12 Greatest Ever Newcastle United Rants, Outbursts And Melt-Downs

7. "A Wee Club"

Newcastle United supporters have never needed much of an excuse to take a dislike to Manchester United's longest-serving manager, having spent much of the 90's derailing their title challenges and attempting to pinch their best players. Just two years ago, Ferguson was muddying his sour reputation on Tyneside even further, by winding up the Toon Army in the most temerarious of ways - questioning the size of their club.

''Alan Pardew has come out and criticised me, he is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How he can criticise me is unbelievable. I was demonstrative but I was not out of order. It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north-east.'' - Sir Alex Ferguson, December 2012.

Considering Newcastle had just spent that calendar year finishing in fifth place, masterminding a 3-0 victory over the Red Devils and just two days earlier had to be downed by a last-minute goal at Old Trafford - their first victory in four attempts over the Magpies - the Toon Army might feel that they deserved a little more respect.