I remember reading in Fergie's autobiography how he reacted to losing the league to Blackburn in 1995. He singled out Ince after losing 2-0 at anfield in the spring of that year for strutting around as a "big-time charlie", and claimed that we had been out-fought, which was totally unacceptable.
This happened 7 years ago, and that summer Ince was gone (which no one could believe at the time). United came second, and came bloody close to winning the league (which they would have done, but for Cantona suspension), and yet Fergie went livid and re-generated the team with new, hungry players, with a point to prove. Result: 1996 double...and the rest.
Now I say this because the Fergie of 2002, doesn't seem to mind losing as much. After the Bolton game, his attitude was more akin to "it was a shame, we played well, but our finishing is letting us down". The Fergie we've seen over the last 15 years would simply not put up with second place. Did anyone see Houllier last night? Here is a man desperate to win something with Liverpool, and he was furious after 1 defeat to a better team on the night, and they're still clearly in the competition.
It is therefore no surprise to read similar themes in Keane's autobiography. He noticed after the Barcelona final that the team was living on past glories, and not focusing on more trophies. Keane himself goes as far as criticising that there are players who get over defeats far too easily...perhaps because they don't think they have anything to prove.
No one is questioning that at United we have players as good as any other team in the league. At the top level however (where everyone is a good player), the difference between winning and losing is not about talent, its about the hunger and the fear that losing is simply not an option.
United used to have it, and when Keane is on the pitch I feel we still do. However you look at Arsenal and Liverpool players and you can see that they are desperate to achieve what United have achieved. We've had to put up with losing 5 succesive games to Liverpool, and in every game there was only one team which was simply not prepared to lose.
No doubt those of you who are "true" fans will take offense to this point of view, and will bluntly tell me to go support another team....
This happened 7 years ago, and that summer Ince was gone (which no one could believe at the time). United came second, and came bloody close to winning the league (which they would have done, but for Cantona suspension), and yet Fergie went livid and re-generated the team with new, hungry players, with a point to prove. Result: 1996 double...and the rest.
Now I say this because the Fergie of 2002, doesn't seem to mind losing as much. After the Bolton game, his attitude was more akin to "it was a shame, we played well, but our finishing is letting us down". The Fergie we've seen over the last 15 years would simply not put up with second place. Did anyone see Houllier last night? Here is a man desperate to win something with Liverpool, and he was furious after 1 defeat to a better team on the night, and they're still clearly in the competition.
It is therefore no surprise to read similar themes in Keane's autobiography. He noticed after the Barcelona final that the team was living on past glories, and not focusing on more trophies. Keane himself goes as far as criticising that there are players who get over defeats far too easily...perhaps because they don't think they have anything to prove.
No one is questioning that at United we have players as good as any other team in the league. At the top level however (where everyone is a good player), the difference between winning and losing is not about talent, its about the hunger and the fear that losing is simply not an option.
United used to have it, and when Keane is on the pitch I feel we still do. However you look at Arsenal and Liverpool players and you can see that they are desperate to achieve what United have achieved. We've had to put up with losing 5 succesive games to Liverpool, and in every game there was only one team which was simply not prepared to lose.
No doubt those of you who are "true" fans will take offense to this point of view, and will bluntly tell me to go support another team....
), Pallister, Beckham, Giggs, not just great players but players who knew how to mix it too.