Are United Punching Above Their Weight? …
In lowering the bar of expectation by two trophies, Sir Alex has moved deliberately to ensure United’s season ends with a bang and not a whimper.
“There is a possibility we can win a major trophy, with an immense amount of luck we can win three,” he revealed. “But if we win the league I will be quite happy with that.”
Sir Alex is no Ally MacCleod but after the fireworks against Roma, even the famously hard-to-please Scot might have indulged in a little more triumphalism. Yet with Middlesbrough in town with nothing to play for and holding a grudge, the manager’s caution seems wise.
Sir Alex insists that he always knew United would come good after a difficult and somewhat prolonged transition but the team is clearly punching above its weight. Who would have predicted the drubbing of Roma after the mugging at Arsenal last January?
Equally, it is not so long ago that Ferguson was flailed and not hailed for fielding extras in the first team. With Louis Saha wrapped in plasters, whom among the fans would now agree that Alan Smith is better suited to fighting Cardiff’s corner at Queens Park Rangers this weekend? The Euro-formation with Rooney on the wing is only a nightmare for Italians now.
United are on the verge of unlikely success because of a manager burning with renewed ambition, six first-teamers sustaining their form throughout the season and the evolution of a strong team spine and spirit. Rio Ferdinand has played to his full potential at last, whilst Michael Carrick has improved to the point where he can claim to be a goal-scoring midfielder. Ronaldo has consistently scaled peaks not seen by a United player since the 1990’s. Even Wayne Rooney, reckoned by many to be enjoying a less than satisfying season, has still weighed in with 20 goals.
And yet, over the next four weeks, a mistake, bad luck, an ill-timed injury, fatigue or lack of form could rob Sir Alex and his team of their greatest footballing triumph. No wonder that in advance of the game against Middlesbrough, the manager was at pains to recount again the idiocy of George Boateng’s comment that Ronaldo’s trickery would see him “get hurt.”
“It was very provocative and I am surprised the FA didn’t write to Boateng about it,” Ferguson confessed. “I don’t think Cristiano will be too bothered but it has set a different tone tomorrow, which could be a problem. I am fearing the worst about what could happen. There is a paranoia about the boy and I think Middlesbrough will be aggressive tomorrow. We have important games coming up and I don’t think they will be messing around.”
The manager was speaking to the assembled press corp in general and to the match referee in particular. It was a particularly cute move which should see Ronaldo afforded added protection. Following United’s recent streak of losing a defender a game and after Sheffield United’s collective efforts to remove Ronaldo’s shirt and Alan Smith’s shorts, the manager’s thinly veiled request for strong refereeing could not have been better timed. AU
