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Young: dropped by Ferguson following QPR incident in 2012. Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Fergie: I got Ashley Young to stop diving -- by dropping him

In his autobiography, Alex Ferguson discusses how he stopped the United winger from going to ground so easily.

ALEX FERGUSON DROPPED Ashley Young to teach him a lesson and stop him from diving.

The Manchester United winger was slammed again last night after he went down under minimal contact and won a penalty against Real Sociedad.

The incident sparked another diving row with new Ireland assistant Roy Keane accusing Young of “conning” the referee and Ray Wilkins describing his action as “pathetic.”

Young has been accused of simulation in the past including two high-profile incidents against QPR and his former club Aston Villa during the 2012 title-run in.

image

GIF: Maher Aryan via Balls

In his new autobiography Ferguson remembers how he punished Young and stopped the problem.

“Ashley ran into trouble against QPR in the 2011–12 season, when Shaun Derry was sent off and our player was accused of diving,” the former United boss wrote.

“I left him out for the next game, and told him that the last thing he needed as a Manchester United player was a reputation for going down easily.

“It wasn’t a penalty kick against QPR and Shaun Derry’s sending-off was not rescinded.

Ashley did it two weeks in a row but we stopped it.

Going to ground too willingly was not something I tolerated.

Speaking after last night’s 0-0 draw in San Sebastian, which saw United remain unbeaten and on top of Group A, manager David Moyes defended Young.

“I don’t know about his reputation, but the referee is there and he gave it,” he said.

“I have seen it and the boy certainly tugs him. The ref was two yards from him.”

Van Persie misses penalty in Sociedad stalemate

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48 Comments
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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:57 PM

    I don’t think you’d find any United fan that’d have a problem with dropping Young. He is beyond shit!

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    Mute coolcounterculture
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:28 PM

    United fan here. In a heartbeat I’d drop him even if he was the most virtuous player on the team. I think he’s brutal to be honest and as poor as the team is in ways, he’s not United standard.

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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:33 PM

    Its a pity how poor he seems to have got….he was a fine player in his pomp at Villa

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    Mute Giuseppe Signori
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    Nov 7th 2013, 12:13 AM

    David,
    Because young is so bad you guys get on his back but yet realistically we all know Ronaldo did for years but because he was such a good player for united it was fine for him to fall around the pitch and get applauded-it reeks of hypocrisy

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    Mute Justin Cottrell
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    Nov 7th 2013, 4:16 AM

    Correct

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    Mute Paul Huston
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    Nov 7th 2013, 8:12 AM

    Giuseppe Ronaldo got a bad reputation as he dived a lot when he first came to England in reality as he matured the diving got less frequent but your right when you have players like Ronaldo, Suarez, Bale, etc as a fan you can accept a certain amount of play acting because of their exceptional talent, Young is no-where near that standard so right now he’s a rubbish player who’s actions are giving the club a bad name as a United fan he’s had his warnings we need shot of him

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    Mute Colm Coughlan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:13 PM

    I know managers have to defend their players, but a dive is a dive

    69
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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:05 PM

    Moyes has to be kidding with his defence, surely? Indefensible springs to mind…

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    Mute johnlegend1212
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:41 PM

    Sure it is ingrained in the player’s at that cheating club. Ronaldo, nani, welbeck, valencia and even the new wonder kid Januzai seems well equipped to the red devils way’s. Paying refs of, team of diving cheats.

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    Mute coolcounterculture
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:25 PM

    Funny guy. And it’s not prevalent at any other club no? It’s a 21st century issue primarily due to the influx of foreign players to the Premier League. Many players have taken their cue to get an edge. To say its endemic at United but nowhere else is most likely the words of an ABU, or someone a little short-sighted.

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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:53 PM

    Mixed feelings on the United thing boss. I’m a Villa fan. Did Young dive at Villa? No doubt. It was cringe-tastic. But he def does it for far less now. And only Agbonlahor was even in the same ball park for us, there are a good half dozen for Utd. Arsenal can be as bad. Big clubs with a win at all costs attitude do seem to bring out the worst in this kind of player.

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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:56 PM

    Easy solution: post game ban for simulation, judged by a panel. They deserve to be double judged when cheating is clearly the only intent. It’d soon stop em.

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    Mute jrbmc
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:05 PM

    James he may have defended him in public but you can be dame sure he got a talking too today , any player that brings bad press to the club gets a slap behind closed doors you can be sure of

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    Mute David Carragher
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:08 PM

    Typical knobhead trolling response !!

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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:11 PM

    No doubt jrb. I’m surprised by the public defense still, though. Its so blatant it just looks daft to me.

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    Mute jrbmc
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:29 PM

    It’s not being defended by the majority of Utd fans , but it rampant in today’s games , if you listened to Gorden Strachan last night , how smart he thought De Silva at city was in winning his peno and how he brought his right leg across to make sure the player made contact ..

    8
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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:33 PM

    Moyes does not know about his reputation???? He is more famous for diving than Greg Louganis!! Its like there is a pool of nestea in front of him!!

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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:53 PM

    I wasn’t criticising the fans mate, just Moyes. In all honesty if the fans can see it though, its astounding Moyes is claiming anything else.

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    Mute Ken Gleeson
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    Nov 6th 2013, 7:00 PM

    I guess you’re. Not a United fan

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    Mute James Hendicott
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    Nov 6th 2013, 7:03 PM

    Was that aimed at me? No I’m not. Read the thread.

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    Mute James Greaney
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:29 PM

    Personally as a Manchester United supporter I’d like to see Ashley Young dropped………..from the roof of the Stretford End

    42
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    Mute D
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:35 PM

    A diver ….. Plain and simple.

    34
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    Mute Ricky Gallagher
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:57 PM

    Moyes does himself and us no favours defending him

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    Mute Ray Dempsey
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:01 PM

    Anyone see sturridge dive against arsenal…. Not a single word about it…

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:34 PM

    Nope.. but we are talking about olympic diver Young here mate…

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    Mute Ray Dempsey
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:42 PM

    Well go look at it then …. Worst than Young ‘s.

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 6th 2013, 9:29 PM

    I seen it, and I hope he was talked to. Young, keeps doing it, and quite embarrassingly too, was told off by Fergie, and Moyes once already….I think thats the issue here…

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    Mute jrbmc
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:19 PM

    The Gardai and British police are thinking of joining up in an all out search for Paul Johnson who has not been seen on a UTD thread since last week when it was discovered that he a fraud and was trolling under several different names.
    If you have any information regarding him or his where abouts please keep it to yourself and nobody really
    cares..!!!!!!

    18
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    Mute Ray Dempsey
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Prob operating under a different name now…

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    Mute Martin Redmond
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:06 PM

    Drop him. He’s shit anyway. I’m United and Proud, but there is no place for diving in Football.

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    Mute Karl temple
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    Nov 6th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Ať least utd aknowledge there is a problém with young,never here liverpool lashing that animal saurez for biting being a racist and constantly diving or wenger who sees nothing

    9
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    Mute Gnik
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:05 PM

    I’m an Arsenal fan, and if one of my team gets a tug in the box, however slight, I’d want him to go down too.

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    Mute coolcounterculture
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:30 PM

    A lot to be said for that. If RVP had slotted that in and bagged 3 points no United fan would give a shiiittt. I’m more concerned about why Young was on the pitch to begin with.

    12
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    Mute Sean O'Reilly
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    Nov 7th 2013, 9:22 AM

    Nani should be first choice starter, it’s glaringly obvious!!

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 6:40 PM

    I’m a United fan and I hate the way Young dives however last night Karma punished him and the club as RvP’s penalty hit the post and rebounded to safety, no excuses, no self-pity, end of story.

    7
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    Mute Sullivan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 3:51 PM

    Come off it, he was dragged down

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:35 PM

    I know, I know, the defender clearly left his shadow out, and tugged him straight into the ground.

    14
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    Mute Matt O' Sullivan
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    Nov 8th 2013, 6:47 PM

    come off it, Sullivan…

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    Mute Ciarán
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    Nov 8th 2013, 6:57 PM

    Come off it the lotta ye, he was dragged down

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    Mute Ray Taff
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    Nov 6th 2013, 8:49 PM

    Karl hit the nail on the head there. Have never heard pool or Chelsea fans up in arms when Suarez or hazard are at it. As a Utd fan I’d be glad to see the back of young but his value has less than halved I’d say. Will be getting pennies back compared to what we paid for him

    4
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    Mute Owen Kennedy
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:42 PM

    Young is compensating a glaring inability as a winger to actually go past a defender by simulating contact which results in diving which results in penalties which result in undeserved cards which results in Utd reputation tarnished which results in frustratingly bad punctucation! In 55 days he should be sold to a travelling circus.

    4
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    Mute Michael O'callaghan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 8:52 PM

    As soon as the January window opens, drop kick him out, head first.. Diving toe rag.

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    Mute Pip o call
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    Nov 7th 2013, 4:55 AM

    Ur a typical Liverpool fan Michael I’d say

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    Mute Colin Murphy
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    Nov 6th 2013, 4:34 PM

    Looks like ole whisky nose trick of dropping young worked a treat. On a personal note if I got an aul tug in the box I’d probably go down.

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    Mute Colman McGrath
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:18 PM

    So Colin if you got a tug in the box you would probably go down….!!!! Fair enough then….At least we know what team you play for…!!!

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    Mute 09celts
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    Nov 6th 2013, 5:55 PM

    I thought , that all attacking UTD players were coached daily in the
    art of diving . Fergie wouldn’t have won half of his trophies if it
    hadn’t been for diving and Fergi’s control of the length of time of the second half .

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    Mute David Carragher
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    Nov 6th 2013, 7:30 PM

    Worst trolling effort today !

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    Nov 6th 2013, 9:36 PM

    Champions League 98/99 no penalties and they won it
    Champions League 07/08 bar the shoot out one penalty in the group stage for handball and they won it
    Must try better

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