WORTH WAITING FOR...
It`s been a long time since I felt the need to post anything about `Sir` Alex Ferguson but the events at Old Trafford last evening rekindled memories of my disenchantment with everything to do with Manchester United and their former manager. I won`t repeat my rants of times gone by but perhaps sufficient to say that since his merciful `retirement` we have been spared his law-unto-himself arrogance.
Now fortunately his current successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, seems a more acceptable incarnation - he has done well especially of late by rescuing Manchester United from their early season torpor and bringing them to the brink of Champions League qualification. Almost but not quite yet. For last night they were held to a 2-2 draw against Southampton in what was a proper football match played between two highly competitive teams, thus leaving United in 5th place in the Premier League - one place short of where they would like to be.
Michael Obefemi`s 96th minute equaliser was just reward for yet another committed performance from the reborn Saints and was engagingly pertinent given the number of times over the Fergie years when Fergie time and compliant officials allowed United to win games. Now I`m pretty sure that if Saints` equaliser had happened in the time of Ferguson`s `management` he would have blamed anyone and everyone, especially the match officials, for denying his team all three points. So it was encouraging to hear Solskjaer`s post match comments which were sanguine, measured and appreciative of the way Southampton had played, resulting in a fair result, leaving the Saints in a dizzying 12th place.
So times may have changed a little, although I detect still a feeling of entitlement about United, still that whiff of arrogance not helped by the Sky commentary team including the biased whiny ramblings of one Gary Neville.
The picture above shows Ferguson suitably gagged as he watched the end of the game in the quiet of Old Trafford last night. It`s been a long time since I have seen him looking so glum faced....but well worth waiting for.
Now fortunately his current successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, seems a more acceptable incarnation - he has done well especially of late by rescuing Manchester United from their early season torpor and bringing them to the brink of Champions League qualification. Almost but not quite yet. For last night they were held to a 2-2 draw against Southampton in what was a proper football match played between two highly competitive teams, thus leaving United in 5th place in the Premier League - one place short of where they would like to be.
Michael Obefemi`s 96th minute equaliser was just reward for yet another committed performance from the reborn Saints and was engagingly pertinent given the number of times over the Fergie years when Fergie time and compliant officials allowed United to win games. Now I`m pretty sure that if Saints` equaliser had happened in the time of Ferguson`s `management` he would have blamed anyone and everyone, especially the match officials, for denying his team all three points. So it was encouraging to hear Solskjaer`s post match comments which were sanguine, measured and appreciative of the way Southampton had played, resulting in a fair result, leaving the Saints in a dizzying 12th place.
So times may have changed a little, although I detect still a feeling of entitlement about United, still that whiff of arrogance not helped by the Sky commentary team including the biased whiny ramblings of one Gary Neville.
The picture above shows Ferguson suitably gagged as he watched the end of the game in the quiet of Old Trafford last night. It`s been a long time since I have seen him looking so glum faced....but well worth waiting for.
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