Mancs Post Match

[Shaggy]

So Welbeck takes a clear, indisputable dive. Penalty. Welbeck commits an out and out leg-breaker. Yellow card.

Martinez has the temerity to complain about it. Charged.

You couldn't make it up.

[Lee]

So Welbeck takes a clear, indisputable dive. Penalty. Welbeck commits an out and out leg-breaker. Yellow card.

Martinez has the temerity to complain about it. Charged.

You couldn't make it up.

Sick isn't it. Pisstake.

[Liverpel]

'Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret' – Ambrose Bierce

In the week of the anniversary of the Carlos Tévez affair, Roberto Mancini found himself in another pickle he could do without. On Tuesday evening the Italian saw his Manchester City side lose 4-2 to Aston Villa in extra-time as they were knocked out of the Capital One Cup. In a dispatch Mancini may already wish could be expunged he accused rival managers of lacking the bottle to confront Sir Alex Ferguson.

Mancini said: "Every time I say something, they come. After, when they go to Old Trafford, they never say anything. When other managers [at Old Trafford] talk against the referee, they always stay on the bench and say nothing. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I am Italian but I don't know the reason. There's no problem. I just don't like this type of behaviour."

Mancini's ire was caused by Paul Lambert. The Villa manager believed Mancini had tried to get Joe Bennett booked for a foul on Gareth Barry. Of this he said: "I am tired with this manager because I didn't say anything. I asked the fourth official if it was a yellow card without moving my hands. He [Lambert] comes up to me every time but after this some managers go to bigger stadiums and don't say anything. I am tired with their behaviour and it's better that some managers shut up because I didn't speak with this manager."

Lambert joins Tony Pulis, David Moyes, Arsène Wenger, Kenny Dalglish and Ferguson on the list of those who have had a touchline barney with Mancini, who may have been ill-advised to continue the latest one in his post-game briefing. One can admire Mancini's bravery in raising the old idea of an Old Trafford factor that causes managers to genuflect, but wonder at his strategic wisdom. History teaches that taking on Ferguson can be a blunder.

Roberto Martínez and Rafael Benítez each tried. Three years ago Martínez identified Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce as Ferguson "loyalists" who ganged up on Benítez, then Liverpool manager, and told the Spanish newspaper AS on Sunday: "He [Ferguson] has a lot of control in this country", with the Football Association scared to discipline him. True or not, this was hardly politically shrewd in the Premier League village. Cue the Wigan Athletic manager "clarifying" the comments, saying: "It is important they all know I was disappointed with the stories that were circulating. It is a very unfortunate situation but people need to understand what happened."

Benítez showed his teeth in the infamous "facts" diatribe, also in 2009, when he labelled Ferguson a hypocrite and followed Martínez by stating the Scot received preferential treatment from football's authorities. Benítez is no longer in English football, while the Ferguson era at United nears a 26th year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/sep/26/roberto-mancini-touchline-bust-up

[Eric Swindler]

Rafa was great at the anti-ferguson stuff

[Phoenix07]

"The charge is in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 concerning media comments which implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general are motivated by bias and/or brought the game into disrepute."

So when referees make absolutely terrible decisions which hold no logic, does that not bring the game into disrepute? I know the rule is in relation to media comments, but come on, that rule is an absolute farce. I wouldn't mind as a manager being charged for that and then showing how the referees brought the game into disrepute.

[Marina]

The anti-Ferguson stuff never seems to work though does it. Either that or it backfires

[G]

When the red nosed **** finally retires United are going to suffer badly, no other manager will have the same hold over refs, other managers and the FA.

I can't ****ing wait.

[Fosterbloke]

When the red nosed **** finally retires United are going to suffer badly, no other manager will have the same hold over refs, other managers and the FA.

I can't ****ing wait.

I hope Wikileaks reveals all his dodgy FA deals and all their titles are stripped Lance Armstrong style.

[G]

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody comes out with the dirt after he's gone.

[tsb]

I'm struggling to see the relevance of the last sentence in that article.

[BigChief]

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody comes out with the dirt after he's gone.

Many somebodies.

Can't wait!

[Phoenix07]

Is there anyway a manager could imply the league is corrupt without risking legal action?

I've always wondered if they could. The only thing I've heard is from Mourinho 'You cannot get penalties at Old Trafford', and Benitez' 'facts' press conference.

[RichC]

I was wondering if once he's gone someone "lifts the lid" on OT under Fergie and his "relationships" in the game.

With Martinez is anyone that surprised, it's ****ing laughable

[Eric Swindler]

The Martinez thing is a farce

[Exiled_red]

The other thing that doesn't sit well with me about the Shelvey sending off is the fact that the referee's first reaction is to listen to someone else's opinion though his earpiece. I assume that player was the 4th official, who was further away from the incident than the referee. If the referee is closest to the incident and looking straight at it (as he was) and he isn't sure he can't make the decision. Referees are supposed to be certain about what they have seen otherwise they can't take action. Halsey couldn't have been sure about what he saw, so shouldn't have given the red card. Whether the TV replays show it should have been a red card or not, not sending him off is the correct decision if he isn't sure. I think too often in football referees guess at what happened rather than 'admitting' they didn't see it.