Fergie may just have the last laugh

John Goliath, who is not a Manchester United supporter by any stretch, says we should be careful of writing off the Red Devils.

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JUST as I thought I’d heard all Manchester United jokes for the year on Sunday night, my sister mailed me this cracker right as I’m about to start this column: “Alex Ferguson’s wife wakes him up on Monday morning: ‘honey it’s seven’. Ferguson responds: ‘What, did they score again???’

As you can imagine, my sister is not a United supporter. In fact, I don’t really know who she supports, because it seems she gets behind anybody who takes on the Red Devils. She didn’t know who Aldershot Town is, but she shouted like a crazy person for them on Tuesday night.

And she was part of the millions who let rip at Manchester United on social networks after their 6-1 home defeat to neighbours City. It was their chance to lay into the sensitive Red Devils’ faithful, who have been rather quiet across most social media platforms – at least most of them.

Former Proteas bowling coach Vinnie Barnes, the only genuine Manchester City supporter I know, has watched the game four times – on Sunday night alone. It was “revenge Sunday” for many Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal supporters for all the abuse they had to endure over the last decade (and Tottenham too, because I enjoyed watching Alex Ferguson looking at the heavens and hoping the rapture takes place before the final whistle).

But, while the joke is on United at the moment, and my sister is standing in the queue for a City shirt, I can’t help but think Ferguson and his bunch will eventually have the last laugh at the end of the season. Come on, we have seen it so many times before.

I know City have a five-point lead, but over the last two seasons, since their massive cash injection, they have gone through spells during a campaign where they go completely off the boil. Who knows, they might have learned their lessons and are now ready to dethrone their more illustrious neighbours.

They certainly have the quality, but there are more egos in the blue half of Manchester than a surgeons’ convention. Players who set off fireworks in their bathrooms and who want to sue their manager can provide headaches sometime during the season.

And their Red neighbours have an ace in the hole in the bubblegum-chewing phenomenon that is Ferguson. The red-nosed Scotsman knows his way around the Premiership and he knows how to win titles. So to write this United team off would be silly.

All non-United supporters will enjoy the “Gone in 6.1 seconds” for a long time to come. But I have a feeling chants of “Glory, Glory Man United” will still be ringing in our ears for some time to come.

However, for now, United fans must find solace in the fact that goalkeeper David de Gea’s mother told him to be home before seven and not eight or nine ...

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

@rowen1 (Rowen Fernandez, SuperSport United goalkeeper and keen rugby fan): Joburgs Theater of Dreams soaking up the victory!!! Much deserved!!!!! Reckon I’m gonna grow my beard like Josh now!

@cesc4official (Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona midfielder after his altercation with Frederic Kanoute): To cry racism is cowardly and an easy option for your own poor behaviour. My conscience is completely clear. I’ve done nothing wrong.

@themichaelowen (Michael Owen started the Manchester United excuses on Sunday night): 1. We haven’t been in top form lately. If we had played them earlier on in the season (charity shield) it may have been a different result.

@themichaelowen: 2. Even though Man City were good, we would never have conceded 6 with 11 men.

WHO TO FOLLOW

@ManUtd_PO (Manchester United Press Office): For all the news on Manchester United. You get up to six tweets a day ...

Twitter: @Anchorman82

*Send us your views: john.goliath@inl.co.za

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/fergie-may-just-have-the-last-laugh-1.1166872

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