From what I can tell (feel free to tell me if I’m wrong) the blog is focussing on the ridiculous amount of criticism Fergie has got coming from the back of the Fulham game and for the formation. The blog is addressing that point and defending Fergie for the flak he’s getting in the wake of it.

Choosing to go 3-5-2 for one game with the personnel we have was a mistake. However it was a judgment call, yes it was wrong, but it doesn’t make Fergie a bad manager.

Have we stopped playing the United way? The football wasn’t as fluent last season. Anyone can accept that. Was it Ferguson’s fault? You could level some of the blame at him. He pushed to keep Ronaldo and he pushed to get Berbatov. Both, for different reasons, seemed to make our play a little fragmented last season.

Is there any doubt that the spirit exists? I can’t accept that, look at the Villa and Spurs games in the run in last season, the way we never gave up against City.

The “fast flowing” cavalier style that you (and I, for that matter) loved to see is clearly not shown that much. Maybe in blasts from Rooney and Valencia. However you can’t just replace the best player in the world and expect the quality of football to be the same, we saw last season that even keeping him didn’t guarantee the best football to watch.

Does the club care for its fans? Does any these days? It’s a sad time in football in general at that point.

Regarding the players – you can’t be serious regarding the Cech/Robben – Chelsea threw cash at them! We had Robben all but signed, it’s not the clubs fault and nor can you blame the player to want more money. Whatever we did Chelsea would throw more money. With Cech, I’m not that bothered. Has van der Sar really been such a let down? Has there been anything at all over the last 3 years to suggest Cech is even better than Edwin? Essien, yes, the one that got away, but that’s money again.

I can’t accept that Drogba/Anelka/Arshavin would have been better value than the ones we’ve brought in. First of all it’s incomparable respectively; second of all we’ve won more trophies than anyone else domestically in the last 3 years.

Personally I would say that even though it’s clear we need players Fergie is doing the right thing by not just throwing money away. We’re not in a terrible position are we? The fact that we’re in the position we’re in and we’re still lamenting results that have been thrown away shows that we’re still doing pretty good, he’s making us compete and not being held to ransom in the transfer market.

I hope we do sign re-inforcements but I’m willing to be patient – look how Obertan was getting absolutely ridiculed from all corners of the press who couldn’t believe we’d paid £3m for him. We only had to wait a couple of months for Fergie’s faith to be justified (at least in the short term).

::
Endless, pointless, intriguing…
all at once.

::
complains, moans, groans,
the horrors of losing one
two and a couple of game;
endless questions.

::
Yet,
It takes one moment,
or one player’s seizure-
in time, space, skill and vision,
that flows abound,
on the green patches, pitch.
:::
And the pitch, changes,
long enough,
before the intricate,
the beauty of the game,
in loss,
magnified in victory,
begins to change.

::
all over again;

:::
The football fan’s madness;
Only those who know,
know.

Players I would have liked to come in – Berba wouldn’t have been one of them mate. I would have pushed to get Fernando Torres when we could have had him, and long before the scousers got him. I think we could have had, and SHOULD have had Essien. We had him on our books trialling at OT as a young lad, but again let him slip thru the net. We could have got him before money bags Abramovitch, but we let Chelsea in. Peter Cech wanted to come to us, we didn’t buy him. How did we let Chelsea get Robben, I mean we HAD HIM almost signed? For the sake of a few bob extra we let Chelsea get their mits on him. I like Gourcoff – but United won’t get him. I like Sweinsteiger – I love watching him play – great player for Germany too. Drogba and Anelka both would have come to us, and so would Arshavin etc. They would have been better value than all the players SAF has brought in last 2-3 seasons.

Anyway, this is the seriously MIFFED one signing off. LOL

Firstly, Joe, yep I do remember the defeat – hence my reference to the 4-0 FA Cup win earlier in the month! But on a serious note – we were down to ten men early on AND we had a physiological disadvantage after being beaten 4-1 at home to Liverpool the week previous. I’ve blogged on this before – do you that before the Liverpool game we’d let in 12 goals in the league – after the Liverpool game we’d let in 12 more – thats in two months compared to the 12 we’d let in from August to mid March! You build from the back and as Hodgson said – United were weakened immensely – so he is going to change his tactics to attack United more than they would usually. Can you see that or do you disagree? BTW – I’d have taken a 0-0!

Craig – Whoa pal! Whats with all the aggression? I’m not having a pop at you for criticising Ferguson for his tactics, team selection or transfer activity – if you read my comments you will see this. My issue is with people who forget that we are second in the league, in the last 16 of the Champions League, Semi Final of the Carling Cup and looking forward to a 3rd clash with Leeds.

I have no problem with anyone questioning decision made by the manager or anyone at the club. That is what football is about. My reservations are with fans that feel the ‘woe’ of being second in the league, four points off Chelsea – who still have to come to Old Trafford. Forgetting that United were relegated in 1974, forgetting that United finshed 11th in Fergie’s first season and forgetting that United lost Robson, Cantona, Keane, VanNistelrooy over the last twenty years and still managed to win silverware.

I think if you read through my comments you’ll clearly see my viewpoint on it all but for the record:

- If you disagree with my blog it doesn’t mean that I think you’re ‘fickle’

- The blog concentrates on the limited 3-5-2 formation, which Ferguson WOULD NOT have played had he had all defenders available

- Fulham are a good side a deserved their 3-0 win against us on Saturday but I think the outcome would have been different had we had our usual consistent match fit defence

Read through my comments (except the one to Dick) and tell me if my blog still pisses you off. It is suppose to put a positive spin on things – rather than criticize fans OR bury my head in the sand. BTW – who would you have bought in the summer. List out every player you would have purchased.

I personally think these points are clear HOWEVER, based on the level of feedback I must be mistaken.

Thanks for your comments though mate.

Stretford End – the GIST of your article pisses me right off too, even IF you do back it up with what you feel to be a constructive arguement. I get so tired of all the PARTY LINER fans of the club, who keep referring to everybody who has serious reservations, or dares to question the status quo ideology, as THOSE FICKLE fans. I have been of the thought for two years now that we HAVE LOST what Fergie called ‘playing football THE UNITED WAY’, to some sleep inducing sedative type of football, similar to the Italian game, that bores the heck out of anyone who watches it. Does that make me one of your fickle fans mate? I think why people loved Ronnie – was exactly because he could BRIGHTEN up an otherwise dull United football afternoon with many a brilliant contribution to a game. Who do we have now, who can truly set pulses racing, and bring a complete BUZZ around the ground with pure excitement of something different, and please don’t say Rooney!

Fergie should HAVE SPENT, you know it surely, and I know it! Our players and play is quite often DULL! As for the fear factor – I personally believe it is true that nobody fears United or coming to OT anymore. Think Besiktas, CSKA, Sunderland and Man City at OT etc etc, so why would teams fear to come and have a go? Look also to what other TOP European teams and all the top named players in Europe are saying about us. They ALL say we would rather play United than Chelsea etc. We do not FEAR United anymore etc. So please mate – lets get real with some of our comments. I think even when we have had ALL our team fit and playing, the games have left a lot to be desired. They have certainly been exceptionally boring on many an occasion – more often than not in fact. Then they complain there is no atmosphere at OT – no wonder at some of the BLAND table fare dished up – especially this season. What has happened to Fergie’s ‘football played the United way’?

So lay off calling FICKLE United fans who see things differently to you, and are every which way as devoted and REAL fans as you are. Can’t think of any better way of putting it mate than ‘FICKLE MY ARSE’.

Fergie has been a fantastic manager and servant to Man United, and brought us every success and glory – I agree. Yet he is not INFALLIBLE, and he has made some corker mistakes in the astronomical fees paid for some players, who turned out to be white elephants, and also in his rotating changes so often of many players each game, that I am having to ask others on the terraces who said players are! SAF doesn’t bring in the kids by 3 to 4 anymore, NO he has to bring in a whole team of them. I will never agree with the sanity of that, but hey I am just A FICKLE FAN – RIGHT?