http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/16/sir-alex-ferguson-manchester-united-blackpool

Alex Ferguson may escape sanction if he rests players against Blackpool

 

Sir Alex Ferguson said he had to balance resting players while keeping others fresh for the Champions League final. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to face sanction from the Premier League if he makes wholesale changes when Blackpool visit Old Trafford on Sunday with their top‑flight survival at stake.

 

The United manager has a Champions League final with Barcelona to consider six days after the end to the domestic season and will rotate his resources accordingly, having secured a record 19th league championship at Blackburn Rovers.

 

Despite Blackpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers being fined over the past two seasons for fielding weakened teams, Ferguson will escape similar punishment provided he includes players who have made several first-team appearances this season and not a raft of debutants.

 

Ferguson made nine changes for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Schalke and still cruised to a 4-1 win at Old Trafford. He wants to preserve United's unbeaten home record against Blackpool and hinted some first-team players will need to maintain match sharpness with Barcelona in mind.

 

Speaking after winning the title at Ewood Park on Saturday, he said: "It gives us a real opportunity to look at how we can rest players and who needs to be kept going because maybe that was a weakness in our last European Cup final [in 2009]. We played a reserve team against Hull City. We have a responsibility to make sure we are fair to all the clubs in the country who are struggling with relegation. Manchester United as always will try to win next Sunday there is absolutely no doubt about that."

 

Blackpool were fined £25,000 by the Premier League in January over their manager Ian Holloway's decision to make 10 changes from the side who drew 2-2 with Everton on 6 November in their following game at Aston Villa. The previous season Wolves received a suspended £25,000 fine after Mick McCarthy adopted a similar approach at Old Trafford.

 

The Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been cleared to face United at Wembley after Uefa dismissed Real Madrid's allegation that he had directed racist abuse towards Marcelo during their Champions League semi-final. Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against the 22-year-old last week and a guilty verdict would, in all likelihood, have resulted in suspension from the final. However, Barcelona said: "Sergio Busquets will play in the Champions League final. Uefa has notified FC Barcelona they have dismissed the claims of Real Madrid."

 

United have written to the Football Association in defence of Ferguson after he was charged with improper conduct for praising Howard Webb prior to the title decider against Chelsea. Ferguson breached FA guidelines by discussing the match official before a game, even in flattering terms, and a disciplinary committee will consider the case in due course. The FA has yet to decide whether to charge Carlo Ancelotti for making similar comments about Webb.

Can we please have that poster ??

We waited a long time for it !

?

They deserve to be in the final.

It's a little rich to say they can play in England but not in the Premier League.

It shouldn't only become an issue when they get to the top league (on merit I add). People should have fought this case for the last hundred years if they felt so strongly.

 

I'm don't dispute that. I think Celtic and Rangers should be in the English Premier League myself.

 

I just don't want them in the Premier League. But you can't pick and choose these things and if they get into the PL then they deserve to be there. But I'd prefer other sides.

I'm not debating that. I think Celtic and Rangers should be in the English Premier League myself.

 

Why?

They should definitely not be.

Swansea should only be in because it was a decision made so long ago and it's happened.

Why?

They should definitely not be.

Swansea should only be in because it was a decision made so long ago and it's happened.

 

What's so different at the end of the day? I see more benefits to it than disadvantages. If you were talking money terms alone the Old Firm and the Premier League would benefit massively through revenues etc.

 

Realistically it will never happen as the teams in the Premier League would never allow it and the divisions below would be rightly pissed off. It could also see a huge jump to a national British league. I'm not desperate to see them join the EPL but I certainly wouldn't be against it.

We just want our Banner... the one with 35 years they wont have much use for it now.

What's so different at the end of the day? I see more benefits to it than disadvantages. If you were talking money terms alone the Old Firm and the Premier League would benefit massively through revenues etc.

 

Realistically it will never happen as the teams in the Premier League would never allow it and the divisions below would be rightly pissed off. It could also see a huge jump to a national British league. I'm not desperate to see them join the EPL but I certainly wouldn't be against it.

 

I would be against it, for some of the reasons you gave there and others. But it's never going to happen so it doesn't matter, as you say.

 

We just want our Banner... the one with 35 years they wont have much use for it now.

 

I think they are more concerned with other rivalries right now. Try not to be jealous.

I would be against it, for some of the reasons you gave there and others. But it's never going to happen so it doesn't matter, as you say.

 

 

 

I think they are more concerned with other rivalries right now. Try not to be jealous.

 

It certainly does not.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvfNl-kkqYs&feature=topvideos_entertainment]YouTube - Miroslav Klose Unbelievable Miss Bundesliga 5/14/11[/ame]

haha, Stek pulled a Ramos.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqt5Ea61gJc&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Ajax goalkeeper, Stekelenburg drops the Cup[/ame]

I would be against it, for some of the reasons you gave there and others. But it's never going to happen so it doesn't matter, as you say.

 

 

 

I think they are more concerned with other rivalries right now. Try not to be jealous.

 

Beleive me they are extremly concerned about us.

haha, Stek pulled a Ramos.

 

YouTube - Ajax goalkeeper, Stekelenburg drops the Cup

 

Lol'd at the guy running around with it at the end.

What's so different at the end of the day? I see more benefits to it than disadvantages. If you were talking money terms alone the Old Firm and the Premier League would benefit massively through revenues etc.

 

Realistically it will never happen as the teams in the Premier League would never allow it and the divisions below would be rightly pissed off. It could also see a huge jump to a national British league. I'm not desperate to see them join the EPL but I certainly wouldn't be against it.

 

Whatever way you look at it, the Scottish PL is a total waste of time. What kind of competition is it when the top two sides are so far ahead of the other teams?

It's not even as if Rangers and Celtic are that good themselves in the grand scheme of things, either.

Their continual lack of success in the European competitions is proof of that.:dozey:

Police stopped Steve Kean on the M6 motorway following a match against Manchester United

 

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean charged with drinking and driving

 

The Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean has been charged with drinking and driving after being stopped by police on the M6 motorway. The 43-year-old was breathalysed by police in Cheshire, hours after Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.

 

He has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and is due before Crewe magistrates on 7 June. Kean was appointed Rovers manager in December 2010.

 

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "At 2050 BST on Saturday 14 May, Cheshire officers stopped a Mercedes car on the M6 southbound carriageway, between Junction 19 and 18. The driver, a 43-year-old man, provided a positive breath test. He was subsequently charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and bailed to appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on 7 June."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13420650

Silly Billy.

I blame Ferguson, naturally.

Whatever way you look at it, the Scottish PL is a total waste of time. What kind of competition is it when the top two sides are so far ahead of the other teams?

 

they should seriously just change the name to La Liga. :P

Police stopped Steve Kean on the M6 motorway following a match against Manchester United

 

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean charged with drinking and driving

 

The Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean has been charged with drinking and driving after being stopped by police on the M6 motorway. The 43-year-old was breathalysed by police in Cheshire, hours after Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.

 

He has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and is due before Crewe magistrates on 7 June. Kean was appointed Rovers manager in December 2010.

 

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "At 2050 BST on Saturday 14 May, Cheshire officers stopped a Mercedes car on the M6 southbound carriageway, between Junction 19 and 18. The driver, a 43-year-old man, provided a positive breath test. He was subsequently charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and bailed to appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on 7 June."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13420650

 

If he celebrates like that after drawing against Man U, what on earth would he have been like if Blackburn had won?:stunned:

they should seriously just change the name to La Liga. :P

 

Not really. At least both Barca and Real have excellent records in the European competitions.

Plus the standard of football in La Liga is much higher, therefore at least you have to have a decent team in order to win the title, as is the case with the EPL.;)

*Attempts to deflect attention off own clubs manager*

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/17/west-ham-hotel-brawl

Police called as trouble flares at West Ham United dinner

 

West Ham striker Demba Ba allegedly refused to sign an autograph for a supporter, after which trouble broke out.

 

West Ham's calamitous season endured another dose of ignominy last night after police were called to investigate disturbances that erupted after players were confronted by supporters at the club's end-of-season awards dinner at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

 

Trouble apparently flared once the club's co-owner David Gold had delivered a speech in which he had pledged the team's stay in the Championship would be brief after relegation was confirmed at Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

 

Witnesses claimed supporters then reacted badly after the striker Demba Ba allegedly refused to sign an autograph, with other players, including Manuel da Costa, confronted in the ensuing mêlée.

 

Plates and glasses were apparently broken in the brief fracas that followed, with a group of supporters running from the function suite out of the hotel, pursued by security staff.

 

Actors from EastEnders and The Bill tried to put on straight faces when they presented Scott Parker with an award after the fighting has stopped.

 

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to investigate an incident at around 9.15pm last night. "Officers attended the scene but no obvious or serious offences were alleged," said a Met spokesman. "The situation calmed down very quickly."

 

The vast majority of West Ham's relegated squad, as well as the co-owners, Gold and David Sullivan, and the vice-chair, Karren Brady, had been in attendance at the dinner, held at the plush venue in Park Lane, which fans could pay to attend.

 

No one was available for comment from the Grosvenor House Hotel. A West Ham spokesman described the incident as a "minor disturbance that was over very quickly", and added that "more than 800 guests had a great time."

Actors from EastEnders and The Bill tried to put on straight faces when they presented Scott Parker with an award after the fighting has stopped.

 

The Bill? How desperate can you get?:lol:

they should seriously just change the name to La Liga. :P

 

Well the last side to win La Liga that wasn't Barca or Real was Rafa Benitez's Valencia in 2004. Arsenal were the last side other than Chelsea or Man Utd to win the EPL the same year (although Chelsea and Man Utd haven't been quite as dominant as the two in Spain)

 

But the thing is though Aberdeen in 1984 was the last team other than the Old Firm to win the top league in Scotland. Only Hearts in recent years (2006) were able to split the two teams.

Well the last side to win La Liga that wasn't Barca or Real was Rafa Benitez's Valencia in 2004. Arsenal were the last side other than Chelsea or Man Utd to win the EPL the same year (although Chelsea and Man Utd haven't been quite as dominant as the two in Spain)

 

I appreciate that, but my point was that the Old Firm don't need to be that good or work that hard to finish in the top two season after season.

The likes of Man U and Chelski at least have to be half decent to retain their spots.

They won't have finished that far ahead of the rest come the end of the season.;)

Rangers and Celtic finished 30 and 29 points respectively ahead of Hearts this season, which is beyond belief!:dozey:

I appreciate that, but my point was that the Old Firm don't need to be that good or work that hard to finish in the top two season after season.

The likes of Man U and Chelski at least have to be half decent to retain their spots.

They won't have finished that far ahead of the rest come the end of the season.;)

Rangers and Celtic finished 30 and 29 points respectively ahead of Hearts this season, which is beyond belief!:dozey:

 

I know the standard of football in Scotland is absolutely awful and that is shown by Celtic and Rangers struggles to make any real impact in Europe like you said. I've always persisted that they are in that level 3/4 tier of European football teams along with the likes of Anderlecht, Olympiakos, Panathanaikos, Sparta Prague etc. I really don't know how Scottish football can improve. The level is primitive compared to the EPL. Sure Scotland can still provide coaches/managers of top quality but for players we are seeing that only those who ply their trade in England can make any significant contribution on the national football team alone. There is only so far a player can develop in the SPL. If they want to progress further they have to move to England because the SPL is so dead. I'd say most teams in League 1 in England could compete very easily in the SPL. And no doubt a lot of sides in League 2 as well.

I know the standard of football in Scotland is absolutely awful and that is shown by Celtic and Rangers struggles to make any real impact in Europe like you said. I've always persisted that they are in that level 3/4 tier of European football teams along with the likes of Anderlecht, Olympiakos, Panathanaikos, Sparta Prague etc. I really don't know how Scottish football can improve. The level is primitive compared to the EPL. Sure Scotland can still provide coaches/managers of top quality but for players we are seeing that only those who ply their trade in England can make any significant contribution on the national football team alone. There is only so far a player can develop in the SPL. If they want to progress further they have to move to England because the SPL is so dead. I'd say most teams in League 1 in England could compete very easily in the SPL. And no doubt a lot of sides in League 2 as well.

 

I reckon you might well be right.;)

As for Scottish managers, their success south of the border speaks for itself.:D