Blame It on the Brunettes

Most of the paper's have calmed down about the penalty decision today. This report in The Telegraph has the most sensible analysis:

Trailing 2-0 and with the pendulum swinging back towards Liverpool, Manchester United were grateful recipients of the penalty awarded to them by Webb after Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had raced off his line to palm the ball away from Michael Carrick in the 57th minute.

But the truth is that the Spurs dam was already creaking and it would have been nothing short of miraculous had Redknapp’s back four been able to repel the four-pronged United attack of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and, in particular, Carlos Tevez for the remainder of the game.

If there was a turning point, it was the half-time introduction of Tevez, rather than Webb’s intervention, that set in motion one of the season’s great comebacks.

Now, having read that, take a look at this from Ian Ladyman in The Mail:

when a combination of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs (United seem to have so many captains these days) lift the trophy in the weeks to come, one wonders if the club will hand a medal to referee Howard Webb.

In awarding United a penalty 12 minutes into the second half, he offered them a lifeline on a day when they had hitherto performed miserably and so transformed the game. And what a wretched decision it was, too. One of the worst.

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes clearly touched the ball away from Michael Carrick as he ran on to Wayne Rooney's superb through pass. Webb, however, saw an infringement. But how could he? He was 35 yards away, behind play. Carrick had his back to him. He simply could not see clearly. So he guessed. And he guessed in favour of the home team.

The penalty, converted by Cristiano Ronaldo, gave United the adrenaline shot they needed. ...
Two down at half-time to goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric, United were drifting until that 57th-minute spot-kick. Then they looked a different team and two goals from Rooney, one from Dimitar Berbatov and another from Ronaldo came and went in a flash.

First off, I could get that "you should give a medal to Howard Webb" level of analysis from one of my Man Utd hating friends, I'm not sure it's a great advert for football journalism though. Secondly, he's just plain wrong. We were dominating from the moment the second half started. Surely he must realise that. And if he doesn't why is he employed to tell people about football? Of course he does realise that, it's just that this version of events is easier, more fitting to the dominant anti-Man Utd media narrative.
There is some good stuff around today though. A few articles look at Berbatov's performance. This from Neil Custis in The Sun:

While Carlos Tevez’s injection into the game provided some much-needed oomph, it was Berbatov’s sublime touch that brought United to life.

Fergie said: “It was a fantastic performance from him. I don’t think he gave the ball away once.

“I thought he was our best player in the first half and in the second half he produced some wonderful moments. He produces moments that you say, ‘That’s world class’.

“The pass he gave Ronaldo in the second half — unbelievable. Look, he’s missed a penalty kick, so, how many players have done that? Rio missed one last week and it’s all forgotten.

“Berbatov’s missed his and it was a bad penalty, I make no excuses for it — but because of the money we’ve paid for him it’s not forgotten.

“But we have to move on. It’s only a missed penalty. We produced some fantastic football last week and didn’t get credit because of the missed penalty.” ...

Then came Berba’s first piece of magic as he brought the ball under his spell and laid it off to Tevez who found Wayne Rooney who levelled.

Ronaldo’s diving header put United 3-2 ahead before some more wonderful control and perception from Berba picked out Ronaldo whose superb cross was despatched by Rooney.

Berbatov himself finished the scoring. A perfect time for the Bulgarian to find his feet with the visit of Arsenal to come in the Champions League on Wednesday.

And United might just have the key to the final in Berbatov.

For often when all around are losing their heads in the frantic pace of English footballing encounters, his touch and vision can make the difference.

This in The Times also praises Berbatov:

It will take time for United supporters to forgive Berbatov for his pathetic penalty against Everton in the FA Cup semi-final eight days ago, but the Bulgaria forward did his best to get back in their good books by playing a key role in United’s recovery and bundling the fifth goal over the line after Gomes had blocked his close-range header.

Thanks to Rooney and Ronaldo’s second-half goals, Tévez’s energy and Berbatov’s clever touches, United, who scored five times for the fifth time this season, got what they deserved - with a little help from Webb - and it was difficult to feel sorry for a Tottenham team who caved in without putting up a fight.

That last is also a good point, easier for Spurs to blame the ref (and Jermaine Jenas blames Howard Webb at great length in the papers today) than look at themselves. The report is the best at summing up our first half defensive problems:

Rafael da Silva has been talked about as Gary Neville’s long-term replacement at right back, but the Brazilian teenager was out of his depth against Modric and United were much more solid at the back when he was replaced by John O’Shea in the 70th minute. Rafael has the potential to fill Neville’s boots, but his slight frame and inexperience were ruthlessly exploited by Modric, who is one of the least physically imposing players in the top flight.
United’s other flank was just as exposed before the interval as Patrice Evra struggled to rediscover the authority and confidence that have made him one of the best left backs in the world.

Let's hope these problems are sorted by Wednesday, as several papers point out, Theo Walcott could cause similar problems.
The Independent's report also has lengthy praise of Berbatov:

the arrival of Carlos Tevez pepped up United and Wayne Rooney's energy was indomitable in the 22 extraordinary minutes it took them to score five, the individual who most mocked football's fickleness was Dimitar Berbatov. His shirt stayed on when he scored, of course, and the goal was not majestic but any one of a dozen gracefully unlaboured moments demonstrate that genius like his cannot be measured out in drab statistics, as those who question him seem to wish it.

The angular passes which helped engineer two of the goals; a stunning first half chest cushion and swivel past Wilson Palacios; the wondrous 83rd-minute ball which sent Ronaldo scampering away for what might have been a hat-trick – all contributions from a player Viv Anderson suggested last week was a latter-day Gary Birtles, struggling to live with what Old Trafford brings. Laughable. As Ferguson reflected: "He produces moments that you say: 'that's world class.'" So much so that the club were keen to distance themselves from reports that they are to sign Milan's Kaka in the summer.

The other story is Giggs winning The PFA Player of The Year. All the stories are pretty much the same, just quotes from Giggs really, so I'll randomly choose The Telegraph's version to quote from:

The Welshman said: "It's right up there, with personal accolades it's the best to have as it's voted by your fellow players.

"I've been fortunate to win a lot of trophies, I won the young player award twice, but this is the big one."

"It's an exciting season," he said. "I think it is going to go right to the wire, there's big game after big game now. That is what you want and need at a club like Manchester United."

Giggs paid tribute to his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, and also suggested he may play on beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of next season.

"The manager has been massive in my career from when I first met him when I was 13," Giggs said.

"That's over 20 years and he knows me better than anyone and our relationship has been brilliant and just gets better.

"I've been so fortunate to have such a great career in so many great teams, it's not even worth thinking about what it would have been like without the manager."

More unsubstantiated transfer rumours today. The Mirror put us in for Benzema:

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is back in the hunt for French striker Karim Benzema - and hoping that Lyon miss out on the Champions League to make the deal easier.

Fergie has been on the trail of the hitman for a year but was priced out of a swoop last summer when he turned instead to Dimitar Berbatov.

Now United are plotting a second attempt for Benzema with French giants Lyon at risk of missing out on a Champions League slot.

The Mail report that Possebon has decided to play for Italy, rather than his native Brazil:

'I decided that Italy was the country that has recognized my work and I don't think I will change my mind.

'I was in Italy for a while to get the passport. The Italian Federation contacted me, asking if I would accept should I be called up, and I said yes.

'It is a way of saying thanks to the country that gave me the opportunity to play in Europe, Manchester.

'I am studying Italian and eventually I will be speaking it well.'