Reading most of the papers this morning (obviosly not the S*n) got really annoyed about all the headlines about Rafa being a "sore loser" and "bitter".

Reading the papers you've got to sieve through the headlines and the opinions of the journos and read the actual quotes. They read something like "United have more points than us, so congratulations to them" All of a sudden, Rafa is now a bitter man for not saying well done to Fergie... I mean come on! Did fergie say well done when we beat them 4-1? Nah he said the best team lost. Did Fergie treat Rafa with respect during the season? Nah he said he showed "contempt" was "arragant" and "beyond the pale" for celebrating a goal...!!!!!!

It makes me wonder just how we came so close to them when we are up against such bias from all of the media, the referees and the managers. (Fergies clan of Ex-managers + Fat Sam, Phil Brown et al)

But my main point is this: Why is it that the media pick apart every word Rafa says? Lets face it, his main language is not English, I mean flip it around, if Marca gave Fergie a hard time if he was to manage in Spain, it would be really harsh.

The sad fact is that Fergie is probs the best manager around currently and the main reason for it is that he is corrupt, and so is football and everything that surrounds it. Take a look at his and Fat sams sons for instance...

:Z

*fergies clan of Ex-players now managers

Oh and another thing on MOTD2 they did a combined 11 of Liverpool and United.

We had 2 players in that team... Gerrard and Torres, Fletcher rather than Alonso, Carrick instead of Mascherano... *roll eye smilie*

Edited at 19:59 Mon 18/05/09 (BST)

Hi the_kop (sorry don’t know your name) even thou im a man u fan i have to agree with some of the points you have made, the press do seem to bag the 'winning team' at the time. I do remember a few season ago when man u went off the rail a little and the press and some fans were calling for his head. How they change, the part about rafa not congratulating Fergie dont always believe what you read im sure they respect each other in many ways, ive been to home games versus Liverpool and they were chatting away like best mates. The banter and mind games always come when they are competing for the same title go back to the Fergie and Arsne days.

The part about referees and other managers i agree to a point that some refs do not like to make decisions against man u at old Trafford, ive seen it a lot. The friendship between Fergie and other managers hasnt made any effect on the outcome this season, Rafa has given his fair share of mind games!

I think its a great tribute to Liverpool and Rafa on how he has now got a great team well capable of winning the premier league and more trophies. I for one cant wait for next season.

And yes Fergie records have now confirmed he is a legend and a great servant to the football league.

Fergie is definitely one of and probs the most sucesful manager around. I just think he is given an easy ride, but of course he wouldn't have had to start off with.

I am aware he won leagues with Aberdeen which in my view proves he is a great manager. WIth United, he has the spends, the stadium, the owner and the infrastructure to build on now (granted he built much of it himself) but Liverpool can't afford to waste money on players like United have done with Berbatov. We wasted money on Keane and had to sell him, United could persevere with Berba or stick him on the bench.

I read somewhere that we have spent more than anybody over the last 4 years. Dunno if it is true, but I know we have bought the most players. This is because we didn't have a side capable of challanging when Rafa took over, meaning a mass over haul, short term buys for a long term problem. Even now when you look at the squads I feel we have no real right to be challenging, the quality we have is certainly not what United have. This to me is because United have stuck with their manager (he didn't win atrophy with United for 7 years was it?) and now Fergie has the platform already there. They are the most marketable club, they have embraced the commercial side of the game better than anybody, all leading to stability. Basically, where Rafa is spending money on tons of players, Fergie is doing so on one or two and adding to an already strong squad.

Bit of good news for all Newcastle haters out there (me and ste really...)

Newcastle have lost their appeal against Sebastien Bassong's red card, the Football Association has confirmed.

The 22-year-old Frenchman was dismissed by referee Howard Webb after tangling with Diomansy Kamara during the 1-0 defeat by Fulham on Saturday.

Bassong will now miss relegation-threatened Newcastle's final game of the season against Aston Villa.

I would say thats Newcastles best defender. Didn't see the incident so dunno if its fair... funny though...

Was a definite red card, didn't see the point in appealing it really, unless they just wanted to make the team he goes to in the summer suffer for the first game next season

Staying up Tom?

Haha niceeeeee!

Nope

As much as I hate Newcastle, I hope they don't go down. They are too big of a club in my opinion. Also, Sunderland not to go down

What makes them a "big club"? Not exactly rich, powerful, succesful title contenders are theee? 45,000 plus fans (which is practically what it has been this season) don't make em a big club .

Well first of all, the fans. One of the best in the country IMO. The stadium. Like my dad says (although it's about Sunderland ), if their team was half as good as their fans were they'd be title contenders

And if the fans were half as deluded as they were, they'd be better off to



Not a big club for me.

LOL

We aren't a big club compared to what we used to be, but to be fair, that wasn't that long ago (Champions League, 3rd in league).

I know where you're coming from Lyle about wanting Newcastle to stay up though, not on the big club bit though lol. In the past I've always hoped for Sunderland to stay up, just for the two derby days to look forward to. But this year, if it means Newcastle staying up, I'd happily have you go down!

you will have a derby in the championship tom..... Boro

A few more north east clubs look to be on the rise.

45,000 fans a week when they are in bottom 3 is unberlievable If Liverpool were in religation I don't think they would be so sucessful and realistically their owner isnt exactly Poor either MA owns a english shop hes English who you got some yank who just wanted waste abit of money???

And we no if they stay up next season they will be challenging europe, liverpool won't win the title won't win the champs league got abit of money and a few fans but you call them a 'big club'

To me the biggest club in the world is Stoke City who cares if UTD got millions of fans nobody has got as many loyal fans as us IMO so the biggest club is not always the biggest name its the team you love the most and that team is always going to be the biggest club for you in your heart.

Edited at 02:32 Thu 21/05/09 (BST)

Couldnt of been said in a nicer way. But IMO stoke aint that big. Yes you finishing mid table. But its that tight at the bottom. Two wins from most teams takes you pretty much into mid table. Your fans are officially the loudest fans in england and your fan base would of increased this season because of last years season. But that doesnt mean they are a big club to me. The big clubs for me are the top 4. Arsenal slowly loosing that status. Everton maybe just. West ham and Possibly spurs. The rest of the teams i feel arent as big.