ROBSON HAILS HEAVY-HANDED FERGIE

Bryan Robson gives a remarkable insight today into the football mind of Alex Ferguson, who celebrates 10 years as manager of Manchester United.

``I honestly think he can be a bit heavy handed and I think I have learned from that,'' says the Middlesbrough boss. ``I tend not to be as heavy handed as Alex was.''

Robson gives his forthright views on a special documentary being screened on Sky Sports 1 tonight, entitled Ferguson 10 Years at United.

The former England and United skipper spent 13 marvellous years at Old Trafford, picking up two championship medals in the process, before moving to Teesside two years ago.

Ferguson moved into the manager's chair to replace Ron Atkinson, who this week stepped aside at Coventry.

Robson says: ``They were different on the man management side. Alex sort of bullies players to see what their characters are like whereas Ron likes to relax and have a few drinks with them.

``Alex is a tremendous manager. When you look back you cannot really question any of his decisions.

``Pallister, Ince, Keane they've all been very good buys plus he has also brought the kids through, so you can't knock the bloke.''

Robson adds: ``New managers have their own opinions on players and there will be changes within the club. Alex did that as soon as he moved in.

``He didn't want players to drink at all when he first came to Old Trafford and a few of the players liked a pint after the game.

``When you talk about ill-discipline you look at players who are still in the game like Paul McGrath. But if you do it at the right time...he's 38 and I played last season. I'm 39.''

Top personalities in the game give their views about Ferguson on the hour-long programme.

Eric Cantona: ``I have played for Beckenbauer, Platini, but Ferguson is the best. He is a very nice man.''

Tommy Docherty: ``Him and I don't really get on that well but the man has done incredible. I don't think anyone else could have done that.''

Howard Wilkinson: ``He has a very sentimental side. He is a very, very caring person about other people's lot.''

Norwich goalkeeper Bryan Gunn would endorse that. Ferguson, his old boss at Aberdeen, took United to Carrow Road on Monday for his testimonial and £250,000 is expected to be raised.

Gunn remembers the good and the bad old days at Pittodrie and says: ``There were the tantrums after games when players hadn't played well.

``I remember flying tea cups in a Romanian dressing room and the sight of Fergie kicking a boot hamper and grimacing with pain when he had actually hurt himself and was trying not to show it to the players.

``I remember baby-sitting for him and I just remember his humour. He was a very funny man.

``He likes telling jokes, he likes saying funny things but he always had the will to win whether it was playing snooker or a game called `tips' in which he and Archie Knox used to beat the hell out of each other.

``I've got a lot of respect for the man - he taught me a lot about football and a lot of my ideals and attitudes are based on what he taught me.''

Alex Ferguson's current players also paid tribute to their manager as he celebrates 10 years in charge of United.

Ryan Giggs was still a schoolboy when Fergie replaced Ron Atkinson at Old Trafford in 1986 but remembers: ``He was brilliant with all the lads and took special care of us.

``He took time out to talk to us and our parents. Ten years on his will to win is still there and he's appetite for the game is the same as it was 10 years ago, but I think he has mellowed a bit.

``He still has a go at you after the game but I think it is a lot more mellow than it was a few years ago. But that isn't to say that he doesn't still shout at you!''

Giggs says that Ferguson's pledge to continue for another decade has been welcomed by everyone at the club.

He admits: ``I think there is only one place for him and that is here. I don't think he will ever want to leave and I don't think the players will ever want him to either.''

Gary Pallister, Ferguson's record signing in 1989 adds: ``To come to the club and turn the place around like he had to do shows how good a manager he is.

``It is not just what you see with the first team and the success and the trophies they have won, it goes right through the youth side of things and the way he has brought through the talent that we are now seeing in the first team and getting the club to run the way he wanted it to.

``To last 10 years at a club as big as United which craves as much success as United does, is a hell of an achievement.''

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