Sir Alex Ferguson Takes It Back. Kind Of.

You may recall how Sir Alex Ferguson let slip his true opinion of Newcastle United. "I'm not at Newcastle United, a wee club in the Northeast" he said delicately in answer to Alan Pardew and certain others in the world (read: everybody but Man U fans) objecting to his ragefury visit with the officials at halftime of the Man U/Newcastle match. Certainly most people would have thought the whole situation put to bed what with Newcastle with things such as injury and poor form to worry about and SAF surely with something to worry about... whether or not he's getting enough Fergie time, probably.

No way.

The Manchester United manager revealed that, among many emails he received about the issue from fans of the Tyneside club, several welcomed what he said. 'Among the criticism there were also messages from people who feel they have been let down by the club and that it has not matched their own ambitions for success,' he said.

-- Mail Online

First off, let me register my skepticism that he received very many emails from Toon supporters that were suitable for press. Second, even if there were some, I am fairly certain that none of them read like this:

To: Sir Alex Ferguson [rayjohn@reddevil.com]

From: OSotP [OSotP@toon.fan]

Subj: Wee Club

Sir Alex,

I wanted to take a brief moment to get in touch with you regarding your derogatory comments about Newcastle United the other day. "I'm not at Newcastle Unted, a wee club in the Northeast" you said. Many of my fellow supporters took exception to these comments. I, however, feel slightly differently about them. I want to thank you. Thank you for saying what nobody else has had the guts to say. Newcastle United are a wee club.

I've been a football fan for as long as I can remember. There have been good times and there have been bad times. I am, however, a supporter with ambition. I crave success. This is, of course, why I have chosen to support Newcastle United. Yet over the past 52 years, we've won nowt but some lower division medals. No domestic cups. No European cups. No First Division/Premier League titles. Yet we all sit around complacently, waiting for something to magically get better. You, however, have set the world back on the path to normality. Your calling the club "wee" is going to be the catalyst for Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Alan Pardew to pull their collective heads out of their arses, and for that, I cannot thank you enough.

Normally, I would not wish your club well... but seeing as you've done me a considerable solid here, I will make an exception. Good luck in your Premier League campaign. Perhaps if things don't change, you'll see me amongst your supporters in Manchester some day.

OSotP

That much can pretty much be given. Why the need, then, to go back in the papers a full week after the incident in the first place to "clarify" what you meant. "I just meant that they haven't won any trophies in like <chew chew chew> well it's been a very long time, hasn't it? <chew chew chew> I don't know of anyone that can count that high. <chew chew chew>"

Thanks, Alex! Now we can all go on about our business.