Goodbye, Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson. Thank you.

For me, Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson are one and the same. The Scot was at the helm when, at the age of eleven, I completed my collection of Pro Set collector cards featuring the likes of Clayton Blackmore and Mal Donaghy and announced myself as a fully-fledged fan.

As Sky’s pumped-up Premier League allowed armchair football fanatics their greatest ever access to the game, my support for the club became an obsession. I distinctly remember watching a match with my dad and asking him why Bryan Robson was wearing an armband. “He’s the captain,” my old man responded – the first in a long line of inspirational figures deputised as Fergie’s leader on the pitch: Bruce, Cantona, Keane, Neville and Vidic.

This collection of snarling warriors emblemise everything Ferguson stands for: heart, spirit, courage and a never-say-die attitude which has rescued so many late goals for a club which refuses to admit defeat – the qualities which, allied with no little skill, have seen Manchester United dominate English football for more than twenty years.

Stamping his personality so clearly on his club has led to Ferguson being despised by many, and his run-ins with Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez have been edged with a spitefulness which has occasionally gone too far. But this siege mentality was identified today, by fellow retiree Paul Scholes, as Fergie’s greatest strength. Who are we to argue with that?

Those who know him best, of course, point to an altogether different kind of character. Always available to offer advice to fellow managers, father figure to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, devoted family man and, as the years have rolled by, an increasingly endearing character dancing his strange half-jig in the dugout.

My love and admiration for the man is intrinsically tied to my love for the club. I’ve never known one without the other. So many wonderful memories are tied to the club: obvious highlights like the Camp Nou comeback in 1999, Fergie and Brian Kidd leaping around as Steve Bruce headed two title-winning goals in 1993, Yorke and Cole combining beautifully against Barcelona. 

But it’s not just those glory nights which make Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams special. Rather, it’s that sense of comfort and security he offered. While other clubs chop and change, fight and fuss, Manchester United simply evolve. Wholesale tinkering is not the Ferguson way. Instead, he seamlessly integrated new players into his sides, marrying young local talent with experienced old timers, fancy foreigners with wise European campaigners. He built at least three great sides in this way: the powerhouses of Keane, Ince, Schmeichel and Hughes; the treble winning buccaneers; the 2008 vintage of Ronaldo and Rooney.

I can offer little more tribute than those which have already been paid. His emotional interview with his old pal Geoff Shreeves (“Well done, Geoff”) was a beautiful tribute to his patient wife Cathy, and yet another signifier of his strength of character: the decision was made at Christmas but was kept completely secret so as not to distract from the club’s title tilt.

He will remain at Old Trafford forever: cast in bronze, the stand bearing his name, his presence in the directors’ box. But more importantly he will remain in the supporters’ hearts, woven into the fabric of the great club he built, his name sung forever more on the Stretford End and his legacy enduring long after he is gone.

For what it’s worth, my favourite Fergie team would be picked on the basis of personality not ability and would consist of the following eleven players:

Schmeichel, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Irwin, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Hughes, Cole.

Subs: Van Der Sar, Beckham, Evra, Carrick, Cantona, Sharpe, Solskjaer

Dalglish's Dignity Destroyed

How long before we see football making headlines for what happens on the pitch? Yesterday Spurs hammered Newcastle, Norwich and Swansea served up an end-to-end goalfest and, almost unnoticed, Manchester United defeated their arch-rivals Liverpool with two strikes from the in-form Wayne Rooney. Sadly scandal and outrage have once more undermined the efforts of the players to entertain fans growing increasingly tired of seeing the game’s name dragged through the mud.

After weeks of racism, court cases, captaincy rows and red cards, the stage was set for Old Trafford to remind us why it is that football is known as the ‘beautiful game’. Instead, we were served up an ugly and undignified mess which looks set to prolong and exacerbate the mutual enmity between two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

All it would have taken was a gesture: a brief touch of flesh on flesh which might have doused the flames of this most combustible fixture. Instead, Luis Suarez’s immaturity ignited the tinderbox and his manager poured fuel on the flames.
Despite myopic Liverpool fans’ protestations there is only one person to blame for the non-handshake: Suarez. His decision to ignore Evra’s offered hand was immature, idiotic and, worse of all, premeditated. Certainly Kenny Dalglish, had seemed convinced the player would make the important gesture: Suarez knew otherwise and, in an instant, undermined his manager and his once-proud club.

Perhaps Dalglish’s fervent and misguided support of the player was inspired partly by embarrassment and anger at him – he certainly lost his cool in a way rarely seen from a man more usually associated with taciturn and monotone post-match interviews. Sadly his reaction was inevitable after the tunnel-visioned support he has offered his player throughout this whole farrago.

From the very outset, Dalglish has fostered a siege mentality which has seen Liverpool FC close ranks to protect their player. In the Scotsman’s eyes, the criticism of Suarez has become a witch-hunt – a media conspiracy propagated by Sky Sports News and designed to deliberately harm and hound his controversial striker. This view is utter nonsense, of course. Suarez is under such scrutiny thanks only to his profile, his behaviour and his refusal to apologise to a man he wronged.

Kenny Dalglish’s half-baked conspiracy theories hold absolutely no water. And he has absolutely no evidence to back them up. When the FA released the water-tight 115 page document proving Suarez to have racially abused Evra, Dalglish hinted that the full truth had not been heard. But he failed to provide the required evidence to prove Suarez’s innocence. And given the club’s utter conviction of his innocence it seems strange that they didn’t lodge any form of appeal.

Instead, we’ve seen ill-advised T-shirts in support of Suarez, heard Dalglish welcome Suarez back from his spell on the sidelines by insisting that “he should never have been out in the first place” and now, an absolutely astonishing post-match attack on Geoff Shreeves, Sky Sports and anyone who would listen. Daniel Taylor summed it up brilliantly in The Observer: “outraged by everything, ashamed of nothing”.

His strident defence of his player was shocking and appalling. Pleading ignorance of Suarez’s refusal of Evra’s hand was silly at best. But furiously suggesting that Shreeves was “bang out of order for blaming Luis Suarez for anything that happened here today” was absurd beyond belief. Seeing one of the game’s greats acting in such a manner was hugely embarrassing – not least because he missed an ideal opportunity to take the sting out of the situation. All Dalglish needed to do was point out that Suarez’s actions didn’t help the atmosphere and that he’d have a word with the player in private. Instead, he fanned the flames.

Admittedly, Manchester United were not blameless. Evra’s celebrations at the final whistle were clearly cathartic – a massive pressure relieved in front of his own fans – but were certainly over the top and hardly likely to calm the situation. Sir Alex Ferguson rightly criticised the left back.

The United manager did go over the top in his criticism of Suarez, however. Having kept his counsel for so long, he then exploded. He was clearly incensed by the striker’s conduct during the day but his suggestion that Suarez ought never play for Liverpool again was an area he ought to have kept his nose out of. Dalglish neither wants nor needs Ferguson’s attempts to destabilise Liverpool FC – he’s doing a good enough job all on his own.

Chelsea vs United: Minute by Minute

Teams:
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Boswinga; Mereiles, Essien, Malouda: Mata, Torres, Sturridge. Subs: Turnbull, Bertrand, Romeu, Hutchinson, Piazzon, Lukaku, Ferreira

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young; Rooney, Welbeck. Subs: Amos, Rafael, Park, Berbatov, Hernandez, Pogba, Scholes

Referee: Howard Webb

Prediction: Chelsea 0 Man Utd 2

Preamble:
With the notable exception of John Terry, everyone involved in this fixture will be breathing a sigh of relief that the deposed England captain misses out with a knee injury. For the second consecutive week a Terry/Ferdinand handshake had threatened to overshadow a huge and potentially combustible football fixture. Let’s hope that this week’s Premier League game is better than the damp squib at QPR last weekend where the most interesting things to happen were things which didn’t actually happen: a pointless pre-match pleasantry and a foul on Danny Sturridge.

Almost unbelievably, Chelsea are a point better off than at this stage last season with Juan Mata forging more goalscoring opportunities than anyone else in the top flight this season. With Drogba missing, Torres misfiring and Sturridge in the midst of a drought, Andreas Villas Boas will be desperately hoping someone in his side can capitalise on Mata’s creativity to trouble the shaky Spaniard David De Gea.

United boast the best away record in the league but have been appalling in league fixtures at Stamford Bridge in recent years. They’ll be hoping that the return of their injured troops can spark the beginning of a run which might see them depose their city rivals at the top of the table. Valencia, with nine assists in nine games will relish the opportunity to test Chelsea’s stand-in left back, Boswinga. On the opposite flank, Ashley Young will hope to return to his early-season form after his return from injury.

15:26pm
It’s all over at the Sports Direct Arena (it actually hurts my fingers to type that) where the always entertaining Toon Army prevailed 2-1 against an Aston Villa who were far less turgid than anyone expected. Against his old club, Charles N’Zogbia teed up Robbie Keane for a cracker and Demba Ba scored on his return from the Cup of Nations. But it was the Senegalese debutante, Papisse Demba Cisse, who stole the show with a belter welted into the top corner with his left peg. A superb strike from the Magpies’ new number nine.

15:45pm
United might never get a better opportunity to flex their Mancunian muscles at The Bridge. With Chelsea’s trio of England stalwarts missing through injury and suspension, the Blues actually look weaker than an injury ravaged United - who welcome back Young and Rooney but lose Smalling (who along with Jones, Rafael, Fabio, Anderson et al) seems incapable of putting a run of back-to-back games together).

Expect the Red Devils to pour forward down the flanks in an attempt to expose Chelsea’s out-of-position fullbacks – and their new central defensive partnership of Sideshow Bob and Gary Cahil. Chelsea will aim to outnumber Fergie’s side in the centre of midfield and run the legs of 87 year old Ryan Giggs. Given that one of Chelsea’s central three is Florent Malouda, this could be a tall order.

15:55pm
Alan Smith is anticipating Juan Mata lining up in the hole behind Fernando Torres. It’ll be interesting to see exactly how Chelsea shape up. United like a traditional Fergie 4-4-2 formation.

16:00pm
We’re away with United kicking off and playing from left to right. Both sides give the ball away several times in the first twenty seconds.

1min
Evra is upended on the left corner of the Chelsea eighteen yard box – from the free-kick Rooney gets an early sighter of Cech’s goal. He doesn’t trouble the keeper.

2mins
Is Cech’s scrum-cap a necessity or an affectation?

4mins
Rio Ferdinand is being booed by the Stamford Bridge faithful. Presumably this is because his brother has allegedly been racially abused by a Chelsea player. Imagine the reception he’d get if he was the one accused of the abuse. Cheered to the rafters presumably.

6mins
A couple of corners for Chelsea come to nought – but David De Gea looked all at sea and made an utterly pathetic fist of fisting the ball to safety. He clearly inspires no confidence in his teammates.

8mins
A prone Essien plays Young onside in the box leading to a tangle of legs and a half-hearted penalty appeal. Nothing doing from Webb.

9mins
Mata is definitely more central than I anticipated – some good movement between he and Torres opens up space for Boswinga to have a pop at goal. It’s saved easily.

10mins
United have strong penalty appeals turned down. Welbeck gets goal side of Cahill who brings the striker down in a foul which began outside the box and ended with him tripping Welbeck inside it. Fergie will be apoplectic. Replays show that Webb had a great view of it – and still got it badly wrong.

12mins
Sir Alex is giving the fourth official a Wrigley’s scented mouthful on the touchline. Quite what effect he thinks this might have is unclear but he’s right to be angry.

16mins
It’s scrappy so far but United are the more threatening. Chelsea seem unable to clear their lines properly – constantly playing each other into trouble around their own box and playing simple clearances to the feet of United players. If it carries on like this United will soon break through.

18mins
Rafael gives the ball away cheaply, Torres is dragged to the ground and Chelsea have an opportunity to lump the ball into the danger zone. It’s flat and wasted by Mereiles who really needed to stick it under De Gea’s chin and watch the ensuing carnage.

20mins
Space opens up in front of United’s box but instead of charging into the gap, Torres takes a swipe at goal from 22 yards. He cuts across it and it slides harmlessly wide. It was a shot which betrayed his lack of confidence. I actually feel sorry for him now.

22mins
Interestingly, both sets of central defenders are playing on the opposite sides to where you’d expect them. Luiz and Ferdinand are both patrolling the left half of the pitch – not their normal positions.

24mins
Juan Mata scoops a rugby-league style bomb into the United area which Evans volleys away at full stretch. Chelsea are growing into this now – but neither side has yet created a clear-cut chance with players from both teams coming short to create and thus emptying the eighteen yard boxes.

27mins
Rooney just beat the offside trap after a neat ball from Valencia. He got the ball stuck under his feet when he ought to have been charging for goal. Instead he rolled a ball across Cech’s six yard line for Welbeck only to see Ivanovic clear for a corner (which came to nothing). Poor from Wazza, that.

30mins
Torres is booked for charging into the back of Evans with his extremities stuck out. The Northern Irishman goes down after being poked with a double whammy of knees and elbows. Utterly needless from the Spaniard who’s looking increasingly frustrated with himself.

33mins
Danny Welbeck runs around a lot.

35mins
OWN GOAL!!
Some uncertainty in the United box leaves a number of Red Devils flat footed. Evra is turned inside out by Sturridge who cuts the ball back from the byline. It cannons off De Gea, ricochets off Evans and nestles in the net. Dreadful defending from United.

37mins
The game explodes into life as De Gea is forced into a plunging save from a fizzing long-distance drive. At the other end Cech performs similar heroics to thwart Young – and gets enough glove on the ball to stop Rooney tapping in the rebound.

40mins
Chelsea have been scrappy and have had less of the ball but have taken their only chance. United have threatened little, although Welbeck has just drawn a smart stop from Cech. Fergie will be wondering how to adjust his forward line at the interval unless they can pop in an equaliser soon.

44mins
After a sustained spell of United pressure the game has really opened up. It’s end to end and littered with mistakes – great entertainment but not great quality. Moves keep breaking down twenty yards out with players diving into challenges left, right and centre.

45+1mins
Ivanovic is booked for having the fattest arse in football. And then Mata sends Giggs sprawling. One last chance for United to pump the ball forward...

45+2mins
And Cech tips his shot around the base of the post.

Peep!
It’s half time in a game Chelsea will be delighted to leading. It’s been tense and tight, but United have been marginally the better side. It’ll be interesting to hear Red Nev’s thoughts on that penalty non-decision. Whether it was inside the box or out, it was a foul and Cahill ought to have seen red.

Half-Time
Neville and Redknapp think United should have had a penalty for a challenge on Young – but the player fell forward when having his shirt pulled backwards. The player has undermined his own case with a dramatic tumble there. They don’t think it was a penalty for Cahill’s foul on Welbeck but it was a foul. I maintain that the defender ought to have been sent off on his debut.

Peep!
After ensuring his hair looks lustrous, Fernando Torres gets us underway.

WHAT A GOAL!!
From the kick off Chelsea score one of the goals of the season. From the right flank Torres bends it like Beckham to Juan Mata – who spanks an unstoppable volley into the top corner from eight yards out. What a magnificent goal. United look stunned.

47mins
Seen from behind the player, Mata’s goal looks even better – he let the ball drop across his body beautifully before wellying it in. De Gea wasn’t miles away from it but he was never, ever going to save it.

GOAL!!
A disastrous start to the second half as a free kick from the right wing ends up in United’s net via a combination of David Luiz’s shoulder and a flick off Rio Ferdinand’s back.

51mins
United are reeling here. They genuinely have been the better team but have been eviscerated at the start of the second period by a lightning quick start from Chelsea and some awful defending.

52mins
Hernandez comes on for Young and is immediately – and predictably – flagged offside. The Mexican’s troubled Luiz in the past, but salvaging anything from this game seems a forlorn hope for Manchester United.

56mins
Ferguson has a problem here: it’s too early to accept a defeat but too soon to go gung-ho. What will the master do?

PENALTY
Sturridge brings down Evra and Rooney puts the ball on the spot. His record from 12 yards is awful recently.

GOAL!!
He meant that! Rooney almost rips the net out with a piledriver into the top left corner. Game on!!

59mins
United have the bit between their teeth now. Hernandez almost squeaks through a gap before Chelsea break up the other end and Sturridge wafts a shot well wide. He’s having an eventful game, young Sturridge.

60mins
Ivanovic’s sizeable rear nudges Welbeck out of the way after Giggs almost freed the striker with a slide-rule pass down the left wing.

62mins
United make a tactical change – Valencia moves to right back as Paul Scholes enters the fray. It’s Rafael who makes way. United have no genuine width in midfield now and will need to push their fullbacks on – it’s a risky but necessary strategy.

65mins
United are caught on the hop as Luiz splits their defence with a simple through ball. After a flick from a defender’s boot takes the ball away from Torres, Mata steers one at goal which De Gea throws his hat on. It’s end to end stuff now.

67mins
Great interplay from Giggs, Rooney and Hernandez ends with Cech clutching at a scuffed shot from Rooney – who’s pulling the strings now.

PENALTY!!!
Welbeck goes down in another tangle. It’s not a dive but it might not be a foul either. He left a leg hanging and Ivanovic brought him down. A very strange incident.

GOAL!!
Rooney scores emphatically, thumping the ball to Cech’s left. Even if he’d gone the right way he’d have had no chance. Rooney is rising to the occasion now.

71mins
It’s Chelsea’s turn to be rattled now. Romeu is on to shore things up in midfield. Sturridge was not happy to be the player hooked. Is AVB inviting pressure now? Surely that’s the last thing he should be doing against a rampant United.

73mins
Romeu gives the ball away in midfield and within seconds Hernandez is cutting a shot across Cech and wide. Chelsea are rocking.

75mins
Torres rolls the ball back to Essien who hammers a shot from 25 yards which De Gea punches over the bar. It’s more unconvincing goalkeeping from a shot which was straight at him.

76mins
Torres has no confidence whatsoever. He breaks into the box and after spurning numerous chances to hit the ball at goal he is crowded out. He didn’t need to beat his man there and should have just put his laces through the ball. He seems so scared of missing that he daren’t shoot. Crazy.

79mins
United have Giggs and Welbeck on the wings, Scholes and Carrick in the centre, Hernandez and Rooney up top. Valencia is charging forward at every opportunity too – there’ll be a goal for Chelsea on the break if United don’t nick an equaliser first.

81mins
Sustained pressure from United sees them win a corner and time to draw breath. Danny Welbeck meets it but he’s too far beyond the near post and can’t steer his header at goal.

82mins
Giggs upends Mereiles and Chelsea pause over the freekick, desperate to take the wind out of United’s sails. They manage to keep the ball a while but it’s soon back with United who pour forward.

GOAL!!
CHICHARITO!!!
Valencia charges down the right and swings a lovely ball into the centre. Rooney goes for goal somehow Cech saves. The ball squirts out to Giggs on the left wing. He teases a beautiful cross into the six yard box, Hernandez springs and powers a header at goal which Cech can’t claw out. United won’t be happy to settle for a point.

86mins
For the first time in the history of the Premier League, Martin Tyler is tripping over his words. Mereiles might have equalised there with a better header.

88mins
Rooney is shimmering with menace as United steam forward but it’s Chelsea who break and win a corner. United smuggle it away and head upfield only for Evra to run the ball out of play. Somewhere on the excitement Park came on for Welbeck.

90mins
There’ll be four added minutes and in the first of them Luiz wins a cheap free kick after tumbling theatrically over Scholes’ non-challenge. It’s to the right of the United box and Mata postage stamps it into the top corner. Except he doesn’t – because De Gea pulls off a wonderfully athletic save. Magnificent from the much maligned Spaniard.

92mins
Giggs and Evra combine to win a corner. The United fans are jubilant. Will they see a winner? They ought to have as players throw themselves at Giggs magnificent delivery. There’s a half-arsed penalty appeal as Torres appears to handle, Cech collects a Carrick shot from distance and Hernandez is flagged offside again.

94mins
Gary Cahill lumbers forward and launches a blockbuster which De Gea tips over. And that just about wraps it up. Phew.

Wowsers! How do you sum that up? Chelsea will be distraught to have let that lead slip but they were fortunate to have held it in the first place. United will be annoyed they didn’t win – but they gained a point which seemed entirely unlikely after 48 minutes. Rooney and Mata were magnificent, Cech made some great saves and Giggs rolled back the years. But perhaps the game’s defining moment was De Gea’s miraculous save – could it be the moment that convinces the world he’s got what it takes to be United’s number one?

Not So Cleverley, Sir Alex

The news that Darren Fletcher is suffering with ulcerative colitis is a huge blow for a player who had transformed himself from Old Trafford boo boy to terrace hero. He faces a year out of the game at a point where he ought to be firmly establishing himself in Sir Alex Ferguson’s midfield. Hopefully his proven resilience will ensure that he returns as a driving force next season.

For the club, Fletcher’s illness worsens a midfield crisis of epic proportions. With injuries to Anderson and Tom Cleverley, only Michael Carrick remains of United’s specialist central midfielders. Park Ji Sung, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Phil Jones have been pressed into service in these roles recently and with the festive fixtures looming, Ferguson seems set to continue deploying square pegs in round holes.

Shouldn’t a manager of Ferguson’s stature and experience have recognised that United have been desperately short in midfield for some time? Anderson has always been injury-prone and has just returned from knee surgery. Fletcher has already spent long periods out of the team with his previously undisclosed illness. And the reliance on Cleverley is bizarre and alarming given how few games he’s actually played for the first team.

Perhaps the current crisis is indicative of a wider problem under Ferguson’s tenure: an alarming lack of quality midfield signings. Over the course of his stewardship, Ferguson has seen some legendary midfielders pull on the red shirt: Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane. An assortment of extremely capable players have also filled the central berths: Paul Ince, Nicky Butt, Michael Carrick. But the best of those were either inherited or were products of United’s famed youth academy. The only truly outstanding purchase has been Keane –the greatest driving midfielder of his generation.

Attempts to replace the Irishman have largely failed. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel picking out those who fell so far from the required standard: Liam Miller, Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba spring readily to mind. Perhaps it’s unfair to expect anyone to replicate Keane’s role for the team. But whilst tacticians the world over have long thought a holding midfielder a necessity, Ferguson has rarely played that way.

Occasional deficiencies in central midfield have often been masked by a dazzling array of wingers. In wide areas, Ferguson has long been able to spot talent: bargains like Andrei Kanchelskis and Lee Sharpe blossomed at Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs was stolen from under the noses of Manchester City, Cristiano Ronaldo became the world’s most expensive player under Ferguson’s tutelage. And his commitment to wide players continues even now with Luis Nani overcoming a difficult start to become the team’s most threatening attacker.

But now, finally, it seems that the potent widemen who’ve characterised Fergie’s time in the Old Trafford dugout can no longer hide the glaring holes in the middle of the park. It’s a long time since Manchester United brought in a top quality midfielder in either of the two positions they seem to be screaming out for: a scheming battler and creative lynchpin.

Owen Hargreaves ought to have been the former but his time at the club was destroyed by injury. This cannot have been foreseen, but the fact remains that his four year contract expired with him having played less than thirty games for the club – and in that time no attempt appears to have been made to replace him. It’s perhaps telling that Ferguson has consistently selected defenders in this position – and not just recently. Players such as Ronnie Johnsen, Phil Neville and John O’Shea have played in front of the back four many times over the years: the deployment of Phil Jones in the position should surprise nobody. Identifying the kind of player who can shield a defence and bring the ball out from the back has long been problematic for the United manager.

Similarly, it seems that the role of creator has not been adequately filled following Paul Scholes’ retirement. Instead of recruiting from elsewhere a succession of players have filled in. Rooney’s attacking thrust has been diluted in this role, Park hasn’t got the nous for it and Giggs is simply too old to be relied upon regularly. Perhaps Ferguson remains scarred by the failed acquisition of Juan Sebastian Veron – a player who arrived for a huge fee which he never came close to repaying.

One only needs to look around United’s rivals to see just how comparatively weak they are in central areas. Spurs boast players like Luka Modric, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Sandro. At Arsenal Alex Song, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsay are the first choice picks. Chelsea can call on the dynamism of Ramires, Raul Mereiles and (when fit) Michael Essien. At the base of midfield they’ve unearthed a gem in Oriel Romeu. Every single one of the players mentioned would improve the United first team. And Manchester City’s collection of megastars hasn’t even been mentioned.

It’s almost sacrilegious to criticise Sir Alex Ferguson for any perceived shortcomings. He’s consistently unearthed gems in the transfer market and nurtured wonderful players through United’s academy. His sides have constantly excited fans, won games and garnered trophies. But if the great man has one blind spot it’s in central midfield: it’s a situation he’ll need to resolve as soon as possible if his side are to remain competitive in a football world where tiki-taka, midfield passing and ball possession are more important than they ever have been.

The Invisible Booking

As Patrice Evra waved an imaginary yellow card at referee Andre Marriner, the Anfield crowd made their immediate displeasure known. Boos rang out at the French fullback which continued for the rest of the game. Even avuncular old Uncle Ray Wilkins was disgusted – or as disgusted as he’s ever likely to be. When Wilkins expresses the opinion that the ref should be allowed to ‘do his job’ it’s as unhappy and critical as the man is ever likely to be. But why is calling for another player to be booked such a big issue?

The incident in question saw Liverpool winger Stewart Downing take a blatant and appalling dive. If that act of simulation had successfully hoodwinked the match officials Evra himself would almost certainly have found himself in the referee’s notebook. Is it fair that Downing should commit an offence - which would have seen the fullback walking a disciplinary tightrope for the rest of the game - go unpunished? Surely not. He attempted to get his opponent into trouble in order to gain an advantage – why shouldn’t Evra retaliate in the same way? Evra was not the cheat in this situation – he was the player calling for the appropriate application of the game’s laws and a suitable punishment for the player who broke them.

Ray Wilkins’ opinion that the referee should be left to do his job seemingly only applies in certain situations. When a match official gets a penalty decision wrong, for instance, players expressing their anger are occasionally criticised for the way they broach the subject with the referee but rarely for being angry about the erroneous spot-kick decision. Why? Because it’s a game-changing decision? Because it happens to be in the eighteen yard box? Either way it’s still a challenge to the official’s control of the game and ought to be no different to the brandishing of an invisible yellow card.

Perhaps it’s because the ‘invisible booking’ is a trait which appears to have been imported from our cheating foreign cousins (much like diving was in the early days of the Premier League). Maybe this kind of cheating is less palatable than some traditional British steel – English football’s constant defence of robust (and potentially leg-shattering) challenges that ‘he got the ball’ is an utterly redundant one if the player was cleaned by a tackler ‘out of control’, but it’s one which is constantly heard from fans, players and managers alike. And it's a defence which misunderstands the rules and laws of the game.

Even Uncle Ray (a cultured player who plied his trade in Italy) seems to believe that bending and breaking the rules is more acceptable when done with some bruising muscularity. His defence of a Jamie Carragher tackle on Ryan Giggs, “Wily little bodycheck there from Jamie Carragher. Good defending”, is a perfect example. According to Wilkins' contradictory stance, the manlier form of cheating is perfectly acceptable. It’s not. And appealing for a player to be punished for his misdemeanours ought to be entirely justified, regardless of how he’s contravened the rules or where on the pitch the offence took place.

Premier League Preview

Until the transfer window slams shut it's difficult to guess exactly how the Premier League season will shape up. But ahead of the traditional curtain raiser, the Charity Shield, here's my club-by-club assessment of the upcoming season...

QPR
Adel Taraabt inspired a romp to the Championship title which ought to have Hoops fans salivating at the prospect of Premier League football. Sadly, many are utterly disillusioned with the direction the club is taking under billionaire owners Briatore and Ecclestone. Taraabt’s head appears to have turned, Neil Warnock undermined at every turn and free signings such as the injury prone Kieran Dyer have not inspired confidence. If goals can be wrung out of DJ Campbell then QPR might hang on to top-flight status – but both are tall orders.

Swansea City
The first Welsh club to ply their trade in the Premier League have really got their work cut out. They’ll be hoping that a fearsome home atmosphere intimidates visiting teams, but a lack of quality will surely be there undoing. The Swans play attacking, passing football so may seek inspiration from Blackpool’s exploits last season. But ultimately the Tangerines went down and it seems likely that Swansea will follow a similarly entertaining path back to the Championship.

Norwich
Paul Lambert has done nothing but impress in a managerial career which has seen him work his way through the divisions and Norwich will be hoping they can keep him through to the end of this campaign: it would be no surprise if Lambert’s name were linked with the next Premier League club to dispense with their manager. Astute use of the loan system and Lambert’s tactical nous may see them safe, but relying on the likes of Steve Morison for goals is a brave move.

Wolves
Mick McCarthy has done a great job at Molineux and thoroughly deserved to keep them up last year. He’s an entertainingly honest manager and has quietly added some quality to his squad with Jamie O’Hara and Roger Johnson – players who will add goals from midfield and shore up a decent defence respectively. Kevin Doyle will be fully fit and Steven Fletcher pops up with vital goals – it’d be a surprise to see Wolves go down.

Wigan
Roberto Martinez is an extremely likeable chap and his commitment to attractive attacking football is admirable. But surely this year Wigan are due to return to the football league? A team which survived by the skin of its teeth last year has been shorn of quality with the departures of Charles Nzogbia and Tom Cleverly. It’s vital that the fee received for the Frenchman is well invested but Martinez has not always been convincing in the transfer market. Relegation beckons.

Blackburn
When Indian chicken company Venky’s promised to sign players like Ronaldinho for Rovers their fans were almost prepared to forgive them for sacking Sam Allardyce: a manager who comfortably kept Blackburn afloat. Since then, things have gone badly wrong. The inexperienced Steve Kean has seen the team go backwards under his stewardship and Chris Samba looks likely to leave. It’ll be another season of struggle at Ewood Park – although there will be rejoicing if the club manage to dispense with El Hadji Diouf’s services before the big kick-off.

Bolton
Bolton flattered to deceive last year. Although Owen Coyle’s team played better football than Wanderers fans had seen for some time, the fact remains that their season was decidedly average other than one purple patch of great results. They ended the season very badly and have seen attacking talents like Sturridge, Elmander and Taylor leave the club. With a full pre-season under his belt, however, the fans will be hoping Coyle’s methods will be more firmly ingrained.

Stoke
Tony Pulis is a canny operator who has firmly established little old Stoke as a Premier League force. Their football is not as direct as people seem to suggest – Matty Etherington’s craft and guile supplies as many goals as Rory Delap’s long throws. Jonathan Woodgate will be an excellent signing if he stays fit and fans at the Potteries will be expecting more goals from Kenwyne Jones this time around. Mid-table beckons.

Newcastle
The Toon Army must be the world’s most bewildered fans. Whilst early signings such as Cabaye and Marveaux hinted at a promising 2011/12, internal bickering and strange player sales have seen the wheels fall off at St James. The sale of Andy Carroll seems to have led directly to club captain Kevin Nolan dropping down a division, Jose Enrique looks sure to depart and the Joey Barton saga is becoming farcical. Restoring a sense of order and recruiting a goalscorer are vital – a few bad results could see a mutiny amongst players and fans.

West Brom
Uncle Woy did an amazing job of steadying the ship at Hawthorns and this season looks set to be even better for them. Peter Odemwingie has resisted the overtures of bigger clubs, Ben Foster has replaced calamitous Scott Carson, club favourite Zoltan Gera has returned and Owen Hargreaves may well sign for the Baggies. Although they still lack depth, West Brom’s first team is impressive and organized enough to finish comfortably in mid-table.

Sunderland
Steve Bruce loves a transfer window. Approximately 872 players have taken a spin on the Stadium of Light’s transfer merry-go-round this summer, leaving Bruce with an almost entirely new team. Experienced defenders like O’Shea and Brown will shore up the back four but a new midfield featuring the likes of Larsson and Gardner will need to gel quickly if it’s to supply sufficient ammunition for the impressive Asamoah Gyan. It’ll be another transitional season at Sunderland – how many more will the fans tolerate?

Aston Villa
Despite having lost two England widemen, Villa’s can still feel reasonably confident about the attacking areas of their team. Downing and Young might have gone, but they’ve got ready replacements in homegrown Albrighton and big-name signing Nzogbia. With players like that creating chances for Darren Bent, Villa ought to score goals. Fans will be hoping that Alex McLeish can instill some defensive solidity (signing Shay Given was a step in the right direction) but time is not on his side: the fans will turn very quickly on the former Birmingham man.

Fulham
After the bizarre departure of Mark Hughes, Fulham fans will have been delighted with the acquisition of Martin Jol. The amiable Dutchman will not do anything radical at Craven Cottage but has made some shrewd buys in the transfer market – John Arne Riise fills a problem position for them and will contribute much-needed goals. Up front, the returning Dembele and Zamora will prove a handful for anyone and Fulham will be hoping to finish in the European places.

Everton
Nothing has happened at Goodison Park except the sale of James Vaughan. With no money to spend it seems that the best David Moyes can hope for is loan signings and he should probably be looking to bloated squads in Manchester to pick up some quality to complement his solid squad. He’ll also be hoping for improved contributions from Arteta and less injuries for the likes of Fellaini, Saha and Cahill. But whilst others are improving their squads, Everton are standing still (at best).

Liverpool
The biggest question at Anfield is how Kenny Dalglish will combine the midfield talent he now has at his disposal. Stewart Downing brings genuine width, but Liverpool are overstocked with players who gravitate towards the centre. Perhaps Downing and Suarez will play either side of Carroll with the likes of Adam, Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles et al competing for three central berths. Left back remains a problem, so it would be no surprise to see three at the back occasionally. But if Liverpool are to break back into the top four they’ll need to settle on a team and a formation fairly quickly.

Spurs
Having failed to qualify for the Champions League, Spurs have stagnated a little this summer. There has been little recruitment, Luka Modric has had his head turned and they now have a bizarre trio of experienced goalkeepers. The club will need to hope that Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and Crouch better last season’s goal output – with creative midfielders like Bale supplying the crosses it’s inexcusable for the strikers to contribute so little. The top four will be out of their reach again.

Arsenal
Discontent at the Wenger regime has never been more apparent. The manager needs to make some big decisions regarding Fabregas and Nasri – they’re distracted and a distraction. Regardless of their future, Arsenal are well stocked in midfield following the emergence of Wilshere and the return of Ramsay. But as always doubts remain over the defence (which should be bolstered by the return of Vermaelen) and goalkeeper. Striking cover for the brittle Van Persie has arrived in the shape of Gervinho but Arsenal will face a fight to finish fourth.

Man City
Could this be the season City make a genuine title challenge? Mancini has presided over a quiet evolution rather than a revolution this summer, with adjustments to the back four and some low-key departures. The exception to this is obviously Kun Aguero – a wonderful player who would improve any team. Managing some big personalities will be key for Mancini – particularly up front where combustible talents like Balotelli and want-away Tevez will test the manager’s patience. They’ll probably finish second – with or without Tevez.

Chelsea
Another year older, Chelsea are now relying on players the same age as their manager. Lampard, Terry and Drogba are still the most influential players at Stamford Bridge, but Roman Abramovich will be desperately hoping that recent big-money purchases like Torres, Luiz and Ramires can deliver this year. Josh McCechran and Danny Sturridge will also hope to make their mark in what looks likely to be a transitional season – although Chelsea will comfortably finish in the top four.

Manchester United
A team that comfortably won the title has added £50m worth of talent to its squad – although the loss of experienced campaigners like Van Der Sar, Scholes and O’Shea will be felt. The Old Trafford attack has rarely looked stronger – with the problematic left wing addressed by Ashley Young’s signing. And with a young player as back-up in every position the future looks rosy – especially if Tom Cleverly is as good as Sir Alex Ferguson seems to think. If not, the failure to recruit Wesley Sneijder could be costly. But they’ll win the league regardless.