Well, let's be honest here. Decisions haven't gone our in previous games. United have performed really well both in the Premier League and Europe. Ahead of our Champions League clash with Chelsea next week, I honestly think Sir Alex Ferguson will hold some sort of meeting with all the players ensuring that they don't become frustrated over poor referee decisions. As we all know, we haven't won at Stamford Bridge since April 2002 and have had a number of debatable refereeing decisions go against us. From my point of view, not being able to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will surely give us the motivation boost in beating them. Ability-wise, we’re a good team. We played exceptionally well against Chelsea the last game and we were very, very unlucky. We didn’t deserve to lose to be honest. Sir Alex Ferguson is currently serving a 5 match touchline ban for comments he made about Martin Atkinson’s refereeing at Stamford Bridge. Communication is vital in Football. Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly have difficulties transferring crucial information to the players. Away from home we've been disappointing but then you have to say that maybe this league is getting tougher than we think and the top teams are not getting it as easy as they did in the past. We've often failed to impress on our travels and we all know that our squad must improve in order of achieving a record-breaking 19th league crown. I think that emphasises the strength of the league rather than the weakness of it. The run-in is always going to be difficult. It doesn’t matter where we play, whether it’s away or at home.
You have also had some debatable refereeing decisions go for you too so I don't see that this is an issue? You just came up short on the day! Ferguson's ban is well deserved, of course he has the right to voice any concerns about decisions that he thinks went against his side! No problems there whatsoever. What he has no right to do however is to question a referee's integrity because of these concerns. Quite frankly as a knight of the realm it shows a lack of class and dignity not becoming of an elder statesman of the game.
All SAF is doing now is exactly what Dalglish did before Liverpool played us at Anfield. Trying to raise that little bit of doubt in the referee's mind about debatable decisions going in favour of our opponents to try and make sure they don't in the next game. It worked for Liverpool with Carragher escaping a red card, maybe it'll work for us. That, and building the siege mentality amongst the players which has worked so well in tight run ins in the past. Either way, we don't need a win at SB to progress. I'd be perfectly happy with a 2-1 win to Chelsea just like in the league game - will set us up nicely for the return leg at OT. Should be a good tie, as long as Chelsea don't just go all out to defend and focus solely on avoiding conceding an away goal.
If Chelsea beat us fair and square I'll hold my hands up. But they have had more than the rub of the green against us in recent years. They've not beaten us without the aid of a major refereeing error since the Cup final of 2007, and though I am sure this is purely coincidential (we'll leave the conspiracies to the ABUs), it'd be nice to see a dodgy call in a United - Chelsea game go our way for a change
So SAF cannot question a referee's integrity but every other fan can question Howard Webb and question Man Utd's integrity over decisions?
Poor comparison swarbs. Fans are on here, in the pub, at work etc and can say what they like. He is the manager, he was on TV, and he was out of order.
SW6 my point is so what if SAF or any manager criticises a referee or questions their ability or indeed fairness? I thought there was free speech in the UK or has it been limited with regard to football managers? SAF got banned for saying 'You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway ââ¬â and we didnââ¬â¢t get that. I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst.ââ¬â¢ Other managers like Wenger warn the referees to be ready for hard tackling e.g Blackburn rugby tactics. By doing this they are attempting to influence the referee and in fact cheat. Is this not worse than what SAF did?
Don't draw your curtains tonight, I couldn't see anything yesterday, a complete waste of time...I even moved my tent to a more advantageous position. It's a very thermal russia proof tent btw
Yep, probably, but they don't do it on national TV whilst their club also backs the "respect" campaign...
No he can't! He is bound by the F.A rules which he signed up to and consequently has to follow them. A bit like your have to when you actually leave school and get a job your have to abide by your employers handbook.
I live on the 13th floor so you may be in for a long wait... Not really. You are fine to question the decisions of refs and their performance, but can't cast aspersions over their professionalism or integrity. Saying the ref got a decision wrong or had a bad game is not the same as saying a ref wasn't fair. SAF has been punished for the same offence as Babel was back in January, but he gets a higher punishment cos it's not his first time.
Yes they have and have been punished for it too! However as Fergie is a regular offender (actually worse as his got older) therefore his punishment is greater than those others.