Triggers and Trash Heaps

Back to normality after the international break. Almost normality. After the Daily Mail's publishing of the ridiculous piece by Jan Moir on Steven Gately yesterday, I've decided not to feature anything from that rag. I've always felt a certain distaste at some of the papers I link to, but for the purposes of a paper round up it is pretty much unavoidable. It is also a hard call to differentiate between the sports pages of a paper and the political position that a paper supports - sports pages being pretty much non-political, the worst excesses of a paper's politics can be hard to spot (I have never even bothered looking to see what The Express's website's all about (I assume it has one). On several occasions I've contemplated boycotting The Daily Star after seeing the trash that passes for political comment in its pages, but have so far restrained (mainly by ignoring everything but the sport pages). But at the moment I would feel uncomfortable linking to The Daily Mail, in case anyone actually went there via my blog. It probably won't last long, but for the time being, unless they have an exclusive not written about elsewhere, or some major piece of bias, I won't bother with them.
Sir Alex's press conference takes centre stage pre-Bolton. His comments on Rio Ferdinand are given most attention. There was a certain amount of criticism in his words, but always with the promise that Rio will get through it, as The Independent suggests:

The United manager's words seem designed to shake Ferdinand out of the malaise which has beset him after a period of sustained injury, with the defender featuring in just 20 of United's last 42 games for United and four times for England in the last year.

Here's the bulk of what he had to say:

"I don't think he's had any spell like this since he joined the club, that's for sure. So it's an unusual experience for him," Ferguson said. "I'm sure he's taken it on board, the criticism he's had, and with his ability and experience he should be coping with that type of thing. We all go through little phases where we need to correct our game or take a step up and I'm sure he'll do that. I think all players worry about their form and if they're making mistakes and getting criticism they have to [worry]. They wouldn't be human if they didn't." ...

Ferguson added: "I don't know if it's overconfidence. I think there's always been a casual part in Rio's game ever since he was a kid. It's been an advantage to him at times. At other times, though, particularly in his younger days, it was a weakness but in his time with us his development and maturity has brought about some outstanding form, consistently, for quite a long time.

"Maybe the point made about missing games [is right]. It takes a little bit away from you but that is the challenge now. He's played his two games for England [against Ukraine and Belarus] now and if he gets into a run of games I'm sure the rhythm will come back. Games will definitely help, there's no question about that. He's not had many [sticky spells]. But he will get through it, I'm sure of that."

Van der Sar will be straight back in the team at the expense of Foster who is still praised by Sir Alex:

"I still feel he is the best English goalkeeper around," said the United chief.

"He has been outstanding in a lot of things. The save he made on Wednesday was typical of his performance level with us too. They are a demonstration of the guy's ability.

"But he still has not had a lot of game time and experience. His injuries have curtailed the progress he was making.

"He is only going to get better, though, and there is no question he will be a fantastic goalkeeper."...
"Edwin is fit and fine and he will play," said Ferguson.

"He has got the experience.

"It is fair to say he and Peter Schmeichel have been the best goalkeepers in this club's history.

"With that calming influence he has on anyone around about him, getting him back is important - and with games against CSKA Moscow and Liverpool coming up, he couldn't be coming back at a better time."

A calming influence which will hopefully have a positive impact on Rio.
It was left to Gary Neville to comment on Alan Wiley, and he makes a pretty valid point:

"The manager has taken a bit of flak for suggesting that Alan Wiley wasn't fit enough to take charge of the [Sunderland] game [but] I did feel he was taking quite a long time to book players," Neville said. "Managers and players can't win. The fans and the public want honesty, but the FA throw the book at us if we give honest comments. I don't think [Ferguson] was trying to divert attention from the players; he was quite honest that we were not at our best."

Journalists can't do that patronising thing they love so much of criticising those stupid-working-class footballers for all the cliches they come out with and at the same time as soon as someone in football says something interesting, slag them off for it (and as I often note in my round ups, football journalists (with the odd notable exception) are on pretty thin ice when it comes to criticising anyone for talking in cliche...)
An interview with Sir Alex in a business magazine yields some quotes on the unsustainability of the football bubble:

"I think there is an awful lot of expenditure and you say to yourself, 'Where is it going to end?'" theManchester United manager said. "This is exactly what was happening in the business world two years ago. There were warning signs and everyone knew there were, yet they carried on because it was so easy to access loans.

"In the football world you say to yourself the warning signs are there, but nobody seems to be bothering about it. You wonder where it's going to go and what is going to happen if one major club were to go, to collapse."

Finally, Carlos Tevez is at it again, after having a go at Man United fans for not respecting his amazing talents ability to run around a lot to no great purpose after he left and slagged us off all summer, he's now getting his lip out at Argentina's fans for refusing to respect his something or other:

"When I play for Argentina I spend more time suffering than enjoying myself. The fans insulted us, the journalists criticised everything. Sometimes I think about quitting the national team. Why should I come to Argentina and have a bad time?"

My heart bleeds.