Nov 04
Gallas Bundles It Over As Wenger’s Kids Go Wild
There is a reason why I take a while before posting a match report. It certainly is belated as I am sure, by now, reams of papers might have been written discussing the happenings on the pitch yesterday in the top of the table clash.
It’s all simple, really. Had I written this yesterday I might have said tons of things that I might regret sometime in the future. It is alright to rant your mouths off. But a little restraint always helps, doesn’t it? Although I wonder if I would have ever managed to write anything yesterday given the mood I was in. But I digress. So where was I? Ah yes! Football Manager 2008 The match report!
The game dubbed as a classic didn’t quite live up to its billing in the purest sense of the term classic. It wasn’t as eventful as the ones of the past. Sure, the scoreline suggested that four goals were scored and surely it was much better than the snorefests that were Chelsea United or Liverpool United encounters of late. But the free flowing nature came about in spurts and there was enough action to give a sense of satisfaction to the neutral.
To make this longish report readable, I will split this into sections.
Tactical Approach
I wondered prior to the game whether Fergie would go conservative on this one. It did seem logical given it was an away fixture against a team playing good football. But thankfully he persisted with his trusted 4-4-2 with Anderson in the centre along with Hargreaves. Giggs came in the place of Nani, while Evra came back from injury. The move was brave and was a statement of intent. Arsenal went with their customary 4-4-1-1 where Hleb played behind Adebayor.
Anderson
The tactics were spot on to start with but I was really impressed with Anderson. Sure the histrionics part was deplorable and disgraceful — Fabregas mimicking was one of the funniest moments of the game. But he stood up and wanted to prove that he could mix it with Wenger’s young men. He demanded the ball with his tackles and the moment I heard boos coming out from the crowd whenever he had the ball I knew that we have a new hate figure in our midst. And I just felt myself liking him more.
What I don’t get is the double standards and the fuss made out of Anderson asking the referee to give a yellow card. Just because he wasn’t all too fluent in English and in order to overcome the communication gap he was forced into gesturing for a yellow card. Gerrard did that a few weeks ago against Everton, when Tony Hibbert’s supposed yellow got magically upgraded to a red card with some kind words to the ref from the redoubtable Liverpool captain. John Terry and his merry band of Blue bullies subjected referees to their choicest words in cajoling them into making decisions during the Mourinho days.
But if a foreigner ever was to gesture for a yellow (in the case of Anderson) or red (as in the case of Ronaldo in the world cup) they suddenly become villains. While I don’t condone players influencing referees I can’t stand double standards as far as judging players for these kind of actions goes.
Defence
While we maintained our focus in defence we were sloppy at times and had to finally pay for our mistakes. Arsenal’s first goal was a product of giving away possession too easily. The fact that it was off a throw-in in their half that ultimately led to their goal itself was hard to take. Plus, by allowing them to score so early in the second half after having scored in the death of the first, we only squandered our initiative.
Their second goal was more about allowing Clichy to ghost past players with the ball and send in the cross. There wasn’t really much that could be done about that apart from maintaining concentration in the dying minutes. But there were other glaring errors in defending that were left unpunished. John O’Shea missing a header leaving Eduardo blasting over was just one of them.
Chances
We had two genuine gilt-edged chances that went begging; Rooney’s header, when he thought the goal was a several hundred miles to the right of where it actually was and Ryan Giggs who went extremely close to goal to a Ronaldo cross but failed to get it on target as well as a shot from the edge of the box that wasn’t hit on target, as he himself admitted in the post-match interview.
The Referee
I thought Howard Webb had a very good game. Vidic’s shirt pulling aside, Rosicky fell too easily. Rosicky again fell easily to Brown’s push in the build up to our first goal. There wasn’t much of a foul when Arsenal scored too. Plus, Hargreaves’ handball was too much to expect from the ref who actually had a good look at the incident. And of course, the linesman, who did an excellent job of spotting the goal. It would be unfair if the goal was not given as then we would have had to put up with tiring accusations from bitter Gooners about how we paid off the linesman or such like.
SAF’s Moan
I found Fergie’s moan a little funny. It was unfair of him to criticise the referee for actually doing a decent job. The bit about swearing from fans was a little too much, wasn’t it? I mean, don’t fans do that usually in away games? I understand that he might have felt gutted at the manner of the result, but a little restraint might have helped, wouldn’t it? See what I mean when I say I restrain myself a bit to collect my thoughts before blurting out crap that I would regret saying? No? Nevermind.
And saying that they lumped the ball up to get the goal was a little hollow too. When something is wrong, you must call it. And I had to disagree with all that he said today.
Players
I felt Tevez, for all his work, was mostly kept quiet. Rooney was in and out and made good runs. Ronaldo, despite his assist and goal, was found wanting in the big games and Anderson has continued to be a revelation in the side. While he didn’t make too many of the killer passes that he made in the earlier games he showed enough courage while tracking back and making those tackles. Hargreaves was average, but again, he is still far from full fitness. Giggs scuffed up two efforts and wasn’t spectacular despite doing reasonably well.
Arsenal’s Celebrations
There has been much made about in various United message boards about the manner of the celebrations and how disgraceful it might feel to celebrate a draw at home against a fellow title contender. I beg to disagree on this. I really don’t see why there is so much that’s being made out of this. Arsenal scored a goal to save them from defeat in the last minute. Wouldn’t the adrenaline flow at that moment? Wouldn’t the players feel chuffed to hell with their comeback from certain defeat? The celebrations were spur of the moment stuff. That is all.
Final word
It was a game that we threw away. More than that, a victory would have severely dented their confidence. Them scoring a late goal ensured that they felt like they had won it. The sense of euphoria would send their confidence sky high. I wouldn’t be too worried about the result, although with the draw we had just given fresh hope to Chelski who are now snapping at our heels being three points behind. There were positives, of course. Us coming so close to getting three points at the Emirates itself was a major psychological boost whether the Gooners spot that or not. Although it might be terribly deflating to see the ball cross the line at the 92nd minute.
Blackburn, next week, beckons. They have nicked points off three of the top four and they look threatening. It is essential that we manage to beat them. Speaking of which, the most satisfying result of the day was Liverpool drawing, again. So what are the odds that Rafa gets the sack? I honestly hope they persist with him… for obvious reasons, of course!
Related items from Red Rants:
Tags: Match Reports
The_Philosopher (481)
Redrich (252)
Opti (215)
Stephen (187)
Moscow (150)
That is the funniest thing I have read in a while. You, Grognard, are concerned about posting what you think about this article because it would make your post too long. You are worried about writing too much?!
I for one would be more than interested in hearing what exactly you think is innaccurate in this article and why it is not objective.
Like?
0 
0
JB; I’ll do that for you but a bit later as I need to go back and read again so I can write down the points. Remember now, this time it is you who won’t put it to bed. My last post was not directed to you so I thought our disagreement on Riquelme was over. Nevertheless, I will get back to you on it. And I do see the humor of my wanting to not write too long a post.
Like?
0 
0
OK JB; here comes my rebuttal to the article you so often cling to as your definite history on the career and life of Juan Roman Riquelme. I will offer the quotes in quotation marks and brackets and then my reply to make it easier to follow.
1. (“His coach has grown tired of his caprices and insists he lacks commitment, his president has attacked him in public, and his team-mates loudly claim they’re backing him all the way, only to take a rather less effusive turn when the microphones are switched off.”)
So if the microphones are turned off they are supposed to go dancing in the streets showing their support for the player. Naturally people are more effusive when they are not in front of a microphone.
2. (“He’s won nothing since coming to Spain and isn’t going to, either. After 3½ years at his dream club, the end is in sight – and it’s a bitter end too, full of recrimination and regret.”)
The man almost single handedly resurrected bottom feeder Villarreal,and made them the trendiest and most fashionable side in Spain besides the big two. The “Yellow Submarine” elevated their play and their position in the standings and also played exceptionally well in European competition. Also, to blame him for not having one anything in 3.5 years with a team that was originally nothing is not just unfair, it’s unjust considering how much he helped elevate their play and position. Last time I heard, the game was an 11 man operation. One man cannot do it alone. Christ he helped Forlan look better than he is.
3. (“Never mind that he’s bored to tears and deep down probably wants them to lose, it’s his job to get excited, to get nervous and to get seen. To prove that he is committed, really.”)
What a load of total rubbish and tabloid conjecture. This hack has no idea what Riquelme is thinking when he is in the stands. Has anybody even considered the fact that he could have been showing support for his teammates? My God this writer wants to be a mind reader and you but into his BS.
4. (“No club in the world would leave Riquelme out,” insists team-mate Diego Forlán and the last time a Villarreal coach clashed with the Argentinian it cost him his job.”)
That’s correct. What team in their right mind would leave him out. And the coach was an idiot who deserved the sack because he could not see how leaving Riquelme alone like you leave a Maradona alone is best for the player’s personal growth as well as the team’s. When you have an artist you don’t force to paint by numbers. The player is an artist with vision. Don’t put blinders on him and force him into a defensive role which he is unaccustomed to.
5. (“When Benito Floro asked Riquelme to arrive half an hour early to work on an injury, he turned up 20 minutes later and ignored the physios, making a point of doing the ground staff’s job instead – sweeping the floor before theatrically polishing his boots until it was time to join the others. When he repeated the trick three days later and the coach said he’d leave him out, Riquelme rang the club’s director general and demanded to play. A divide opened and before long, Floro was the ex-coach.”)
A little childish rebellion that was blow in to complete anarchy. The man is a free spirit that doesn’t like ridiculous, restrictive rules that are unreasonable. He showed up 20 minute late. Big deal. What about all the players who miss practices all together or who sulk like Berbatov is presently doing? The man is an Argentine and culturally they are not people who like to be bullied or forced to do anything. Especially with his South American Indian roots and his poor family upbringing. Albeit I could see how this could still be a problem but a god coach would have handled better.
6. (“When he stepped up to take that penalty against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final last season, you knew he would miss. It was like he was staring into the abyss, which, as it turns out, he was.”)
What an absolute ridiculous and inflammatory thing to say without being able to back it up
with a shred of evidence. SHOCKING!!!!!
7. (“retiring from the Argentina squad and scoring just once for Villarreal. The slow-motion genius is half the player he was; these days, he’s just slow. It’s like he has given up, at 28.”)
My God what an asshole this guy is. Last time I saw not only was Riquelme playing for Argentina, he should have won World Player of the Year for his performance in the COPA. He didn’t look like a player who had given up and his skills were never more beautiful. And his pace although not quick is not a hindrance whatsoever. Also, his recent play in the two 2010 World Cup Qualifiers was out of this world. His manager Basile has called him a Gift from the Gods. Boy has this idiot got all his facts wrong or what?
8. (“When he pulled out of the Argentinian squad this summer, he said it was because his mother was getting ill with the stress.?”)
So now we are to condemn players for leaving due to personal family reasons like sick mothers? God help us! The man’s mother was ill. Even on the chance it was a lie and he just needed time to reevaluate his situation, who has any proof that it was false? And as it turned out Basile and Argentina welcomed him back with open arms. In fact I have seen film and photos of him in practice situation as well as game situations where his teammates seem to not only respect him but love him.
9. (“Riquelme is a difficult, introverted character, porcupine-prickly, a man who needs constant reassurance and has to live entirely on his own terms, who utterly lacks the normal trappings of vanity but is vain nonetheless.”)
And so am I and I would challenge anyone who tells me I have to be different. We are all products of our upbringing and environment. This is how he copes. Respect it.
10. (“They surrounded him with Argentinians, said nothing when he brought a plane-load of friends over from Don Torcuato, never questioned his “injuries”, and turned a blind eye when he didn’t fancy training.”)
And Beckham, Maradona, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo (Brazil)haven’t had their entourage of family, friends and employees follow them and party with them. So now having money and living your life with gusto is a crime. Then lock up David Beckham now.) HYPOCRISY AND JEALOUSY AT IT’S FINEST
11. (“They also allowed him to travel back to Argentina for the birth of his son. And he didn’t even say thanks.”)
According to who? I want sources. In fact I want sources to all this man’s bullshit. Now the man hasto be polite in order to go see his son as if he has nothing else more pressing on his mind. JEEZ THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO EEVNE HAVE TO DEFEND THE MAN.
12. (“Saturday night watching Villarreal play Sevilla from the stands. Riquelme looks pensive! Riquelme bites his lip! Riquelme puts his head in his hands! Riquelme does nothing in particular!”)
You know JB, if I used my camera to take a picture of myself while watching many 0-0 games, I would look the very same way, and so probably would you and millions of others. But I guess it’s not allowed if your name is Riquelme.
Sorry mate but this writers looking glass is smudged with shiteand his article is also shite. Realize it and accept it.
Like?
0 
0
Seriously Grognard? You’re comparing Maradona, one of the best players ever, to Riquelme? Alright he takes brilliant free kicks, and he has unbelievable passing ability, but so did Beckham, at best i’d put him in th esame category of Paul scholes at his best, they both do the same thing for their teams, they make them tick, but Riquelme isn’t similar to Maradona in playing style or ability. And theres no way you really believe he should have won the World Player of the Year award for a good performance in a fairly mediocre cup? Now I watched it as well, and he was the best player there by a mile, but other than Mexico and Brazil no other team could have really challenged them, so you can’t win World Player of the Year by just doing that. And don’t forget that he also couldn’t get into Barcelona’s team for the very same reasons, so why should coaches have to put up with him? Footballs a team game and lazy players deserve to sit on the bench, fair enough Brazilians go out and party regularly before training but they are known to be hard workers, when they’re not hungover, Riquelme never has tried to do anything for anyone but himself and I’m sorry but he’s just not of the same class as Maradona or many others.
And although I agree that the article does lack quotes and sources, and it’s slightly biased, we don’t know if he really did or didn’t do these things so don’t defend him if no-one really knows the truth about him.
Like?
0 
0
So here is my take on your problems with the article.
1. So you agree with point the article makes, the players were less effusive when the microphones are off.
2. The article is correct he has won nothing, it didn’t blame him though (also the start of the article is written in a way so it can be read as either Beckham or Riqueleme) .
3. Most likely is conjecture or an educated guess, doesn’t play a big role in the article though.
4. So you agree with the article then, good to see you have no problem. (BTW would you like a source for the quote, or because it is good thing does it not require validation?)
5. So once again the article does not actually pass judgment it report the incident, which you agree with.
6. That is not something you can give evidence for. But I watched the game in the pub and there was no one backing him to score that penalty. I remember the distinct impression of feeling like it was watching a car crash in slow motion. However in case the reader wished to make his own judgment the article kindly provided a Youtube link for the incident.
7. Check the date on the article, it was written in January before his recall for Argentina. If you are going to insult the integrity and professionalism of a journalist at least do it in context. Boy has this idiot got all his facts wrong or what?
8. No, the article doesn’t offer a judgment, it makes a statement. The accusation is one generated by your own feeling that this article is launching an attack on Riqueleme
9. Once again the article is giving background to the situation, not passing judgment. It is you who are passing judgment.
10. I would have thought the more serious acquisitions were faked injuries and missing training, no? Obviously the suggestion he brought friends over is a more serious breach of club conduct.
11. So you are satisfied that the source is valid whe it said that he traveled back to Argentina for his son’s birth but not when it says he didn’t say thanks. HYPOCRISY AT IT’S FINEST Also I would consider a thank you a common courtesy in the situation.
12. Hardly plays that big a role in the article does it now and at any rate body language on the bench can be revealing (see Berbatov).
Now if you would kindly review my above posts you will notice I have not passed judgment here on Riquelme. That was not the issue at hand. The issue was the undermining of the information I provided, for the reader to digest and interpret as they wish. The article presented the background to the fall out, but neither supports or condemns it. The one passing judgment and reading the article with preconceived notions is you.
It is also worth mentioning that Sid Lowe had frequently waxed lyrical about Riqueleme in his blogs during 05/06 and has shown no evidence of an axe to grind. Once again note that the only thing I have said on Riqueleme in this comment thread is that on his day he is the best in the world. I also see that the article received no credit for highlighting Riquelme’s immense contributions to Villareal in the 2005/06 season.
“No, not David Beckham. Juan Román Riquelme. The Argentinian with the deep eyes, the wonderful touch and the happy-go-lucky charm of Eeyore at a wake, is no more. The man who topped the assists charts, scored 12 and had the league’s second best average rating last season can’t get a game these days.â€
You have called in the question the writer competence and independence, called his article ‘shite’, question my assertation on his reliability, questioned the ability, courage and conviction of the Villareal manager and the integrity of the club itself because they all do not agree with your view on Riqueleme. Disagree if you wish, but your earlier complaints of personal assassination sound hollow coming from the master assassin himself.
Like?
0 
0
JB; Calling me the master assassin is fine. But it’s clear to me that you just don’t get it. I give up. I am not conceding defeat, I just give up. After a while it just gets boring bashing your head against a concrete wall. I honestly expected you to make some valid points and stop twisting everything I say around to suit your purposes. Your description of the penalty he missed is just so wrong on so many levels. The man has always looked like that when he takes penalties. Perhaps if you had watched as many games with Riquelme as I have you would know this. And twisting around my points to make it seem that I was agreeing with you and the writer is also pretty low mate. The quotes I provided pretty well defend my argument very strongly. I honestly don’t know on what side of the political spectrum you sit on but with thinking like this and with agreeing with Sid Lowe you are showing right wing leanings. You and he are judge jury and executioner. I honestly expected a little more from you on this one despite my preconceived notions. You’ll argue a lost cause like George W Bush. Yes I am a bleeding heart liberal but there seems to be a lot more fair play in what I say. If that means I have to attack the integrity of a writer whom I believe to be wrong on titanic level, then so be it. You should know that in today’s tabloid journalism (and that’s the kind of paper the Guardian is) one shouldn’t always believe what is written.
The author praises Riquelme for his work last season and then goes out and calls him slow lazy and basically washed up at 28. Then Riquelme shows everybody the truth at the COPA and ever since. The man sits watching a game in the stands, not the bench and his inner thoughts are exposed. What a load of rubbish. Now Lowe is also a mind reader. The article is one of the worst examples of character assassination I have read in a long time. No substantiated sources just thoughts based on personal observations and innuendo. Total fabrication and you, a smart, seemingly educated man buy into it like it’s a true confession. Hell, JB you even defended that drunken ass who broadcasts his venom and puts down everything United due to his bitterness about Roy Keane His name escapes me at present). Trust me when I say that an idiot like that would not even be put on the air here except as a comedy bit for comic relief. He speaks volumes for the state of British journalism today. I guess it’s fair to say that in this debate I played the defense attorney while you played the prosecution. In law, two differing viewpoints can come out from one single piece of evidence. That’s what appears to be happening here.
I’m sorry that I have such a passion about defending this man but for me he is a genius and an artist supreme. He transcends the moniker of a WORLD CLASS player. He’s more than that. Maradona, Pele and perhaps Cruyff, Puskas and Beckenbauer are the only other players who come to mind that can be placed on that pedestal. There is something very very special about them and they were all very eccentric on the field too and in some cases off the field as well. Beckenbauer for one always looked like he was in slow motion and lazy to some. History tells us differently. In many interviews both he and Cruyff sounded like they didn’t care. Cruyff often battled his coaches and quit on them and his national side because he wouldn’t get his way. Today he is looked upon by the Dutch, Spaniards and the world as a living God. That is the power a player artistic majesty has on the world. And lets not even get in to Diego Maradona.
Sid Lowe. That was the name of Napoleon’s jailer on St Helena. Irony of the highest order as Napoleon for all his weaknesses was also a man greatly misunderstood and unfairly judged without trial and jury. His talents and contributions ignored and only his mistakes magnified to suit other’s ambitions. THE MIND WARBLES! YOU JUST DON’T GET IT, so lets just let it rest. I obviously just don’t get your argument either so I guess you can reverse these feelings in my direction if it makes you feel better. Again, not an attack on you but on a specific viewpoint that we both are passionately differing in opinion.
Like?
0 
0
I’m not going to reply to most of that because it is the usual smoke and mirror guff you come out with to cloud the issue at hand. The article does not judge Riquelme, it provides context to the breakdown in relations between Villareal. Not once does the writer pass judgement on the player or condemn him. It reports what happens (with some minor conjecture on what Riquelme was thinking in the stand) and lets the reader make their own call if the call Pellegrini made was appropriate. That is all, I want people to read the article and make their own decision. You seem incapable of letting that happen and attempt to discredit everyone and anything that dares to look upon Riquelme negatively.
As for my so called character assassination, I’ve have made a specific point of not expressing my views on Riquelme in this thread. All I have said was that there was two sides to Riquelme the player and person, he is the best in the world on his day and I expressed my opinion on the penalty incident against Arsenal, nothing more. Surely that doesn’t amount to an assassination does it?
Errors:
The commentator you refer to is not part of the British media and nor would he ever get the opportunity. The Irish and British media are completely separate entities and the activities of one are of little consequence to the other.
The Guardian is the most left wing of the British newpapers and is a broadsheet not a tabloid.
Sir Hudson Lowe, was the British governor of St Helena.
Sid Lowe’s political leanings are left wing (though not extremely) and mine are central.
Like?
0 
0
“Not once does the writer pass judgement on the player or condemn him”. JB give me a bloody break! You are correct about one thing and I am truly ashamed and embarrassed to admit to it because I am an expert on Napoleonics. It was Sir Hudson Lowe and not Sidney Lowe. Sydney Lowe was a professional basketball player in the 70′s. I had a minor brain drain there although, I’m sure yoa are of the belief that I have one when writing all my views.
Still, I do feel that writers like Lowe and people that judge him before hearing his side (which may never come out) have vilified him much like Napoleon. Right now Riquelme is residing in his own Elba. That means he is good for at least one more battle and hopefully it won’t be his Waterloo. I guess that makes his Villarreal final days similar to the long march home from Russia in 1812. God I love using historical analogies. Forgive me, I can’t help myself.
Like?
0 
0
[Grognard]
I found your debate with JB quite engrossing but let me interject here for once; Sid Lowe is actually a good writer. He is the Guardian’s La Liga correspondent, so to speak. He is probably as keen an observer of the Spanish league and its various elements. So I would expect a certain authority of him when he does talk about prominent personalities. Of course, I do expect some level of conjecture and the occasional rubbish from even journalists on the Guardian. Cue: My earlier ‘assault’ on Daniel Taylor.
Sid Lowe writes in weekly to talk about happenings in the La Liga to educate the British viewers who are usually preoccupied with the EPL and don’t have time for other leagues. So he may tend to oversimplify some issues. But you have to grant him that. I have read him quite a bit and rank him only next to Phil Ball among the journalists who cover the La Liga.
About Riquelme, you must realize that for a person as gifted as him, who has done brilliantly for Villarreal he must have surely done something so damaging as to be left out in the cold. Being a player is one thing. But if you are disruptive beyond repair, and if the manager still plays second fiddle to the player then he would be undermined in the eyes of his other players. We do not know what exactly transpired between them. So let us not dwell on that.
Point is good managers place the team above the player. As the old cliche goes, no one is bigger than the club. SAF kicked out Becks because he disapproved of his lifestyle. Wenger would never tolerate it if a player, however great he may be, put his demands above all.
And just to let it be known, Atletico Madrid rejected Riquelme at the last moment because their coach too thought that he might be a big risk. Leave aside the sources for the moment. But there in Spain, where well networked agents and other people might have had first hand accounts of Riquelme. Surely, there has to be something wrong. Or else why wouldn’t anyone look to buy a player of his kind?
Like?
0 
0
That’s a fair point, why in the summer were the type of clubs linked for him Spurs, Everton, Atletico Madrid, Man City and Boca rather than Milan, Barca and Madrid. I think you believe I have more of a downer on Riquelme than I do. I think he has a lot of baggage and issues and for a club of our size and stature we really can live without the hassle and disruption (both playing and personality wise). However I believe he would be a worthy gamble for a mid table club with higher aspirations like establishing themselves in the CL spots (say a Zaragoza or a Blackburn) as bother he brings would be worth it to these clubs given the potential rewards.
Like?
0 
0
Red Ranter; Those are fine well thought out points but for me it doesn’t excuse Lowe’s neglect of backing his facts and not using conjecture to make his points. The article just rubbed me wrong, not because I love Riquelme but because I am an advocate of fair play and objective journalism.
You are absolutely right to claim that something has to be radically wrong for no Spanish team to not want to touch him. What he did was cross the line that no player should ever cross with his coach. He probably did disrespect his manager and he probably did show a complete disrespect for the rules of the club and for authority but despite his crime, there has to be something that was said or done to him to drive him to that. He has a side that needs to be heard before judge jury and executioner prevail.
He’s not alone when it comes to players rebelling against their managers. Beckham never rebelled but both he and Ruud van Nistelrooy did enough to poison their relationship with Fergie. Over the years the truth has come out and it is plain to see that although the club is the most important thing, Fergie was wrong in his treatment of Beckham and he probably made a mistake in the way he reacted towards a fine and loyal servant like Ruud. Beckham was fingered by Fergie simply on the basis of his wife and his lifestyle. They had lost a game to Arsenal in the FA Cup and Fergie blew his stack. He was wrong. Beckham has always shown that he never lets his personal life or the distractions of those trappings affect his performance on the field. But if Fergie thinks it does, it does. Bottom line in football is that the manager doesn’t have to be right because in all places other than Chelsea, he is king.
Finally I’ll put the Riquelme affair to sleep by saying that Riquelme hasn’t always rebelled and if a good manager/coach gets to know him he will, he will find that the player will work his ass off for him. They just need to understand that he cannot play a system that shackles his skills and frustrates his vision and artistic efforts. Just ask what a Argentina manager Basile and the coach of Boca Juniors think of him. Perhaps the best thing for Riquelme is to play where he is most happy and content. That’s in Argentina, where most of the country think he is the second coming of the Christ. Clearly Spain has been a poison pill for him and Italy would be too, because in those leagues, the club manager’s have incredible ego’s as as well as incredible pressure to win. They can’t tolerate a free spirit and artist who beats to his own drum. But what music he performs. When I watch that man make a free kick or a through ball it’s complete ecstasy. It’s better than sex. O so maybe it’s not better than sex but it’s close. On that account I’ll defend him to my dying day because to deny an artist from plying his craft is second to spitting on one’s religious convictions.
Like?
0 
0
A superb match report and unbiased as ever.
I must agree with your comments on Anderson who was almost villified for his gestures while others are given a small mention at the bottom of the page.
The game itself was a true spectacle – the 2nd half particularly – and showed why these two are the best in the league, by a country mile.
Anyone else see anybody but United and Arsenal in the title race for the long haul?
Like?
0 
0