Wigan Manager Roberto Martinez Backs Rafa

[Reece]

Andrew Richardon (Manchester United fan) says...

Who is Roberto Martinez? Is that Spaniard who did nothing at Swansea and now is doing nothing at Wigan? At the end of the day, every time Ferguson says something, the papers have a field day. Ferguson is friends with everyone because why wouldn't he be? They are all obssessed with football and probably have a lot to talk about. It's not just the English managers, I remember him having a very good relationship with Mourinho, and gets on well with Ancelotti. Benitez chooses to be alone.

Posted 11:32 28th October 2009
Steven Thomas (Liverpool fan) says...

Nice to see another manager coming out against ferguson, for too long he has got away with his intimidation, rants and abuse of fellow managers and officials! I really hope he gets punished severely for his latest jibe but I fear the FA will once again let him off lightly! One rule for him and one for the rest! Who says football isn't corrupt

Posted 11:29 28th October 2009
Rick Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

Well now it looks like Benitez has an ally and a idiotic one at that, Allardyce as Fergie's successor? Try again. And power? Have u seen the last 2 reffereing performances against his team? I'm sure Fergie won't be able to sleep after such a distinguished and successful manager knocking him like that!!!

Posted 11:29 28th October 2009
Andrew Mcgregor (Manchester United fan) says...

Maybe Martinez ought to realise that when you are one of the most successful managers of all time at one of the biggest clubs in the world people will listen to what you have to say. Im afraid hes not in that category and never will be!! I suspect that hes tring to copy his old amigo Benitez here, pathetic......

Posted 11:27 28th October 2009
Tony Rowe (Manchester United fan) says...

So basically what he's saying is that after over 20 years in English football, Sir Alex has managed to develop friendships with other managers... Rafa, on the other hand is disliked by a good number of the top flight managers due to his comments and actions.

Posted 11:25 28th October 2009
Robbo Barlow (Liverpool fan) says...

Martinez a man of the truth i have a lot of respect for him and after reading this i have even more. Another manager big enough to speak out about the special treatment fergie gets from the FA. If any other manager did what fergie did then there would be fines and touchline bans!.

Posted 11:22 28th October 2009
Jonathan Cain (Newcastle United fan) says...

Couldn't get closer to the truth in my opinion, and lets face it, this has been going on for the last decade, Fergie always gets the rub of the green with the F.A. where other managers would be sent to the stands. Its not right but he s been there so long and obviously now knows the right people to speak to! I think its disgusting and we ll only actually see what benefits he brought to united when he retires, well in Martinez

Posted 11:20 28th October 2009
Paul Cassar (Manchester United fan) says...

He's been a prem manager for two minutes, and says that! He forgot to mention one of fergie's biggest admirers is his boss Dave Whelan. ha haa. good bye martinez x x

Posted 11:16 28th October 2009
Praveena Corera (Liverpool fan) says...

It's so true. Finally someone's saying it out loud. I know Ferguson is one of the best managers ever. No doubt about it but sometimes he gets treated above others.

Posted 11:14 28th October 2009
Liam Gerrish (Chelsea fan) says...

So true hes got the PL in his pocket.... Everytime he speaks after a game he gets fined.. Just leave it to the assistant manager and you'll save yourself some money.

Posted 11:11 28th October 2009
Aid Reid (Manchester United fan) says...

At last someone has the backbone to say it. Fergie's influence is a joke and makes a mockery of the League at times.

Posted 11:05 28th October 2009
David Robinson (Liverpool fan) says...

The quotes are from a spanish newspaper, so they were probably just looking for a spanish angle. Most people in spain aren't that interested in the premiership, outside of the names of players and managers from their own country

Posted 11:03 28th October 2009
James Bird (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...

I think Martinez is right Fergie gets away with murder! He shouts at every ref after a decision goes against his team he should show more respect this is not a good image for the game.

Posted 11:02 28th October 2009
Sean Parr (Liverpool fan) says...

Well said Martinez. Ferguson is a disgrace, he's a whinging big baby. How can he say what he's said about the refs not being fit enough and then get away with saying Marriner isn't experienced enough, he gets away with murder. A very bad loser with always something/one to blame other than his teams performance. It's not arrogant of Martinez at all, Ferguson is backed to the hilt by everyone and most of all the media. It was the media that tried to make Rafa look like he had lost it just because he had said some home truths about Sir Whingealot.

Posted 10:59 28th October 2009
Chris Mccann (Manchester United fan) says...

Typical, I used to respect Martinez, he knows alot about the game and always had interesting things to say when he was on Revista de la Liga. Talented manager who just went down in my books. You cant come out like that and have a go at SIR ALEX based on what, that he, like every manager gets away with murder. Very cheeky how he mentioned Bruce and Big Sam also. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but what he said was completely useless and only got him in the bad books with a few PL managers I would say. IDIOT!!

Posted 10:55 28th October 2009
Dave Pierce (Liverpool fan) says...

Finally someone who is sticking up for Rafa, he is 100% correct, there are many managers who thinks the sun shines out of SAF backside. Going back to the Blackburn game when Sam Allardyce thought Rafa was saying game over, Why did ferguson get involved after that? Clearly Rafa did not mean game over, but even if he did who cares, Blackburn were rubbish that day. To be fair to Rafa this season he is just getting on with the job and not moaning about refs or decisions or other managers.

Posted 10:55 28th October 2009
Lee Grayson (Hull City fan) says...

He may of only been in the Prem for 5 mins.... but you gotta admit he's right. Any other manager had said the things he did about Alan Wiley and Andre Marriner would of been pulled in front of the F.A straight away and banned instantly for several games, yet fergie has simply put the game in to disrepute with Wiley and then the very next game done it with Marriner. Sorry to all these Man Utd fans but where all this respect for Refs when the most experienced manager in the prem can come out with comments like these... he should be setting an example for new managers like martinez. As good as a manager fergie is,he is arrogant selfish and the biggest sore loser in management!!! If the F.A dont want other managers to go the same way as fergie they need to come down on him HARD. I know alot wont agree but i know more then most (I.E Non Man Utd fans) will agree with this.

Posted 10:55 28th October 2009
Wayne Edwards (Manchester United fan) says...

I have to agree with Michael Redfearn... Seems to me that Benitez can only strike up relationships with other Spaniards, and Martinez's arrogance seems to be on an equal par with that of Benitez. Only two managers have really caused Sir Alex any concern over the past 20 years... José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. Others come and go and it seems to be proved that Liverpool were a one season wonder... Alonso had one good season, and they challenged. This is all a case of people jumping on the bandwagon... Referees have been criticised for years, worse things get said on the Sunday League pitches around the country than "the referee is not fit enough".. and let's be honest, Alan Wiley could possibly do with losing a couple of pounds don't you agree? After the Manchester derby, we had a week of gossiping about how friendly Fergie and Wiley were for laughing on the touchline, now we read about how Fergie has almost destroyed Wiley's career.... Utter Nonsense...

Posted 10:51 28th October 2009
Andrew Walker (Liverpool fan) says...

Hit the nail on the head Roberto. It's been happening for years. Fergie will probably only get a warning. The FA are far too scared of SAF. If it was any other manager, they will get a fine AND a touchline ban.

Posted 10:49 28th October 2009
Brian Teles (Arsenal fan) says...

Martinez has more than a point. Fergie is too powerful in the English game. The FA let him get away with all sorts of things. Other managers would be severely punished but not him. He seems to tell the FA and the PL what to do. Man Utd fans are saying than Martinez isn't entitled to his opinions because, and I quote "he's only been here 5 mins in the Premier League." Doesn't matter how long Martinez has been boss at Wigan. He's a PL manager just like Fergie. The United boss has no respect for anyone in the game. His ego is bigger than his club. If the United fans took off they're Old Trafford glasses, then they would know this.

Adam Adams (Arsenal) says...

I recall Ferguson having a go at Wenger soon after he arrived. In typically arrogant fashion he spat the word Japan out as that was where Wenger had worked previously, claiming that Wenger had only been here 5 minutes and that he somehow wasn't entitled to an opinion in Fergie's premier league. Martinez is absolutely right though. Benitez gestures last year against Blackburn were to his own players as he jokingly told them to ignore his previous instructions as they hadn't worked. Allardyce and subsequently Ferguson picked up on them and used them as a cowardly stick to beat Benitez with on several occassions. Ferguson has been getting away with murder for years and if this does come to an end football will be better for it. But don't hold your breath! As for Bruce? He has always been a yes-man and a Ferguson devotee. He was quick to cry foul when Arsenal beat Sheffield United with an unsporting goal when he was their manager and even tried to call his team from the pitch in protest. Wenger agreed to a replay. Do you think that Bruce, Ferguson or Allardyce would have done that? Yet when his team beat Liverpool a few weeks back with a goal that was against the laws of football Bruce's silence was thunderous.

Posted 10:41 28th October 2009
Dermot O' toole (Liverpool) says...

Fair enough point from Martinez. He is just saying what every unbiased football fan has noticed. AF has undue influence in the Premier League esp with his buddies supporting his every move. In the last two matches he has attacked each referee. it's about the FA take some action and give him the ban he deserves.I don't see how it's the least bit arrogant for Martinez to be using the press to point out the facts. Is he not allowed have an opinion???

Posted 10:40 28th October 2009
Nick Coburn (Manchester United) says...

I think Martinez is acting like a puppet here, these are just him mouthing Benitez words. Sad really, some group he calls, Steve Bruce for being an ex Utd player, and Big Sam who Fergie has always said he has a close friendship with, nothing new there but as for taking over from Fergie when he retires, never in a million years.And what about Benitez, he hates Fergie and Wenger, there is a group of two that dislike him very much, Martinez will win no favours in footbal this way, especially being as benitez will be sacked by teh end of the season and he will be left high and dry

Posted 10:40 28th October 2009
Dave Sans (Leeds United) says...

Martinez is right, Fergie does pull too much weight. i dont think any other managers would get away with hounding the forth official like he does. Allardyce has been his lap dog for a long time, remember their photos together before Bolton Arsenal game both mugging off wegner. They like to conspire, the liverpool blackburn game last season, benitez's hand gesture totally taken out of context. Allardyce didn't say anything to Sammy Lee his former assistant at the time, then suddenly him and Fergie pipe up in the press.

Posted 10:36 28th October 2009
Andrew Mcevoy (Stoke City) says...

Martinez may not be able to have a say but all the other fans from other clubs and supporters watching from all over the world know that Ferguson has got the FA wrapped round his little finger. It does not mean he is not an unbelievable manager, you only have to look at his record to see how good he is at his job. But something does need doing about football in general. Its going to end up mickey mouse if the FA dont pull there fingers out.

Posted 10:27 28th October 2009
Pat Smalley (Leicester City) says...

Pretty arrogant from Martinez isn't it ? 5 Minutes in the PL and reckons he knows all about it including Ferguson's successor.He should concentrate on Wigan, he has got his hands full enough.

Posted 08:14 28th October 2009
Dave Jessop (Manchester United) says...

"Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight."...and Martinez (who!!) has been here 5 minutes Sad when some managers have a go at Fergie just to get their name in print

Posted 08:11 28th October 2009
Michael Redfearn (Manchester United) says...

Is this perhaps a case of the Spaniards teaming up??

Posted 08:09 28th October 2009

[banditos]

Seems the fans of other teams all agree though. Only the mancs disaggree.

[Assassin]

Martinez on mr ferguson

Martinez


Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has accused football authorities in England of being overawed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Martinez believes the Manchester United boss is given too much latitude by those who run the game in England, despite Ferguson yesterday admitting a charge of improper conduct brought against him by the Football Association.

That charge relates to his comments earlier this month that referee Alan Wiley was "unfit" while Ferguson also questioned whether Andre Marriner had the necessary experience to take charge of his side's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.

Ferguson will face the FA at a personal hearing for his comments regarding Wiley, but Martinez believes other managers would have been hit with more decisive action than the Scot has so far.

"They (the FA) have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him," Martinez told Spanish newspaper AS.

"Any other coach would have been crushed for that.

"Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight."

Martinez's comments echo those of fellow Spaniard and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who the Latics boss believes is unfairly targeted by some managers.

"Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others," Martinez said.

"On the other side there's Rafa Benitez and he gets attacked from all sides."

[Reece]

Okay this is only the fourth thread to have been started on this subject

[Vermilion]

Okay this is only the fourth thread to have been started on this subject

*runs off to start another*

[Reece]

*bans Vermilion*

[Vermilion]

*bans Vermilion*

look, a panda..

*runs away*

[Reece]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...alYNWA/042.gif

What the **** is he doing there

[Vermilion]

What the **** is he doing there

Biting his nails.

[Reece]

Biting his nails.

Ahhhhh.

Okay, the Panda saved you

[Vermilion]

Martinez has now denied saying any of this.

Still, it got people debating the issue.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=690535&sec=england&cc=5739

Roberto Martinez denies Sir Alex Ferguson attack

By Soccernet staff
October 28, 2009

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has "categorically denied" suggesting that the Football Association is afraid to punish his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson.

Roberto Martinez was appointed as Wigan manager in the summer.

Spanish publication AS reported on Tuesday that Martinez had commented on Ferguson's FA charge of improper conduct for comments made about Alan Wiley's physical condition - a charge which the United manager has admitted to - by suggesting that the governing body were treating the case too leniently due to the standing the Scot enjoys in the English game.

Martinez reputedly told the Spanish paper: "They (the FA) have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him. Any other coach would have been crushed for that."

The report went on to claim that Martinez had labelled Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce as Ferguson's "group of faithfuls" and that his fellow Spaniard Rafa Benitez had been unfairly treated during his time in England.

But in a statement published on the official website of the League Managers' Association on Wednesday, Martinez strongly denied making the inflammatory comments.

"Wigan Athletic manager, Roberto Martinez, has today [Wednesday] categorically denied making the comments about Sir Alex Ferguson that have been attributed to him in a number of media reports," a statement from the LMA read. " Martinez has referred the matter to the League Managers' Association."

[lickedlollipop]

he's already hero for winning chelsea anyway

[DannyMan2006]

He's hardly gonna admit it even if he had said those comments. Especially with a chairman like Whelan - lover of Fergie and all things LMA.

[red g]

Martinez clarifies Sir Alex quotes
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has been in contact with Sir Alex Ferguson to explain remarks attributed to him in a Spanish newspaper. Martinez has also phoned Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce and Rafael Benitez after they were all implicated in the article.

The Spaniard felt the need to clear the air after categorically denying he suggested the Football Association are afraid to punish United boss Ferguson.

Martinez said: "Those managers have probably been in this situation and know how things work. I have had a lot of support in that respect.

"To speak about other managers you need to win the league. But it is not in my nature to be outspoken."

It was suggested that Martinez claimed Ferguson had faithful followers in Bruce and Allardyce while Benitez was the target of constant sniping.

Martinez said: "I have the utmost respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce, Steve Bruce and Rafael Benitez.

"Sir Alex is probably the best manager in the world while Steve has worked under him and we have a good relationship as he worked at Wigan before me.

"As for Sam I respect his achievements and what he has done in the Premier League he stands along with Brian Clough as the greatest manager ever not to manage England . I also respect Rafa as he is one of the most successful Spanish managers ever."

Martinez added: "It is important they all know I was very disappointed with the stories that were circulating. It is a very unfortunate situation but people need to understand what happened."

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_5659007,00.html

[Reece]

"As for Sam I respect his achievements and what he has done in the Premier League he stands along with Brian Clough as the greatest manager ever not to manage England.

What? I take back everything I have ever said about Martinez. He is clearly mental.