Sir Alex Ferguson's wise words ensure Sam Allardyce sees the big picture

Tonight they are rivals but Scot is a source of advice for West Ham boss
P96 Sir Alex Ferguson
Ken Dyer28 November 2012

Whatever the result at Old Trafford tonight, one thing will remain constant — the enduring friendship between Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce.

The two have been good mates since they sat alongside each other on the executive committee of the League Managers Association and remain in frequent contact Tonight, not that long after the hostilities have finished between Manchester United and West Ham, Sir Alex will share a bottle of red wine with his old friend.

“It will be good wine,” said Allardyce. “But depending on the result, it might not taste that good.”

If Allardyce is to enjoy his drop of red tonight, then he needs to avoid the same fate as his last match-up against Ferguson two years ago, when United thumped Blackburn 7-1 at Old Trafford.

Unfortunately for the West Ham manager, his cause is hampered by injuries to a number of players, while the influential Mark Noble is suspended. But irrespective of his team’s fortunes tonight, the post-match chat with Ferguson could be invaluable for Allardyce yet again.

“There was always an opportunity to speak to him when I was a young manager — he was very helpful that way — but our friendship probably began properly when I was invited onto the committee of the League Managers Association,” he said.

“Most of the time we talked about football matters but there was time also to relax with a glass of wine or two. We supported each other’s charity events and our friendship grew from there.You can’t underestimate what it means to have the best football manager in the world on the other end of the telephone should you need him.

“He will always give you his time and talk to you about subjects you can only realistically discuss with another manager, especially when things are not going quite as you expect.”

However, their football discussions are not solely related to matters on the pitch.

Allardyce said: “Probably the best advice he has offered is when I was considering a new job.

“When you’re out of the game there is a desperation and temptation to get back in but he was there with a word of warning.

“He’d say, ‘just a minute, perhaps you wouldn’t want to work in this or that environment. It would maybe be very difficult working there in that particular way’.

“Or, ‘I know you’re desperate to get back in the game but look at the way they’ve treated previous managers. Look at the bigger picture because, when you’re trying to move forward in your career, it’s very important to make the right choice’.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve offered him much advice but we do talk about how our teams are playing and what we might do. I might say, ‘from what I’ve seen, perhaps you could do this or that, or maybe tweak the system’. Whether he does anything about it I don’t know but it has been a privilege to get to know him as well as I do.”

Ferguson has been impressed with his friend’s achievements at Upton Park, saying: “The cynics said he’s not a West Ham manager as he doesn’t play football.

“What was his mandate? To get them up into the Premier League as quickly as possible and he got them up within a year. Tell me someone else who could’ve done that?

“He also had to rebuild the team and get two or three players out because of their salaries.

“He’s very underrated, it’s as simple as that. There’s a sort of impression about him being a certain type of manager. It’s not really fair and I’m pleased he’s back in the Premier League.”

Ferguson has won 11 major honours since reversing his decision to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season and turns 71 on New Year’s Eve. So how long does Allardyce believe the world’s best manager will go on? “He said a few years ago ‘I’m too old to retire’ so as long as he stays in good health and enjoys life as he is at the moment, I’m sure he’ll carry on,” said the West Ham manager.

Meanwhile, Allardyce is hoping the travelling fans will support their team in the right way tonight, following the anti-Semitic chanting at Tottenham on Sunday.

“The West Ham fans are fantastic but there is a small minority ­spoiling it for the majority and I believe the fans who are next to these people should deal with them if possible,” he said.

Two West Ham fans were arrested and accepted a police caution for anti-Semitic gestures during the 3-1 win at White Hart Lane. One of the fans, a season ticket holder, was given a lifetime banning order by the club.

Big Sam’s record against Fergie

Won 2 Drawn 3 Lost 11

As Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce won two of his first three matches (2-1 and 1-0) against Fergie’s United but his teams have conceded four or more goals on six occasions, with Blackburn’s 7-1 drubbing at Old Trafford in November 2010 being his worst result.

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