Has the 'rant' backfired?

[Baldemort]

Rafa launched in to Fergie publicly as we all know not too long ago. Just before a critical weekend of football with our two closest rivals playing each other. The timing would appear to suggest that Rafa made his speech in order to ruffle Fergie's feathers just before a crucial game with Chelsea. At the time of that speech we were sitting pretty at the top of the prem and motoring along nicely. The moment Rafa made his speech, it heaped a whole load of unnecessary pressure on us and got us embroiled with a battle of mind games with Manu and Fergie. I thought at the time it was a risky move to make. Had Manu lost or even drawn and had we beaten Stoke, it would have put pressure on Manu, but it seems to me that it has backfired, as I feared it would. Manu still aren't playing great football, but they have taken 9 from 9 since that speech. If anything, Rafa's rant has probably made it a lot easier for Fergie to motivate his troops. The pressure is now well and truly on us just before a local derby. If we fluff this one with a draw or a loss, I think Rafa will find it incredibly difficult to lift the squad after watching our lead being taken away by Manu and will leave us with egg on our faces.

My biggest gripe with the whole 'rant' issue is that I don't think it was necessary at all. Why get involved in the first place? It was totally unnecessary. Especially with Fergie who has an incredible track record at playing such games through a media that are heavily biased towards him. I hope Rafa doesn't rue the day he made that speech.

[shanks69]

to be honest the 9points the mancs have taken since the rant,i expected them too anyway.

[Maxiedge]

I still can't make any sense of it all to be honest.

[rudedog]

It wasn't a rant.

no it hasn't backfired - Man Utd still look far from convincing and could have lost today if Davies hadn't missed from 5 yards right at the end

[DannyMan2006]

Maybe you should add an option of "No difference".

Because that is the clear, obvious answer. As much as I like to listen to the comments by players and managers, in reality they make **** all difference. Not a week goes by lately without Fernando Torres talking in the media about how he wants to win the title, be a hero, score goals, loves the fans, etc, etc.

If it's not him it's Gerrard and Carra, or any other number of players - Even Lucas has been going on about it's our time! Then you have opposition players talking us down one week, then talking us up the next.

The only difference is the fans perception on things. If we have doubts it is often compounded by comments made in the media. In that sense the atmosphere at games can be influenced. Ferguson is a master of this by stressing the importance of a home game to get the crowd more worked up.

When Liverpool fans begin to believe that the title is a possibility, the positive spin will be felt by the whole club. At the moment there are serious doubts and of course, this will be felt by the players.

Overall I would say that Rafa's comments were needless, but I think even the most hardened of journalists would have a job of attributing the collapse of a title challenge on one press conference.

[Cormack74]

Why get involved in the first place? It was totally unnecessary. Especially with Fergie who has an incredible track record at playing such games through a media that are heavily biased towards him. I hope Rafa doesn't rue the day he made that speech.

It's pure tabloid making a direct comparison between the rant and Man Ure's results or ours. At the end of the season if we finish above them the opposite view will no doubt prevail.

In answer to your direct question (above) a theory being espoused yesterday was that Rafa rubbished Fergie to get the fans on side in preparation for rejecting his new contract offer. Make of that what you will but he it's clear that he doesn't do things by accident.

[Baldemort]

Good point about the 'no difference' option. Can it be changed after the poll has been posted?

[rezaeos]

Rafa talks the talk but puts his shoe in his mouth when it comes to team selection and tactics against Stoke, Hull,....

[Baldemort]

It's pure tabloid making a direct comparison between the rant and Man Ure's results or ours. At the end of the season if we finish above them the opposite view will no doubt prevail.

In answer to your direct question (above) a theory being espoused yesterday was that Rafa rubbished Fergie to get the fans on side in preparation for rejecting his new contract offer. Make of that what you will but he it's clear that he doesn't do things by accident.

But that would imply he knew what was going to be in his contract before seeing it.

[DannyMan2006]

Rafa talks the talk but puts his shoe in his mouth when it comes to team selection and tactics against Stoke, Hull,....

Can't argue against this. At the start we were praising Rafa for putting out his best team on a concistant basis. If we play our best team and don't win then fair enough - at least we had a go. If we put out weakened teams and don't win then questions will obviously be asked.

All I can say is that a team should be judged at the end of the season. Only then will we know whether or not the right team selections and substitutions were made.

[DannyMan2006]

But that would imply he knew what was going to be in his contract before seeing it.

Due to comments made prior to yesterday I would say he saw the contract a long time ago.

[Baldemort]

Due to comments made prior to yesterday I would say he saw the contract a long time ago.

What did he say to suggest that? I didn't catch all his comments. I'm sure I read on SSN only a week or so ago that he hadn't even been offered a new contract. It seems strange that he'd be offered it yet publicly deny it, and then take so long to give an answer when he knew all along he wasn't going to accept it. Unless he's playing silly buggers and leaving it late as possible so the owners panic into giving him what he wants.

[the rev leeroy brown]

i dont think he saw the contract up untill a couple days ago. but he must have had a good idea what was going to be in it. he had already agreed the length and wage but when he saw the details G&H had put in he probhad a good idea what they were going to be.

[Joe King]

You can pretty much guarantee Fergie has reminded his side about Rafa's 'disturbed rant' He probably has printed it out and made some of the words stand out more like the word 'Scared'

Personally, it wasn't a rant a la Keegan but it was more a calculated outburst which was not targeted at Ferguson, more at the officials and the FA, to be more fair across the board and possibly gain some leniency. It was to make sure Fergie doesn't rant and rave about referees and put pressure on them and now that it is the turn of the year, this when Fergie traditionally does it more often rather than the start. Once Fergie does say something, I have no doubt in my mind he will when a result doesn't go his way and he starts to feel the pressure, the press will be all over the FA to act. That in itself could cost United the title. However, if we don't win the title, no doubt tabloid press will point to that press conference as being the turning point.

[RedSpartan]

Totally. Raffa should have kept his mouth shut or replied with a witty remark like "Its only the ramblings of an old man". To take out a sheet of paper and talk about "Facts" was rediculous, and old whiskey nose must have been busting a gut, especially when we drew with Stoke.

If we had have beaten Stoke, I dont think the Scum would have taken 9 points from last 3 games...pressure would have been on them to keep up. No we are under pressure, Chelski, Villa, Arsenal all won today also, so If we dont win on Monday night, we can conceed title.