Was Alex Ferguson “too clever for his own good?”
Comment & analysis round-up
Quote of the day: “It was absolutely diabolical. It is a major decision. Granted, it hit his [Carrick’s] hand. But he has not lifted his hand above his shoulders, above his head, anything like that. It is going straight to Rio Ferdinand. The referee should have seen that rather than the linesman. If we’re not going to get those decisions then we are under pressure… It’s still in our hands. The players and the support are really fired up for the next game. Hopefully we can get the result we want.” – Sir Alex Ferguson.
Runner-up: “It is not easy when you are under pressure to win two games. We hope that we are happy at the end of the season… We won against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and now Manchester United but we need to make sure we win our last two games.” – Avram Grant.
Today’s overview: Sir Alex Ferguson is criticised by almost every commentator in the English press today for playing a weakened team at Stamford Bridge yesterday, the fact that he blamed the officials after the game has only heightened the rhetoric in the many critiques of the United boss.
Paul Wilson (Observer) claims that United paid for trying to grab a draw at Stamford Bridge. “For the second successive game they attempted to play for a draw, or at least contain their opponents and hope to pinch a goal on the break, and that is not their forte.”
Daniel Taylor (Guardian blog) writes that Ferguson’s gamble failed yesterday. “Ferguson, of course, tends to get these things right more often than not. But when we saw a team incorporating Mikael Silvestre and Darren Fletcher for a match Ferguson had described as ‘unquestionably the biggest of the season’ it was tempting to wonder whether the United manager was guilty of being too clever for his own good.”
Nick Townsend (Independent on Sunday) also argues that United paid for “gambling.” “Ferguson offered Chelsea their chance yesterday, naming Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, and Owen Hargreaves on the bench, with Paul Scholes and Patrice Evra missing. Yet, one senses that he could afford to be generous.”
Nick Miller (Football365) writes that Alex Ferguson only has himself to blame. “United didn’t win against Chelsea because they put in a limp performance and left two of their best players on the bench. Ferguson defended his selection by claiming fatigue on the part of his top men, but in doing so he threw away their best chance of beating Barcelona next week.”
Patrick Collins in the Daily Mail looks at the challenge ahead for Alex Ferguson. “If Manchester United are to win this Premier League title - and the signs still suggest that this will be their destiny - then the work of Sir Alex Ferguson over these next few days may prove crucial. He will coax and cosset and threaten and storm. He will work on his players’ heads along with their fragile bodies. He will seek to convince them that yesterday’s defeat was not a crash but a stumble.”
Patrick Barclay praises Avram Grant in the Sunday Telegraph. “The lugubrious Israeli must have something. Since succeeding Jose Mourinho in September, he has supervised only two Premier League defeats - at Old Trafford in his first match and then the Emirates Stadium - and, in the last month alone, made substitutions that contributed to victories at Stamford Bridge over Arsenal and now United.”
But, Bobby Robson (Daily Mail) feels it may be too late for Chelsea now. “Chelsea really do deserve a big pat on the back, particularly Drogba. But, when it comes to who will be champions, I think it’s a case of too little, too late. And, if it comes down to goal difference, that will be fitting, too. Because, with the exception of the past couple of games, United have entertained us all season.”
The BBC pundits give their view on Chelsea’s win over Manchester United. Alan Hansen: “A lot of people have been saying that Chelsea haven’t really got any flair players and they’re not attractive to watch, but they dispelled that myth - I thought they played brilliantly.”
David Lacey on the Guardian blog hopes that we don’t see an all-English Champions League final this season. “The opening legs of the semi-finals were not bad as first legs go yet the only spell of true quality in either match came during that period at Camp Nou when Barcelona were passing and moving like a dream only to be let down by flabby finishing.”
Looking at the second-legs of the Champions League semi-finals, Steve Tongue (IoS) looks ahead to Old Trafford on Tuesday night and pinpoints Michael Ballack as the man who could see off Liverpool. Also in the same paper Peter Jenson comments on the importance of Tuesday’s match for Frank Rijkaard.
In the Sunday Herald Gabriele Marcotti analyses the recent defensive performances by Manchester United in Europe compared to their attacking form in the league. “Is this a direct result of the Jekyll-and-Hyde approach? Or is it just a long and grinding season taking its toll? Has Sir Alex added another dimension to his team? Or has he led them down a tactical cul-de-sac to the point where the players are neither fish nor fowl? We’ll find out soon enough.”
Ian Hawkey in The Sunday Times asks “Can Barcelona beat Manchester United?” And in the same paper Rod Liddle revels in Ronaldo’s penalty miss in the Nou Camp.
Nick Townsend in the Independent on Sunday compares Steven Gerrard with Fulham legend Jonny Haynes and Roy Collins speaks to Dirk Kuyt in the Sunday Telegraph.
David Harrison in the News of the World exclusively reports that “Spurs are the target for a sensational £250million takeover by the man behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Top officials from the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) visited White Hart Lane on a fact-finding mission recently. And they returned to Canada convinced Tottenham were ripe for a buy-out.”
Jonathan Wilson features new Spurs signing Luka Modric in the Sunday Telegraph. “If Riquelme is the last of the old-school playmakers, Modric might just be the first of the new.”
Jack Bell (New York Times blog) has an interview with Michael Owen. And The Gaffer on EPL Talk argues that “It’s time for the Premier League to concede defeat in video highlights fight.”
