Rebecca great article and a a good read. My question is what would I need to do to get into broadcasting like yourself. What qualifications do I need, where do i start and how long does it take??

Many thanks

Paul

Excellent read! And I couldn't agree more. That's why he's the best!

Rebecca-
A very good read, but it leaves me with one big concern. You say that nobody wants to be the one to take those stats to Fergie. Sure, it's intimidating. But it's because nobody will do it that he is allowed to bully and intimidate, and publicly chastise a very good official. That is NOT part of the business.

It's the job of you and your colleagues to challenge Sir Alex, and any other manager, when he is blatantly wrong and demeaning. Also, the question must be asked...would Rafa Benitez or Mark Hughes or Arsene Wenger receive the same leeway? If you can't honestly answer 'yes,' then you are not holding the people you cover accountable in an accurate way. Which, I believe, is a principal of journalism.

Thanks for the article and the insight. But if you know that you're being played by Sir Alex, why do you play along? If you know that Sir Alex is using you to slander Alan Wiley to cover up the poor performance of his team, and you play along, aren't you just as culpable in Wiley's slander as Sir Alex?

Rebecca, there is a difference, I think, in getting the best story and being a patsy. You say you pushed to see how far he would go, yet admit that he had his agenda set before you asked a question. I understand that you're not working for 60 Minutes, but don't you have a journalistic responsibility to be more than just Sir Alex's microphone?
I think Sir Alex may be brilliant, but he's pathetic. Contrast his response to that of Roy Hodgson's after Fulham's controversial match. The difference is character.

I agree 100% with Eric. You need to decide if you're going to be a journalist (in the best, fading sense of the word) or a TV hack. Why are you people afraid of Ferguson? I don't care how much money he makes, how successful he is, or what ridiculous title he has before his name--he's just a soccer coach.

And do you think Ferguson's undermining of Wiley will all be made right ten years down the road with a wink and a nod? That's just plain stupid.

"I wonder if there will be someone brave enough to? Everyone thinks that he is wrong in terms of the facts but I don’t think anyone is brave enough to say ‘Hang on a minute, Sir Alex, let me just read you these ProZone stats’!"

This is exactly what Rafa did last season, in a straightforward and reasoned manner. What happened? People called him crazy, said he was ranting and losing the plot. Unfortunately the mainstream media are so far up Fergie's backside that it doesn't matter what he does. His detractors will always be criticised.

no eric, it isnt a journalists job to question sir alex. it's the fa's job to keep him in check. a journalist needs to report correct information clearly. if a reporter questions alex, do you think that reporter will ever get another half story from manchester united? absolutely not. you work in the industry of sport, to report on it, not to make your own story "journalist challenges Ferguson, journalist given life ban from old trafford"

not headlines you want to make if you want to keep a job.

What a hold this guy has over you lot. It's a joke to think that so called journalists let such these things go unchallenged and let him have it all his own way. It seems he can say and do what he likes-and it is just passed off as 'part of the game' and that it is just Fergie being Fergie. Yes, he is clever and knows how to say the right things, but if he is held to a different standard than other managers then all's definitely not 'fair in love and war'.
Definitely, other managers would get a roasting in the media-take Benitez and Wenger. Benitez seems so often to be on the wrong end of media bias as does Wenger. Maybe referees have the same approach when it comes to Man Utd games. They let the game go-until Utd score and then they can't blow the whistle quickly enough. And you say "but Utd are good enough to make the extra minutes count" but should they even have the chance. But I guess it is good for the game for Utd to be winning. Even playing field? Conspiracy? Surely not?

Rebecca

You are being used - a puppet to the Ferguson 'mind games' - you wanted to discuss the game. -you didn't even get on the radar

United were almost beaten by a lowly, possibly relegation threatened team, Ronaldo has gone - it was a poor result

The ability of officials should have been part of your questions, the time added on should not be used as a smoke screen

United fans demand to know why the team failed to perform - its Ferguson's job to deliver performances and points

Ferguson knows he should not citicise officials - it's a bout time the powerS that be DOCK UNITED 10 POINTS for this and the next outburst

He's clever and manipulates, SURE, but let him wriggle his way out of that punishment

Next time you interview him, ask him his view on this justifiable punishment.
regards
David

Great read!! Congrats on getting the time with SAF too, it must have been an adrenaline rush!! I can't agree more. He's just deflecting the collective bodys' attention away from his teams' performance. I don'tagree with Eric. You could point out the facts to see how the pompous Scotsman reacts, although he may see it as a trap question and merely change the topic anyway and maybe never do an interview with you again forever ruining your chances of progressing in your career, but nevermind Eric, some people are none the wiser.

Every premier league manager and any manager in any league has this license. FACT. Benitez with his famous written rant, Mourinho with his deflective comments about other managers, Arsene with his 'you can tell me I'm wrong but you and I know I am right'. They all have it and use it to divert attention away from their players.

Perhaps you are right in saying that he will simply pay a fine and move on having used Riley to serve the purpose of deflecting attention from a sub-par performance by his players. Anyone associated with the EPL ought to try and cultivate a situation where this is viewed as unacceptable and to that end SAF ought to be suspended. I don't think that what Adebayor did by giving Arsenal supporters a bit of their own medicine was within light years of SAF's actions in this case and in several other in past years. No one man ought to be bigger than the game. The only question that remains to be answered is whether the FA will have the courage to send a STRONG message to SAF that this behavior will not be tolerated regardless of whether you are managing Wolves or whether you are managing one of the "big four" clubs, even, dare I say if your name is SIR Alex Ferguson.

Nice one Rebecca
i think SAF has his own views as an individual and if he feels let down by his own standards then its his right to air out his views, why should everyone who doesn't support Man-u feel offended when he is airing out his views, let them also air out there's. SAF is the most respected coach in the whole world because of the tremendous work he has done to world football and deserves the respect he receives from the FA, the Referees and the journalists.
wish the stats also included how long he was taking to issue out yellow cards.

this is nonsense... ten years after this sir alex will go to alan wiley just to tell him it was all part of the game...wth!!and you regard him as the best?? ok how about if tomorrow the ref will get sacked... he certainly have family and children didnt he...? why did sir alex put the ref job on the line here...that is for me the cruellest thing to do..and you, rebecca support him...
dont underestimate your viewer intelligence...did you think you are the only one knows what sir alex think when he came out smiling..it is all very predictable.. everybody knows it is just an excuse to cover his team performance..he do it all the time...even without prozone stats..everybody already knew the true story... and what amuse me, is journalist like you didnt have the ball to stood up in front of him.you didnt even feel sorry for the ref.. furthermore you regard him as one of the best in the game of football... wow.. this is shocking..!! imagine if you are the ref..

Alex Feguson is allowed to get away with murder because he is the only British manager of a top 4 team. Reporters and referees always defer to him for this reason. It is a shame and is not good for the game.

Rebecca, I was wondering, why did you say that FA won't hand him anything heftier than fines because he is a very powerful? I know his influence in the league but what repercussion is there if he was given heavier fines? Say, banned 3 games or something like that.

This article is absurdly daft. The level of writing suggests that someone with a below average education has composed and awful, painful article. You point all the blame on Sir Alex Ferguson, stating he is the individual that is making statements to deflect the attention from him players while in reality you are sensationalizing a moot point from the game. It is journalists/columnists like yourself that put out such rubbish that it takes away from the matter at hand, the football.
you are lousy.

A journo holding Ferguson accountable on anything would be YouTube clip of the year. Such a journo would require balls of brass and would either go on to be the Jeremy Paxman of the football world or on the dole within a year. Expect nothing from a journo in respect to reporting reality to Ferguson at OT. Truth is journos require stories from OT and its subjects, failure to toe the line according to Ferguson, results in zero comment and blank pages. Every journo has an editor to report back to and Mr Ferguson has a long memory and fair sway of influence in the modern game for any journo wanting future exclusives. Take on Ferguson aggresively and wave goodbye to future special features. Sad but true.

Im a United fan and i dont always agree with the old man. I think ever since he led United to his first European Cup success in '99, he has taken his bullying and pompousness to a whole new level and it all began from the moment he was knighted and everyone calls him Sir. There are of course exceptional characters such as the late Sir Bobby who is in a different class altogether. But pls, the next time a British manager leads a British club to a European Cup success, someone pls tell the Queen not to knight him. One Fergie is enough for one lifetime, even for a United fan.

It was indeed classic Fergie mind game but not in the way you surmised im my opinion. Fergie's rant over the fitness of referee Alan Wiley was to cover up the fact that Wiley actually helped United to avoid a loss at OT. During the match, Wiley's decisions were generally in favour of United with the sending off of Richardson a critical turning point that panicked the Sunderland players. By "scolding" Wiley, good old Fergie helped distract the media and ABU fans to stop them from linking their chumminess on the sidelines during the Manchester derby the previous weekend to Wiley's handling of this game in United's favour. Of course the knife cuts both ways and there's a chance Fergie's tirade has angered the referees and when they officiate United's matches from now on, they will be stricter against United. But wily Fergie will then use this "them against us" mentality to galvanise the United players.

SAF is entitled to his opinion.Anti MANU fans should not allow their hatred for the team becloud their sense of judgement.The referee didn't appear fit than day unlike what we have come to accept from him..he was sluggish and really struggled to keep pace.stat could claim he covered several KM but in what time?only the best is good for the EPL..so tarry awile and watch a video replay of the game to see if SAF was right or not.rebecca was been sensational about how much respect she has for the master.....hallmark of journalism is respect but fearlessness.SAF do not bite...though he bites.FA repriminds or punishes him just like any other coach and fines for such statements can't be hefty

It's all a healthy part of the game.SAF has earned his respect and place in the footballing world ww.Ignore his views at football's peril.Newton,why so harsh on the writer?she has a living to earn....just as writers must balance their writeups...readers must be objective,balanced,fair and reasonable. ManU knew losing CR7 was a big blow but besides money,they couldn't help it...the may suffer but will bounce back....eric left,so also david,also super roy keane...manu remains...if david becks had stayed,cr7 wouldnt have risen to prominence so dramatically

I think it is this journalist that is making us believe that SAF was using AW as a scapegoat to cover his own bad day. Has anyone here ever thought that this journalist's agenda is to vilify SAF. Like someone said earlier, I cannot see anything criminal or illegal in SAF airing out his views on a ref. And besides, He never said anything personal about AW. His speech was still within the context of the game. Even if AW ran 1000 miles, he was not around the goal area in some of the goals scored (both S'land anf Man U). and he sure took some time (not sure its 30sec) b4 producing cards. I am a Man U fan, but I dont think the second yellow for Richardson was deserved. He spoilt Sunderland's game with that. You cannot say SAF was out of line in any way IMAO. SAF has got the right to say his opinion. Everyone also has the right to take this opinion in any context. I think this journalist just enjoys wanting to cause controversy.

Dear Rebecca

We admired your new haircut almost as much as the way you coquettishly managed to get SurrAlux off guard with your clever questioning. Our question is this : to what extent to you think The Great Man consciously uses the media or does it rather depend on who's holding the mic or the pen, and his realisation of what he can get from them. Somehow we don't see you aquiver like the feeble Motson in the face of a Fergie blast or moaning like the sulky BBC couch boys on MOTD when they have to talk to Micky "Groovy Shorts" Phelan yet again.

Best regards,

Jay, Georgia and Stella

Nice to get the Lowedown Rebeeca; you are the best in the biz; I miss the Monday night football show that was on Setanta with you and James Richardson but it's great to get super reporting on Espn from you.

Interesting read. Couple of points;

1. Yes you are correct that all great Managers deflect any criticism of the team they manage.

2. Just a point on ProZone, those stats do not back up Wiley at all. All it means is he TRAVELLED 6+miles not RAN...Prozone only covers the distance moved on the field, inc walking, jogging etc etc. Wiley was consistently behind the play.

Cheers

Rebecca,
Great article! I think we should get more of your work in the US. On WFD you talked about a new show. Will we get it in the US? Will it be available on the website?
I salute you on this reporting. You combined both proper coverage in just reporting what happened with a follow on editorial of the story you covered. This is why I think you are one of the best. Most reports overly blend the story they cover with their opinion.
I do however agree with SAF. How far you run is not a measure of how close you are to the incidents you need to officiate. How close was Wiley to United's penalty claim? I would love to see what Prozones has to say on that topic. Beckham was always saluted for the distance he ran yet criticized for his lack of pace. When you get some place on the pitch is more important than the fact that you made it there "sometime." Wiley's Prozones I believe did not note him as being very fast at all.
Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Michael

I would just like to know more about the prozone stats in that game. If you take out the 3 players who were substituted, the goalkeeper and the 2 central defenders, how many of the remaining 5 players ran more than the 6.86 miles that Wiley ran?

Fact of Life: Fergie's never gonna get called down by anyone posting here. He's too powerful for it. The only way Fergie's powers will diminish is if someone beats him at his own game. As in, they find a team and manager that can consistently beat Man Utd and win more titles.

So, basically Fergie keeps his power till he dies.

Newton Heath - perhaps you should look at your own use of grammar before questioning someone else's education?!? You use a Capital Letter after a full stop....and this sentence does not make sense "composed and awful, painful article". That's the basics!?!?! Back to school for you laddy! P.S. Ferguson is an idiot.