Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has controversially claimed that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a superior manager to Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
Collymore, who also claims that Man United wanted to sign him in 1994, argued:
"Through the years there have been plenty of top bosses; Jock Stein, Brian Clough, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley have all written their names into history books, but Fergie is on a different level altogether".
That's quite an emphatic dismissal of Liverpool's two greatest managers; according to Collymore, not only is Ferguson better, he's 'on a different level altogether'.
Collymore is entitled to his opinion, but in my view, it's total nonsense to suggest that Ferguson is a level above Shanks and Paisley.
I could write 10,000 words on why Shankly and Paisley are better managers but there's no point; I'm obviously biased on the subject, and as a Liverpol fan, I'm always going to argue in their favour.
Having said that (and I'm aware this may be considered to be heresy) I would argue that Brian Clough's achievements eclipse those of Shankly, Paisley and Ferguson:
* Took Derby County from the depths of the second division to first division champions and European Cup semi-finalists in just 5 years.
* Took Nottingham Forest from the depths of second division to first division champions and European Cup winners (two years in a row), all in just 5 years.
Those are miraculous achievements. To put it in perspective, it would be like Birmingham City (currently 13th in the Championship, which was Forest's position in Division Two when Clought took over) being promoted to the Premier League, then winning the league title; qualifying for the Champions League, and winning that two years in a row.
As I said: miraculous, and in my view, Clough's achievements are the greatest in British football history.
Jaimie Kanwar
Collymore, who also claims that Man United wanted to sign him in 1994, argued:
"Through the years there have been plenty of top bosses; Jock Stein, Brian Clough, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley have all written their names into history books, but Fergie is on a different level altogether".
That's quite an emphatic dismissal of Liverpool's two greatest managers; according to Collymore, not only is Ferguson better, he's 'on a different level altogether'.
Collymore is entitled to his opinion, but in my view, it's total nonsense to suggest that Ferguson is a level above Shanks and Paisley.
I could write 10,000 words on why Shankly and Paisley are better managers but there's no point; I'm obviously biased on the subject, and as a Liverpol fan, I'm always going to argue in their favour.
Having said that (and I'm aware this may be considered to be heresy) I would argue that Brian Clough's achievements eclipse those of Shankly, Paisley and Ferguson:
* Took Derby County from the depths of the second division to first division champions and European Cup semi-finalists in just 5 years.
* Took Nottingham Forest from the depths of second division to first division champions and European Cup winners (two years in a row), all in just 5 years.
Those are miraculous achievements. To put it in perspective, it would be like Birmingham City (currently 13th in the Championship, which was Forest's position in Division Two when Clought took over) being promoted to the Premier League, then winning the league title; qualifying for the Champions League, and winning that two years in a row.
As I said: miraculous, and in my view, Clough's achievements are the greatest in British football history.
Jaimie Kanwar
Taking an average Aberdeen side from mid-table; only every winning the top league title once in their history, to then winning the title 3/5 years and breaking the old firms strangle hold; to then winning the European cup and super cup beating Real Madrid the final.... forget what he achieved at United.... His Aberdeen achievements alone is unrivalled
ReplyDeleteHmmm you state Forest have won title two years running thats 100% incorrect - they won it in 1978 and that was the only time under Clough's reign!
ReplyDeleteWhen Ferguson's achievements at Aberdeen and United are looked at together it is easy to see he is far superior to Shankley, Paisley and Clough - and out of them I would agree that Clough is the closest to him, but as Collymore stated Ferguson is on a different level.
this idiot is sometimes called a legend by other idiots, paisly won almost as much in 8 years as he has in 25 years end of argument.
ReplyDeleteWho else is fed up with hearing Collymore's quotes?
ReplyDeleteThen taking 7 years to win the league at Man U.
ReplyDeleteWould a manager in the modern day of management be given 7 years to win the league and 13 years to win the Champions League?
I wish Collymore would just pay a compliment and shut his mouth instead of extending it with a slap in the face to Liverpool fans, players, managers, ex managers and players too. What is his problem? His rants are annoying but I'd rather he take his aggression out with his rants on the airwaves then his girlfriends face in a crowded bar!
ReplyDeleteCollymore should realy wake up and smell coffee.
ReplyDeleteJust because SAF has been luckier to stay at Utd for a longer period of time, because his health allowed him to, doesn't make him 'another level' to Shankly and Paisley. What a stupid thing to say.
It really sucks when people like Lawro or Collymore start that SAF arse-licking. Why don't they just shut up when they have nothing smart to say?
Of course, if they both 'shut up when they have nothing smart to say', they would never have their mouths open; & they probably know this!
ReplyDeleteFor more than 20 years of European football, SAF managed 2 European cups + 1 UEFA Cup Winners cup. For less than 10 years, Bob Paisley managed 3 European cups + 1 UEFA cup. Domestically, Paisley's ratio of champions titles to year ratio is no worse than SAF's. No idea what Stan-the-no-trpohy-man is talking about...
ReplyDeleteNo lfc manager won a PROPER Treble like SAF, AND THATS A FACT !!!
ReplyDeleteTheres a guy that drinks day & night on the street corner just down the road from Evertons Stadium & he says the exact same thing as Collymore about Ferguson .
ReplyDeleteHowever , I give the street drinking drunk's opinion mere credence seeing as unlike Collymore he has never beat up multiple womin of a particular race , been jailed in two different country’s over racist crimes , he isnt a self confessed peeping tom sex pervert & has never stood trial for threatening to kill the mother of his own daughter .
Great is great no matter how ya slice it .
Fergie had a tough job when he took over at UTD but it wasnt near as tough as Shanklys task when he took over at LFC which in turn arguably isnt as tough as Dalglish's task today .
Pasiley had a near impossible task to follow Shankly .
Clough didnt have a particularly tough task , he simply overperformed for a few seasons & bucked the traditional trends temporarily & in essence Dalglish done something very similar when he went to Blackburn .
I'm a big Clough fan both as a man & as a football man & I'm pleased to see Nigel doing ok at Derby .
I'm sure Bobby Robson sat Mourinhio down & forced him to watch videos of Clough because its as clear as day to me that Mourinhio particularly in the press has shamelessly copied "Ol'Big Head" .
Jeez the Daily Collymore . Another shitehawk trading off his LFC CV like Lawrenson. Where's Ferguson's three European Cups ??? Funny but I don't see them
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely - & LFC's wins were much more difficult; when only genuine champions could play in the tournament
ReplyDeleteWhen did Aberdeen win The European Cup ? must have slept thru that one. Do recall Ferguson snarling on the touchline as his Aberdeen side were dismantled at Anfield. Oh why are we so gude ! Oh why are we so gude ! Oh why are we so GUDE !
ReplyDeleteTook him 13 years!
ReplyDeleteYes lfc s NON football killed the game in the late 70s and 80s,the backpass and utter dross served up after lfc had gone one nil up was awfull,thank God we now have no backpass,it was Hansens favorite ploy to kill the game.Like I said which lfc manager won,,,FA Cup,EuroCup,Prem or league? I cant remember one, can you?
ReplyDeletei really am getting fed up hearing from this clown. colly if you read this site.........wind your neck in and give it a rest. your not that popular in this country as it is and your burning one of your only bridges left..................liverpool fc.
ReplyDeleteoi inbred Joe Fagan took over Paisleys great team and in his first season won the treble in 1984 ,League championship ,european cup and league cup
ReplyDeleteCollymore can have his own opinion.
ReplyDeletecome back when you've won 19. Oh hell, come back when you make the champions league .. that should do it.
ReplyDeleteGenuine Champions!!! ... And thats how you won at Istanbul .. isnt it ??
ReplyDeleteIn 9 seasons Paisley won,
ReplyDelete1) 6 lge titles
2) 3 european cups..........77/78...back to back
3) 1 uefa cup
4) 3 lge cups...on the spin
5) 5 charity shields
6) 6 times manager of the year
7) 1 uefa super cup..................need i say more?????
Come back when you win 5 European Cup's...........yet more Barca humiliation!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe greatest final in history!!!!
ReplyDeleteLiverpool have won 2 trebles, don't forget 2001!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWakey wakey - Paisley won it in the 70's & 80's! & no, I've never won it, numbskull
ReplyDelete& which British footballer has won more than anyone else as a player & a coach/manager? Oh yeah, that'll be Kenny Dalglish!
ReplyDeleteWhat happens in two Champions League Finals when Rio Ferdinand can't pass the ball back to the goalie? Barcelona 5, manure 1!
ReplyDeleteHilarious - 'PROPER treble'; some of those tournaments are actually fake!
ReplyDeleteReally Gano1 .. thats the challenge you wanna throw out to United .. don't you remember what happened last time ??
ReplyDeleteSo go and do it!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete..Indeed, and with a club built by the godly genius that was Shankly.
ReplyDeleteAlong with Clough, these guys were in a different league to the boring, miserable over/credited purple one.
Typical scousers have to resort to childish comments and bitterness,we have been looking down on you lot for YEARS,and with Gerrard lame and Carroll a Donkey,I dont think lfc will win a major trophy for a Long time,do you?Suarez is good,but the Ajax regect cant dive and score on his own can he?
ReplyDeleteDo you think you look partcularly good???, coming to Anfield and parking the bus is what Wolves do!!!!. Your defence is garbage you can drive a bus through it, as soon as you play open you get tonked.............City 6-1 says it all............ruined at home by the best team in Manure, like Barca humiliate you every time you play them............people in glass house's......blah blah blah
ReplyDeleteLeave out all the childish tit for tat bullshit
ReplyDeletePaisley, Shankly, Clough, Fergie have all been fantastic
It's impossible to truly compare them unless someone can create alternative realities and place each manager in each situation
Collymore is a mouthpiece. The reason he is a mouthpiece is that he was too foolish when he was a player and wasted every opportunity handed to him and must have squandered all his cash also
He is despicable, pity Jaimie has to stoop to quoting football's lowest commom denominator so often
Collymore is an ex-LFC player, therefore his opinion has merit. He's a flawed person but let he who has never sinned cast the first stone.
ReplyDeleteYes we got the point at Anfailed,good result for us Champions,yea Barca have battered us a few times,where were you lot?citeh have took your place in the top 4 and your fighting for scraps AGAIN,why cant you admit lfc are finished as a footballing force,you live on past Glories and cant even get in the Champs league these days,Dalglish is mediocre I hope he stays with you for Years and Trophyless years.
ReplyDeleteHysterical - 'PROPER treble'; some of those tournaments are actually fake!
ReplyDeleteTrebles doubles 12 premier leagues etc etc etc stan knows his stuff and you should accept the facts too.
ReplyDeleteFerguson is the greatest manager to have lived period