Greatest manager of all time.

Ferguson, without question, has earned the right to lay claim to that
distinction, but in an era when everything that happens now is automatically
viewed as bigger and better than what has gone before, I cannot help but
recall Bob Paisley and feel that his achievements at Liverpool are too often
overlooked.


It would be churlish to attempt to place one above the other. As a Liverpool
man and somebody who played a part in Paisley’s success at Anfield, I would
always go with Bob. Equally, Ferguson would get the 100 per cent support of
everyone connected with United.


Ferguson has brought phenomenal success to United during his 24 years at the
club. He has broken the team up and rebuilt on at least three or four
occasions and Paisley himself would always argue that enjoying sustained
success, as Ferguson has done, is the hardest thing of all.


United have emerged from the wilderness under Sir Alex. They were never going
to win the league before he arrived, but he changed that and his success at
Old Trafford – the doubles, the trebles, league titles and European Cups –
can never be under-estimated.


But Paisley’s record at Liverpool is just as remarkable, and all the more so
given that his nine-year reign as manager was almost one-third of the time
Ferguson has spent at United.
In nine years, Paisley won three European Cups, a Uefa Cup, six League titles
and three League Cups. He won three European Cups in nine years, while Sir
Alex has managed two in 24.

Paisley built arguably the best side in Liverpool’s history and it won
everything in sight. His achievements now appear even more incredible with
Liverpool having failed to win the title for coming up to 21 years.

It is true that, while Ferguson rebuilt a United that had fallen into decline
since the days of Busby, Paisley inherited a dynasty which had been put in
place by Bill Shankly and Liverpool were a genuine force when he became
manager in 1974.

But Paisley took Liverpool to another level and, having played for him, I
would say that I have never come across a football man, before or since, who
had his special eye for detail.

Nobody could spot players’ strengths or weaknesses better than Paisley and he
had a simple philosophy which, 25 years on, still resonates today.

And he was ruthless. He might have portrayed an ‘Uncle Bob’ image, but he was
as ruthless as Sir Alex and, at the very highest level, that is a
prerequisite because compassion is a lonely word on a football pitch.

Here is an example. Back in the 1981-82 season, I had been out with a knee
injury and, during my absence, Liverpool won nine and drew one of their ten
games, including a 3-1 win at Old Trafford, so I was worried about getting
back into the team.

I played a reserve game on the Wednesday and then dropped a glass on my other
knee in the kitchen which meant I had to have six stitches, but Joe Fagan,
Paisley’s assistant, pulled me aside on the Friday and asked if I would be
OK to play against Manchester City at Maine Road on the Saturday.

I had six stitches in my knee and the team was flying, but Paisley dropped
Terry McDermott and put me straight back in because he wanted to play his
strongest side. Terry Mac was not over the moon, to put it mildly, but
Paisley had made up his mind and that was that.

Just like Sir Alex dropping Jim Leighton for the FA Cup Final replay in 1990,
Paisley did what was best for the team, no matter if it was a tough call or
not.

Paisley was 64 when he retired, but he called it perfectly. Liverpool had just
won the league again, so he went out on a high and I hope Sir Alex does that
because you always want the greats to go when they are on top, but Fergie is
69 later this month and you can see that the hunger and desire is still
there.

Brian Clough’s achievements at Derby and Nottingham Forest were incredible
because he won titles at both clubs and also managed back-to-back European
Cups at the City Ground.

But in terms of prolonged, top-level success, Ferguson and Paisley are
probably the two at the very top for me.

People often ask whether Paisley would have been as successful in the modern
day, but there is no doubt in my mind about that because he was always
insistent that we had to adapt to sustain our success at Liverpool. He would
have adapted and been ahead of the game. Absolutely.

Paisley wasn’t knighted for his achievements and I know that continues to be
an issue among Liverpool supporters.

It has also not gone unnoticed on Merseyside that, of the four Lifetime
Achievement awards handed out to football people at the BBC Sports
Personality of the Year awards, three have gone to United figures (George
Best, Bobby Charlton and David Beckham) and none to Liverpool.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to place one above the other, but I
will always lean towards Bob Paisley.

He won three European Cups within the space of five seasons and that is
something that will stand the test of time.

Ryan wrote:

Ferguson, without question

Royal wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Ferguson, without question

NGreat wrote:Cristian Purslow

Ben10 wrote:Kevin Blackwell

coolhead33 wrote:

Ben10 wrote:Kevin Blackwell

Where is he at now?

Ben10 wrote:

coolhead33 wrote:

Ben10 wrote:Kevin Blackwell

Where is he at now?

Nowhere, I think. Got sacked by Sheff United earlier this season.

He's better than Venables though.

coolhead33 wrote:

Ben10 wrote:

coolhead33 wrote:

Ben10 wrote:Kevin Blackwell

Where is he at now?

Nowhere, I think. Got sacked by Sheff United earlier this season.

He's better than Venables though.

That was the last club I remembered him at. We should never of sacked him but since we did we have become a better club bith on and off the field.

This thread is about the greatest though and that means it's about Don Revie.

mauro wrote:mourinho

mauro wrote:not to be fucked with

SBSP_FIFA wrote:Jock Stein.

If you respond to this Jela I will have Kyro hunt you down and kill you with a blunt pencil.