I wanted to take Walter with me," Fergie revealed.

"I thought I would sound him out when we were on Scotland duty together. We were going to play in Israel and I didn't know that Walter was going to Rangers at that time.

"I told him that I had been offered the chance to go to Arsenal and I asked him what he thought. He was positive, saying they were a big club.

"So I said to him ‘Do you fancy coming with me?’ Then he dropped the bombshell that he was going to Rangers.

"The thing about the Arsenal offer was that they wanted an answer right away but I couldn’t give them one as I was going to the World Cup in Mexico with Scotland.

"So the Arsenal thing fell by the wayside. Walter went to Rangers and then later that year I went to Manchester United."

-- Man. Evening News

[cyrilndo]

Arsenal would have been a complete story and would have likely won a champions league trophy if Sir Alex Ferguson did take the offer.

[anointed]

Why is it that everyone that went on to make it by non-Arsenal standards almost joined Arsenal at a time while by the same non-Arsenal standards, Arsenal is not exactly making it at the moment?

[Prince]

Chei Arsenal amost signed Sir Alex

[Maradona]

Chei Arsenal amost signed Sir Alex

That means I would have been an Arsenal fan since I started supporting Man United cos of Sir Alex.

[soothsayer]

Why is it that everyone that went on to make it by non-Arsenal standards almost joined Arsenal at a time while by the same non-Arsenal standards, Arsenal is not exactly making it at the moment?

Kpom, its turning into a practical joke, we coulda sign him, very soon every single football success story in the UK,will remember in their life time when they could have been signed by Arsenal as a gunner this is getting annoying, and funny as well!

[soothsayer]

Chei Arsenal amost signed Sir Alex

That means I would have been an Arsenal fan since I started supporting Man United cos of Sir Alex.

we could have had Maradona as an Arsenal supporter!

[omey2k4]

Chei Arsenal amost signed Sir Alex

That means I would have been an Arsenal fan since I started supporting Man United cos of Sir Alex.

we could have had Maradona as an Arsenal supporter!

We coulda had 19 premiership titles

[Skylolo]

Feerguson would have won 19 titles at Arsenal.....yeah right!

[PapaK]

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

[amafolas]

Arsenal would have been a complete story and would have likely won a champions league trophy if Sir Alex Ferguson did take the offer.

rubbish. not with that penny-pinching board

[Skylolo]

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

I agree with 2003....the team that went on to become the invincibles simply threw it away that season

I don't agree with 2008 - We had a good first team, but did not have the squad and in the end it caught up with us.

I agree with 2011, the squad was there they did not deliver which is why there has to be changes.

[nanijoe]

With the keeper(s) you guys have, there was not a chance in hell that Arsenal could have won this season...For all the soul searching and hand wringing Arsenal fans are doing, you really only need to look as far as the keeper position to figure out why the top 4 is the way it is..

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

I agree with 2003....the team that went on to become the invincibles simply threw it away that season

I don't agree with 2008 - We had a good first team, but did not have the squad and in the end it caught up with us.

I agree with 2011, the squad was there they did not deliver which is why there has to be changes.

[Maradona]

soothsayer and omey. Una heads nor dey house at all.

[Maradona]

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

Heheheheheheh!

[kalani]

I'm glad we got Wenger though.

[Gooner1]

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

I agree with 2003....the team that went on to become the invincibles simply threw it away that season

I don't agree with 2008 - We had a good first team, but did not have the squad and in the end it caught up with us.

I agree with 2011, the squad was there they did not deliver which is why there has to be changes.

Gini? What squad are you yarning on about?.....oh the same squad that consists of:

1. Denilson - the player who always makes the 'obvious' pass, thus putting the recipient under pressure from the opposition. The one dimensional player (is he really Brazilian?)
2. Walcott - a player whose only asset is his speed, no footballing common sense (well you know what they say about common sense, it's not common). He has improved this season, however, he is not a game changer.
3. Diaby - talented, but his mental capacity borders on the depths of stupidity. 4 - 0 up against Newcastle away and he goes and gets himself sent off.....quality
4. Rosicky - has never shown his quality SAF would of got rid years ago.
5. Eboue - took alot of character to come back after a horrendus season last year, but still makes the same defensive mistakes.
6. Almunia - ?????
7. Gibbs had a bright start 2 seasons ago, but has regressed this season.
8. Djourou has been one of our best defenders this season, but some of his recent errors have been unforgiveable
9. Bendtner - no good first control, does not fight for the team, thinks the world owes him a favour
10. Can't be bothered to go on......

Yeah, we came really close this season with this squad........

[Biafra]

Could have this....., Could have that......

Could Ferguson have stayed to achieve anything with Arsenal policy??? Could he have been allowed to over-shoot the salary ceiling? Could he have been allowed to sign-on established players as he doing in Manure???


He could have made a hero out of Wenger. For if he had taken the job, Wenger would have gone elsewhere; perhaps to Manure and could have achieved the same feat.

[Skylolo]

and to think that as at 86 Arsenal had actually won more championships than Manure. The truth really is that Arsenal had gifted Manure at least 3-5 championships. We had no business losing 2003, 2008 and 2011 EPL titles. We gifted them to Fergie and his gang.

I agree with 2003....the team that went on to become the invincibles simply threw it away that season

I don't agree with 2008 - We had a good first team, but did not have the squad and in the end it caught up with us.

I agree with 2011, the squad was there they did not deliver which is why there has to be changes.

Gini? What squad are you yarning on about?.....oh the same squad that consists of:

1. Denilson - the player who always makes the 'obvious' pass, thus putting the recipient under pressure from the opposition. The one dimensional player (is he really Brazilian?)
2. Walcott - a player whose only asset is his speed, no footballing common sense (well you know what they say about common sense, it's not common). He has improved this season, however, he is not a game changer.
3. Diaby - talented, but his mental capacity borders on the depths of stupidity. 4 - 0 up against Newcastle away and he goes and gets himself sent off.....quality
4. Rosicky - has never shown his quality SAF would of got rid years ago.
5. Eboue - took alot of character to come back after a horrendus season last year, but still makes the same defensive mistakes.
6. Almunia - ?????
7. Gibbs had a bright start 2 seasons ago, but has regressed this season.
8. Djourou has been one of our best defenders this season, but some of his recent errors have been unforgiveable
9. Bendtner - no good first control, does not fight for the team, thinks the world owes him a favour
10. Can't be bothered to go on......

Yeah, we came really close this season with this squad........

It is easy to call all these players rubbish in the end....there are players at Manure we were not sure about as well but unlike ours they came in and got the job done when it mattered.

You can't complain about the numbers or their pedigree a lot of those players up there are full Internationals, there were enough bodies to get the job done....some have just proved they cannot be relied on which is why there needs to be changes.

[Skylolo]

I'm glad we got Wenger though.

Same here....

[YemiBrazil]

Could have this....., Could have that......

Could Ferguson have stayed to achieve anything with Arsenal policy??? Could he have been allowed to over-shoot the salary ceiling? Could he have been allowed to sign-on established players as he doing in Manure???


He could have made a hero out of Wenger. For if he had taken the job, Wenger would have gone elsewhere; perhaps to Manure and could have achieved the same feat.

So you think Man Utd's success is about signing of established players?? You can't be more wrong. Read more about his success and you will find out that it was never about established players - he had success with a core that he built.
I have no doubt that he could have done the same with any team (his success story didn't start with Man Utd, for you info) including Arsenal. And on Arsene Wenger, I believe he could have had more success with Man Utd but not as huge as Sir Alex who relies heavily on able and trusted network of assistants to make himself one of the very best managers ever in the world of football.

[junior]

I'm glad we got Wenger though.

Same here....

Same here

[Dodo]

I'm glad we got Wenger though.

Same here....

Same here