SHAME ON YOU FERGIE, YOU'VE LET US ALL DOWN
MANIC MONDAY FALL-OUT FOLLOWING PREMIERSHIP FINAL-DAY DRAMA
Oliver Holt Chief Sports Writer 15/05/2007
SO MUCH then for the idea Sir Alex Ferguson was the guardian of the spirit of our beautiful game.
So much for the idea that our finest living manager would stand up for the fairness of the Premiership on its final day of the season.
Because Ferguson did not just play a weakened side against West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
He sent them out into the thick of the relegation battle showing all the fight of a pussycat on valium.
In the process, with a 1-0 defeat, he let Sheffield United down, he let the Premiership down, he let his club down and he let himself down.
If he had done what he had said he was going to do, he could have rescued the end of the season from the injustice that has blighted it.
If he had put his best team out, or even something close to it, he could have earned our thanks a new after a campaign of scintillating footbal from his team.
United should have been more than capable of beating West Ham, even with the FA Cup Final just six days away.
And if they had, Wigan's 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane would have completed the story and allowed English football to escape its shame.
West Ham would have been relegated, as everyone accepts they should have been, while Wigan and Sheffield United would have survived.
Except Ferguson went back on his word. He did not play his strongest side. Nowhere near it.
No wonder Blades boss Neil Warnock was astonished when he heard United had started without Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
No wonder he felt Ferguson had sold him a dummy. The truth is, Ferguson sold us all a dummy.
In the process, he opened himself up to accusations of letting his pal Alan Curbishley off the hook.
And he dragged the name of his club into a murky, despicable business that has tainted this season.
How sad that Ferguson could not do the right thing. How sad that the sense of honour and fairness on which he prides himself deserted him when it mattered.
MANIC MONDAY FALL-OUT FOLLOWING PREMIERSHIP FINAL-DAY DRAMA
Oliver Holt Chief Sports Writer 15/05/2007
SO MUCH then for the idea Sir Alex Ferguson was the guardian of the spirit of our beautiful game.
So much for the idea that our finest living manager would stand up for the fairness of the Premiership on its final day of the season.
Because Ferguson did not just play a weakened side against West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
He sent them out into the thick of the relegation battle showing all the fight of a pussycat on valium.
In the process, with a 1-0 defeat, he let Sheffield United down, he let the Premiership down, he let his club down and he let himself down.
If he had done what he had said he was going to do, he could have rescued the end of the season from the injustice that has blighted it.
If he had put his best team out, or even something close to it, he could have earned our thanks a new after a campaign of scintillating footbal from his team.
United should have been more than capable of beating West Ham, even with the FA Cup Final just six days away.
And if they had, Wigan's 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane would have completed the story and allowed English football to escape its shame.
West Ham would have been relegated, as everyone accepts they should have been, while Wigan and Sheffield United would have survived.
Except Ferguson went back on his word. He did not play his strongest side. Nowhere near it.
No wonder Blades boss Neil Warnock was astonished when he heard United had started without Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
No wonder he felt Ferguson had sold him a dummy. The truth is, Ferguson sold us all a dummy.
In the process, he opened himself up to accusations of letting his pal Alan Curbishley off the hook.
And he dragged the name of his club into a murky, despicable business that has tainted this season.
How sad that Ferguson could not do the right thing. How sad that the sense of honour and fairness on which he prides himself deserted him when it mattered.
Comment