Comment & analysis round-up

Quote of the day: “You should ask the referee about his integrity, not my team. I just think it was fortunate there was nothing riding on it for us. You have to question the referee. He made two or three horrific decisions in the first half and when people see it on TV they will agree because they were outrageous decisions… It was surprising Rio didn’t have gloves on to try and catch it, Paul Scholes is a fantastic player and one of Manchester United’s all-time greats but he knows he got away with it today. He should have been sent off. And to say the penalty awarded against us was harsh is an understatement. That’s three important decisions, which is frustrating to say the least.” – Steve Bruce.

Runner-up: “Today was about Everton. They are an inspiration to everyone. They do not have a massive squad but they invested well last summer and they have taken fifth spot, which is a terrific situation to be in. They are where we want to be. It is impressive for anyone who finishes just outside the top four, who I thought were running away with it, but I’m now convinced by so many people who know the game that I was wrong.” – Kevin Keegan.

Today’s overview: Alex Ferguson’s tenth title is celebrated in every paper today, with the Indpendent leading the way with an editorial and two pieces from James Lawton on the United boss. All agree that it was fitting that Ryan Giggs scored the second at the JJB and only Cristiano Ronaldo comes close to taking as many plaudits this morning as Fergie and the Welsh wizard.

Alan Hansen (Daily Telegraph) calls this United team “great.” “Manchester United are exceptional on so many fronts. It is not just the quality of their football that made them champions yesterday - Arsenal have as much, perhaps more, natural flair. It is their ability to recover from any setback, their refusal to accept defeat and the fact that, especially defensively, they have answered every question that has been put to them. Great is a word that should be used sparingly in sport but this is a great team.”

Barney Ronay in the Guardian claims United were lucky at Wigan but deserved the title. “It’s not just the formation. United have given us counter-attacking vim, full-backs who push on, an absence of midfield ‘anchors’ and a dash of showboating for good measure. For the neutral it’s been easy on the eye.”

Oliver Kay (The Times) adds “The simple truth is that United are champions because they have been the outstanding team in England this season and it would have been an injustice had it been Chelsea celebrating at 5pm yesterday.”

Steven Howard (The Sun) praises the whole United squad. “United’s success belongs just as much to the Trojan efforts of a United defence that statistically is the best ever in the Premier League.”

One of the “leading articles” in the Independent is on United’s title win. “Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday cemented his reputation as the greatest club boss in the history of the English game… It is also testimony to the wisdom of giving a manager time to establish himself.”

And in the same paper James Lawton praises Fergie. “Certainly few in any area of the sporting life restore themselves so quickly after the pain of a significant defeat. Ferguson, even after the Champions League semi-final débâcle in Milan last season, which might have ravaged the confidence of most managers in their teams, and the long-term underpinning of their own futures, was quick to believe again in the heroic pictures he had painted around the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. So often it seems that defeat is not the demon in the life of Sir Alex Ferguson. It is the horror of not having the chance to square it away, to avenge it with the most exquisite pleasure. Whenever he goes, and however he does it, that, we have to believe, will be the cruellest loss of all.”

In a seperate article Lawton analyses Ferguson’s performance on the touchline yesterday. “He itched, all through the thunder and the lightning and the lashing rain and the gathering tension, to make his dance. You know the one well enough. It is the football equivalent of the life-enhancing celebrations of Zorba, the one he produced most emotionally at the Nou Camp on the occasion of his first Champions League title.”

Kevin McCarra praises Alex Ferguson’s “ability to adapt” in the Guardian. “There are trials to beset a manager at every club but Ferguson’s domination persists because he has the will and mental suppleness to go on finding the right answers.”

Jeff Powell in the Daily Mail argues that “It is the resurrection of Cristiano Ronaldo from pariah of English football to young god of the game which has worked the miracle for Manchester United. It is Sir Alex Ferguson who walks on water.”

A feature in the Daily Telegraph asks “Is this Ferguson’s best Man United squad?”

Martin Samuel (The Times) writes “When the moment arrived it was poetic that it should fall to a man that spans the generations and the Ferguson years. There have been three, arguably four, great teams produced at Manchester United by Sir Alex Ferguson, but only one player has been constant through them all. Ryan Giggs, 758 games old, if one considers his legs, or young, if one studies the spirit in which he plays each game, slipped between two Wigan Athletic defenders and ensured that the league trophy will remain at Old Trafford for another season.”

Andy Hunter (Guardian) waxes lyrical over Ryan Giggs. “There have been more dramatic climaxes to an English league season, but few finales as fitting as the one produced by Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE yesterday.”

Henry Winter (Daily Telegraph) praises United’s match winners. “How gloriously appropriate that Manchester United’s match-winners yesterday, the men who swept them to a deserved Premier League title, were Cristiano Ronaldo, the Footballer of the Year, and Ryan Giggs, the embodiment of all that is good about this special club.”

Sam Wallace (Independent) describes United’s “supreme stylist” Cristiano Ronaldo. “Admit it: he’s been brilliant. If last season was about Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, then this season has really mainly been about Ronaldo. His goal tally piling up game after game, the posturing around free-kicks and then the dispatching of those free-kicks, cannonball-style, into the top corner. The expectation that something will happen every time he gets the ball; the anticipation of having a real superstar on the pitch.”

Henry Winter (Daily Telegraph) reviews the season and picks out Cristiano Ronaldo. “For excitement, switchback fortunes and sheer technical brilliance, the 2007-08 season has been pure Hollywood with United’s swaggering Cristiano Ronaldo rightly cast as the leading man.”

In his regular Monday morning “Chalkboard,” David Pleat in the Guardian claims Cristiano Ronaldo was the key man at the JJB yesterday. “Cristiano Ronaldo was again the outstanding outlet for Manchester United as they secured their 10th championship in 16 seasons. The Portugal international hugged the touchline to receive the sort of crossfield pass that has stretched defences all season. By maintaining width he helped create space inside for United’s talents to prosper.”

The BBC pundits give their verdict on the title race. Garth Crooks: “Manchester United thoroughly deserve to be the champions - the league table does not lie and they are the best team in the country.”

Paul Hayward (Daily Mail) analyses Chelsea’s “loss of nerve” in their draw with Bolton. “The 50th Munich anniversary puts more juice in United’s engine. For Chelsea to overcome lengthening odds, every last man in blue will probably need to have the game of his life. ‘That’s the one that’s been missing from my list, and it’s the same for all Chelsea fans,’ Terry said of the Moscow mission.  Then Abramovich must find a way to add artistry to power here at the Bridge, with or without Avram Grant.”

Alan Smith (Daily Telegraph) asks “Will Didier Drogba say goodbye to Chelsea?”

Concentrationg on Fulham’s “Great Escape” Paul Doyle (Guardian) says that Roy Hodgson deserves his £1m bonus. “Fulham’s defence, with January signing Brede Hangeland imperious, stood firm and Hodgson, as ever, refused to panic. In the face of seemingly damning evidence to the contrary, the manager - who earned a £1m bonus for keeping Fulham up - retained his belief that his side could intricately play their way to safety.”

Martin Kelner (Guardian) analyses who came out on top in the last day battle between Sky and Setanta. “It is difficult to diverge from the received wisdom - and the Sky Sports mantra - that yesterday was the most unprecedentedly, knicker-wettingly, orgasmically thrilling end to a Premier League season, as, for the first time, we arrived at the final day with two teams still in contention: Sky and Setanta.”

Martin Samuel’s editorial in The Times concentrates on the unfolding problems at Arsenal. “Is it still possible to succeed the Wenger way? Yes, in a limited fashion. Wenger has taken it farther than anyone could imagine because he began with the basis of George Graham’s defence, and the way he built from there was little short of genius. A manager with less wit would never have been able to forge a Champions League team out of that philosophy and even Wenger is finding it increasingly problematic.”

Gabriele Marcotti (The Game) analyses the financial problems at La Liga side Levante. “Or take Levante. Much of their debt was generated over the past two seasons, when they spent money to gain promotion to La Liga and avoid relegation last season. ‘Living the dream’ probably meant that someone who should have been relegated, was not. And some other club who should have stayed up last season did not. It amounts to ‘financial doping’. The spending of money you do not have is as performance-enhancing as nandrolone, if not more. If Levante go under their players and supporters will get lots of sympathy. But they certainly will not be the only victims.”

This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am and is filed under blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.