The Grand Vizer's Garden Party

Today my thought is, if Sir Alex was as wrong as everyone is clambering to say he was, why are the papers still talking about it? Instead of it being laughed off, it really seems to have a hit a nerve. Isn't everyone just a bit too defensive?
Here's the first line from The Sun's report on it today:

ALEX FERGUSON is facing mounting pressure to have him kicked out of football.

"Mounting pressure" is actually some refereeing "apologist" talking on Radio 5. And no one else... Surely 2 people are needed, one after the other, for any pressure to be mounting?
The Manchester Evening News fall into the same trap with the headline "Calls to Suspend Ferguson," which is either wrongly pluralised, or misses out the words "A Man" at the beginning...
This opinion piece in The Mirror says this:

Those in refereeing circles can see through Fergie's smokescreen...

Which seems to imply a refereeing community which is a disinterested football observer, rather than one out to protect one of their own.
Oliver Holt has this to say:

But Ferguson’s attack not only made a mockery of the FA’s Respect campaign, it also ensured that Wiley will now be a soft target for the boo-boys at every Premier League ground he visits.

Which, given that everyone thinks we get refereeing decisions all the time, is probably the opposite of what will happen: Wiley greeted round the country as a conquering hero...
Also coming from the Sunderland game, it's alleged that Sir Alex had a go at Foster after the game:

BEN FOSTER and Sir Alex Ferguson were involved in a dressing room bust-up after Manchester United’s draw against Sunderland. Ferguson was furious at his side’s performance – and he pointed the finger at keeper Foster for Kenwyne Jones’ 58th minute goal.

Which really sounds like nothing as far as I'm concerned.
Van der Sar is on his way back. Played in the reserves last night and had this to say:

"I will be ready for Bolton," he told MUTV.

"I feel good and I haven't had any reaction. The match is still 10 days away so I have more training to do, then I will be ready for my first start of the season."

Owen quote on Sir Alex and Man Utd:

"It's fantastic working with Sir Alex," Owen said. "It's everything you would expect of a top, top team, probably the biggest club in the world. Everything from the kit man to the girls who work in the canteen and the manager are just first class."

Some England stories; extensive quotes from Rooney here:

“I spoke to Sir Bobby last week about it and we discussed playing and scoring for England,” he says.

“It would be a dream come true to do it and mean so much to me. It would also be fantastic if two Manchester United players were to be one and two in the list.

“But don’t rule out Michael (Owen) and he still has a chance of the record.

“I do sometimes think about how far I can go in my career and what I can win. It is about trophies, isn’t it? For Manchester United and England. That is what I play for. And I do want to get better and better.”

An article looking at Carrick and his England chances here, which I won't quote from.
And Gabriel Obertan likes gardening:

United’s Academy director Brian McClair said: “New signing Gabriel Obertan is injured at the moment and can’t train and it seems he has developed a keen interest in gardening.

“He’s been seen helping an elderly member of the Academy staff by strimming his lawn, pruning his roses and watering his hanging baskets.”