Was Rafa being arrogant?

A WAR of words have re-emerged again as Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce accused Rafa Benitez of being arrogant.

After Fernando Torres scored Liverpool’s second goal against Blackburn last weekend, the Liverpool manager was caught on television making a gesture that may seem to some to mean “We are done, they are finished”.

The YouTube video above shows the gesture in question.

Fergie also added fuel to the fire by recounting Rafa’s “small club mentality” quote on Everton, just before United were scheduled to take on the Merseyside club in the FA Cup semi-final, which they lost.

Here is what Rafa told Sky Sports after the goalless draw against Everton in 2007:

When you play against the smaller teams at Anfield you know the game will be narrow and compact and at times we were a little bit nervous. We are really disappointed. You could see one team that wanted to win. It was difficult because they were defending. They had a chance in the second half after our mistake but Pepe made a good save but apart from that we controlled everything. We had three strikers and Pennant and Riise saw a lot of the ball but they had nine men all the time behind the ball.

He stood by his comments this January, after his side drew 1-1 against Everton in the FA Cup:

I am really pleased with my team. We deserved to win. To play like that against a team with 10 players behind the ball is not easy but we worked hard, created chances and reacted very positively after the disappointment of the other night.

Is there some truth indeed in the accusations hurled at the Spaniard?

Question of the Week (EPL world’s best league?)

HI all,

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: With three English teams in the Champions League semi-finals next week, and only Spain’s Barcelona challenging their might, is the English Premier League finally the best league in the world? Why or why not?

Cheers,

Ernest Luis, The Postman, The New Paper

Is Berbatov really worth £30.75m?

HE TOOK the run-up in his usual languid style and hit it weakly down the middle, as Tim Howard’s flailing legs managed to block Dimitar Berbatov’s first penalty kick.

In the end, that – along with Rio Ferdinand’s saved spot-kick – proved decisive as Everton marched derservedly into the FA Cup final.

While much have been (and can be) said about Alex Ferguson’s decision to field a much-weakened team, the spotlight now falls squarely on the Bulgarian, who moved to Manchester United early this season in a controversial £30.75m transfer deadline deal.

Berbatov arrived at Old Trafford with much fanfare, as a deadly striker whose silky skills made him such a hit with Tottenham Hotspur. The 28-year-old was supposed to add a different dimension to United’s attack, a touch of class to complement the hardworking Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Brilliance he has shown, but in sporadic bursts in a season where United are chasing every available title on offer. Indeed, 13 goals in 37 games is hardly a hallmark of a player who costs that much, especially when you compare that with his 27 goals last season with Spurs.

Say what you want about the goalscoring opportunities being shared about a posse of United players, but when a player is brought in, he is generally supposed to improve the team. In Berbatov’s case, his hold-up play and vision is supposed to boost United’s strike force.

But take a look at the statistics – United have scored 10 lesser goals in the Premiership at this stage of the competition this season as compared to last, with Berbatov playing 27 of these games.

Is Berbatov really worth £30.75m?

What will Dennis’ departure do for Hamilton?

Former McLaren team principal Ron Dennis has left the Formula One team entirely yesterday night Singapore time, ending his 28-year association with the team (Read BBC story here).

The 61-year-old is widely credited for carefully nurturing current world champion Lewis Hamilton into the driver that he is today, and the two share a close relationship as a result.

The departure of his long-time mentor will no doubt have an impact on Hamilton, who has already faced widespread criticism over his “Liargate” scandal, as well as tremendous pressure in retaining his crown with an inferior car this season.

The question is, how would this latest turn of events affect the young driver?

Question of the Weekend (United’s turning point?)

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEKEND: HAVE Manchester United turned the corner with their win over Porto in the Champions League?

Take into account the return of players such as Rio Ferdinand and Anderson and their most recent Champions League performance.

Is United’s unpredictability harming them instead?

IT SUDDENLY struck me as I was watching the Porto-United game early this morning, and trying to look at the game from a tactical point of view.

Is it me or is United’s front-line resembling more and more like a disorganised volleyball formation? Let me explain.

You know how volleyball player rotate positions clockwise after gaining a serve? Well, watching United these days is something like that, only that it is not as systematic as volleyball.

It used to be just Cristiano Ronaldo switching flanks with Ryan Giggs/Park Ji-Sung/Nani, but these days you would see CR7 as the targetman, while Dimitar Berbatov in a deeper playmaking midfield position, while Rooney literally has a free role on the field.

Sure, this free-flowing, fast-switching strategy is cool and could theoretically confuse opposing defenders into conceding more spaces and opportunities than more traditional rigid formations, but is this laissez faire form of attacking football confusing United players as well?

How can United beat Porto at home tomorrow morning?

LIVERPOOL almost did it this morning, the question now is – can United muster one of their legendary comebacks against Porto tomorrow morning?

While the task that lies ahead of United does not seem as insurmountable as Liverpool’s – who had to win by at least three goals; or two goals, provided Liverpool scored four or more.

In contrast, United are going into the second leg level at 2-2, but the thing is: Porto have not lost to British opposition in the competition in 21 games. That is a record stretching back in 1967!

So if you were Sir Alex Ferguson, how would you line up your team tomorrow night to ensure United’s passage through to the next round?

Do bear in mind these facts:

– Rio Ferdinand is back in contention after injury, but could be rusty.
– Darren Fletcher has been ruled out by injury
– Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov are available
– Frederico Macheda scored two goals in two games, both coming on as late substitutes
– Cristiano Ronaldo has been lacklustre at best, although occasional flashes of brilliance saw him scoring goals against Aston Villa
– Gary Neville’s age and lack of pace was cruelly exposed by Hulk in the first leg

Reds vs Blues – the English version

THE question on the lips of most football fans by now is if Liverpool can mount another legendary comeback against Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge tomorrow morning.

Bearing in mind Liverpool’s poor record against Chelsea (they have never scored more than two goals against the Blues in recent seasons), and the fact that Chelsea are playing at home, there is still widespread optimism that Liverpool can overcome these extraordinary circumstances to advance to the semi-finals.

But who can fault the optimism? After all, several factors do work in Liverpool’s favour – the Miracle of Istanbul, the memory of Hillsborough, and – not least – the fact that Chelsea conceded three goals in eight minutes against Bolton over the weekend.

If you were Rafa Benitez, what would be your line-up and strategy to beat Chelsea by three goals?

Or if you prefer to in Guus Hiddink’s shoes: what would be your strategy to shackle Liverpool, bearing in mind that Liverpool will probably find ways to circumvent Michael Essien’s shackling of Steven Gerrard?

Question of the Week (Lewis Hamilton’s “Lie-gate” Scandal)

HI all,

THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Should Lewis Hamilton be suspended from Formula One this year for his own part in McLaren’s recent “Lie-gate” scandal?

Cheers,

Ernest Luis, The Postman, The New Paper

 

The Macheda poser: Was United ethical in signing him?

IT NOW appears that there was another side to the story behind United’s signing of Frederico Macheda from Lazio two years ago.

According to a Mail Online story (read here), the man who worked in Lazio’s youth system for more than two decades claimed that Macheda would have dropped out of football if not for United’s intervention, given his family’s dire financial circumstances at that time.

Volfango Patarca, the talent-spotter, claimed that Lazio refused Macheda’s father financial support until they heard that United were interested in the boy. And when the Italian club were furious when the Red Devils managed to prise him away from them, claiming that it was unethical for the English club to poach young talent by offering loads of money.

The issue now is: Does saving a talented player from dropping out of football warrant the alleged poaching of a young player from the club by offering loads of money?

Put simply: does the ends justify the means – in this case, saving Macheda’s blossoming career; or should “poaching” not be tolerated under any circumstance, in which case you would not have known if Macheda would have struggled through the financial quagmire and still succeeded at Lazio?