Fergie's rhetorical approach

Rhetoric is the art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively, and when put to good affect by a maestro such as Sir Alex Ferguson, the ball often tends to reach its target. Two years ago Manchester United sold their most prized asset Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Prior to one of the longest drawn out transfer sagas in the history of football, Sir Alex Fergusson continually denied that a deal between the two clubs would be agreed, even going so far as to say he 'wouldn't sell that mob a virus'!! Low and behold a few short months later and the gifted young Portuguese star had donned the famous white strip of Real Madrid.

Ferguson is now famous for his use of phrases which imply a statement of fact but often are mere opinions led to sway the public opinion. It is rare that an Alex Ferguson press conference does not contain the phrase ‘there’s no doubt about that’, in an effort to command a state of fact for an opinion that is often far from factually based. Fergusson might suggest that officials are biased against United and end the statement declaring ‘there’s no doubt that’, and almost instantaneously
dispel any chance of retort from the regularly terrified interviewer.

Ferguson’s press conferences of late have often involved the phrase, ‘there’s no value in the market’, alluding to the fact that the football transfer market is over inflated. It is by no means an unfair argument and in light of a recent transfer where Aston Villa have signed Darren Bent, a fairly standard striker, for over £20 million then it does indicate an over inflated market. However when Ferguson pedals the line that there is no value without a hint of irony, then one has to wonder if he is simply fooling the public, or fooling himself also. This is of course a man who has broken the British transfer fee on no less than 5 occasions. Also it can be argued that the high price demanded by Manchester United for the sale of Ronaldo was perhaps the watershed moment in inflating the market. £80 million which Ferguson will swear is simply resting in United’s bank and waiting for the value to reappear in the market.

Here in lies perhaps the most damaging of Fergusons apparent use of rhetoric. For the past 6 years he has been full of praise for the clubs owners and admonished any supporter uprising against the Glazer regime. Ferguson repeated the oft heard “no value” mantra after a recent victory, which many supporters have taken as a euphemism for Glazer-inspired austerity. That United has broken the £20 million barrier just once under Glazer ownership is symptomatic of a transfer policy that now focuses on the cheaper end of the market. Earlier this month Ferguson admitted that he wanted to “get one player” during the window, qualifying the statement – as always – with a warning about inflated transfer fees. But true to form in recent seasons, Ferguson has now ruled out any new signings in the January transfer window. He continues to spin the propaganda whilst insisting that the Ronaldo money is simply resting in the bank.... Aye Fergie, ‘there’s no doubt about that’!!