United Get The Blues
04/11/02 | by Mike Shaw

There are mysteries in life…what is Dr Pepper supposed to taste like? What became of the crew of the Marie Celeste? What goes on inside Michael Jackson’s head?

And how long will Alex Ferguson put up with Fabian Barthez? Already this season Barthez and Ricardo, his Portuguese understudy, have had a falling out, then there are last season’s catalogue of mistakes, now this.

Ask any Manc, United or City, what this season’s biggest game is, they’ll tell you. Forget Liverpool v Everton, this is the real red and blue battle. Barthez couldn’t have picked a brighter spotlight to spill a fairly harmless drive from The Goat into the oncoming path of Nic Anelka who wasn’t likely to miss. Oh to be a City fan, to be fair to them its fitting that they should win the final derby at Maine Road. Solksjaer hit back, only for Gary Neville to drop a clanger and hand The Goat a goal on a plate.

Sir Alex has to face a few simple facts. Firstly he should’ve gone out on top, tragically its becoming a horrible drawn out end to a glittering career. Secondly United need to rebuild. The sale of Jaap Stam was the beginning of a downfall, then the signing of Veron, who incidentally was dreadful on Saturday, then the French pair of Blanc and Barthez who have both been terrible on the whole for United. Finally they miss Roy Keane more than is grasped by most. Keane is more than a player for them, he is a leader, an icon, someone to dig in when things get tough, without him United have no one to lift them. How this showed on Saturday…

United drop to 5th behind an improving and finally seemingly consistent Chelsea side. They had no problems in rolling over Birmingham at the Bridge. Zola and a Gudjohnsen brace easily enough to outclass an injury ravaged Blues side. In 4th are Everton, their highest league position in 13 years! David Moyes has really injected some life into a labouring side, Kev Campbell has been electric this season, Wayne Rooney has looked amazing and much of the dead wood has been cut and burnt. There is a story about Moyes I was told, so I will pass it on…

Moyes walked into the dressing room on his 1st day at Everton and said “This is my way, I say jump you jump, I say run you run. If anyone has a problem with that the door is over there”. At this point Gazza, ever the joker got up and left. He came back about 30 seconds later and said “Only joking gaffer”. Moyes replied, “I wasn’t, now f*** off son”. Gazza ended up at Burnley and then into footballing oblivion. In fact according to football365.com he now earns £20 a game...oh the lofty heights. That said it more than most of Leicester’s players get!!

Anyway moral of the story, man knows how to do a job. He is what Everton, perennial underachievers for so long needed. Someone to kick them up the arse.

Steve McClaren has done similar things at Middlesborough, who are 6th, a single goal from Gareth Southgate giving them a huge 1-0 win at home to Liverpool, the first defeat of the season for them. This gave Arsenal the chance to close the gap, which they did beating Newcastle 1-0. A single goal from Wiltord enough to give the Gunners the 3 points.

Towards the bottom of the table Sunderland eased their worries beating Spurs 2-0 on Soccer Sunday with Kev Phillips and Tore Andre Flo getting the goals. Spurs were disappointing it must be said but Sunderland are now unbeaten in 4, next week they travel to Anfield hoping to extend that run. Spurs drop to 8th. Blackburn sit above them in 7th they drew 1-1 with Southampton.

West Ham continue to struggle, they fought hard against Leeds after being 4-1 down at half time, but still went down 4-3. Harry Kewell’s deft volley wins this weeks ‘Ian Woan Goal of the Week’ award. Woany incidentally scored a beaut for Shrewsbury, his 25 yard lob was tipped onto the bar, as the ball dropped the keeper attempted to grab it only to bat it between his legs and in…very Fabian Bartez in fact! Look out for a ‘Marco Pascolo Award for Inept Goalkeeping’ coming soon. I can just picture a little gold statue of keeper with his head in his hands…anyway! Barmby put Leeds ahead with a cracking header, Di Canio levelled before Leeds hit 3 unanswered goals with Kewell grabbing 2 And Viduka the other. West Ham came out to play and credit to them Sinclair and a Di Canio penalty almost getting them back into it. But the noose is beginning to get tight on Glenn Roeder as the Hammers contiune to miss Freddy Kanoute. Bolton are bottom. Bruno N’Gotty’s red card just 25 minutes in against West Brom made the going tough for them, another new award, this one for N’Gotty as he takes home the ‘Tony Vaughan Award for Random Thuggery’. He recklessly elbowed Jason Roberts. Interestingly Mike Riley sent off 2 Bolton players against Leicester last season, he is not a popular man in Bolton that’s for sure. To be fair to the ref though he made the right call, it was an elbow and under the letter of the law that is a red card. Per Frandsen grabbed a late point for Bolton, Scott Dobie having made it 1-0 to WBA.

Villa climb out of trouble as they beat Fulham 3-1, but they still do not look as good as they should, Angel gave Villa the lead before Boa Morte pulled Fulham level. Allback and Leonardsen gave Villa the win 2nd half goals. Fulham though had plenty of chances and on another day it could’ve been 3 each.

So next week it’s the North London derby at Highbury. Also there’s West Midlands derby at the Hawthorns as Villa take on WBA. Also on Saturday Newcastle entertain Southampton, that one definitely isn’t a derby…Man City face Charlton at Maine Road and Chelsea and Boro meet at the Bridge. On Sunday Birmingham meet Fulham, Blackburn host high-flying Everton, Leeds meet sinking Bolton and on Sky Liverpool face Sunderland and, in what is usually a good game Man U take on West Ham at Old Trafford.

Look for wins for Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Blackburn and goals for Zola, Forlan and Owen. Now that’s something I wouldn’t have written a month ago!