(Sir Alex - Looking as happy as always)
I am a Liverpool fan - have been for years and will be until the day I die. So, of course, I hate Manchester United...well, not exactly...I have a quiet respect and admiration for what they have accomplished since the creation of the Premier League. In the case of Sir Alex Ferguson, I wish that Liverpool had always had a manager like him, instead of the washouts of Souness, Evans, Houllier, and Benitez to an extent - not to mention Hodgson. What he has accomplished is nothing but staggering, and while they may not have always been the most "magical" teams, they have always gotten the job done.
But with success comes enemies. And clearly, the Football Association sees Sir Alex as a direct enemy as they continue to reprimand a guy for something that every single manager and player does - questions a referee when they make what is perceived to be a poor decision.
So, as I look at the fact that Sir Alex has now received his umpteenth ban for improper conduct, I can't help but giggle at the utter ridiculousness of the FA. Sure, Fergie is a bully and loves to have a go at anyone and anything that even remotely goes against his ideas, but the FA is quickly becoming a useless and archaic governing body that doles out punishments randomly and clearly proving to the beautiful game loving public that simply, they do not like Sir Alex.
Criticizing a ref is part of any sport - coming from Toronto, we Maple Leafs fans still think Kerry Fraser (a supposedly great ice hockey ref) made a stupid call that cost the Leafs a place in the Stanley Cup finals back in 1993 - everyone went off on him, and there were no punishments for anyone (or so I can assume - I was only 9 at the time). I guess the FA sees themselves as an overprotective mother, and their children are those poor and sensitive refs who can't take a little criticism.
I do believe there needs to be respect in the Beautiful Game, and something that the sport is clearly lacking at times, but a little criticism of Martin Atkinson and other refs must be taken with a grain of salt. If the FA didn't react in this manner, then they would have more respect from the people. Dismiss Fergie and his comments, and maybe he'll stop (unlikely). Reprimanding him with a 5 game touchline ban and £30,000 is nuts and looks both random & arbitrary. I honestly believe the FA has lost the plot and needs to either settle down or disappear, preferably the latter.
(Nani - On the Floor - as per usual)
The challenge was horrific and pointless - even Carragher would admit that. In fact, he did when he went to the dressing room after the game to apologize to Nani. And Nani accepted the apology and the world moved on...wait, that didn't happen. Carra was sent away and Nani whined and complained about it to the press.
"When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season was finished. That is why I was crying,"
- Nani
Bit of an exaggeration - he already is playing and doing fine - but of course he is still moaning. Get over it. These things happen, we move on. Back in 2003, Carra had his leg broken from a mindless tackle by the mindless Lucas Neill. He didn't whine and complain half the amount that Nani has. And his leg was BROKEN!!!
(Fernando Torres - Is that a Smile???)
Torres is gone! He was a fantastic player with Liverpool and was dedicated in better days. But injuries and uncertainties led to him cutting a forlorn figure on the pitch. And in January, when Chelski (I'm sorry, my typing stinks) Chelsea came calling, he answered. Liverpool fans were dismayed and felt he betrayed us. He did, no arguments, but let's move on. No need to burn our Torres jerseys. No need to do anything. Living well is the best revenge, and while Chelsea may be ahead of us in the table, Torres is still looking like the Torres we became use to in the latter part of his time with Liverpool - lost and/or uninterested. I guess when you're collecting £170,000 a week, you don't need to do much else.
Let's move on! With the sale of Torres, we brought in Suarez and Carroll - and that is exciting - we are looking stronger and more exciting. And while Torres continues to spew comments about life in Liverpool, the best thing we can do is ignore him...much like people ignore a stray dog barking in the middle of the night - we turn our heads and drown it out.
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