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By Mick Dennis
IT ENDED with a whimper and some bangs for Manchester United.
On the pitch, there was a strolling victory in a half-hearted match. In the streets outside, there were smoke bombs and stink bombs, as protests about the American owners generated the only genuine passion of the afternoon.
And somewhere behind the scenes, a replica of the Premier League trophy – which had been taken to Old Trafford just in case – was discreetly kept out of sight as the real one was presented at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson summed up the defeated air of fatalism by doing...nothing.
Not once all afternoon did he get out of his seat to prowl the technical area to chide his players or berate the match officials. He certainly did not point at his watch, because he knew time had run out when news began arriving of Chelsea’s romp against Wigan.
At the finish, he joined his players in the centre circle, made a speech about “going again next season” then led the weary troops on a single, sad circuit of the pitch. Like another Scot who had hoped for another term at the top of the pile, Ferguson is inclined to blame events outside his control when things go wrong.
He attributes this season’s disappointments to what he called “one bad week” but was actually nine days in which a home Premier League defeat by Chelsea was sandwiched between the two fixtures with Bayern Munich which turfed United out of the Champions League.
The “typical Germans” of Bayern did not deserve to go through, according to Ferguson, and, of course, Chelsea only won at Old Trafford because of refereeing mistakes. But if there was really one period in which United’s season was truly damaged, it was the month before it began – when Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez both left and Ferg uson signed only the ageing, injury-prone Michael Owen as replacement.
Too much attacking reliance was placed on Wayne Rooney. He willingly accepted the burden, but looked particularly forlorn yesterday as he limped off with yet another injury. Ferguson says he will “freshen up” the squad this summer.
Better late than never. And so now attention really does shift to the Glazer family. Yesterday’s protests included a light aircraft buzzing around the ground and towing a banner, the distribution of placards and calls to delay the renewal of season tickets.
The protesters were, like Ferguson, seeking someone to blame for this season – and were ignoring the awkward fact that, since the Glazer takeover in 2005, United have won three domestic titles, one European and one world title and three league cups, including this season.
But it is fair to ask whether they will sanction serious spending this summer. Stoke will have some extra funds. They will receive £8million in prize money for finishing 11th and deserve credit for defying “second-season syndrome”.
Stoke fans enjoyed their day, taunting United about Chelsea’s success – although their own team were dismantled 7-0 at Stamford Bridge recently. But the abiding image was of Ferguson walking off with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The question is whether the Glazers will now dip into their own pockets.
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/174158/Alex-Ferguson-had-failed-before-season-even-began/?
On the pitch, there was a strolling victory in a half-hearted match. In the streets outside, there were smoke bombs and stink bombs, as protests about the American owners generated the only genuine passion of the afternoon.
And somewhere behind the scenes, a replica of the Premier League trophy – which had been taken to Old Trafford just in case – was discreetly kept out of sight as the real one was presented at Stamford Bridge. Sir Alex Ferguson summed up the defeated air of fatalism by doing...nothing.
Not once all afternoon did he get out of his seat to prowl the technical area to chide his players or berate the match officials. He certainly did not point at his watch, because he knew time had run out when news began arriving of Chelsea’s romp against Wigan.
At the finish, he joined his players in the centre circle, made a speech about “going again next season” then led the weary troops on a single, sad circuit of the pitch. Like another Scot who had hoped for another term at the top of the pile, Ferguson is inclined to blame events outside his control when things go wrong.
He attributes this season’s disappointments to what he called “one bad week” but was actually nine days in which a home Premier League defeat by Chelsea was sandwiched between the two fixtures with Bayern Munich which turfed United out of the Champions League.
The “typical Germans” of Bayern did not deserve to go through, according to Ferguson, and, of course, Chelsea only won at Old Trafford because of refereeing mistakes. But if there was really one period in which United’s season was truly damaged, it was the month before it began – when Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez both left and Ferg uson signed only the ageing, injury-prone Michael Owen as replacement.
Too much attacking reliance was placed on Wayne Rooney. He willingly accepted the burden, but looked particularly forlorn yesterday as he limped off with yet another injury. Ferguson says he will “freshen up” the squad this summer.
Better late than never. And so now attention really does shift to the Glazer family. Yesterday’s protests included a light aircraft buzzing around the ground and towing a banner, the distribution of placards and calls to delay the renewal of season tickets.
The protesters were, like Ferguson, seeking someone to blame for this season – and were ignoring the awkward fact that, since the Glazer takeover in 2005, United have won three domestic titles, one European and one world title and three league cups, including this season.
But it is fair to ask whether they will sanction serious spending this summer. Stoke will have some extra funds. They will receive £8million in prize money for finishing 11th and deserve credit for defying “second-season syndrome”.
Stoke fans enjoyed their day, taunting United about Chelsea’s success – although their own team were dismantled 7-0 at Stamford Bridge recently. But the abiding image was of Ferguson walking off with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The question is whether the Glazers will now dip into their own pockets.
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/174158/Alex-Ferguson-had-failed-before-season-even-began/?
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