The English Football Thread

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Villa just get worse. I know Lambert was playing it down, but the bus must've broken down on the way to the stadium. Maybe if we'd turned up we might have had some chance, but giving away the ball so cheaply, defending so badly, we deserved everything we got. Way to fight back guys!

Oh, and Arsenal's game was cancelled? Weather maybe? Aren't there places over there where it's flooded?

On another note: do you think any other manager (whether he was in the right or not) would have got away with haranguing the officials the way Fergie did? He wasn't even sent to the stands! Can you see Harry or Rafa or AVB getting away with that? **** Ferguson, he's a ****. Can't take it when decisions go against him. Had that been a goal for them, and ruled in, he wouldn't have had a problem with it. He's a hypocritical ****.

Oh was that it, makes sense actually as I know a gooner who said he was annoyed he couldn't watch Arsenal today. Assumed it wasn't on TV or something.

Yep, Ferguson really showed himself up today. He knows what he's doing though, you can't knock him for it, he really is a wily old fox. Same thing with the recent RVP comments at Swansea. He knew what he was saying would get attention, so instead of people talking about Rooney being diabolical (see his passing Goofle? ) or the fact United lost 2 points over City, everyone was focused on his comments. United are now 7 points clear. That's why he's so successful. Today he put pressure on the refs, he's bending the rules and trying to get any advantage he can, he's been doing this for years with the mind games too. It's like with Barcelona if you watch Spanish football, one of the reasons they are so hard to stop is because one of their little unsporting tricks is if the opposition are on a counter attack, they'll pull their shirt/trip them, give a free kick away and then stand in front of the ball so the opposition can't take it quickly, then by the time the opposition can take the kick everyone is already back in position to defend it. It's very, very clever. Ferguson should be punished though, yes.

I really don't get why he wasn't sent to the stands. They must be scared of him. Great manager, **** of a man.

[right-track]

Ferguson is no fool. You're right about his rant over the Willimas/RVP incident being a smoke screen. Although, I'd say he did it to deflect the attention away from RVP's reaction as opposed to Rooney's performance.
And privately, he's very probably a decent bloke.
When it comes to managing a football club, players, games, other managers and yes, referees, he'll do what it takes to achieve an advantage.
That doesn't make him a ****. In my opinion, that makes him good at his job.

He doesn't always get away with it either. He's been banned to the stands on countless occasions. In reality he's no different from any other manager worth their salt. Certainly no different than Mancini striding the full length of a football pitch to confront the ref screaming, "was goal, was goal" in his face. Or any other managers antics, most of which pass without comment. When it's Fergie...out come the ABU's.

I'll give you a prime example. Had Ferguson been in charge of a football club who were 2 -1 down and were awarded an extra 8 minutes injury time...there would have been outrage!
Add to that a red card against an opposition player whose a well known dodgy individual and there would have been shouts of "fix" and "conspiracy".
Throw in the fact that it's a title decider and they come back to win 3-2 ...and you'd never hear the last of it.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by right-track

Ferguson is no fool. You're right about his rant over the Willimas/RVP incident being a smoke screen. Although, I'd say he did it to deflect the attention away from RVP's reaction as opposed to Rooney's performance.
And privately, he's very probably a decent bloke.
When it comes to managing a football club, players, games, other managers and yes, referees, he'll do what it takes to achieve an advantage.
That doesn't make him a ****. In my opinion, that makes him good at his job.

He doesn't always get away with it either. He's been banned to the stands on countless occasions. In reality he's no different from any other manager worth their salt. Certainly no different than Mancini striding the full length of a football pitch to confront the ref screaming, "was goal, was goal" in his face. Or any other managers antics, most of which pass without comment. When it's Fergie...out come the ABU's.

I'll give you a prime example. Had Ferguson been in charge of a football club who were 2 -1 down and were awarded an extra 8 minutes injury time...there would have been outrage!
Add to that a red card against an opposition player whose a well known dodgy individual and there would have been shouts of "fix" and "conspiracy".
Throw in the fact that it's a title decider and they come back to win 3-2 ...and you'd never hear the last of it.

Good post.

Agree with the ABU's focusing on decisions going in United's favour. That's football fans for you mate, they're all twats and biased as fhuck (well most anyway.)

Yeah I didn't mean specifically the Rooney thing, just any negatives from the game. Like you say Ferguson is a smart man. And I agree he's just good at his job, I happen to think he's a **** for other reasons, mostly his backing of the Glazers but that's a whole other can of worms. Then there's things like banning journalists from press conferences if they dare ask about anything negative.

[Trollheart]

Sorry but I don't agree (and yes, I AM a member of ABU, despite having RVP in my FFL side!) --- ANY other manager who had thrown his toys out of the pram like that -- twice: he even kept going after half time! --- would not only have been sent to the stands but possibly punished further, but Fergie gets away with it because he's Fergie. Can you honestly see Mancini or AVP, or Lambert or Redknapp getting away with that? The refs are afraid of him, afraid of the power of United, and it's totally wrong. It's why so few penalties are awarded against them at home and why they get so much extra time.

I can't quote examples, and I'm sure you'd refute them RT if they're wrong -- I don't have that sort of brain for footballing trivia that remembers the score from the '94 FA Cup semi-final or whatever, so I couldn't back any claims up --- but in watching Man U play it's obvious that they get more extra time than any other team (so much so that they coined the term "Fergie time") and it's only ever when they're in danger of losing or drawing an important game. That can't be coincidence. And then Ferguson moans when it happens to him, the odd time. Can't stand the man.

He's a great tactician, certainly, but a man of his age and experience should be setting a better example, even for younger managers but if not then for kids, many of whom idolise him. That sort of behaviour is unbecoming, unacceptable and should not go unpunished.

But of course it will. Cos he's Fergie.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

but in watching Man U play it's obvious that they get more extra time than any other team (so much so that they coined the term "Fergie time") and it's only ever when they're in danger of losing or drawing an important game. That can't be coincidence.

Last time I checked the rules both teams are allowed to score in added time.

[Goofle]

^ Boom.

[Mojo]

"We're not going to come here next season."



I'm still buzzing and will be until Saturday.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Sorry but I don't agree (and yes, I AM a member of ABU, despite having RVP in my FFL side!) --- ANY other manager who had thrown his toys out of the pram like that -- twice: he even kept going after half time! --- would not only have been sent to the stands but possibly punished further, but Fergie gets away with it because he's Fergie. Can you honestly see Mancini or AVP, or Lambert or Redknapp getting away with that?

I believe I've already addressed this point. He doesn't get away with it.
He's had countless touchline bans and been disciplined by the F.A. on numerous occasions.
And he'll probably get another one following the incident you refer to.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

The refs are afraid of him, afraid of the power of United, and it's totally wrong. It's why so few penalties are awarded against them at home and why they get so much extra time.

If they are so afraid of him, how come the goal wasn't disallowed. Make your mind up. Honestly, if they were so afraid of him he wouldn't have to rant as much as he does. You can't have it both ways!

On penalties awarded...My Football Facts & Stats | Premier League | Penalty Statistics
Google really is your friend, or in your case...your enemy? Hope this puts your mind at rest?

As for "Fergie time". This phrase was coined following the Champions League final of 99 when United reversed a 1-0 deficit to Bayern Munich in injury time. Of which there was only 3 minutes awarded btw!
Since then United have made a habit of scoring late winners in injury time. So what?

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I can't quote examples, and I'm sure you'd refute them RT if they're wrong -- I don't have that sort of brain for footballing trivia that remembers the score from the '94 FA Cup semi-final or whatever, so I couldn't back any claims up --- but in watching Man U play it's obvious that they get more extra time than any other team (so much so that they coined the term "Fergie time") and it's only ever when they're in danger of losing or drawing an important game. That can't be coincidence. And then Ferguson moans when it happens to him, the odd time. Can't stand the man.

Maybe it's called Fergie time because the opposition think they are not allowed to score in this period??? Now there's a novel idea, huh?
Or should the match end after 80 minutes to give the others a chance, perhaps?

Originally Posted by Trollheart

He's a great tactician, certainly, but a man of his age and experience should be setting a better example, even for younger managers but if not then for kids, many of whom idolise him. That sort of behaviour is unbecoming, unacceptable and should not go unpunished.

But of course it will. Cos he's Fergie.

Like I said. He probably will be.

Keep sucking the lemons.

[right-track]

Referee Kevin Friend also came in for some flak from Mancini for failing to spot a blatant foul on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Adam Johnson’s winning goal.

“I am unhappy because of the referee, like in the last three or four games.

“I don’t know what they have against us. It is impossible for the referee not to see what happened with Zaba,” he said.

“Then he gave two yellow cards at the end of the first half, to Vinny and Yaya, for a foul that was not a foul.

“After that it makes it more difficult to play with a yellow card against your name.

“Maybe he ate too much for Christmas and was not on good form.” Manchester Evening News

Compared with;

Ferguson hit with FA fine and ban

Ferguson launched a stinging attack on Wiley's fitness on 3 October
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has received a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley's fitness.
The Football Association handed the 67-year-old a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season.
Ferguson has also been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.
He made disparaging remarks about Wiley's fitness after his side's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October.
Ferguson apologised to the official for any embarrassment caused and pleaded guilty to the FA's charge of improper conduct, but requested a personal hearing.
Peter Griffiths QC, chairman of the FA's four-man regulatory commission, said: "Each member of the commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements and stature within the game.
"Having said that, it was made clear to Sir Alex that with such stature comes increased responsibilities. BBC SPORT 2009

Will Mancini receive a similar punishment for the same thing?
I think not!
If anything, Ferguson got his punishment for his stature in the game.

[Mojo]

You Manchester clubs just need to learn how to behave when playing us.

Less of the excuses lads, yeah?