EXPERIENCE COUNTS FOR FERGUSON
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Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced old mate Harry Redknapp has proved there is no substitute for experience in the management game. After guiding Portsmouth to safety from an almost impossible position two seasons ago, Redknapp had the south coast outfit on the fringes of a UEFA Cup spot for much of last term. Pompey's form eventually dipped but a ninth-place finish represented their best effort since they sealed back-to-back titles 57 years ago. Redknapp's reward was to be provided with enough cash to sign outstanding Ghanian midfielder Sulley Muntari, top-class defender Sylvain Distin, England striker David Nugent, plus fellow forward John Utaka, who opened his account in Saturday's draw at Derby. The squad strengthening exercise should allow Pompey to punch their weight in the top half of the Barclays Premier League once more this term, with Ferguson feeling Redknapp is providing an example for veteran bosses everywhere. "There was a period where a lot of club chairmen got enamoured by top players and made them managers at Premier League level virtually the very next day," said Ferguson. "That was always a risk. "Now, there seems to be a reliance on older managers such as Harry, Steve Coppell and Sam Allardyce. "They all have teams who are respectable in terms of both performance and the positions they have got themselves into. "Certainly Harry has loads of experience and I think you can expect improvement from Portsmouth this season." After his team opened the defence of their title in disappointing fashion against Reading on Sunday, Ferguson will hope Portsmouth take a bit of time to achieve the improvement he predicts. United were beaten at Fratton Park last term, a sinking feeling they have suffered on three of their last four visits to Pompey. Two points behind all their major championship rivals already, the Red Devils can not afford to slip up again if they are not to find themselves playing an unwanted game of catch-up. Their task is made more difficult by the absence of Wayne Rooney, sidelined for two months by the fractured foot he sustained in a collision with Reading's Michael Duberry at the weekend. Carlos Tevez will replace Rooney, although for United's sake, it is to be hoped the Argentina star does not make the same hesistant start to his United career as he did at West Ham. Ferguson is confident that will not be the case. "We have been watching Carlos for a while and as soon as we knew he wanted to come here, we declared our interest," said the Scot. "You always back your judgement but the most important factor for me is that he has now proved himself in the English game by doing what he did at West Ham last season." Nevertheless, with Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yet to reach full match fitness following long-term injury, Tevez will be asked to shoulder the attacking burden with Cristiano Ronaldo and stand-in skipper Ryan Giggs providing the support. Having declared his satisfaction with United's overall effort at the weekend, Tevez's inclusion for Rooney, plus the likely introduction of John O'Shea for Mikael Silvestre, who was also forced off with injury, are set to be the only changes. Much as victory is desired, Ferguson recognises it will be no easy task, particularly as, in Muntari, Pompey boast a player he knows very well. "Fratton Park is not an easy place to go to," he said. "It means Portsmouth have a big advantage overall in terms of their likely home record. "Harry has made a few interesting additions too, especially Muntari, who we have watched quite a bit. "He actually came over to us as a kid along with Michael Essien but at the time we couldn't do anything because of the work permit situation.
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