Chapter 65: Graham: Ferguson's new rival
"Ferguson really didn't think Graham was a life-and-death enemy at the beginning, and his Manchester United and Graham Arsenal didn't have any unsolvable grudges, but if Graham himself had to play, then Ferguson would naturally take over the move."
- Caption
United didn't bring back a win at Anfield and Ferguson was certainly not satisfied.
Liverpool then won Tottenham Hotspur, winning the title four rounds in advance, which made Ferguson even more unhappy.
The good news media went to interview Tottenham's former manager Graham, who said: "Manchester United, Tottenham, they are not the same level of team as Liverpool. Compared to Liverpool's success, these two teams are too bad. ”
"Why do you say that?"
"Tottenham's level is there for all to see, and it's nothing in London football; Manchester United? We just beat them in the Cup and kicked them so badly that they couldn't resist. ”
It's normal for Graham, who coaches Arsenal, to taunt his city rivals, but why would he deliberately pick up Manchester United to make it right?
In fact, there is a reason.
Years later, the Times reporter said, "Graham's feud with Ferguson is actually very special, and there are many details of respect and contempt." In the summer of 1986 Arsenal wanted to recruit Ferguson as manager, but was refused, and then asked Graham to take over the whip. In November of that year, Ferguson took over manchester United halfway through. The two originally had no intersection before, but in this year they gathered in English football, thus opening the beginning of their feud. ”
Ferguson was completely unaware of Graham and his Arsenal at first. Ferguson, who knows the history of English football and loves Manchester United deeply, knows who is Manchester United's mortal enemy in England and who manchester United must not let go.
Liverpool, the biggest enemy, Leeds United is also a sworn enemy of the Rose derby, the same city of Manchester City has always been full of malice, Bolton every time mocked Manchester United's Munich massacre is unbearable... These are really the things that United need to burn with anger and fight with all their might.
Purely because of Ferguson, Manchester United have new enemies, Graham and Arsenal can be regarded as the most special ones. Chelsea's upstart, who has been supported by Ferguson's Manchester United, has also become a "usurper", but for more than 20 years Ferguson has more of a perception of Arsenal as the biggest threat and one of his most hated nemesis.
Arsenal and Manchester United are equally deeply rooted, each with a glorious history. For more than a hundred years in English football, the highlights of the two teams are basically staggered. Arsenal were still unremarkable when Manchester United won their first top-flight title; Arsenal was created by Chapman in the 1930s, while Manchester United was struggling in the second division; Arsenal was already out of the crowd when Manchester United's "Busby Boys" soared; the Gunners ushered in a golden age in the seventies, but the Red Devils suffered a low.
Magical and ingenious, two english football veterans, the golden period all rubbed shoulders and missed. There is also no direct regional, religious, political, or conflict of interest between the two teams, and there is no particularly strong and irresolvable hatred.
When did things change?
After Ferguson took over at Manchester United, it was only after Graham took charge of Arsenal with hurt self-esteem that the two teams began to rub fierce sparks.
It wasn't until Ferguson dominated the Premier League and Wenger coached Arsenal to fight back that the two teams truly became mortal enemies.
This relationship once became the biggest attraction of the Premier League, but in the eyes of senior fans, it still could not catch up with the red derby.
United's biggest rival is naturally Liverpool, and as soon as Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford, he carried the banner against Liverpool.
Arsenal, who is far away in London and has his sights on Chelsea Tottenham, is also focused on the title honour and does not have much energy to care about Manchester United, but after Graham took office, the relationship between the two teams quickly deteriorated.
In League One, Graham was successful at Arsenal. For some time, Ferguson's Manchester United were also restrained by the style of their opponents, and it was not easy to surpass. The Gunners' hand-to-hand ferocity flourished under Graham, but it also inspired Ferguson's ferocity and united's fighting spirit.
Graham took charge of Arsenal in the summer of 1986 and Ferguson came to Manchester United six months later. Ferguson then led United to a 1987 strike against Arsenal on 24 January 1987.
This game is the starting point of the hatred between Ferguson and Graham, and the beginning of the deep hatred between the two teams because of the contradictions in the game.
Arsenal were more bullish before the game, with the Gunners having created 22 unbeaten games in all competitions in the country and morale is high. Manchester United are constantly injured, just struggling out of the relegation zone, the impact of the temporary change of manager is still there, and the overall state is obviously far less than Arsenal. In the first meeting of the season, the Gunners easily won 1-0 at home to Manchester United.
The undefeated Gunners were at ease, and the generals did not pay any attention to Ferguson, who were very relaxed before they played, and warmed up with a giggle while discussing post-game pastimes.
Arsenal's style from this period was very different from that of Arsene Wenger. Graham is an Arsenal honoured player who has won the league title for the team while playing for Arsenal. Graham, who is also born in Scotland, has a coaching idea derived from the English football tradition, advocating the height and strength of the players, the pursuit of strength and speed, the emphasis on confrontation and scrambling, the tactics are mainly based on high-flying, and the British style of long passes and hanging is obvious. Crosses from the side and rush from the middle are the main means of scoring, focusing on defense and counter-attack. Arsenal teams are all muscle men, relying on physical strength and strength to "bully" opponents when playing, and regularly carrying out rough snatches, shovels and fouls are commonplace.
Arsenal were representative of the "rough" style of football in English football at the time. Graham's tactics were once dubbed "logging" by the media, figuratively depicting gunmen fiercely cutting down their opponents like trees.
"Wherever the ball goes, cut the man down first!" At that time, the media ridiculed the gunman like this, and the fact was close to this.
Arsenal's whole team style is tough, tough in style and tough in defense, which is very different from Wenger's emphasis on technical flow, control flow, pursuit of technical advantages and ground coordination after wenger's entry. Graham's tough guy nature naturally makes Arsenal a team of macho men. In England at that time, most clubs had similar styles of play, and Arsenal was only the most distinctive. They relied on rough and fierce defense, high-ball rushing impact play, long pass attack on the upper three-way operation, and decisive logging of the lower three axe knives, to play a famous role in the League One.
Arsenal's style of play was very common in England at that time, including Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, West Ham, Leeds United, Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, most of them also emphasized body and strength, emphasis on confrontation and speed, some teams really want to find a difference, may just say that there are two players with better individual skills.
England is full of "power" teams, and Graham's Arsenal are only known for the number and severity of fouls.
Back in this game, Ferguson took it very seriously and decisively chose to preemptively strike hard. The Red Devils players, who had repeatedly raised their faces before the game, were fully prepared for the slash after playing. Manchester United's players seem to be suddenly hot-blooded, wild and fierce. Arsenal are still a bit careless, they are not at all surprised that Manchester United is so tough, caught off guard and rushed to deal with it, it seems a bit awkward. Manchester United players have fought with the Gunners in every lawn and every corner, and the Gunners, who are known for their ferocity, have not yet gained a foothold, and they are passive everywhere under the almost same unreasonable playing style of Manchester United, showing a trend of defeat. Referees are accustomed to this high-intensity confrontation, turning a blind eye to the flying shovels of Manchester United players and listening to the complaints of the Gunners.
Ferguson admitted honestly after the game, "United played bravely, and the tough Whiteside had about 45 fouls but didn't get a single yellow card. ”
The game was played like this, the situation quickly got out of control, and the arsenal, which was known for its rough and tough, was naturally not a vegetarian. Arsenal's retaliation was swift and ferocious, with physical collisions and rough fouls on both sides.
War on the pitch is on the horizon.
The irrational Arsenal player Rocastle attacked Whiteside directly, and the result was a red card.
Arsenal, who played one less, was completely passive, defeated like a mountain, and finally lost 0:2. Arsenal had six players in this game, a 22-game unbeaten record and a championship ambition were doused.
After this battle, Arsenal were devastated and eventually lost the defending league title, ranking only 4th in the table.
The seeds of hatred are buried in two teams.
By the 1987-1988 season, the two had a new story. Arsenal were eager to face Manchester United, playing more ferociously and fouling. Ferguson was not afraid and directed the team to respond with the same brave attitude.
In two league games, Ferguson led United to a draw at home with Arsenal and away to a 2-1 win. It wasn't until the two teams met in the FA Cup that Graham had a chance to take revenge. It was 20 February 1988, the fifth round of the FA Cup. Determined to take revenge, the gunners were determined to grab the start, and as soon as they began, they set up a strong offensive posture and fought with Manchester United in midfield, directly launching a stranglehold battle. Arsenal and Manchester United players frantically fight for the body, grab the initiative, Arsenal's "logging law" is really powerful, Manchester United team is limited by the thin squad, the state is not good enough, and gradually lost the initiative. The first half was very intense and fast-paced, with the two teams playing 0-0. The Gunners, who attacked in the second half, finally took the lead, scoring two goals in a row to take a 2-0 lead.
Not content with defeat, the team quickly counter-attacked, and McClair pulled a goal back for United from the crowd of opponents. The team rekindled hopes, and in the final moments of the game, Manchester United besieged arsenal gates and the Gunners were all deadlocked. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Whiteside received the ball inside the box and the Arsenal player knocked him straight down, penalty!
McClair took the penalty, playing him incredibly on a flying penalty and missing a great equaliser.
The narrator said, "Look! In the face of great pressure, McClair fell! ...... He fell under The North Stand in Highbury, he fell on the penalty. What a shame for Manchester United! ”
Arsenal's Winterbourne humiliated McClair, "The penalty tricked is useless! You liars, you're going to lose your pants!" ”
At the end of the game, Arsenal eventually eliminated Manchester United 2-1. Arsenal held out their rough and tough play to the end, sweeping almost every United player down more than once.
McClair was depressed and said viciously, "It's not over, we'll be back!" ”
The game made Ferguson understand that the relationship with Arsenal will be left with hatred.
At the end of the season, United were lucky to finish second, beating Arsenal in sixth place. Although Arsenal once again reached the League Cup final, the Gunners lost to Luton and lost the title.
By the 1988-1989 season, Arsenal had a miracle under Graham's command, winning the final round of the league to lead themselves by 3 points and score four more goals than liverpool, 2-0! With the same points and the same goal difference, Graham's Arsenal won the title with a number of goals scored!
For Ferguson, Graham's leading Arsenal to the title was too much of an impact on themselves!
Manchester United want to revive, the Red Devils want to rise, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton these are the enemies that must be defeated!