Premier League 2008/09 - Same Old Tricks
The Same Old Tricks
Even the master has to resort to the basics from time to time. Sir Alex Ferguson has used mind games to great effect in the past, but his latest attempt has more than a whiff of pointing over someone’s shoulder, saying “wow, what’s that?” and scarperring off when the other person briefly turns to look.
The irritation of a summer spent answering questions about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Man Utd bored Sir Alex and forced him to create a new talking point. In between yawns, he claims that Chelsea are too old to win the league or Champions League. “Chelsea are an experienced side and I don’t see outstanding progress coming from a team in their 30s,” he said and considering Chelsea finished as runners up on European and domestic fronts last season, outstanding progress can only mean victory in one or both of these competitions.
The claim that Chelsea are too old is about as convincing as Ashley Cole explaining to Cheryl that he spent the night in a mate’s house. Claude Makelele, the only pensioner who could realistically be described as approaching a pensionable age, has moved on to PSG, meaning the average age of the squad falls. That leaves Michael Ballack, the 31 year old who almost single-handedly dragged the Blues back into last year’s title race and guided Germany to a Euro 2008 final that their squad’s combined talents scarcely merited as the oldest player likely to feature regularly in the starting XI. After a long settling in period, it’s clear that Ballack has a lot to offer as do other thirty-somethings Drogba and Carvalho. Even if Frank Lampard leaves, Michael Essien will take the more prominent role in the Chelsea team that he has tantalisingly suggested he’s more than capable of accepting. Looking at the evidence, I doubt if Fergie really believes what he said himself.
Maybe it’s a sporting form of projection, a defence mechanism where you accuse others of the insecurities you see in yourself. Scholes, Giggs, Van der Saar and club captain Neville have been loyal servants, but Fergie may be starting to question just how much of a role they will be able to play in United’s future progress, particularly if forty goals a season make the move to Real Madrid.
If the goal is to upset Phil Scolari, it won’t work. Scolari may respond with an equally amusing sound-bite, but not for one nano-second will it shake the Brazilian’s self belief or his confidence in his talented squad.
Probably the most discouraging news is for Liverpool and Arsenal fans who rather than receiving the honour of a Fergie mind game, are simply fobbed off with a less than convincing “I wouldn’t write off Liverpool or Arsenal. It has been understated what Arsenal achieved last season.”
Is Fergie right? Are Chelsea really over the hill or is he clutching at straws?
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July 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Cant see how he can make this judgement myself as a midfield of Essien and Ballack would be even stronger minus lampard.I think Chelsea are Uniteds biggest threat to 3 in a row but is Scolari the man to do it.Yes he won a World Cup but defensively especially with Portugal it seems that he may have a failing.Arsenal and Liverpool will be there abouts but I cant see either prolonging a challenge into April
July 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
come on sully, don’t you know it’s DEFINITELY liverpool’s year this year? barry and keane are the final pieces in the jigsaw.
“final pieces in the jigsaw” - ©1991-2008
July 24th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
With Torres in the form hes in and Agger back to full fitness I wouldnt be writing them off but if Benitez persists with this rotation policy they will be left behind by Christmas
July 24th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
itl be hard to look past utd if ronaldo stays, think arsenal could be the dark horses of the chasing pack
July 24th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Even if Ronaldo leaves once Rooney Tevez and Vidic remain United will be fine
July 24th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
After Tevezs comments today hel be lucky to wear the utd shirt again (Joke). Chelsea are definitley Utds main challengers. Liverpool will be shouting “Wel do it next year” by november if Rafa rotates people like Hearts do mangers. Arsenal look very lightweight at the mo with Hleb & Flamini gone so unless Wenger pulls another hidden talent out of the bag theyl be 3rd at best im not to familar with this new bloke hes bought from Marsielle but wel just have to wait and see plus theres enough time yet for all the top four strating IX to change.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Id say Tevez comments got lost in translation but anyway Uniteds biggest challenge in both England and Europe will be Chelsea again no question but Liverpool and Arsenal have the ability to challenge but have they the mental strength to last till the end.Portsmouth at 10/1 without the big four looks worth a punt as does Coventry e/w at 25/1 to win the Coca Cola Championship
July 24th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Sully you know nothing about football like..
July 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I dissagree with your view on Chelsea being Utds main challengers in europe. I fancy a dark horse taking the Champions Leuage this year. Athletico Madrid or Bayern Munich maybe.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I wouldnt limit it to United and Chelsea either but Athletico Madrid and Bayern who have to progress at a dramatic rate to get to the latter stages (ie semis). For me it gonna be the same ol faces at the business end. The big 2 from England and Spain. Id expect Real to finally get past the last 16 this season.
July 25th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
The competition will be missing some of the usual suspect teams ie Valencia,AC Millan who will be replaced by Fiorentina(Providing they qualify from the pelims) and Villareal respectivley. Bayern had a pretty good season last year the only blackspot would be there hammering to a very good Zenit side in the UEFA cup but there form in the competition will depend on how Ribery recovers from his injury. I dont fancy 3 english teams making the semis this year. But Atletico Madrid a 33-1 is definitley worth a bet or two.
July 26th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Two horse race again in England, with Wenger’s refusal to get the cheque book out on proven talent, Liverpool unfortunately hope for a decent run in the CL again. As for the tip on Athletico Madrid, behave yourself. They have had money thrown at them granted, but it takes far more than that to be competitive in the CL.
July 26th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Don’t like them season long bets mate, just lay the Dubs and you will only have four weeks to collect lol
July 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
You will see today what an Ulster team will do to a team that the Dubs struggled to beat
July 26th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
alex would never mention anything like this if he wasn’t afraid of chelsea. besides, if you turn the mirror back at utd, its not like they’re made up of spring chickens: Van de Sar, Neville, Giggs, Ferdinand, Scholes etc
July 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Ronaldo, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Tevez, Hargreaves etc…….
Fergie is just having another wind-up, of course he thinks Chelsea are a threat. People take the bait every time… Its comical!!!
July 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Ferguson holds no fear for Chelsea or any team for that matter its just his way of getting the mind games under way. Whether United are playing Real Madrid or Exeter City Fergie always has a wind up or two before the game.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Paper never refused ink lads
August 4th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
He should immediately retract his comments. ManU will struggle to produce last season’s form IMHO
August 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Thats only trick of fergie as he too know, there’s only chelsea who can challenge them in long run.
But this time the tricks dont gonna work…..
Chelsea rocks…..
August 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
With adebayor and van persie up front arsenal will whip everyones butts and if they keep gallas and toure fit then they will have the best defence ever. ARSENAL ARE THE BEST
August 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Yall know chelsea is the main threat European football.with big phil and old chelsea(fergie)its a fatal four way.and chelsea is gonna win it all.4cups this season no doubt.kick off 17-08-2008.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am
My friends are asking for a price on the Paddyslam. Over to you.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Man United to win the league with 4 games to spare this year. Arseanl to finish 2nd, Carlos Vella to shock the premier league and be a real force to be reckoned with this season, scoring around 15 league goals. Chelsea to finish 3rd but will bring the race for 2nd all the way to the last day of the season. The race for 4th will too go to the last day, Spurs to pip Liverpool to the CL spot IF the keep their back 4 fit (Hutton, King, Woodgate and Bale). Darren bent to score a hat full of goals this season, mark my word. Spurs finally have a top 4 team, especially if Berbatov stays, but if he goes he will be replaced with quality (Santa Cruz to continue his remarkable partnership with Bentley). Hull and Stoke to go straight back down. Bolton or Fulham to join them. Wouldn’t surprise me to see Blackburn struggle big time, but will avoid the drop much like Newcastle last year. Pompey will be mid table this year. Villa and Everton will fight for 6th with Liverpool ending up 5th. West Ham will be closer to the bottom than the top, Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom all finishing mid-table.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Oh and Wigan to finish in top half, Man City to finish mid-table.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:58 am
lads
bet of the season and it has only started is torres top premership scorer 7/2 , nobody will touch him ,ronaldo will go after xmass ,will the man united supporters boo or cheer when he comes back ,i hope they boo ,well i dont really care as long as they lose ,come on the pool ,this season will be close . mark hughes to be the first manager casualty
August 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
agree - torres looks a good thing for top scorer. but ronaldo to leave at xmas when cup-tied in europe? wishful thinking i think. the fact that he’s missing the first 6 weeks or so of the season then has to get match fit, will probably give torres a 5 or 6 goal head start.
elsewhere if hughes doesn’t resign, he won’t be sacked. i think rafa could be a bit of value to be first to go at 18/1. already under pressure to deliver, i doubt it would take much to persuade the yanks to give him the boot - i see another mourinho situation here. as a united fan, i’m praying they offer him a new 10 year contract. southgate at 16/1 also seems big.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
lets all bank rupt paddy powers and do torress , im taking all my butter vouchers to the shop and putting them on fernando ,as for ronaldo he wont like the fans being on his back booing ,so thats why i think he will go after xmass , if he scores in his first game back the crowd might turn his way , theres a bet ,when ronaldo scores will he or wont he kiss the crest ,1/2 yes evs no
August 16th, 2008 at 12:07 am
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August 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
chelsea looked awesome yesterday, they have some world class players and deco is yet another one. looking at uniteds team and bench they dont look that hot, i know they have a lot of players out.i dont think fergie has enough depth in his squad to keep it up for afull season. liverpool looked very ordinary and relly struggled to beat sunderland,sadly as aliverpool fan i think it will be the same old story ,out of it by christmas. raffa never improved his squad he just replaced players. they should have kept crouch and left themselves more attackin options. aresenal looked good and could over achieve this season again and surprise us all. but i think chelsea for the league this year, united will have to stay on 17 titles for a while yet.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
paddy an idea for a novely bet would be how many times tonton zola gets told in a blog that he talks s**t. i will start the ball rolling TONTON YOU TALK SHIT
August 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
this should be an ABU BLOG, as for chelsea they wer good ,as for tonton speaking sh???
i think he should stand up for himself , did anyone do torres top goalscorer ,i asked paddy to pay out on him already since he did on stoke being relageated ,
August 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
thirsty - why so angry? where’s the love man?
happen to agree with you about the big 4 - chelsea looked very good yesterday. wouldn’t write united off just yet - after all that squad did win the double last season - although with their next 3 games being portsmouth, chelsea and arsenal away, with so many attacking options unavailable, we could have given ourselves too much to do by the time everyone’s back. we could really do with berbatov signed, sealed and delivered before the pompey match. i still think arsenal could again be the surprise package - but think they lack the strength in depth to go a full season at the top. chelsea’s to lose in my opinion.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
LOL! scholes is “especially s**t”? try watching some football sonny jim. chelsea looking good though.
i’d happily take some evens about rooney to score 10 or more league goals. anyone want to take me on?
August 18th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
How could we verify the effectiveness of such a possibility?
August 24th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
chelsea have a seriously good team cant see anyone getting close to them this year. the will win it by at least 10 points , uniteds fixture build up will catch up
August 24th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
the pool have got of to a good start, albeit slight lucky.
if they’re still in the hunt come christmas, they should have a good chance