Football Orphan: No respect for referees? That’s totally unFair-guson.
Alex Ferguson yesterday hit out at League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore for his comments regarding Premier League managers not having respect for referees. His response was simply delusional. He stated “I don’t think managers disrespect referees, I got done for what I considered a fair comment.” Next week the Manchester United manager could be arguing that Paul Scholes is unlucky to be thought of as a dirty player. Scholes is currently the 3rd most booked player in the Premier League and has the most bookings in Champions League history.
Ferguson revealed in a post match interview his concern when Martin Atkinson was allocated the game. His punishment for claiming Atkinson wasn’t a fair referee was a five match touch-line ban. Ferguson on the other hand was horrified when his own integrity was called into question.
It seems that Ferguson believes not necessarily in what he says, but that he won’t be punished for constantly bringing the game into disrepute with his loaded comments. He has built a reputation for attending every single meeting where clubs must be represented. At the likes of Fa,Pfa,Lma and Premier League gatherings, he is the manager with the closest thing to a perfect record. This is where other clubs will routinely just send a representative to attend. This is what is widely believed to be the reason for the leniency previously shown.
The pantomime dramatics and amateur psychology isn’t fooling anyone. Over the last twenty-five years we have realised that the Scot will reduce himself to “any means necessary” tactics to finish up with his fingerprints on the silverware. This is the stage of the season where Manchester United traditionally begin to flex their muscles and utilize their experience. It’s also the time when mind games and mental pressure can swing the balance of power in the title run in.
Traditionally the managers of the top two will question the opposition of their rival in the home straight. It makes for an interesting side bet, and a very unpredictable rough end to the season for the title challengers. It really is scraping the barrel to have a go at officials, especially when it’s abundantly obvious that decisions have previously favoured one club in particular. It was a breath of fresh air to see the powers that be show some solidarity by handsomely punishing the United manager. This should be a marker for all managers without exception. Reputation should count for nothing when a manager questions the honesty of a referee.
Football Orphan: Alex Ferguson’s misconduct charge; The people Vs the beautiful game; He ruined his Owen career.
Alex Ferguson’s Misconduct Charge.
Alex Ferguson has until 4pm Tuesday to answer to charges of improper conduct as reported first by thefa.com last Thursday. Ferguson was charged following snide remarks made about referee Martin Atkinson following Manchester United’s two one defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Tuesday. He also has a two game ban suspended from last season with regards to comments made about Alan Wiley. A media blackout since ensued which according to Premier League regulations breaches their own rules.This has all the hallmarks of a man who is on his way out of Old Trafford sooner rather than later. Only days after flippantly dismissing a retrospective ban for Wayne Rooney after a clear elbow on Wigan’s James McCarthy, citing that the referee saw it and questioned why the FA would need to revisit it. Ferguson scoffed at the thought of any wrongdoing and declared that the media would be happy to “Electrocute” his star player. It was a clever pre-emptive strike that would prove successful, Rooney would remain unpunished. The Chelsea game only three days later would be the backdrop of another thinly veiled attack at what the Scot sees as unfit referees. David Luiz was already yellow carded and was guilty of two offences that could, and should have resulted in a second yellow. Instead of taking this on the chin or gently shrugging it off he vented his spleen at another referee who gave a “soft” penalty and was “unfair” to his team. In a less than challenging interview firstly with Sky Sports and then to a one time boycotted MUTV he explained how he “feared the worst when he saw the appointment” of referee Atkinson.In contrast, would he have sighed in relief if he had seen Referee Mark Clattenberg assigned to the fixture? This is an official who has a list of controversies the length of your arm favouring Manchester United. With Ferguson’s protestations after the Chelsea game, he is in jeopardy of becoming a caricature of himself. His dear friend Brian Clough carried his illustrious career on one season too long; I hope this won’t be the case for Ferguson.
The People Vs The Beautiful
Game“
It wouldn’t happen in France.” This is a phrase that was coined to invigorate how whichever group we are part of should stand up for its self instead of rolling over in defeat. Well it IS happening in France, Germany, Spain, England and any other country sinking under the leadership of FIFA. Our sport is in such turmoil currently, that the main governing body is stunned into bewilderment. The list of subjects that should be on the agenda at Official meetings would in itself be too large a task to tackle within a term of office for a President of Fifa. This past week FIFA executives had a meeting to discuss the major issues. The result; snoods are banned, tights and under garments worn must match the colour of the players kit.This discussion alone might have raised topics such as the offside rule, Diving, Goal line technology, poaching players and staff. The list goes on and on. Financial fair play was high on the list in recent times only after infinite wealth took over at Chelsea and Manchester City along with underhanded debt took over at clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Portsmouth. Most journalists are anticipating that high recruitment in layers for clubs will result in loop holes being exploited. In a statement released by uefa.com in the aftermath of England’s most costly January transfer window they state that they will implement the regulations with “rigor” to see that clubs abide by regulations. It goes on to say clubs are not prevented from spending on transfers but must balance the books by season end. This hardly makes things watertight given that the more wealth a club has the better the legal representation they have to avoid sanction.There is no doubt that football is in a complete state of flux and when eventually something gives way there will be mass reform. The sport will be cleaned up be this will happen despite the lack of finesse at the top. It may culminate in a fragmentation or breakaway group. Now more than ever players seem to hold all the cards with the Bosman ruling. Clubs are always hot off the mark to point out that no player is bigger than the club, when the pendulum swings back in favour of the club will our game be in better shape?
He wasted his Owen Career
Michael Owen not for the first time in a turbulent career finds himself in the unenviable position of strategizing where his next move will take him. Injuries have decimated his Manchester United career to date but as we know he’s no stranger to the treatment table. He was a player that held the vast majority of the hopes of not only the country’s perpetual sleeping giants Liverpool, but at International level also.When he does finally hang his boots up it would be very interesting to hear an honest account of how he would take stock of his career. When a player in such fine form like Robbie Fowler left Liverpool it was abundantly clear that there was a managerial decision to allow him to leave. The same cannot be said for Owen who surgically engineered his transfer to Real Madrid, and why not? When you are in a career that doesn’t last long, you might be forgiven for thinking, make hay while the sun shines. The other side of his decision is that he didn’t really enamour himself to the Anfield faithful who saw him as the savour. A player who was renowned for prolific goal scoring but never in his career amassed twenty league goals in a season must surely be seen as a contradiction in terms? Conversely, his England record of forty goals in eighty-nine appearances stands alone. It was his relentless pursuit of England glory that ultimately will be remembered for the beginning of the end. While away on International duty in the World cup of 2006 he twisted awkwardly and was injured long-term. Newcastle had accommodated his recovery pre and post World Cup admirably to enhance his England return without gratification. He left unceremoniously after Newcastle was relegated in 2009. He moved to Liverpool’s arch rivals Manchester United having walked out on Newcastle after their relegation and managed to infuriate two sets of fans simultaneously.There is no doubt that he was once the great English hope for both club and country, he won’t be as fondly remembered as his potential would have suggested. According to michaelowen.com there will be an official website coming soon, but judging by the lack of regular football in recent times and his varying interests between horses, property and whatever else his business nous directs him to, I’d be struggling to hazard a guess what subject matter will appear on it.
Football Orphan 