Times: January can be declared an official period of moaning for managers, with the number of players potentially leaving their clubs to appear in the African Cup of Nations double the previous highest. A possible 44 players could be summoned to Ghana for five weeks in the new year, compared with 21 when the tournament was previously played two years ago, and the numbers add up to a big boost for Manchester United in the title race.
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Astonishingly, more people watched United draw with Arsenal than the World Cup Final last year.
Whilst Arsenal’s last-gasp equaliser and United’s defensive frailties caught the headlines after a thriller at the Emirates Stadium, Sir Alex would have been seen the game as conclusive proof that his team is on the road to silverware this season.
ISpy analyses the positives Fergie took from the match… → continue reading
Independent: Pundits and public alike may be gazing on Arsenal with doe-eyed admiration but Owen Hargreaves yesterday delivered a cold professional verdict on what he described as the Premier League leaders’ “so-called beautiful football”.
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Independent: Arsène Wenger narrows his eyes, folds his arms and says that he will never reveal exactly what happened on 24 October 2004 when Sir Alex Ferguson had pizza thrown at him by Wenger’s Arsenal players.
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Having scouted Arsenal for next Saturday’s humdinger, Fergie would have also been pleased to run an eye over Liverpool, United’s opponents in just over six weeks.
Here again, ISpy tries to imagine Fergie’s thoughts and feelings about the old enemy.
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Are Liverpool in danger of becoming a 21st century version of United during the 1980’s? Then, Ron Atkinson’s team was deadly if Bryan Robson was in the mood and uninjured. For Robson, read Steven Gerard circa 2007. He is so much the Liverpool talisman that he dwarfs all others and perhaps like Thierry Henry at Arsenal last year, stymies inadvertently the emergence of other players who can raise their game when the need arises.
Leaders were sorely needed against Arsenal, yet too many seemed shrivelled by the steady pumelling Arsenal inflicted. Liverpool’s sheer will power, Mascherano’s doggedness and some dark stunts by Carragher saw them home but not without a fright or two. The Liverpool side which gave Mourinho-powered Chelsea more than a game two months ago, looks to have been caught up in the sombre gloom of autumn. The vim of the football on show against Derby has gone. Renewal is needed.
The side’s indifferent form of late and the European stumbles have raised the volume on whispers suggesting Rafa Benitez may have what it takes to pilot the team through a cup competition but lacks the right stuff for a 38 game Premiership grind.
That view is surely premature. It must be remembered that Liverpool have not yet lost in the Premiership. United were turned over by Arsenal too last season, both home and away. The Gunners’ double counted for nothing in the end.
But hollow comforts should not blind the faithful to the fact that something is amiss. Sammy Hypia in defence looks like yesterday’s man. Liverpool don’t look the same team when Torres is not firing on all cylinders. What has happened to Dirk Kuyt? The injury to the in and out Pennant has robbed the side of wing supply. Is Yossi Benayoun really a Liverpool player?
Benitez’s side looks nothing like the vibrant, committed unit of early season. That form could return but with injuries to Torres and Alonso already threatening even more rotation, Liverpool may well find themselves trailing further and further in the slipstream of United and Arsenal by Christmas.
Yet, the despondency that has enveloped Liverpool as points have slipped away could be erased promptly by victory. The title is not won by beating the top three teams. It is fought for and decided in scuffles against the likes of Villa, Boro, Newcastle and Everton, so Liverpool should not be too downhearted. The point against Arsenal was an excellent result. No-one will remember the performance if Liverpool are crowned champions next year.
That however, remains in the words of former Scouse favourite Alan Hansen, a big ask.The hype bubble of early August has well and truly burst.
READ: Part One - What Fergie learned from the Liverpool-Arsenal draw
November is just around the corner and despite the frequent international breaks, a quarter of the season has already elapsed.
Absolutists,
Some crazy Gooners just cannot bring themselves to accept the irresistible logic of last year’s league table, nor the definitive argument presented by the Premiership trophy being in the Old Trafford cabinet room for another season. They still insist their players are the equal if not better than United’s.
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Sir Alex has tipped Arsenal to make a strong challenge for United’s title this season.
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Was Sir Alex deliberately belittling Liverpool by speaking publicly of the rising threat from Arsenal to United’s title?
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Mail: Sir Alex Ferguson has paved the way for a resumption of his rivalry with Arsene Wenger after marking out Arsenal as the main challengers to Manchester United’s Premier League crown.
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Redville
It’s seems like the most ridiculous statement to make about a team that has personified haughtiness over the last few years, but even this staunch red felt a little sorry for Chelsea at the weekend.
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According to the Guardian, United will lead the opposition to Avram Grant remaining as Chelsea boss, as he lacks the coaching licence usually demanded for the job.
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It’s not United…but trust me, this is priceless!
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Is there an upside for United following the parting of the ways between Jose Mourinho and Chelsea?
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Mail: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez’s complaints over the Premier League fixture scheduling and claimed clubs like his own are being punished for their success.
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It may only be mid-September but are United set for a defining week in their bid for Premiership and European success?
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