Ferguson proves master team builder again

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Fergie is the greatest ever.

I (utd fan) hope that in the summer we get at least 1 world class midfielder. I hope Scholes doesn't retire. We need to get in replacements ready though for when Scholes and Giggs do retire. I would like to see utd with an influential defensive midfielder again as we have still yet to adequately replace Keane. Obviously we need a new GK now too.

Once all this is done then we will have the next utd team built for success :)

Not a Utd fan but hats off to SAF, don't like the endless moaning about referees decisions and timekeeping and his mind games with other managers and officials and also his refusal to speak to sections of the media he feels have somehow wronged him etc, however, he's consistently shown himself to be the best at what he does. He's built some great sides and made some great signings (for the most part) and by and large his teams play good football. If only my team could unearth a manager half as effective. I wonder how he's going to counter his noisy neighbours once they start breathing down his neck as they surely must given their huge resources, is this a good time to predict the special one as Citeh's (yes I know he's fancied for Utd once SAF retires) next manager ? I hope not as they are already pretty boring to watch although I should congratulate them too on their first pot in 35 years. The rest of us just have to hope that Platini's plan to level the playing field works as intended though I'm not holding my breath.

Lot of sense spoken here Pally. For all the problems Utd encountered in the early season,not much was made of the players Fergie had introduced in the last couple of years. The twins,Smalling,Hernandez and to a lesser extent Evans and Gibson have had the burden of expectation foisted upon them at an early age. Playing for Utd carries with it the knowledge that every team wants to beat you more than any other and this will make them better players.
We have Cleverley to come back from his loan spell and hopefully Welbeck making his mark,these young players will form the nucleus of the side in the next 2-3yrs. With oldies like Rooney,Valencia,Nani,Vidic,Fletcher plus a couple of signings,the omens for title No20 are looking good.
We have to replace VDS...and that will be nigh impossible. A great keeper!
I expect Berba and Owen to leave and of course Hargreaves.
Our reserves have won their league and the youth team play Sheff Utd in the Cup Final..and a few of those players are outstanding prospects.
I can see Fergie being in charge for at least 2-3yrs and he will leave a team young enough and good enough to challenge Europe's best.

his nose gets more and more redder with every title that he wins
the passion and drive that fergie has is amazing i cant see him wanting to ever retire.

You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside

I will however say u were unlucky against Chelsea and Birmingham but still you clearly got a massive share of luck with decisions and Ferge still had the cheek to ask for more luck before the Chelsea game!
But congrats on the title, id say undeserving but I guess the table doesnt lie. I just like to see Man U get the same level of luck that the rest of the sides do.

Hernandez is a find and Valencia is a top player, my worry for your lot is Real might come a knocking.... Gigg is amazing and Van De Saar has been awsome along with Vidic. Enjoy this success, I have a feeling Man City and Arsenal if they can sort out their defense and Liverpool sign a few more good players might put yourselves and Chelsea under lots and lots of pressure.

The fact is the league is a marathon and not a sprint. Consistency comes to mind and United were consistent at home. Won all barring a draw! Wasn't the most vintage of United teams but who cares?! Fergie will build next season and bring in some freshness to the squad!

Premier league champions and champions league finalists, can't be that bad can it?! Oh it's quite in the red half of Merseyside!!!!!!!

@6

Typical jealous reaction.

As you say, we were done out of points at Birmingham by a ridiculous decision, and Luiz should have walked against us. Two bad decisions against.

You mention Vidic being lucky to stay on the pitch against West Ham. I agree, but the foul on Cole was (just) outside the box, so we shouldn't have been two down anyway.

At Arsenal, again Vidic should have been sent off and missed games, but firstly I think he is very overrated and Smalling could deputise perfectly well, and secondly we didn't get a stone wall penalty ourselves in that game which would have made it 1-1.

Agree with the two Neville sendings off, they were terrible decisions, but the Stoke one would not necessarily have prevented us winning, and you also seem to have mentioned West Brom missing a pen as if that was our fault? Nani missed a penalty against Fulham and we dropped points after it, so we should probably have had a win there...

Lucky goal for Nani...was still a valid goal, and if we're now chalking off goals which are "lucky" we're getting into ridiculous territory, every team gets a handful of fortunate goals a season (nearly all of Lampards for a start).

Finally, we've won the league and probably will win by a margin of around 4-6 points, and that's from a team that got three points a fortnight ago because of a goal that wasn't over the line and a goal that was offside.

It's a myth that Utd get more favourable decisions than the other big teams, and yes we all clearly get some advantage in that regard, refs need to be stronger. It's merely people like yourself who are bitter about the success and have selective memories of when the decisions went for Utd rather than against them or for their challengers.

Ferguson is undoubtedly the greatest manager of all time. Utd may have had their problems this season but in the end the table never lies and they are worthy Champions. Chelsea collapsed mid season and Arsenal did what they always do.

And of course rival fans (like No.6) will try and come-up with all the excuses, remembering every situation where Utd got a decision in their favour but conveniently forgetting most of the situations where decisions didn't favour Utd. It's just emphasises the bitterness they feel at Utd's domination.

Fergie and Utd are going nowehere anytime soon. The defence and attack are outstanding and there is a nucleus of young players that will carry the legacy on. Fergie will buy a top class keeper and one or two midfield reinforcements and Utd will again be the team to beat next season.

Title 19, 12 for Fergie, the most successful side in the history of English football. Suck it up!

you have to hand it to the guy!~
As an Arsenal supporter for decades we have been terrific rivals but SAF ability to win is undeniably admirable.
First he knows which players he can work with and buys accordingly, then he molds them into team players, and finally he gets the best out of them, somehow always managing to put in the most appropriate team or each match. His leadership and organisation is second to none.
Easily the best manger in my lifetime.

You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside

I will however say u were unlucky against Chelsea and Birmingham but still you clearly got a massive share of luck with decisions and Ferge still had the cheek to ask for more luck before the Chelsea game!
But congrats on the title, id say undeserving but I guess the table doesnt lie. I just like to see Man U get the same level of luck that the rest of the sides do.

Hernandez is a find and Valencia is a top player, my worry for your lot is Real might come a knocking.... Gigg is amazing and Van De Saar has been awsome along with Vidic. Enjoy this success, I have a feeling Man City and Arsenal if they can sort out their defense and Liverpool sign a few more good players might put yourselves and Chelsea under lots and lots of pressure.
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Biased analysis!

Great analysis, I think that United have done great this season as it's obviously been a team in transition.

This year we have seen Hernandez step up to a level anybody would be proud of, but as Pallister points out, he had a good World Cup scoring a couple of great goals against good opposition so it's not a huge surprise.

Smalling had a great extended run in the team due to Rio's absence and stepped up very well. I think he will be a top defender in years to come. Fabio has also started to rival his brother for that right back spot and I'm starting to like Fabio a lot as a player. Both the Da Silvas work brilliantly with Valencia in front of them tracking back and allowing them some attacking freedom.

The Blackburn game completely confirmed that United need to sign a keeper, a world class one at that. Without Van Der Sar, United are just the same as Arsenal. The goalkeeper is so important as it brings confidence to the entire defence and brings either the best or worst out of the players. Let's face it, with a Van Der Sar or other great keeper, Arsenal could have walked this league. Peter Schmeichel remains my favorite keeper of all time, but Van Der Sar has sure pushed himself close. If United can beat Barcelona, maybe he would go down as the greatest in history. He already saved a decisive penalty against Chelsea that basically won it for United so his contribution to United's honor's during his time is just as impressive.

I think as a tactition, on a season to season basis, I would definitly not consider Gerguson as on eof teh best in that catagory,BUT he has made United a family having spent so much time at the club earning them so much sucess. I reckon someone liek Mourinho would leave after 5 years or so. Ferguson has built a dynasty and he has got thos expierienced players in teh team as well as a breed of youngsters.

@6 SuperCaspersavestheday - If you could make a list of the wrong/bad decisions we got, you will find that it is a much longer list than when we got a rub of green. But you won't remember those as deep down within you, you hope every decision goes against us. To people like you, subconsciously every bad decision regarding United is 'normal' and even correct decisions that apply under the normal rules of the game are 'luck'. This is so ingrained in your subconscious that you are not even aware of your bias.

Blissfully unaware of the damage years of hate and jealousy can do to the mind, you assume yourself an impartial and objective judge but you get more bitter at every success. Sadly I think your pain will continue for a long time....

Great Blog. One of the things we will notice in coming years is how Ferguson has already effectively got himself a very young group of players ready to compete for titles in the future.

New Goalkeeper
Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Fabio
Valencia - Midfielder? - Anderson - Nani
Rooney - Hernandez

All of these players are very young, not sure about if Evans will be our big Vidic style defender because Smalling certainly fits into the Rio-style category (or aspires to), but that team could definitely go on and win things.

Sit Alex Ferguson is a great manager but this is something we have known already.
As a United fan, I prefer to concentrate on Alan Hansen's comment: had he been the manager of another top four club, that club would have won the title.

What it hints but doesn't say is United haven't been excellent. And it's true.

SAF is a great manager and the United board should use the opportunity to allow him (give him the funds) to create maybe the last great side of his career.
That would be to the benefit not only the fans but even the board in their pursuit to send huge cheques past the Atlantic, every end of season.

As a United fan I'm mentally preparing for trophyless seasons. Who on earth (and it seems we're restricted to terra firma) can fill SAF's role? They'll be in a lose/lose situation. I'd be astonished if J. Mourinho wanted any of that deal. SAF is the only real irreplaceable person at OT. There was life (and a lush one at that) after Cantona and Ronaldo. And, of course, life carried on after the loss of Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Bryan Robson, Andrei Kanchelskis and Roy Keane, all of whom embodied the United ideal. But after SAF, like Sir Matt, there is wilderness. We'll have had a good run and perhaps no club will better it. But we (Reds) will be cut adrift in the vagaries of a mediocre league, occasional cups and the odd league.....(climbs out onto window ledge.....)

At 09:30am 15th mai 2011, You wrote:
As a United fan I'm mentally preparing for trophyless seasons. Who on earth (and it seems we're restricted to terra firma) can fill SAF's role? They'll be in a lose/lose situation. I'd be astonished if J. Mourinho wanted any of that deal. SAF is the only real irreplaceable person at OT. There was life (and a lush one at that) after Cantona and Ronaldo. And, of course, life carried on after the loss of Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Bryan Robson, Andrei Kanchelskis and Roy Keane, all of whom embodied the United ideal. But after SAF, like Sir Matt, there is wilderness. We'll have had a good run and perhaps no club will better it. But we (Reds) will be cut adrift in the vagaries of a mediocre league, occasional cups and the odd league.....(climbs out onto window ledge.....)

@No.6 - get over it.

The way I see it United need 3/4 players this summer. First on the shopping list is a quality keeper, there are enough about that aren't at the massive clubs, 3 that immediately spring to mind being De Gea, Neuer (although apparently headed to Bayern) and Lloris all of whom are young, at a decent level now but have their best years ahead of them.

Secondly I'd argue we need 2 central midfielders, my picks would be Sneijder (25 so ideal age for 5 odd years of his best for the club but the finished article already) and De Rossi (slightly older but again finished article, box-to-box and could form a great partnership with Sneijder)

Arguably one should say Berbatov and Owen out and someone new coming in. If they both go then I think Ferguson should either try an high-jack the Gooners move for Benzema, just imagine the glorious selection dilemma of picking from Rooney Benzema and Hernandez? or potentially go for a younger gem for Sir Alex to polish (are Neymar and Lukaku too ambitious/expensive?)

Sorry about double post. Shalln't bore you with the explanation.

Anyway, how about Mark Hughes to replace SAF? It's not as dotty as it appears.

Fantastic achievement, as any other manager anywhere won titles over three decades like Fergie has, 90's, 00's and now 10's?

This is a good article and the debate that will inevitably ensue is what the 606 forum is all about. And your articles are about what you as the BBC want to talk about, and this is not generally what the majority of people want to talk about. Personally I don't give two hoots about Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea etc., but I do want to talk about Ipswich Town, American Football, Golf, Cricket, Formula 1. And not just the big stories either. It really is the little things that you guys miss that are important to us fans. Hence why 606 is so great. The diversity of articles is something that your bloggers miss as they are told what to write about, or at least led down a particular path.

Don't close 606 as it's the best part of this whole website.

All the top clubs are in transition some will be able to spend and some will not. Fergie has always been able to spend when required; Utd fans will he able to do so next season? And if he is not able to compete for the top names, what next?

Man Utd were deserving winners but of what ? A league of dross, nothing premier about this competition

Even if Chelsea win their last 2 games,their points tally will be the lowest recorded by the runners up in the last 10 years

Celtic and Rangers win titles by the bagful in Scotland, and what do we english say, ah its only a 2 team league. I beg your pardon. And what is England then ? An ageing Chelsea team, an Arsenal team that needs to find some inner strength, a Man City team that is a bunch of individuals, Tottenham punching way above their weight and Liverpool punching below theirs.The opposition to United this season has been diabolocal.

Vidic in December stated that he could not believe United were top, Redknapp 2 months ago said everyone else was giving the title to United by default. In those 2 opinions lies exactly what this season is about but its not just this season

Last season, Chelsea scored 100 goals and only just beat United then, that was an indication that Chelsea almost bottled it then.

The season before, Liverpool lose 2 games, less than United, who couldnt hack it ?

Ferguson greatest achievements are not with United, at least with Aberdeen he had to beat both Glasgow clubs, down in England,

The Scottish clubs both won 8/9 titles on the trot, yet we would be the first to poo poo their achievements, well the same applies down South. United are dominant, dominant of what ?

Liverpool in their prime won 4 European Cups, and lost 1 in an 8 year period whilst winning the title several times, and in that period 3 other teams Notts Forest, Aston Villa and Everton won the title and also European trophies so the domestic competition was strong.

And then you look at the domestic competition that United have had to deal with.

Well, money reduced their meaningful opponents to 3 (Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool), and yet how many times have United actually won the European trophy ?

Even if they win it on the 28th, lets get some perspective, they are winning in an era where domestically they have no challengers of substance and yet have failed to turn that into an equivalent success at European level

They may well be the country's best team domestically but the reality is they are a big fish in a small pond, just like Rangers and Celtic.

@ 24, John,

Rangers and Celtic cannot be compared with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs, for many reasons. I will give you just one of all those: English clubs have this tendency to be reaching Champions League quarter finals and semi finals, with ease. Rangers and Celtic can only dream of that, in secret.

Try tell Arsenal fans, Chelsea fans, Liverpool fans that their teams have been a nothing for a quarter of a century.

I'm a Gooner and like to give credit where credit is due. Fergie is a top manager and has proved it over last 20-25yrs. We have witnessed something quite special by him and he is without a doubt the greatest manager the world has every seen, the stats don't lie. I only wish Arsene would take a look at his record and what he has achieved and then take a look at himself and realised that kids alone don't win trophies

26 - if stats do not lie then he is not depending on how you use your abacus

Fair play to United for their league title, in a season where it seemed throughout most of it there was no team that deserved to win it or even looked remotely like champions, they just about raised their game enough to do it. Fergie has clearly instilled this current squad with the winning mentality apparent in a lot of his sides of old to scrape out points throughout this difficult campaign. It does seem to me though that if United still had Ronaldo I think they'd have sewn up the league some time ago, Nani helped significantly to their cause half way through the season but obviously isn't on the same level.

Overall I think it's been a refreshing season, hopefully next year there'll be 6 potential candidates for the title and we end up with a season as open as this one.

Also can't believe whilst managing United to all these trophies throughout the years Sir Alex also found the time to write the thought provoking book with a title more reminiscent of a Roy Keane auto biography.. - 'The Business Of Retribution' - [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

24. At 10:32am 15th May 2011, John wrote: ... a load of rubbish

That's why any team has a period of success. Liverpool dominated the 80s because there wasn't a sustained challenge from elsewhere. Real Madrid accumulated the first 5 European Cups not just because they had a good team but because there were so few others taking the competition seriously back then.

As for calling the Premier League 'a small pond' ... are you serious? A small pond? Name a bigger one, Einstein.

post 24... united are a big fish in a small pond?? Where would you like United to swim then? 3 European Cup finals in 4 years suggest they swim in the largest areas of water known to humankind. Please tell me which trophy is better quality than the champs league...united's 'league rivals' have been the teams dominating the places in the latter stages of europe's premier tournament for a while now. Spurs for example swatted aside the cream of Italy yet are going to finish a 5th or 6th in the league..
With the big teams dropping more points, doesnt this instead suggest that all the other teams in the league are getting better making it an even harder league to win? United's consistent successes in this respect makes them deserving of such aclaim and particularly for the manager Alex Ferguson.
Lets not forget City and Chelsea being bankrolled by billionaires.
So please, if the premier league isnt the premier competition, then what is?!!!!

Sorry to see that the likely golden boot winner and top striker as picked by his fellow professionals is a forgotten man.Would love to be able to replay the season with him as a regular.He did score critical goals and would have had more if the defence had been stronger early on.Can only hope he goes to Tottenham or Arsenal so that it will be possible to see his unique skills on a regular basis.He is wasted and unappreciated warming the bench at Man.U but I suspect that Rooney voted him out.

Alot has been made of United only winning 5 games away - but they did draw 10.

Assuming the top six win their remaining games, the total away points taken are:

Man U: 25
Chel: 29
Arsl : 33
Man C: 28
Livpl : 21
Spurs : 26

Only Arsenal have broken into the 30's.

Two points to conclude: (i) Chelsea & especially Arsenal's home form has cost them the premiership this season; & (ii) Home advantage has been significant this year.


Well done Man U!

To be honest this has been the worst season in memory for quality of football.

I'm no chelsea fan but clearly if they hadn't sacked Wilkins half way through the season they would have walked the title.

@John: comparing the EPL to the SPL is nonsense. What a load of rubbish that was. The EPL teams have been all over the business end of the CL in recent seasons while the 2 club regime in Scotland can't hack it.

But just to pick-up on your suggestion that the 'proof of the pudding' is Utd's 'failure' in Europe. Since 1993, the start of the PL era, here are the clubs that have won the CL:
Real Madrid: 3
Milan: 3
United: 2
Barcelona: 2
Bayern: 1
Ajax: 1
Liverpool: 1
Inter: 1
Juventus: 1
Porto: 1
Marseille: 1
Dortmund: 1

That puts Utd in the top 4, they could be joint 1st in a couple of weeks. The CL is much harder to win than the old European Cup was because of the multiple teams that participate now, hence the spread of winners over the past 18 years.

Those stats suggect Utd have given a good account of themselves in Europe, although when you consider the near misses it could have been a lot better.

33. At 11:18am 15th May 2011, SIR ROBERT PAISLEY SAYS ___SAVE 6 0 6 wrote:
To be honest this has been the worst season in memory for quality of football.

I'm no chelsea fan but clearly if they hadn't sacked Wilkins half way through the season they would have walked the title.

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Really! Any chance I could borrow your crystal ball for a while? Utter rubbish!

@ No.6. Wise up. Develop some perspective.

@ No.8. Good repost, but Vidic IS NOT over rated. An incredible player.

Nineteen.

6. At 00:01am 15th May 2011, SuperCaspersavestheday wrote:
You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside


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1) Agree United and Neville were lucky there.
2) Agree United and Neville were lucky there. Obviously after that point who knows what would have happened? However there was a clear handball in the box not given to united in that game.
3) I disagree that vidic should have been sent off. The challenge he got carded for DID NOT prevent a CLEAR GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITY as the ball went to the goalkeeper. Yellow card was correct. He did make a challenge that COULD HAVE earned him a 2nd yellow but in the context of the decisions made in the game then the decision not not give a 2nd yellow was correct:

- Hitlespergers challenge on Park from behind (just before vidic gave away the pen) was much worse than vidic's.....no card given.
- Da costas repeated fouling of Rooney only earned a card after the 3rd time he came through the back of him.

The ref clearly wanted to keep it 11 v 11 giving both team's the benefit of the doubt.
(This is the problem with ABU's they only ever SEE decisions given for United and forget those that go against them)
Also vidic would have had a 1 game ban not 2 if he were sent off either for a straight red for the 1st challenge or for a 2nd yellow.

4) Vidic was certainly lucky against arsenal, but they won the game anyway although i accept the vidic would have been banned for the chelsea game.
5) The rafael foul in the Blackpool game was 60:40, bit lucky i agree but youv seen these types of decisions before....one notable example was Distin on Ronaldo in the FA Cup semi united v portsmouth a couple of years ago.

5) Rooney red vs wigan, yes he was lucky but the pressure the whole of the media (we had 3 full days of it on talksport, b

Ferguson is not the best ever. Get over yourselves.

6. At 00:01am 15th May 2011, SuperCaspersavestheday wrote:
You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside


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1) Agree United and Neville were lucky there.
2) Agree United and Neville were lucky there. Obviously after that point who knows what would have happened? However there was a clear handball in the box not given to united in that game.
3) I disagree that vidic should have been sent off. The challenge he got carded for DID NOT prevent a CLEAR GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITY as the ball went to the goalkeeper. Yellow card was correct. He did make a challenge that COULD HAVE earned him a 2nd yellow but in the context of the decisions made in the game then the decision not not give a 2nd yellow was correct:

- Hitlespergers challenge on Park from behind (just before vidic gave away the pen) was much worse than vidic's.....no card given.
- Da costas repeated fouling of Rooney only earned a card after the 3rd time he came through the back of him.

The ref clearly wanted to keep it 11 v 11 giving both team's the benefit of the doubt.
(This is the problem with ABU's they only ever SEE decisions given for United and forget those that go against them)
Also vidic would have had a 1 game ban not 2 if he were sent off either for a straight red for the 1st challenge or for a 2nd yellow.

4) Vidic was certainly lucky against arsenal, but they won the game anyway although i accept the vidic would have been banned for the chelsea game.
5) The rafael foul in the Blackpool game was 60:40, bit lucky i agree but youv seen these types of decisions before....one notable example was Distin on Ronaldo in the FA Cup semi united v portsmouth a couple of years ago.

5) Rooney red vs wigan, yes he was lucky but the pressure the whole of the media (we had 3 full days of it on talksport, bot

@6

"Enjoy this success, I have a feeling Man City and Arsenal if they can sort out their defense and Liverpool sign a few more good players might put yourselves and Chelsea under lots and lots of pressure."

Ha ha - basically what you are saying is that if all the other teams were better, UTD might not win the league??!! Kind of obvious...... that's how a league works - the best team wins it - no ifs, buts or arguments! The "lucky decision" argument holds no water - there are poor decisions in every game at every level; that's football - without that we would have nothing to discuss.

Seventh doctor? Doctor of what? delusion?
Who is then?

Even as a Liverpool fan you have to give credit were it is due, and for the amount of domestic titles he has won you have to admit he knows what he is doing in the league. I definitely would not say he is the best ever though, purley because of the lack of european success. I don't think tactically he is the best there is, far from it and everyone can pretty much predict what he is going to do on the 28th. Sit very, very deep and play on the counter attack, but that's got a lot to do with the team he is up against in all honesty.

Champions as a team in transition, yes we have ridden our luck at times but the only thing that counts is United have the most points at the end of the season. You can come up with all the ifs and buts you like, it will not change the fact that United have an unprecedented 19 top flight championships.

However, I do want to put forward one "if" of my own. Would Chelsea have collapsed mid-season IF Wilkins was not sacked? I think if Wilkinson was there for the whole season Chelsea would have had the title wrapped up a week or two ago.

42. At 12:12pm 15th May 2011, five-star-reds wrote:
"I definitely would not say he is the best ever though, purley because of the lack of european success."
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The only manager to ever win 3 was Paisley, in an era when it was much easier to win. Fergie is one of a list who have won it twice but even if he loses to Barca this year that puts him joint 2nd with 2 wins and 2 defeats. If Utd beat Barca then he goes top of the all time list with 3 wins and 1 defeat. He also won a Cup Winners Cup with both Utd and Aberdeen.

I'd say he's done all right on that basis, although it could have been so much better when I think of some of the semi's he never should have lost.

As a neutral i take my hat off to Manchester United, good decisions or bad decisions, injuries or suspensions; they have shown time and time again they can handle whatever comes their way. Sir Alex has picked an awesome squad to carry them to a record league title and a shot at the Champions League title. They have obviously been the best team all season or they would not be the ones lifting the cup next weekend, so all those people saying otherwise need a reality check.

However, next season, i feel will be double hard for everybody.

I feel a close season with Kenny Dalglish with set Liverpool off to a flyer and if you think he signed a contract without securing a nice transfer kitty you are living in dream land. So expect to see them cause some headaches from day one.

Chelsea also had a poor start this season so i can imagine with or without a new manager the age issue is a major concern so i think there will definately be a few new superstars wreaking havoc up and down the premier league.

Manchester City were up and down a bit this year but their squad has not really had the time to gel like the Chelsea and Manchester United squads, they have had a massive influx of new and raw talent. I expect to see Balotelli come back as a different player after the close season and light up the stage, he has not settled in nearly as well as Hernandez and David Silva is a different class. I know they may well lose Tevez but with their funds i can not imagine he will be missed for long. Maybe they will struggle with the schedule, especially with the Champions League fixtures being chucked in as well.

I am not writting off Arsenal but i feel without a complete change of policy all i can see them doing next season is throwing the odd spanner in the works. With all this and the fact teams like Spurs and Everton are becoming more competitive i can see the title race being closer than ever next year, maybe 3 teams fighting for the top spot within the last 2 or 3 weeks.

Finally i do not believe Manchester United (or the world of football) will ever, ever see another manager like Sir Alex, nor do i believe, when he does hang up his clip board anyone but "the special one" is crazy enough to try and fill his boots so maybe, just maybe they will continue to be the driving force in the Premier League for years to come.

P.S fair play to Stoke for getting European football next season.

6. At 00:01am 15th May 2011, SuperCaspersavestheday wrote:
You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside

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1) Agree United and Neville were lucky there.
2) Agree United and Neville were lucky there. Obviously after that point who knows what would have happened? However there was a clear handball in the box not given to united in that game.
3) I disagree that vidic should have been sent off. The challenge he got carded for DID NOT prevent a CLEAR GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITY as the ball went to the goalkeeper. Yellow card was correct. He did make a challenge that COULD HAVE earned him a 2nd yellow but in the context of the decisions made in the game then the decision not not give a 2nd yellow was correct:

- Hitlespergers challenge on Park from behind (just before vidic gave away the pen) was much worse than vidic's.....no card given.
- Da costas repeated fouling of Rooney only earned a card after the 3rd time he came through the back of him.

The ref clearly wanted to keep it 11 v 11 giving both team's the benefit of the doubt.
(This is the problem with ABU's they only ever SEE decisions given for United and forget those that go against them)
Also vidic would have had a 1 game ban not 2 if he were sent off either for a straight red for the 1st challenge or for a 2nd yellow.

4) Vidic was certainly lucky against arsenal, but they won the game anyway although i accept the vidic would have been banned for the chelsea game. Not a two game ban though!!! (Where are you getting these supposed 2 game bans from?)
5) The rafael foul in the Blackpool game was 60:40, bit lucky i agree but youv seen these types of decisions before....one notable example was Distin on Ronaldo in the FA Cup semi united v portsmouth a couple of years ago.

5) Rooney red vs wigan, yes he was lucky but t

Manchester United remind me of Juventus. Could we see them get their 21st title?

I wonder how many of those titles Juventus won were bought?

47. At 12:46pm 15th May 2011, Dillon wrote:
Manchester United remind me of Juventus. Could we see them get their 21st title?

I wonder how many of those titles Juventus won were bought?

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I spotted this previous contribution from you:

"Spurs have been robbed throughout the season by refs, the game against west ham spring to mind, otherwise spurs would have been title contenders."

That says it all. Every Blog needs a resident comedian and it looks like you are it!

46. At 12:42pm 15th May 2011, j0hnb1972 wrote:

That's 3 attempts dude. You must have been celebrating big time last night because that's the worst case of the shakes I've ever seen on here!!!

@8

Vidic is overrated?

LOL

I noted 2 key moments in the season. First one, was the timing of the signing of Torres to Chelsea. It was at a time Chelsea, were looking good, and instead the team had to put up with an injured, sour faced player, who only scored 1 goal in a number of starts. The signing was at the wrong time. His inclusion meant that the forwards which were scoring well were given an unwritten message that the team was in need of his services. The timing was the issue. I am sure next season Torres will improve but the signing unsettled the team this season. Secondly, before playing Arsenal and Chelsea, SAF was asked if they might hold out for draws or recover if they lost to the two sides, and his poisitive answer was to the effect, he couldnt understand why everyone was talking so negatively, and that Man U would play for wins. Although they lost to Arsenal, he quickly rested the players v Schalke and came back with a strong rested ide to whip Chelsea (although the scoreline didnt reflect it). SAF , I pay my homage to your greatness and trust me , he is the greatest sporting coach/manager of any sport in the modern day sporting history

49. At 13:12pm 15th May 2011, WordsofWisdom wrote:
46. At 12:42pm 15th May 2011, j0hnb1972 wrote:

That's 3 attempts dude. You must have been celebrating big time last night because that's the worst case of the shakes I've ever seen on here!!!

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yeh i know lol.....every time i tried to post it wouldnt go through...or so i thought!!! probably too much on one post so il try to post the rest seperately lol!

) Rooney red vs wigan, yes he was lucky but the pressure the whole of the media (we had 3 full days of it on talksport, both MOTD programs (blimey even john hartson got stuck into it "Hello kettle im pot....your black" springs to mind") the DM particularly but every newspaper, SSN) i think caused the TWO game ban (as opposed to the 1 game ban that he shouldv got at most) for the swearing incident......everyone wanted some blood!!!
6) United were BEATING spurs 1-0 at the time of the Nani goal. Also if the blithering idiot Gomez had PLAYED TO THE WHISTLE as we are all taught at school then there wouldnt have been a problem.
7)The Hernandez goal against Everton was definitely not offside. (Do you actually understand the rule/law??)


Obviously as an ABU you are blissfully ignorant to:

a) the number of important decisions that went against united.
b) the number of important decisions that went for the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal (the only other real contenders for the league this season).

Heres a couple of important decisions that went against united:

1) Last minute equaliser at birmingham, a foul, handball and offside all in one....two points dropped.
2) The terry handball, david luiz should have sent off, twice, the penalty, the allowing ivanovic to kick lumps out of nani with not even fouls given let alone yellow cards in the stamford bridge game......3 points dropped.
3) The jamie carragher inexplicable non-sending off at anfield. yes united were being outplayed and were losing 2-0 but who knows what happens then? (before people complain about rafael's challenge just after, we cant know if that wouldv happened if carragher was deservedley sent off)
4) the ridiculous 2nd yellow for rafael at spurs.
5) the clear pen not given for glichy's challenge on owen at the emirates, ok vidic was lucky with the handball in that game but two wrongs dont make a right....or do they? :) .......2 points dropped
6) the clear handball by lampard not given and ivanovic inexplicably escaping a 2nd yellow card in the chelsea game at OT last week. You also had the foul by terry on valencia not given but that is somewhat balanced by the vidic foul on kalou.
7) the foul given for o shea's challenge when torres dived in the liverpool league game at old trafford....gerrard equalised from the resulting free kick and kissed the camera. luckily united scored again to win the game.

I wont even bother listing the number of favourable decisions that chelsea and arsenal enjoyed throughout the season apart from those ab

24. At 10:32am 15th May 2011, John wrote:
Man Utd were deserving winners but of what ? A league of dross, nothing premier about this competition

Even if Chelsea win their last 2 games,their points tally will be the lowest recorded by the runners up in the last 10 years

Celtic and Rangers win titles by the bagful in Scotland, and what do we english say, ah its only a 2 team league. I beg your pardon. And what is England then ? An ageing Chelsea team, an Arsenal team that needs to find some inner strength, a Man City team that is a bunch of individuals, Tottenham punching way above their weight and Liverpool punching below theirs.The opposition to United this season has been diabolocal.

Vidic in December stated that he could not believe United were top, Redknapp 2 months ago said everyone else was giving the title to United by default. In those 2 opinions lies exactly what this season is about but its not just this season

Last season, Chelsea scored 100 goals and only just beat United then, that was an indication that Chelsea almost bottled it then.

The season before, Liverpool lose 2 games, less than United, who couldnt hack it ?

Ferguson greatest achievements are not with United, at least with Aberdeen he had to beat both Glasgow clubs, down in England,

The Scottish clubs both won 8/9 titles on the trot, yet we would be the first to poo poo their achievements, well the same applies down South. United are dominant, dominant of what ?

Liverpool in their prime won 4 European Cups, and lost 1 in an 8 year period whilst winning the title several times, and in that period 3 other teams Notts Forest, Aston Villa and Everton won the title and also European trophies so the domestic competition was strong.

And then you look at the domestic competition that United have had to deal with.

Well, money reduced their meaningful opponents to 3 (Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool), and yet how many times have United actually won the European trophy ?

Even if they win it on the 28th, lets get some perspective, they are winning in an era where domestically they have no challengers of substance and yet have failed to turn that into an equivalent success at European level

They may well be the country's best team domestically but the reality is they are a big fish in a small pond, just like Rangers and Celtic.


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The PL is the toughest league in the world, 5 or

This "blog" is typical of the BBC of late. A sensationalist headline, grabbing people's attention, pathetic. Let's face it, ManU winning the title has little to do with the team building skills of Alex Ferguson. ManU were gifted the title this year, they started awfully and got better, slowly.
All the other teams pressed the self-destruct button or lost their nerve at key moments. Liverpool had a terrible season until Mr Dalglish took over, Chelsea's season has been very average and Arsenal who should have won it, bottled the big games. Fair do's, ManU won it fair and square (despite Ferguson's pitchside antics) but this blog is padding it out, trying to get a few more miles (column inches) out of this "story". I just wish the BBC would stop it, and publish some real stories, give us some detail and coverage of real grass roots football or something similar, not just these overpaid, overexposed millionares.

So 19 is in the bag! Excellent..

Next season Liverpool, City, Arsenal & Chelsea will all cut each others throats and United will win number 20 at a canter....you heard it here first!

Peace...

Oh please. Like money has nothing to do with it. You must think I am brain dead BBC.

Congratulations to SAF and Manchester United, the table tells the story of the season and you have deserved to win it.

Agree with point 55 and 24. This year has been the worst premier league season in terms of quality I can remember, teams like Chelsea seem like the owner has lost interest, more interested in a marquee signing than supporting his managers view of building a team. Man City buy anything that has a pulse, costs over 20mill and has an ego, United squad looks a bit light and Arsenal look like they need to stop pussyfooting around. Obviously...this is now, the summer will be very interesting.

I think that we have been spoiled in the past with the fluent attacking football that has become United's trademark. This year has shown that SAF is a complete manager, he has had to find a winning blend without a certain type of player available to him and he has turned his team into an effective, working team who are able to grind out results.

If we had not conceded silly draws to the likes of Everton, Birmingham and Fulham away and taken all three points against WBA at home, this would have been over weeks ago.

Congratulations Fergie, thanks for what you have given us.

Going forward I would like Giggs and Scholes to go out at the top and not do what boxers tend to do, go one fight too many and get knocked out.

We have the Da Silva twins, Smalling, Nani, Valenci, Hernandez and Rooney who are all young, Vidic is still to hit his peak, another top defender, two mid-fielders, and a striker and we are set for the next two to three years

55. At 14:49pm 15th May 2011, Letsbe_avenue wrote:
This "blog" is typical of the BBC of late. A sensationalist headline, grabbing people's attention, pathetic. Let's face it, ManU winning the title has little to do with the team building skills of Alex Ferguson. ManU were gifted the title this year, they started awfully and got better, slowly.
All the other teams pressed the self-destruct button or lost their nerve at key moments. Liverpool had a terrible season until Mr Dalglish took over, Chelsea's season has been very average and Arsenal who should have won it, bottled the big games. Fair do's, ManU won it fair and square (despite Ferguson's pitchside antics) but this blog is padding it out, trying to get a few more miles (column inches) out of this "story". I just wish the BBC would stop it, and publish some real stories, give us some detail and coverage of real grass roots football or something similar, not just these overpaid, overexposed millionares.

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im intrigued by this.....why SHOULD arsenal have won the league this year? please explain.

on any measure you care to come up with, including the most important 1, the fact that united have earned more league points than them (silly me i suppose for thinking that the team with the most points deservedly wins the league), tells you that united are deserving winners:

- united beat arsenal 2 out of the 3 games played.
- united beat (2nd placed) chelsea 4 out 5 times played (if you include the CS)
- united didnt lose to 4th placed city in the league, winning 1 and drawing the other
- united beat 5th placed liverpool 2 out of 3 games played
- united got 4 points off 6th placed spurs
- united got 4 points off 7th placed everton
- united got 6 points off 8th placed stoke
- united got 4 points off 9th placed bolton
- united scored more goals than anyone else in the league whilst benefitting from less penalties than the likes of arsenal and chelsea

The fact is that the best team ALWAYS wins the league and this year (on top of 3 of the last 4 years) this united team has done just that.

When arsenal were losing at home to the likes of newcastle, west brom, etc was that the form of potential champions?

When arsenal managed to only finish 2nd in their CL group, losing to the likes of braga, whilst united breezed through their group, playing 2nd string sides in 4 of the 6 games, only conceding one goal, was that the time you wer

Jose Mourinho might call himself the 'Special One' but Sir Alex is the 'Only One'...thats the difference...

continued from post #60.......

When arsenal managed to only finish 2nd in their CL group, losing to the likes of braga, whilst united breezed through their group, playing 2nd string sides in 4 of the 6 games, only conceding one goal, was that the time you were thinking arsenal were the team to beat this year?

Please, because i have heard and read this a lot, give me the convincing and coherent argument that has caused you to come to conclusion that arsenal should have won the league?

Good article. No idea how United will replace Ferguson. I think the main candidates at the moment are Guardiola, Moyes and Bruce. As for Mourinho I can't see him taking the reins as he is too short sighted and defensive tactically, which is never how United have played.

Wishers have been replacing SAF before he won for Manchester United the last 3 titles. Cool it down: he has more to bring.

One or two comments on the respective merit's/strength on the Premier League compared to seasons past. Many people besmirching our league and point to the points total attained by Utd to be champions.
My own opinion is that the bottom sides of our league have been playing catch up and it has made it a harder title to win. A season when Wolves beat Utd and Birmingham beat Arsenal to win the League Cup. A league where you no longer know that a win is a certainty (well..maybe Spurs at Liverpool).
As we speak the gap between the 1st and 3rd place is 10pts with the possibility of it being reduced to 7 by this evening. The much vaunted La Liga..the gap is 25pts.
The points gap between 1st and last in the premiership is 44pts..In Spain the gap stands at 65pts.
Barca and Madrid are fine sides,but I would presume the competition in England is more intense week in,week out if the stats are to be believed.Of course Utd and Barca meet in the final in a fortnight,Barca's 2nd in 3yrs..Utd's 3rd in 4,so they are in a class above at the moment..but to belittle our Premier League is silly. La Liga was as early as September between the big 2...up until last week any one of 3 teams were in the pot for the Premier title.
A few years ago Utd won the title with a 15 point gap and the league was said to be the best and strongest. With a smaller difference at the top this year,it's now said to be weaker. Strange logic.
Enjoy it for what it is...a league which gave fans great games and goals..good competition and provided 3 teams in Europe's last 8.

The EPL has been a one-horse race since its inception and the same horse will win again next year. I don't think Chicharito (double ch) will have a good second season and will fade into oblivion so that we won't have to look at his shmanistic ritual at the beginning of every game. It'll be all about Rooney, Berbatov, and Nani, as it should be.

@ 66, AntonioSaucedo,

Yet, it is alleged that even Pele told of Chicarito that he has all the elements of becoming one of the world's famous strikers.

@66 Can't agree with you regarding Hernandez. I think he will go from strength to strength and is a great poacher. As for Berbatov, I am not even sure he will still be at Old Trafford next season. Although, I do think he is a very good player, he cannot play the lone striker in a 4-5-1, and he will never start above Chicharito. If a good bid arrives in the summer I cannot see United trying especially hard to keep him.

What a day of football today.

Chelsea tried to prove that the best team won the league.
Arsenal seem to be in a hurry to justify all those who predicted they'd end up fourth at the end of the season.
Birmingham City try their best to get relegated.
Wigan seem desperate to throw away any chances they have to avoid relegations.
West Ham try their best to drive their supporters bananas.

A draw for Birmingham today and the only team from bottom three who could avoid relegation would be everyone's wish to stay in the Premiership: Holloway's Blackpool, who could find comfort in the fact that SAF will rest players in the last match at Old Trafford.

Fascinating.

I think you might be confusing strength with competitiveness. Sure, the EPL is more competitive than La Liga, but look at the top teams in the two leagues and you have to say the Spanish teams are generally better than the English: Barca, Real, Valencia, Seville, Villarreal, At. Madrid, and Espanyol - Are Better Than - Man Utd. Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton. You might disagree, but i watch both leagues and while the difference in class between the top two and the rest in La Liga is more pronounced, the quality of the teams and players in general is better than the EPL and, technically, there is no comparison. The style of the EPL makes it easier for players of a lower technical ability to be successful, and, to a lesser extent, the opposite is also true. But all you really need to do is look at the national team to understand why the La Liga is rated higher by most than the EPL. It's called the beautiful game for a reason, and while the value of hard work and going 100 milles an hour for 90 minutes shouldn't be underestimated, it is the magic that comes out as the winner in the end. That's why the FA is looking for a radical change in mentality for the English player at the grassroots level.

46. At 12:42pm 15th May 2011, j0hnb1972 wrote:
6. At 00:01am 15th May 2011, SuperCaspersavestheday wrote:

You forgot to mention all the lucky decisions they got through out the season....

1) Neville should have been sent off against Stoke- might not have won that game.
2) Neville should have been sent off against brom and they missed a pen
3) Vidic should have been sent off against west ham, less chance of getting back and missing him for x2 games
4) Vidic should have been sent off against Arsenal, he would have had missed x 2 games
5) Should have had a penality against Blackpool which would have meant United 3-0 down
6) Rooney missed redcard against wigan
7) Lucky goal for Nani against spurs at home
8) Hernandez goal against Everton at old trafford was offside

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1) Agree United and Neville were lucky there.
2) Agree United and Neville were lucky there. Obviously after that point who knows what would have happened? However there was a clear handball in the box not given to united in that game.
3) I disagree that vidic should have been sent off. The challenge he got carded for DID NOT prevent a CLEAR GOAL SCORING OPPORTUNITY as the ball went to the goalkeeper. Yellow card was correct. He did make a challenge that COULD HAVE earned him a 2nd yellow but in the context of the decisions made in the game then the decision not not give a 2nd yellow was correct:

- Hitlespergers challenge on Park from behind (just before vidic gave away the pen) was much worse than vidic's.....no card given.
- Da costas repeated fouling of Rooney only earned a card after the 3rd time he came through the back of him.

The ref clearly wanted to keep it 11 v 11 giving both team's the benefit of the doubt.
(This is the problem with ABU's they only ever SEE decisions given for United and forget those that go against them)
Also vidic would have had a 1 game ban not 2 if he were sent off either for a straight red for the 1st challenge or for a 2nd yellow.

4) Vidic was certainly lucky against arsenal, but they won the game anyway although i accept the vidic would have been banned for the chelsea game. Not a two game ban though!!! (Where are you getting these supposed 2 game bans from?)
5) The rafael foul in the Blackpool game was 60:40, bit lucky i agree but youv seen these types of decisions before....one notable example was Distin on Ronaldo in the FA Cup semi united v portsmouth a couple of years ago.



5) Rooney red vs wigan, yes he was lucky but t

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5) Blackpool: - Plus there was the Elbow to Evra, Evra was off being treated when Blackpool scored the first goal, and there was no card (if Rooney should have been sent off V Wiggan this should have been a sending off too - Want to Hazzard a guess at whose Elbow it was?) So Blackpool will have been down to ten men and probably wouldnt have scored at all.

6) He was trying to run into Rooney to stop him getting to the ball at the time, so if Rooney should have been carded they both should have been carded.

1) If Neville was lucky, Huth and others on the Stoke side were just as lucky, there was some pretty rough tackling from Stoke players that Huth and others were lucky not to be yellow carded twice.

How about at Anfield, when not only should Garagher have been sent off for his foul on nani, but if you watch the footage, Garrard pushed Nani over when the players were involved in the heated discussion with the Ref, had Liverpool been reduced to 9 men as they should, Ill bet the result would have been different.

For every example against United this season there are two or more where they were robbed by poor refereeing decisions, they dont count though do they.

@ 70. At 17:09pm 15th May 2011, mo_waddah wrote:

I think you might be confusing strength with competitiveness. Sure, the EPL is more competitive than La Liga, but look at the top teams in the two leagues and you have to say the Spanish teams are generally better than the English: Barca, Real, Valencia, Seville, Villarreal, At. Madrid, and Espanyol - Are Better Than - Man Utd. Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton. You might disagree...

--------------------------------

I don't just disagree. I will go one step further and say "dream on". :)

@70 Don't know what logic you are using to compare the teams. I will simply use their league positions.

1. United vs Barca - soon to see
2. Chelsea vs Madrid - Madrid are better
3. Arsenal vs Valencia - Arsenal would win
4. City vs Villareal - City would win
5. Liverpool vs At. Bilbao - Liverpool would win
6. Spurs vs Seville - Spurs would win

The only thing that La Liga has over the EPL is a far greater amount of domestically produced talent. Changing this trend is most likely to be the reason behind the FA's restructuring of grassroots football.

look at the top teams in the two leagues and you have to say the Spanish teams are generally better than the English: Barca, Real, Valencia, Seville, Villarreal, At. Madrid, and Espanyol - Are Better Than - Man Utd. Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton.
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How and on what basis can you say that? Why are Villarreal or Sevilla or Atletico better than any of the Premier League's teams? Pretty sure Fulham took them all the way to extra time in the EL final last season...

Please let's all wait until May 28th before passing judgement on this team. This has easily been the worst premier league regarding standards for the last 10 years. United have won the league with a low points total thanks mainly to other teams defaulting, luck, and an excellent manager maximising his team's potential. When I say 'luck' I include here blows of good fortune on the field and key polemic refereeing decisions.

In fact Sir Alex hasn't really rebuilt his squad at all. It's more or less ticked along under its own inertia and the ageing team looks much weaker than 5 years ago overall. You have to give Sir Alex credit for what he has done but he certainly has had huge blows of good fortune this season which should come to an abrupt end on May 28th when the real champions of football come to town.

@75: So, if Barca beat United at Wembley it means that SAF and this team dont deserve any credit? I fail to understand that logic. Look, all this nonsense that the achievement of winning the league this year should be devalued because a few bitter fans of other, losing, clubs proclaim it to be the 'worst' season of recent memory is just that - nonsense.

Yes, its a fact that the points totals are lower than in the past, but look closely and what does that REALLY indicate? It shows that the rest of the league are stronger now than they were, say, 5-10 years ago.

Want more proof? If the teams at the top of the league are so poor, that would show itself in poor performance in Europe. But, guess what? United are in the CL final for the third time in four years. Barca aside, thats the best record in Europe. And the other PL clubs have a good showing in the CL too in recent years. Even Fulham got to the Europa League final last year, dont forget, and they are hardly a top team.

Look, the critics and United haters will grasp at straws and make ridiculous, negative arguments all day long to take the shine off yet another United title. It means nowt, though. If you dont have anything positive or constructive to say just say nothing at all, please, because you only succeed in making yourselves look petty and bitter...

OK do either of you Football_UK or LawBestCharlton watch La Liga every week? Its fine to stand up for your teams and league, and but don't make judgments until you have watched both leagues consistently! There is no doubt there are more quality players in La Liga than the EPL, despite the hegemony of English media.

"All the top clubs are in transition some will be able to spend and some will not. Fergie has always been able to spend when required; Utd fans will he able to do so next season? And if he is not able to compete for the top names, what next?"

DOES IT MATTER IF FERGIE CAN'T GET THE BIG MONEY STRIKERS - NO!.....he has got more desire and drive in his little finger than (with the possible exception of Dalglish) any other Premier league Manager....it might be a form of workplace bullying...but you rarely hear and ex MU pro complaining...he teaches them the desire to WIN!

Sir Alex is truly the greatest. Some managers are cherry pickers, eg the complainer at Madrid, and some have their few days in the sun, but Sir Alex has built teams and rebuilt teams and rebuilt teams on an ongoing basis, certainly a requirement for being credited as an outstanding manager.

Well done Man U and worderful performance Sir Alex. long live the king!

76. At 17:52pm 15th May 2011, LawBestCharlton wrote:

How and on what basis can you say that? Why are Villarreal or Sevilla or Atletico better than any of the Premier League's teams? Pretty sure Fulham took them all the way to extra time in the EL final last season...

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Atletico Madrid won the Europa League while finishing 9th domestically, knocking out Liverpool ( 7th ) and Fulham ( 9th ) in the process. I would say that he standard of La Liga and the EPL is pretty similar from 7th downwards, which I think has been shown with English teams' poor performances ( Fulham excepted ) in the last few seasons of the UC/EL. The top 2 in Spain are better than the top 2 in England, but the English league is stronger from places 3-6.

Also, I would say that it is erroneous to say that one team or league is better, based on one particular match or tie. Otherwise you could make a case for the Portuguese league being as strong as the English league because their 4th-placed team beat the 5th-placed team in the EPL !

@ 77. At 17:59pm 15th May 2011, mo_waddah wrote:

OK do either of you Football_UK or LawBestCharlton watch La Liga every week? Its fine to stand up for your teams and league, and but don't make judgments until you have watched both leagues consistently! There is no doubt there are more quality players in La Liga than the EPL, despite the hegemony of English media.

-----------------------------------------------

Are you telling me that I have to watch both La Liga and Premiership, on a weekly basis, in order to have an opinion? Meaning, I shouldn't have a life for anything else than football matches? Why not add Series A', Bundesliga, Portugese and Russian leagues, all on a weekly basis, in order for us all to get successful in getting divorced by our wives, along with acquiring a more balanced opinion in which, more or less, we are right anyway ? :)

Should I remind you, too, that Villareal and Atletico Madrid were both embarrassed in Europa Cup this season by too second-rate Greek teams in PAOK Salonica and Aris Salonica in the group stages? Had it been Premiership sides, you'd all be saying the Premiership is dissolving.

Or should I mention that Barcelona this season have made approximately £180m from TV money, while Real have made some £120m, at a time when Manchester United will make £59m and the last side on the Premiership table will make £29m (or £39m - I don't remember the figure but it's one of the two) ?

Or should I remind you that, while Ronaldo was playing at United, you were all singing even death wishes for him, after his accident in Manchester?

If the top Premiership sides broke away from the SKY collective deals, they would all have more money available for transfers. However, it would be as bad for the Premiership and the lower leagues as bad it is for La Liga. And of course, we shouldn't need to remember that Valencia are fighting bankruptcy, year in, year out.

Decide what you want. You're turning into irritant moaners. Haven't you realised it?

what a myth that Man U get more "lucky" decisions and other teams dont. absolute rubbish.it all evens out and the best team wins the league, the worst 3 go down. incredible that some people are saying lucky decisions gave united the league!!!
ARE U WATCHING MERSEYSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Utter rubbish - another pyrrhic victory.
Bullying, intimidating refs/F.A........hmmm another tainted 'win'.

@76: On the contrary, Sir Alex must be given credit for winning the English league. Whatever happens on May 28th United will still be the English champions. It's a great achievement.

Nevertheless, it's prefectly reasonable to say that this is not a great team and I think the praise Sir Alex deserves is for doing a maintenance job rather than a rebuilding one. That's not his fault because the owners have asked him to do exactly that.

83. At 18:27pm 15th May 2011, AndyRAC wrote:
Utter rubbish - another pyrrhic victory.
Bullying, intimidating refs/F.A........hmmm another tainted 'win'.

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do you actually understand the word 'pyrric'?

i dont see how this league title victory will have a devastating effect on anyone other than uniteds rivals.

lool easy didn't realize it would ruin your life to watch la Liga! But here you are claiming EPL is stronger than La Liga, admitting you don't watch La Liga, and referring to cash spent from TV revenue (look at citeh n chelsea spending!) btw I am man utd fan :) and PAOk isn't that bad a team! Just watch the Greek league... JK

Sir Alex Ferguson has done a fantastic job over the years rebuilding his squad, but he has a massive task ahead over the summer following the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Something Arsene Wenger has struggled with since the retirements of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann. Other than van der Sar, Schmeichel and arguably Fabien Barthez, Fergie has made some bad choice when signing goalkeepers over the years... Massimo Taibi, Mark Bosnich, Roy Carroll and Tomasz Kuszczak spring to mind. Ben Foster didn't stay long either.
https://www.barriesview.com/2011/05/how-the-league-was-won-the-last-15-minutes

People forget that, besides the sheer determination for United to succeed, Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't stop being a pragmatist, a realist.

It is well documented how much he wanted for United to win most titles than any other English side at top level. Yet, he was the first to acknowledge that Liverpool are back in the hunting of the title, before even pundits started mentioning it.

Besides what he said about Manchester City's rise 2 seasons ago, it didn't stop him declaring that Manchester City are a visible threat to the next title challenge.

A lot is said about h

I think he meant 'polemic' rather than 'pyrrhic' It was certainly another controversial penalty called apparently by United's players.

In fact I think's it's the opposite of a pyrrhic victory or rather draw because Sir Alex will now be able to go at half steam against Blackpool reducing injury risk to key players and effectively gaining an extra week to prepare for the real test.

A lot is said about SAF's treatment of referees, when decisions don't go United's way.
Still, people fail to realise that, perhaps, he uses such statements for internal reasons, not wanting to place defeatist thoughts in his squad.

Yet, we know by his actions what the rest of his reactions tend to be: players who fail to perform do not keep being treated like precious babies but tend to be watching following matches from the stands.

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the greatest football managers in the last 100 years. It isn't just his achievements in trophies indicating to that. It isn't just teams built with expensive acquisitions or lucky years in youth batches coming good. The 2011 class of Manchester United might be no close to top if the manager was a different one. Perhaps, we'll agree on that.

What's worrying for fans of opponents' clubs is that SAF has a very vivid history in strengthening the squad when he sees danger. And danger at the end of this season is vivid, both from Liverpool and Manchester City, not to mention Chelsea rebuilding and Arsenal (hopefully for their sake) ready to change approach to football investing.

Th same thing happened in the league this year as in every previous year and in every other league ... the best team won.

It's not United's fault that Arsenal fall apart on command, the Chelsea team is held together by spit or that Liverpool either live in the past or the never-never. Nor is it United's fault that Real Madrid and Barcelona aren't in the English Premier League.

The best team won the league. Again.

66. At 16:44pm 15th May 2011, AntonioSaucedo wrote:

"The EPL has been a one-horse race since its inception and the same horse will win again next year. I don't think Chicharito (double ch) will have a good second season and will fade into oblivion so that we won't have to look at his shmanistic ritual at the beginning of every game. It'll be all about Rooney, Berbatov, and Nani, as it should be."

I don't know what is worse, this ridiculous comment, virtually attacking Hernandez' religious beliefs and pre-kick off ritual or the countless people spouting rubbish about how lucky United were, amongst other bouts of rubbish.

Every team gets good and bad decisions, the level of coverage they get is more highlighted at the top clubs and in games when the stakes are high. When the game means nothing there is very little mentioned about it or it is never talked about. Referees are human beings and will get decisions wrong. If any of you have never made a mistake during a game or at work, then you can turn around and criticise referees. Otherwise, talk about something that doesn't make you look like a complete idiot or hypocrit. That is more or less a fact as far as I am concerned.

I fail to see how anyone can sit here and attack people for praising Ferguson's tactics or team building skills. If he wasn't the best, if not, one of the best managers to have ever graced the game, then why does he sit here with yet another league title and the possibilty of another champions league? Ah yes, that silence is golden, because nobody can argue against that. No matter how much of an idiot Ferguson can portray himself in the media, Arsene Wenger is just as bad for the moaning and that "I did not see it, I will have to look at it again" line that he always mutters. Pot calling the kettle black? (or whatever way that saying goes lol)

Some very simple minded people here who clearly don't know their rear end from their elbow or have the sight to see (or in other circumstance hear) what actually happens.

@76 the job SAF is doing is neither maintenance nor re-building it is both. it is more like a conveyor belt with players covering the full range of age and experience.

purchases will need to be made for sure, along with some transfers out or retirements.

there are quite a few good prospects on loan, in the reserves and in the u18s, some of these will begin to get a chance next season.

then you have the players in the 20-25 bracket, there are quite a number of these if you think about it, rooney, nani, da silva twins, smalling, anderson, chicharito, etc.

and you have a good few regulars in the 25-30 group, all with a good chance of playing for 4-5 yrs or more for those like valencia and fletcher.

the older boys like rio, vidic, evra take over the mantle from the retiring legends and the cycle continues.

the players that need immediate replacing are scholes, hargreaves and vds and maybe one more purchase tops.

I think SAF wil go as long as he feels he is needed. He knows that the team will suffer when he goes, and with a record like that, it is inevitable. But he will not leave as long as city are breathing down their necks. He can't be comfortable about that. After all, these guys have a lot of money.

I am a city fan. A rare city fan, as I do like Man Utd. After all, when watching the champions league, I am more happy to support a home side than Brussiamunchengladbach. Besides, they are very entertaining, and great to watch. Whjich is more than can be said for my side. It was nice to win a trophy, but I tuned in to watch them win, and not to watch them play football.

Mancini is ok. He does need time to bed in. But he is no SAF. I have read a few posts mentioning City and The Chosen One. I do see that as a possibility. It is certainly not the way SAF wants to leave. He has so much respect for Mouriniho. I think he is one of the only managers he considers a threat. And possibly Dalgliesh. I have been impressed with Liverpool's turn around so quickly.

Anyhow, my point was that I think SAF would rather groom Mouriniho for the role of his replacement, than allow him to join Man City. A string of success for City would really hurt Man Utd.

@89 whilst i wont defend the united players (firstly and blackburn players latterly) for hounding the ref, the only controversial thing about the pen was that the ref and/or linesman didnt give it immediately. it was a clear pen, no question, that hernandez played for and won, fairly. the same as lucas played for and fairly won a penalty against arsenal a couple of weeks ago.

squad in transition yet we reach the champions league final and win the league. i personally think we need to get rid of kuschack,evans,gibson,carrick,owen,diouf and bebe whilst replacing them by buying de gea, sjneider and lukaku whilst bringing cleverly, welbeck and de laet in from the reserves.

Pallister has hit the nail on the head. I am no Manchester United fan, but you can only admire the way Fergie knits together title winning teams year in, year out.

My team, the Arsenal, have some gifted footballers and some precocious young talent, but completely lack the balance between work rate, team ethic and flair that this United side, to all our envy, has in spades. You get fed up of United's success sometimes and the seemingly easy time of it their supporters get, but I can no longer be blinkered to factually the most successful league club and the red nosed scot who leads them. Great club, great manager and fully deserving of their title this year.

This is the time Scholes needs to hang up his boots. Not because of how he's played this season but I think it would be too much for United if both Scholes and Giggs retired at the same time.

Giggs has signed for another year and thats great, but you have to assume that it will be his last from a management point of view, even if it isn't. Its better to be prepared for Giggs to leave at the end of next season then he stay another year than not to have replacements ready. To do this the Scholes situation needs to be resolved, and this would be a great time for him to bow out.

Its been a pleasure to watch Scholes over the years and it will be sad to watch him move on but it is time.

So proud of the team this season whatever happens on the 28th, United have proved everybody (or most people) wrong again.

The futures looking bright, long may United's dominance continue

Jealous opponents' fans have been waiting for SAF to retire some 4-5 seasons now(?).
The same fans were celebrating when Robson retired, when Cantona retired early, when Roy Keane left, when Ronaldo and Tevez left. Yet, United are still around and loud.

United will still be around after the day Sir Alex Ferguson retires. And this is because United :

1. are the club that brings the highest revenue in the Premiership, for years now;
2. have a stadium holding 76,212 seats;
3. have the largest worldwide base of fans;
4. are top earners from merchandise sales, since years ago.

This financial success takes years to build.
Manchester United are a club that can attract top talent and the best managers around. It's just because they're Manchester United.

Is it so difficult to understand?

@97 great comment. i wish others could be as magnanimous.