CULTURALLY CAPITAL...

Last evening, Liverpool brought the curtain down on the city`s year as European Capital of Culture with a resounding firework display, much dancing in the streets and an almost palpable sigh of relief. So it seemed oddly appropriate that the grand finale of the year`s events should be left to Liverpool Football Club`s Spanish Manager, Rafael ("Rafa") Benitez.

For it was Rafa who treated us all to a measured, thoughtful and damningly honest critique of the antics of Manchester United Manager "Sir" Alex Ferguson. Now, there isn`t room in these pages for me to list all of the `facts` referred to by Rafa, suffice to say that they did not just relate to Liverpool`s own dealings with Ferguson but to a whole range of issues which underlined - if any further proof were needed - that Ferguson says what he likes about anything and everything, does what he likes, flouts any `Respect` campaign that might cross his path, refuses to honour contactual obligations with the media and generally conducts himself with an arrogance and deportment which does little to enhance the reputation of the club he represents.

The thing I particularly admired in Rafa`s delivery was his refusal to acknowledge Ferguson`s knighthood. I agree with that, for I have probably mentioned before that the honour was dished out to him by that equally discredited chancer, Tony Blair, in the misguided belief that he, Blair, might gain some street cred by being seen to be associated with Manchester United`s successes on the field of play. All very Alastair Campbell.

There are those who imagine for one moment that Rafa`s critique showed that he was feeling the pressure of expectation and that there would be the inevitable backlash from Ferguson, who seems to employ `mind games` as much as he does hairdryers. I didn`t get that impression at all. Rafa said what he had to say clearly and carefully, but what is important is the fact that he said it at all. About time someone finally had the courage to say what the majority of non-Manchester United football followers have thought about Ferguson for so long.

Nice one, Rafa

And just in case you thought that we had said goodbye to the land of make believe, I see today that the Football Association is going to `review in its full context` what Rafa said.....just to see if they can bring a charge against him for bringing the game into disrepute? They`ll be aiming at the wrong target if they do, for all Rafa has done is provide a measured account of events that the FA themselves should have dealt with long ago. The FA`s own cultural integrity is about to be tested again. What`s the betting they`ll be found wanting - again?