Ferguson hails Dream League

Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed the five-team scrap for the Barclays Premier League title as "the dream league".

Dropped points for Manchester United and Arsenal this week have offered Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur a way back into a race that had appeared beyond them.

With Manchester City also bang in contention, it is shaping up to be a compelling championship battle that may not do much for the heart rates of those involved but will only heighten the interest which surrounds the Barclays Premier League worldwide.

"It is there for everyone to win or lose," he said.

"So many times over the last few years, people have spoken about the top four when there has been one of those periods where we are all within a couple of points of each other and said this could be a really exciting league.

"But by the end of the year, two teams are contesting it.

"That could happen again this season but on the other hand, if it were to be five or six involved right until the end, it would be fantastic for the league.

"It is the kind of league we dream of."

The staggering nature of this season's competition is certainly at odds with La Liga, which is often held up as the most obvious challenger to the Premier League's popularity.

"In every set of games this season, you see a surprise result," he said.

"We were disappointed to lose a late goal at Birmingham on Tuesday, then the next day Arsenal drop two points against a Wigan team with 10 men and Wolves go to Anfield and win.

"You are going to see a lot of these results because it is such a tough league.

"There are five or six teams challenging at the top of the league at the moment but if you look at other countries, Barcelona and Real Madrid are normally challenging for the Spanish league, it's Bayern Munich and one other in Germany and in the Italian league it is Milan or Juventus.

"That is why it is so exciting."

United enter 2011 undefeated, although Ferguson is not convinced even that constitutes an advantage.

"It is difficult to say whether you get any momentum from not losing," he reflected.

"I have not addressed it at any point, although I would do if we only had three games to go.

"You don't expect to go through the whole season undefeated, so have to handle losses.

"Certainly, a defeat is not going to put you out of the race. It is still going to be closely fought."

Wayne Rooney: I Was Wrong To Seek Answers About Manchester United's Ambition But Would Never Have Joined Manchester City Or Liverpool

England striker confirms he wants to manage in lower leagues in future

By Stephen Darwin

Dec 31, 2010 11:30:00 AM

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted he was wrong to approach boss Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill to seek assurances about the ambition of the club.

Rooney sensationally handed in a transfer request back in October before changing his mind and signing a new five-year contract less than a week later and the England man admits he feels he made the right decision in opting to stay at Old Trafford.

"I went to see the manager and David Gill and asked them for answers," Rooney told MUTV.

"Now I realise it has nothing to do with me but I wanted to make sure it was the right thing for me to do.

"I got the answers in the end but looking back it was probably wrong of me to do that."

United fans seemingly made their frustrations known when they turned up at the former Everton man's home after discovering the news that their star striker wanted to leave and the 25-year-old claims he understood why supporters were disappointed and felt let down.

"I looked out and saw 30 blokes with their hoods up. I wasn't going to invite them in for tea," he recalled.

"I understood some of the fans were disappointed and felt let down. But it was just one of those things I had to get right.

"Thankfully I have sorted it out now. I have made the right decision and made myself happy.

"But I didn't even think about where I was going to go. There was no way I would have gone to Manchester City and there was more chance of me going to City than Liverpool."

The Red Devils' attacker also confirmed that he would like to be involved in management when he finishes his playing career and is hoping to cut his teeth in the lower leagues before taking on a big Premier League job.

"I would like to be a manager. That would be my ambition when I finish playing," he continued.

"You see the players who have played for Sir Alex and gone on to be good managers. I am hoping to do that one day. But I wouldn't like to follow the manager here, or start at an Everton or Manchester United.

"I want to learn something about the lower leagues and build a reputation that way rather than just jumping into a big club.

"It is not right if someone goes in and gets a big job with no experience. There are managers who have worked for years trying to get that."

English Comment: Don’t Worry Manchester United, No Other Big Guns Beat Birmingham City At Home Either

Dropped points no sign of Premier League title slump.

By Matt Monaghan at St Andrew's

Dec 29, 2010 4:50:00 AM

Forget Anfield, Eastlands or Stamford Bridge, Birmingham City's St Andrew's is the true Premier League fortress.

Unbeaten by a big six side at home for 18 months, Alex McLeish's men held on to the record on Tuesday night thanks to a controversial 89th-minute strike that had Rio Ferdinand calling foul and Edwin van der Sar offside. 

Lee Bowyer's intervention at the back post not only brought the Blues' support to their feet but  injected new life into the title fight. Although United return to pole position, the fallibility of the early months of the campaign made a welcome return in the eyes of the chasing pack.

Before Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur get too excited, however, they should all look at their own recent history in the second city.

While Carlo Ancelotti's charges are the only heavyweight to fall to defeat, critical points have been dropped by all. The Gunners' faltering challenge fell apart thanks to a Manuel Almunia gaffe in March, while then City boss Mark Hughes' fatal run of stalemates included one at the ground. 

Arsenal are next in the firing line on New Year's Day, with City to follow on February 1.

Since promotion back to the top flight in time for the start of last season, Alex McLeish has imbued his team with a desire unable to be stamped out by the big guns.

Certainly, St Andrew's imposing - and decaying - exterior is a culture shock to the visiting superstars spoiled by the exclusive facilities on offer at the likes of Old Trafford. Its location within a tough Birmingham neighborhood must also unsettle the nerves.

Pin-ups such as Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney play within sedate 60,000-plus crowds at the Emirates and Old Trafford. No such timidity is present at St Andrew's.

The 30,009 baying Brummies create a tinderbox atmosphere hard to match in the division. While this can certainly - and unforgivably - step over the mark, such as the ugly scenes in the recent derby with Aston Villa, big egos from visiting stars can be shrunk to size with a choice chant.

A tussle between Anderson and Barry Ferguson was greeted enthusiastically in the terraces. Wayne Rooney's repeated efforts to find the back of the net were met with a humor likely to further rile the Scouse firebrand.

This further ensures that McLeish's watertight tactics are given the backing they deserve. From every towering header from Roger Johnson, to each snapping tackle from Ferguson and a round of applause for each run down the channel from shot-shy striker Cameron Jerome, the pressure on the chalk board is carried through by the fans.

The Scot himself took the chance to bemoan the lack of goals from his side in his post-match press conference. While this slackness was an Achilles heel during the recent defeat to lesser lights Wolverhampton Wanderers, a rigid 4-5-1 against potential champions achieved the desired effect.

Even attacking outlets Craig Gardner and Sebastian Larsson put in a shift for the team. Anyone who shirks responsibility, no matter reputation, will get an earful.

This was exemplified by Gardner's attack on Alexander Hleb after the mercurial summer signing failed to track back once he was thrown in to the action as a substitute. Never mind that the Belarus international can point to spells at Arsenal and Barcelona on his CV.

This team spirit and commitment has ensured the Premier League big dogs now fear the trip to St Andrew's. Arsenal, you have been warned.

Sir Alex Ferguson Blasts Referee & Claims Draw With Birmingham City Is 'Terribly Harsh' On Manchester United

Scot angry at Lee Mason for allowing late Bowyer equalizer.

By Gill Clark

Dec 28, 2010 5:47:00 PM

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t conceal his anger at the referee after a controversial late goal by Lee Bowyer salvaged a draw for Birmingham City.

The Red Devils looked to be heading for victory after Dimitar Berbatov had opened the scoring but were forced to settle for a draw after Bowyer scored after being set up by Zigic who looked to have handled the ball in the build up to the goal.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game the Scot blasted the officials for allowing the late equalizer but refused to blame his players for the late capitulation.

“[It’s a] handball, foul on the center-half he went right through him, handball, if the referee can’t see that, what chance have you got?” explained the Scot.

“That’s why we expect in a game of that importance you need a referee to see that. If he can’t see that what chance have you got? I can’t fault my team tonight. They worked hard, they’ve run their socks off with little rest. It’s hard on them, it’s hard.”

Ferguson also insisted the result was “terribly harsh” on his side who he claimed had been the better team.

“I think it [the result] is terribly harsh, I think we outplayed them in the second half and we didn’t deserve that,” he added.

“But football’s a funny game, it’s a tight league, it’s a difficult place to come to here, every team that comes here has a difficult game.

"I think we deserved to win the game, we were the better team and maybe we should have finished them off after we went 1-0 up and the number of times we counter-attacked against them, we just needed a bit more care in the final pass or finish, but otherwise it’s just one of those days, unfortunate.”

Despite dropping two points, United remain top of the table and Ferguson remained bullish about his team’s title chances.

“I think we’ve a chance, at this moment in time there are five or six teams that are all contesting that area at the top of the league,” he said.

“I always say if you get to New Year and you are in that front position then Manchester United have a big chance then.”

Birmingham City 1-1 Manchester United: Red Devils Reclaim Top Spot Despite Bowyer’s Last-Minute Equalizer

Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table despite Lee Bowyer's last-minute equalizer for Birmingham City.

United usurped Manchester City but could not end Birmingham's 18-month run without a home defeat to top-six opposition.

Blues manager Alex McLeish battened the hatches for the visit of their glamorous opponents. Cameron Jerome was utilized as the lone front man, with Nikola Zigic sacrificed for Jean Beausejour who helped form a compact midfield-five.

For United, there was one change from the side that dispatched Sunderland 2-0 on Boxing Day. Darron Gibson was handed his first Premier League start of the season in place of Ji-Sung Park, who had traveled to Qatar to represent South Korea in the Asian Cup.

In a foggy St Andrew's, the opening minutes saw the two teams trade possession without any real openings. Wayne Rooney's desperation to end his nine-month top flight spell without a goal in open play saw him shoot wide of ex-United colleague Ben Foster's post on seven minutes, then curled a tame effort into his hands four minutes later before he blasted over on 16 minutes.

While Rooney can't buy a strike at present despite the riches from his new contract, Ryan Giggs nearly netted one of the flukiest efforts of his career. The Welshman over-hit a cross that was tapped onto the bar in acrobatic fashion by Foster in the 18th minute.