Something of a faux pas by Sir Alex Ferguson?
Rules are rules at football clubs and professional players are expected to stick by them otherwise they will be punished. But sometimes common sense has got to overrule and that is something that Sir Alex Ferguson may think about next time a key disciplinary decision is to be made.
On Boxing Day United sent out a clear message to their rivals Manchester City that they are still well and truly in the title race this season with a 5-0 victory over lowly Wigan. That result put the champion’s level on points with their city rivals and made the prediction of who will be crowned 2012 champions too hard to call. After the game the players were told to go home a recover before preparations for another winnable home game against troubled Blackburn began.
Later that night Wayne Rooney, Darren Gibson and Jonny Evans and their partners went out for a quiet meal in town for Christmas together and then shortly after went home. The reports suggested the players did not drink to excess or make a scene and simply went home after dessert. But Sir Alex was furious and fined each player a week’s wages, made them train on a day off and the key punishment was that they were dropped for the next game.
As we know the Red Devils went on to lose to Rovers at Old Trafford by three goals to two, with Evans and Rooney’s absent extremely noticeable. Javier Hernandez started up front but only lasted until half time and Michael Carrick had to play at centre half to replace Evans. Carrick did not look comfortable out of position and the three goals conceded were evidence of that. The lack of strike power was clear to see also as one of the most potent attacks in the division failed to score more than twice against one of the worst defences in the opening six months of the season.
If United had won the game, then they would be three points clear at the top of the Premier League going into the New Year, which could end up being vital come May. Their title defence is under real threat from the noisy neighbours this year and they could have put Mancini’s men under real pressure as the second half of the season begins.
Fergie must regret his harsh decision to ban the players and his pride may have taken over. But everyone knows he is the boss and not many players would mess with the gaffa after some of the hairdryer stories that have been heard in recent years. The fine would have been enough and everybody around Old Trafford would be a lot more confident going into Wednesday’s tough away game at Newcastle United.
Whether the legendary Sir Alex was on a power trip or he didn’t realise the cost of his decision, the return of Rooney and Evans will be noticeable this week and in future do not be surprised to see any similar incident treated ‘in house’ and kept extremely quiet after the embarrassment of Blackburn. It could end up being a huge mistake from the most successful manager of all time and one that hopefully will not cost the red half of Manchester in the long run.
Do you think Fergie was right to drop the players? Let me know below or on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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I am a South African fan of MU, SAF
should not have dropped any of the players as they were fined a weeks wages.
I was disppointed in the position of players in the team and the result.
This result will have a telling effect
come end of May 2012. one consolation in
that MAN CITY lost. we should not look for favours from others. one should be more considerate to fans making their
committment to watch their team play.
come SAF lets play the game to win.
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realist Reply:
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:04 pm
another fan that knows better than the boss, lol…..you guys are everywhere, truly embarrassing to be associated with fans like yourself!
its about sustained success, not winning one match at home to blackburn.
believe it or not but SAF just happens to know exactly how to achieve sustained success at our club….just in case you had not noticed! :s
as for being more considerate to fans making their committment to watching their team play, give me a break…..i think you need to consider yourself lucky that you have been fortunate enough to watch our great club with many great teams put back where we belong at the top of english football and at times european and world football too…..in no small doses, down to SAF…so please, do me a favour and shut your cake hole…or as the boss once said…do one, and go support chelsea!
god help us when SAF leaves, every man and his dog will be telling our new manager what their doing wrong….will be testing times for our club and our stupid…non intelligent fans will be one of our biggest problems.
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Evans is injured and was unavailable for that game anyway. Gibson wouldnt have got near the team. One of the under 12′s would have done as well as Gibson.
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if you think having one rule for some and not others is the way to run manchester united then that does not surprise me on one these blogs!
also evans was injured.
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Writters like brad n fans who disagree with SAF decision r pathetic n ignorant.if man u had defeated bburn then every single soul wud have praised sir alex for his decision 2 axe rooney.rooneys presence wud have given an option n balance to the team n not necessarily victory.remember he played in d 6-1 thrashing by city game as well.wat happened 2 rooney then.we lost against rovers coz we played poor game.N Above all remember no individual player no matter who is above the club like man utd.SAF was absolutely right.
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Sir Alex hopes to welcome Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs back into the fold for Wednesday’s clash at Newcastle.
The boss is looking for the option of adding more experience to his side after the shock home defeat to Blackburn and knows the Magpies will make life tough after holding the champions to a draw at Old Trafford in November.
With Manchester City missing out on the chance to extend their lead at the top when slipping up at Sunderland, Roberto Mancini’s men can still draw clear with victory against Liverpool on Tuesday.
So the Reds will be determined to return to winning ways and desperate to overcome some of the many injury problems that have been a feature of the campaign of late.
“Wayne Rooney will be available of course,” Sir Alex told SiriusXM. “We had a few training sessions which he missed. You’ve got to be fit to play in this league, you can’t miss training sessions.
“We’re trying hard to get Rio Ferdinand for Wednesday, and Ryan Giggs, which would make a good difference to us. Anderson should be better, he had 45 minutes on Saturday after four months out. There are no other ones to come back immediately
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you beat me to the article brad! I totally agree with you, and despite the people who don’t let’s face it if fergie could go back, he may still ban rooney but he would have 100% been in the team for the game. For totally different reasons avb has also cut off his nose to spite his face re alex and again is being punished for it.
Yes, show players who is boss, and even fine them, but not at the expense of the team. If mancini had done this to mad mario each time he stepped out of line pre match (especially the derby and setting his house on fire) how many points would city have dropped through missing his goals?
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Rebecca Knight Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 1:34 am
and when i say ban i mean fine lol
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:34 am
So what you are saying Sir Alex Ferguson is a liar.? Am I correct in you think that.?
I provided you with the ‘official’ club statement on why Rooney was not selected for the Blackburn game.Not some hearsay and nonesense you have read in a ‘newspaper’.The other United lads on the blog provided adequate reason as to why Jonny Evans did not play.
Possibly you did not read all the comments.Tisk tisk Rebecca.lol
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:36 am
I would expect two football fancast bloggers to stick together.No surprise there then.:)
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:39 am
Just for accuracy he was fined, a weeks wages. No not a ban!
Rebecca Knight Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
The fact that we are both bloggers for the same site has zero to do with it! The article is very well written, in my opinion correct and if I am honest something I would have written if Brad hadn’t beaten me to it!
Brad Pinard Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 9:25 am
It is hard for some people to take criticism towards someone who has done so much good work at a club. He was dropped because he went out, no other reason and that could well have cost United the three points. Hopefully for you United ‘fans’ it won’t be too costly come May.
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Its hard for people to understand, they have been proven wrong, read what I provided?
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Rebecca Knight Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
its alright the ‘fans’ will be on their way to the shop to buy a city shirt anyway! or they could get their chelsea ones out of the bin lol
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Do you suffer from Aspergers syndrome, you display all the signs.?
It’s not a faux pas but a blunder of major proportions. SAF is increasingly showing signs of age-related indescretions. I dare say SAF is not the same anymore and perhaps time he handed over the reins to a younger man sharpish. This loss to Blackburn was unacceptable and the main cause was Rooney’s absence due to silly and stupid act by SAF to “punish” his best hope of any kind of success this season.
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Brad Pinard Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 9:25 am
Very well put.
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 10:34 am
Tring know one expects less of you, spreading negativity and anti United drivel around the net. Remind us Tring, were you recently banned bye Chudi of the Busby way,for the self same thing?
Tell us the truth Tring?
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Well Mr Tring, have the courage of your convictions? ohhhh wait, thought not!
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I am not a fan of Manchester United or any team that can challenge them but against all the odds Fergie does make mistakes and he made one last week by being too harsh on a petty crime. He may well be the best manager of all time, but with the state of the United bench that day, he has to take some of the blame for that defeat.
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 10:37 am
You had benifts of hours to complete your blog.I am a United fan as I have proven before, on football fancast.
Research your work, before you post about United.Plus I write my ‘own’ blogs.Sir.
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I would love to further chew the ‘old’ Cud with you guys.It was fun while it lasted.Shame you thought I just post and dont defend my corner.
The statement I posted was from the ‘official’ club web site.!
If you think Sir Alex Ferguson is a liar, fine.Say that.?
I will make sure he recieves your commnts. Touche.
Over and out. 10/10
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Brad Pinard Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:13 am
We all have the right to our opinion, I believe Sir Alex did not want to make the incident a public matter so said Rooney was not fit. He looked fine for the twenty minutes or so against Wigan; where he was rested for the Blackburn game!
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:04 am
I do as I opted to use it.
At no point you will note I insulted you.As you I believe have insulted the manager, bye basically calling him a liar.I have had my fill of this subject.
I provided the ‘facts’ as he described it not some Faux pas. As you elude to.
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RedScot Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Just to make you look more ridiculous Sir.When was the Wigan game of which he played some few minutes.Boxing day. Which evening did he and Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans go out.Boxing day evening.
He playing on Boxing day has no relevance.He could not train in preparation for the Blackburn game.Full stop.
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Brad Pinard Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
He did train in the week and he was forced to come in on a day off due to the punishment.Rooney has accepted the fine and other punishment.
I think you like me Brad. lol.
I never said he did not train, if you read what I posted.
He did not have the correct amount of training in preparation for the game.
At United we have monitors on the players at Carrington while they are training to establish heart rate, running distances etc etc.If the manager says as do the fitness personnel, that he was not at the correct level to compete in a Premiership game.I cannot see how you cannot grasp that simple fact.
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