Clantenburg Blunders, but Sir Alex is taking the Mick

Everyone mellows with age. At a relatively tender 25 years old, I am certainly less petulant and reactionary than I was when I was 18, and even then I had more composure than my 15 year old self.

Sir Alex Ferguson is 67. He should be so laid back he is horizontal. He already has legendary status in the world of football, he’s a millionaire and he still has a luxurious retirement to look forward to.

Why then, one wonders, does he still act like a toddler who’s been denied access to his Nintendo DS by mummy after being badly behaved and getting his knees all dirty in the shops?

I can’t help but think back to Arsenal’s game against United at Old Trafford, when Wenger was sent to the stands after kicking a bottle in frustration; an action that seems completely innocuous when compared to Fergy’s embarrassingly dramatic outbursts.

Fair enough, Mark Clattenberg is probably the worst referee in the Premier League at the moment and barely seems to be able to get through a game without making a preposterous decision.

Furthermore the pressure on Premiership managers to succeed is enormous, especially at the top and the bottom of the table. Everyone gets frustrated when the decisions go against them and the odd rant, stamping of feet (or clipping of a bottle) should be understood and overlooked.

But Sir Alex crosses a line with his consistent foul-mouthed tantrums, standing toe-to-toe with officials and subjecting them to the kind of verbal abuse that belongs in the stands, not in an exchange between two people in a professional position.

I know it’s not just me. Our living room groaned collectively when Sir assumed the position during the United-Chelski match today and unleashed another volley of hatred at the official. Even the easy going Michael Owen rolled his eyes as his boss hauled himself out of his seat and lumbered towards the touchline.

At first it was amusing, now it’s boring. And the only kind of punishment that’s going to stop Sir doing this is not one that tickles his pocket, but that hurts his team and his reputation. How about a 3 match ban, preventing him from attending his team’s performance? He could communicate instructions to Mike Phelan via telephone, like Rafa when he had kidney stones.

Further poor behaviour should lead to a points deduction for his team.

I guarantee that if this was implemented he would behave himself and the spirit of professionalism and RESPECT (remember that campaign?) in the game would be protected.

I was going to talk about other things, but I’m tired and start my new job tomorrow.

Keep the faith,
AP