carlyluvsunited
05-11-2007, 05:38 AM
Alex Ferguson Angry With Arsenal's Equaliser
On Nov 14, 1986, Alex Ferguson first sat on the bench to watch a Manchester
United team he had selected in action. It was not a great start. In
unquestionably the worst venue ever to host top-flight football, he saw a
muddled United lose 2-0 to Oxford United in front of 13,545 spectators squeezed
into every crumbling corner of the Manor Ground.
Twenty-one years on, things have changed a bit. On Saturday, before a crowd of
60,161 filling the sleekest stadium in England and with another billion apparently
watching on telly across the world, he witnessed a side approaching the peak of
their powers play out a pulsating draw with a team of equal facility. Twenty-one
years ago, he was faced with misery and mishap. On Saturday, it was a privilege
just to be there.
And yet, two decades and 20 trophies on, the one thing that appears not to have
improved in the life of Sir Alex Ferguson is his mood. If anything, he was
significantly angrier at the Emirates Stadium than he had been watching Clayton
Blackmore, Nick Duxbury and Peter Davenport labour back in 1986.
As early as the 20th minute, he was at the edge of his technical area, yelling at
the referee, Howard Webb, for giving a foul against Patrice Evra, then blasting
the ear of the fourth official for, presumably, supporting the decision. It was an
outburst that produced baying disdain from the Arsenal fans behind him, derision
that continued throughout the match – climaxing when Cristiano Ronaldo scored
United's second goal – to the point where half a dozen stewards were
dispatched into the home support in a vain attempt to moderate the abuse.
After the game, Ferguson was furious about the vitriol, calling it "absolutely
disgraceful" and bemoaning the lack of security afforded to visiting managers.
He was still complaining, too, about the match officials, suggesting, in a view that
will have come as a surprise to the home supporters who regarded him as doing
precisely the opposite, that Webb had "favoured Arsenal." But what really riled
him was that his United side had missed an opportunity not only to glean three
important points, but to make a statement about the relative condition of the
two clubs' Premier League title challenge.
"It's a fact that they got out of jail," he fumed. And what was worse, it was his
own players who had provided them with the key. Just as United seemed to be
closing down on a win, they had let Arsenal out through the back door, or rather,
thanks to their captain, William Gallas, in at the far post.
Though most of those in attendance would have regarded it as an act of larceny
had United returned north with the spoils: a share of the points suggested that
justice was done.
The balance between the sides was evident even in the stands. Rarely has a
game begun in such a universal atmosphere of optimism as this one. In all parts
of the Emirates, everyone, visitor and regular alike, seemed to be wearing a
smile of expectation, happy just to be there to witness two brilliant sides in
opposition.
The only note of dissent was a protest at the presence of former Gunners chief
executive David Dein, once a local hero, but since his alliance with the Ukrainian
Alisher Usmanov, now regarded as the worst sort of hostile predator. Thousands
of orange balloons were released into the crowd, the colour seemingly a
reference to Dein's permatan. Most were burst within seconds. A neat metaphor
for much of the first half, which seemed bereft of air as the two sides squeezed
the space, cancelling out each other's attacking verve.
Things changed from the moment Wayne Rooney sent Ronaldo's near-post cross
into the net via various bits of Gallas. From then it became one of those matches
that has Alan Hansen on Match of the Day losing all contact with verbs. "Power,
pace, precision," he purred.
It had all three. And much else, including the epithet Arsene Wenger used to sum
up his team: character. It was the fight in his side that had seen them through,
something they will need in quantity when they head north in April for what is
likely to be the title decider, a fixture in which they will be looking to leave the
great home manager as angry as ever.
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United !!!
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On Nov 14, 1986, Alex Ferguson first sat on the bench to watch a Manchester
United team he had selected in action. It was not a great start. In
unquestionably the worst venue ever to host top-flight football, he saw a
muddled United lose 2-0 to Oxford United in front of 13,545 spectators squeezed
into every crumbling corner of the Manor Ground.
Twenty-one years on, things have changed a bit. On Saturday, before a crowd of
60,161 filling the sleekest stadium in England and with another billion apparently
watching on telly across the world, he witnessed a side approaching the peak of
their powers play out a pulsating draw with a team of equal facility. Twenty-one
years ago, he was faced with misery and mishap. On Saturday, it was a privilege
just to be there.
And yet, two decades and 20 trophies on, the one thing that appears not to have
improved in the life of Sir Alex Ferguson is his mood. If anything, he was
significantly angrier at the Emirates Stadium than he had been watching Clayton
Blackmore, Nick Duxbury and Peter Davenport labour back in 1986.
As early as the 20th minute, he was at the edge of his technical area, yelling at
the referee, Howard Webb, for giving a foul against Patrice Evra, then blasting
the ear of the fourth official for, presumably, supporting the decision. It was an
outburst that produced baying disdain from the Arsenal fans behind him, derision
that continued throughout the match – climaxing when Cristiano Ronaldo scored
United's second goal – to the point where half a dozen stewards were
dispatched into the home support in a vain attempt to moderate the abuse.
After the game, Ferguson was furious about the vitriol, calling it "absolutely
disgraceful" and bemoaning the lack of security afforded to visiting managers.
He was still complaining, too, about the match officials, suggesting, in a view that
will have come as a surprise to the home supporters who regarded him as doing
precisely the opposite, that Webb had "favoured Arsenal." But what really riled
him was that his United side had missed an opportunity not only to glean three
important points, but to make a statement about the relative condition of the
two clubs' Premier League title challenge.
"It's a fact that they got out of jail," he fumed. And what was worse, it was his
own players who had provided them with the key. Just as United seemed to be
closing down on a win, they had let Arsenal out through the back door, or rather,
thanks to their captain, William Gallas, in at the far post.
Though most of those in attendance would have regarded it as an act of larceny
had United returned north with the spoils: a share of the points suggested that
justice was done.
The balance between the sides was evident even in the stands. Rarely has a
game begun in such a universal atmosphere of optimism as this one. In all parts
of the Emirates, everyone, visitor and regular alike, seemed to be wearing a
smile of expectation, happy just to be there to witness two brilliant sides in
opposition.
The only note of dissent was a protest at the presence of former Gunners chief
executive David Dein, once a local hero, but since his alliance with the Ukrainian
Alisher Usmanov, now regarded as the worst sort of hostile predator. Thousands
of orange balloons were released into the crowd, the colour seemingly a
reference to Dein's permatan. Most were burst within seconds. A neat metaphor
for much of the first half, which seemed bereft of air as the two sides squeezed
the space, cancelling out each other's attacking verve.
Things changed from the moment Wayne Rooney sent Ronaldo's near-post cross
into the net via various bits of Gallas. From then it became one of those matches
that has Alan Hansen on Match of the Day losing all contact with verbs. "Power,
pace, precision," he purred.
It had all three. And much else, including the epithet Arsene Wenger used to sum
up his team: character. It was the fight in his side that had seen them through,
something they will need in quantity when they head north in April for what is
likely to be the title decider, a fixture in which they will be looking to leave the
great home manager as angry as ever.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php