HALVES ALL ROUND

From The Times:

‘Manchester United did manage to massacre a committed but clod-hopping Wigan Athletic. And more importantly, they avoided the total humiliation of failing to do so. Hurrah. Halves of Holt’s Manchester bitter all round. Now, that’s looking at real life. Fergie Out.

For years, United fans have patronised smaller clubs with the taunt that any match against the Reds was “their cup final”. Here the biters were bit. This was our cup final, the biggest match in what’s left of United’s season. Against Wigan. In the Carling Cup. As even the United nuts at Red Issue, the fanzine, observed, it was debatable which would be more embarrassing: to lose to Wigan, or to see players who are supposed to be challenging for the top prizes trying to dance around in delight at having won this little bauble.

In response to “the cynics” such as me, a defensive official view has been emanating from Old Trafford that “a cup is a cup is a cup”.

Well, yes and no. In the right context, a cup can also be a p***pot. The Carling Cup is a significant trophy only to those who haven’t got a pot to pee in. Wayne Rooney was overexcited at winning his first senior medal. But inside the Millennium Stadium it was obvious that losing this cup final meant far more to the flag- waving Wigan fans than winning it did to United’s slightly sheepish contingent.

There is nothing wrong with winning the League Cup, of course. But as a reminder of how United have fallen, this was the first time that Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have gone into a League Cup final with nothing else to play for. When they played in the finals of 1991, 1992, 1994 and 2003, United were still chasing championships, European trophies, Doubles and even trebles. This year there is nothing else to play for except the privilege of getting first bite at eating Chelsea’s dust.

Could you ever imagine wanting your team to lose a cup final? Reader, this Old Trafford season ticket-holder toyed with that idea before yesterday’s match. Defeat under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium would have put the tin lid on United’s poor season. A second season without a trophy might have forced somebody to face up to how serious things are and the need for regime change. Now, however, the fear is that Ferguson and the Glazers will use this trophy as a shiny fig leaf to hide their blushes.’

This was Ferguson’s umpteenth trophy for United. Let it be his last. Somebody should have the backbone to finish his tenure as quickly as possible before things get worse for all concerned.