Sir Alex tongue-tied by FA after fine

 

Sir Alex Ferguson had his wrists slapped by the FA on Friday, receiving a £12,000 fine for comments made about match officials.

The Manchester United manager implied referee's assistant Simon Beck had been motivated by bias in his failure to award the Premier League leaders a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

The Old Trafford boss might be advised to hold his tongue before making such comments in the future, though why change the habit of a lifetime at 71? 

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Manchester United have one hand on the title after City's latest surrender

 

Sergio Aguero's spectacular equaliser salvaged a point for the champions, yet after Sir Alex Ferguson's men downed Fulham 1-0 just 24 hours earlier, it was again a case of two points lost.

The Red Devils now sit nine points clear at the top of the table, and even the most optimistic of fans would agree City have already surrendered in the title race...

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Which of Europe's card sharks is holding the aces this year?

 

Stick or twist? That's the real question as Europe's top bosses limber up to do battle in the second half of the season - even if they all seem to be playing their own game.

Will Arsene Wenger Go Fish this January? Who'd win in Top Trumps if Jose and Tito laid their star cards down?

How long before Roman increases the tension on Rafa before he hears that all-too-familiar Snap and finds a new willing victim for Bridge?
Can Pep, er, pep up the Bayern players after the upcoming depature of Old Maid Jupp? And will Sir Alex Beggar My (noisy) Neighbour to reclaim the Premier League crown?

All we know is we want to be in the room if this game ever takes place...
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Zaha set to take the plunge with Manchester United

 

Wilfried Zaha has made quite the name for himself in the Championship with Crystal Palace and is subsequently being coveted by the cream of the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger registered his interest in the prodigal 20-year-old back in November but as the January transfer window draws nearer to its conclusion, it appears Manchester United are on the verge of clinching the transfer of Zaha.

Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to offer the south London club £17 million to take the wonderkid to Old Trafford. Zaha has scored five goals from 32 games this season playing the majority of his matches from wide positions and was rewarded by Roy Hodgson with his first England cap in a friendly against Sweden.

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Thawly not?! Wenger & Sir Alex Ferguson left frustrated after dropped points in the snow

 

A snowy Sunday saw both Manchester United and Arsenal suffer setbacks in the Premier League, with Sir Alex Ferguson's men losing ground in the title race while Arsene Wenger's side hindered their chances of securing a top-four spot.

A late Clint Dempsey strike rescued a point for Tottenham against the Premier League leaders at White Hart Lane, while a timid opening half at Stamford Bridge saw the Gunners ship two goals as Theo Walcott's effort after the break could not inspire a comeback against Chelsea.

The draw led Sir Alex to slam the performance of assistant referee Simon Beck, while Wenger insists his players cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to secure a Champions League place for next season.

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Manchester in two-horse race for the title as Arsenal and Liverpool are left behind

 

The two Manchester clubs look set to battle it out for the Premier League title alone after their latest victories on Sunday.

First, Manchester United beat rivals Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford, despite a second half revival from Brendan Rodgers' side, before Manchester City secured three points with a convincing 2-0 victory over Arsenal.

Roberto Mancini's side may be seven points adrift of the leaders, but the performance at the Emirates Stadium indicated the title race is very much a two-horse race.

Chelsea may remain an outside bet after their convincing 4-0 victory over Stoke on Saturday, but the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool have been left flagging far behind.


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Super Van Persie rescues Manchester United in the nick of time

 

Robin van Persie scores when he wants. What started as a defiant chant by Arsenal fans last season has now been adopted by gleeful Manchester United supporters but, no matter who is doing the singing, they appear to be right.

The Dutchman has continued the blistering form which enabled him to light up north London last season, and on Saturday he notched his 20th goal of the season for United with a last-minute equaliser against West Ham.

Sam Allardyce's men thought they had booked their passage into the FA Cup fourth round courtesy of two James Collins headers but, at the death, substitute Van Persie sensationally took a brilliant lofted pass from Ryan Giggs in his stride before rifling the ball low into the net with his supposedly weaker right foot.

The two sides will now have to do battle again to see whose FA Cup dream will stay alive, and only a fool would bet against Van Persie making the difference again.
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Happy New Year! Stars prepare to bring in 2013

 

Spain secured their place in the pages of football history, Chelsea marched to an unlikely Champions League triumph and two of the greatest players of all time have smashed yet more records. 2012 will be difficult to match.

With the fixtures in the world's major leagues wrapped up for the current calendar year, the game's biggest and brightest can celebrate a job (mostly) well done.

But there's plenty more to look forward to in 2013. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will carry on and, in all likelihood, reach a few more remarkable landmarks. A mouthwatering last 16 of the Champions League awaits. And, when all else fails, there's Mario Balotelli.

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Walcott hat-trick leaves Wenger fending off buyers

 

As trump cards in contract negotiations go, Theo Walcott played his ace on Saturday evening as his hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a 7-3 victory over Newcastle United.

The England international is yet to sign a new deal with Arsene Wenger's side and with his contract expiring next summer, clubs will begin to step up their interest next month.

Walcott has confirmed talks with Arsenal are ongoing but his recent displays in a striking role could result in better offers elsewhere.
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Furious Ferguson puts Pardew in his place

 

Sir Alex Ferguson slammed 'wee club' Newcastle and their manager Alan Pardew after their boxing day clash at Old Trafford.

Pardew began the war of words by suggesting the Scot should have been sent off for berating the match officials during the game.

However, the 70-year-old hit back at the Magpies' boss and with some force too. He accused Pardew of being the worst at "haranguing" referees, and suggested the world is more inclined to take note of spats involving the "most famous club in world" instead of a "wee club in the north-east". 

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Manchester City the Christmas turkeys

 

After Manchester United opened up an seven point gap at the top of the league on Boxing Day over rivals Manchester City, manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks as if he's having the last festive laugh of the year.

With the reigning champions slumping to a 1-0 defeat away at Sunderland for the second season running courtesy of a Joe Hart howler, both Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tevez will be hopping mad at both the disappointing result and lacklustre performance.

Having been pipped to the league title last season, though, Ferguson, or Santa Claus in this case, will be wary of counting his turkey's before they come home to roost in their pursuit of the league crown this term. For fans of fowl gags, Christmas has come early.
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Ronaldo gets dream date with Sir Alex Ferguson as Real Madrid draw Manchester United

 

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League has been made and thrown up some cracking ties, not least the pairing of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Not only will the tie see Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho clash once again, it will also mean a return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese, who left the Theatre of Dreams in 2009 for a mere £80 million, has already revealed how much he enjoyed his time in Manchester working with Sir Alex and now Ronaldo will get the chance to meet up with his former boss once again.

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Sir Alex, Mancini & Platt star in Mancbeth

 

By George Ankers

ACT I, SCENE I. A mysterious heath.

Thunder and lightning. A sofa. A familiar theme tune. Enter three witches.

ALAN, THE FIRST WITCH: When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?

GARY, THE SECOND WITCH: It'll be next Saturday at 22.35GMT, Alan, same as usual. You're contractually obliged.

ALAN, THE THIRD WITCH: A drum, a drum! Mancbini doth come. He's come right up to us and he'll be happy with that.

Enter Roberto Mancbini and his loyal friend, Plattquo.

MANCBINI: So foul and fair a day I have not seen. Not since Lady Macbalo set off a firework in the dressing room, anyway...

PLATTQUO: Yes, boss. (GASPS.) What are these, so wither'd and so bland in their attire, that speak not like inhabitants o' the television and yet are on't?

MANCBINI: Speak, if you can: What are you?

SECOND WITCH: Hail, Mancbini! Hail to thee, Thane of Premis!

FIRST WITCH: Hail. Pace. Power. Commitment.

THIRD WITCH: Hail, Mancbini, thou shalt be king in Manchester hereafter! I can't see anyone beating you on this form.

PLATTQUO: Of what do you speak, ladies?

SECOND WITCH: Mancbini, thou hast glory'd thyself in bloody battle. Brave Mancbini, for well thee deserveth the name, thou hast led thy men to victory of six to one at thy enemy's castle.

THIRD WITCH: Thou couldst say that the key was how you scored more goals then they did.

SECOND WITCH: Yet now Ferguson, King of Manchester, bringeth his host to thy gates. Forsooth, the hour of thy crowning is come.

MANCBINI: No, no ... Ferguson, he is the King. The fates favour them.

FIRST WITCH: The King relieth too greatly on his young sons and retainers. Thou shalt not be victorious with babes.

MANCBINI: No. For us it is too difficult, I think.

THIRD WITCH: Etihad Castle is a hard place to go and get a result. I can't look past you.

MANCBINI: We have no chance.

PLATTQUO: Ladies, thine efforts are for naught. I hath cajol'd the boss for hours. He is stubborn.

SECOND WITCH: Brave Mancbini, witness our spell and be convinced.

The CAULDRON comes alight.

SECOND WITCH: Double, double, toil and trouble.

FIRST WITCH: Pace, power, leadership and commitment.

THIRD WITCH: Er ... suppose you've some kind of small amphibian. It's like a lizard, I guess, but ... not. I haven't really looked it up, to be honest. And there's this sort of circular ball in its face that it uses to see things...

The CAULDRON bubbles furiously, billowing smoke into the night sky.

SECOND WITCH: What dost thou see, brave Mancbini?

MANCBINI: Mine own visage in the smoke! Wherefore dost thou show me this?

FIRST WITCH: Look on.

MANCBINI: On mine head ... the crown of Manchester's King! It is taken from Ferguson to me! How canst this be? They art above us in the statisticians' reckonings.

SECOND WITCH: Forsooth, he shall not linger much longer over his domain.

MANCBINI: I must needs kill the King?

SECOND WITCH: Ay! Speaketh not in terms so literal. Don't go giving Lady Macbalo any ideas.

FIRST WITCH: Thy midfield is miles ahead, that's all.

The Witches vanish. MANISH, THE FOURTH WITCH tries to jump out from behind a tree with a Tupperware cauldron and CLARIDGE, THE BLACK CAT perched on his shoulder but MANCBINI and PLATTQUO exeunt with haste.

MANCBINI: King of Manchester! This I like...
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Mourinho ignores Manchester to stay at Madrid…for now

 

While relations have become strained between Real Madrid and manager Jose Mourinho in recent weeks, the Portuguese boss insisted on Monday that he has no intention of leaving Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Despite Saturday's 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos still trail their city rivals by five points, with Barcelona maintaing their 11 point lead at the top of La Liga.

However, with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recently touting 'the Special One' to replace him at Old Trafford, and Manchester City long-term admirers of the 49-year-old, it may Mourinho who chooses to ditch Real next summer...

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Sir Alex immortalised in front of Manchester United legends past & present

 

After 26 barnstorming years at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson was immortalised on Friday afternoon as a bronze statue of the Scot was unveiled at Old Trafford.

During the 70-year-old's reign at the club, United have scooped 12 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and FA Cups - a feat which is unlikely to be repeated by a single manager in England.

Around 2,500 supporters, the first-team squad and former United players including Eric Cantona, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Peter Schmeichel, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Bobby Charlton were all in attendance to mark Friday's unveiling.

"It's a proud moment," Ferguson told MUTV.

"Normally people die before people see their statue. I'm outliving death!"

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Bah Humbug - Ronaldo a 'Christmas wish' too far for Sir Alex Ferguson & Manchester United

 

He would be quite the stocking filler for Manchester United but even Sir Alex Ferguson admits the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford is just a "Christmas wish".

Last week, Sir Alex claimed the door is always open for the Portuguese international to make his return to United, although the 70-year-old conceded the forward would be "unbuyable" from Real Madrid.

With Roberto Di Matteo possibly bolstering his Chelsea ranks with the perfect festive gift in the form of Atletico Madrid ace Falcao, Sir Alex may have to poke around the January sales to find ways of improving his side.

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Vidic set for Russia exile as Fergie eyes the money

 

With Rio Ferdinand's shelf-life waning at 33 years of age, the last player Manchester United fans expected to see leave the club may well have been Nemanja Vidic.

The Serbia international is 30-years-old himself, however, and Goal.com exclusively revealed that the Red Devils could consider cashing in on a considerable offer from interested Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

The money spent by Zenit St. Petersburg on Hulk and Axel Witsel perhaps caught the eye of Ferguson, who could yet send Vidic the same way.

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Copy-cat Mourinho looks to emulate Sir Alex

 

At 49, Jose Mourinho is already part of the managerial furniture in world football but the Real Madrid boss insists he wants to emulate the coaching lifespan of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 70-year-old is just over a month shy of his 26th year in charge at Old Trafford but Mourinho admits he is likely to continue his own career along the same path as the Scot.

"I understand perfectly why Alex is still in the job [at the age of 70] and I think I will be the same," Mourinho said.

"I love football so much, I love coaching so much. I will still be very young when I become 50 and I believe I have a lot in front of me.

"Fifty is a number with a certain impact - it's a number I believe sometimes has a psychologically negative impact on many people because they realise the world spins very, very fast and our lives are very, very short.

"It's a number that makes me think and look back but also look forward too. I'm such a happy person because what I have done so far I think is amazing."

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Shelvey red with rage at 'grass' Sir Alex

 

Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester United are always memorable games, but for Jonjo Shelvey, Sunday's meeting at Anfield was one to forget.

The 20-year-old was sent off for a challenge on centre-back Jonny Evans in the first half, and was furious with the role he believes Sir Alex Ferguson played in the dismissal.

"I apologise to the fans for getting sent off but no way was I pulling out of that tackle in a game of that importance. Im sorry," Shelvey posted on Twitter.

"I have also apologised to sir Alex, just where I come from people don't grass people up to get someone sent off."
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Sir Alex sweats as Kagawa & Van Persie limp back

 

With Wayne Rooney already sidelined with a gashed leg, the last result Sir Alex Ferguson will have wanted from the international break is more injuries to his collection of forwards.

He will not have been pleased, then, to see Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa limp off their flights back to Manchester. Van Persie was substituted at half-time in the Netherlands' match against Hungary, while Kagawa did not play for Japan against Iraq.

Sir Alex does, at least, have Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck to call upon as the Red Devils prepare to face Wigan Athletic.

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