The first article in the Pointless Press archives goes to an article appearing in today’s Daily Mail and is a great piece of fiction written by Matt Somerford.
You can read the article here.
Basically, Mr Somerford is saying that Gary Neville is probably feeling a bit upset that Fergie did not appeal his sending off against Barnsley in the Carling Cup this week and that Fergie’s inaction on that score probably means that Gary Neville is now being viewed as surplus to requirements and already has one foot through the exit door.
That United have since said that they will be “challenging” the yellow card dished out to Fabio when the card should have been shown to Rafael is supposedly going to make Neville even more miffed.
None of this has come from Sir Alex Ferguson or from Gary Neville, it is pure fiction on the part of the writer.
Firstly, Fergie is probably wise not to rock the FA boat any more than he has done in recent weeks. His comments after the match that the referee was probably right in the current climate to send Neville off for the tackle were not intended to be a slap in the face for Gary Neville, they were intended to put to bed any possibility of the press twisting what he said into some kind of anti-referee rant. Something Fergie doesn’t need at the moment.
Secondly, Gary Neville is still a highly valued member of the squad. Fergie is loyal to his players to the point where it is almost a failing but it is fair to say that at 34 years of age, Gary’s best days are now behind him. He was never going to be a first team regular this season. He has spent a lot of time out injured in recent seasons and during his absence, the team moved on, replacements were recruited and Fergie is pressing ahead with making them fully-fledged first teamers.
If Mr Somerford is hoping that predicting the departure of a 34 year old with about seven months of his contract left to run represents some kind of “scoop”, he’s a sad man.
Thirdly, the Fabio/Rafael mix-up WAS a mistake by the referee, there are no ifs or buts about it. He booked the wrong man. It is a simple mistake because I cannot see any difference between the two either and in Manchester United’s defence, they are playing by the rules here because if they sent Fabio out wearing Rafael’s shirt should Fabio end up with a totting-up ban, I doubt anyone would even realise!
Each case has to be judged on its own merits and United’s decision to appeal one decision is in no way a sleight on the player involved in an incident that they don’t challenge unless Mr Somerford is suggesting that Fergie should challenge every red card ever issued to a United player?
Hardly a policy to make him more popular with the FA!
Anyway, technically, you can’t actually “challenge” a yellow card and I am not sure how the rules stand on this one but surely if the wrong man is booked then the FA should overturn the booking and hand it to the correct man of their own accord anyway without prompting from the football club concerned?
In the current climate, the card given to Gary was probably deserved, as soon as I saw the tackle I thought, “Oh dear, that looked bad”, although Mr Somerford thought it was “a little harsh”.
Replays showed that whilst the tackle itself was not particularly bad, it was the way Neville seemed to bring his leg back and then kick forwards with studs up into his opponent’s leg that landed him in hot water. Quite frankly, it would be very difficult to argue Gary’s case and if an appeal was made which was subsequently turned down then the FA could actually increase the ban handed to Gary for a “frivolous” appeal so the whole process ends up counter-productive.
Gary Neville is one of the more intelligent footballers out there and has been around the block enough times to know how things work.
This is just another mischievous journalist trying to create an imaginary rift between two men who probably have nothing but respect and admiration for each other.
Shame on you Mr Somerford.
