ESPN | Off Mic

Top Headlines

November 20, 2009

Fergie takes his seat for Rodwell audition

Posted by Jon Champion on 20/11/2009

The initial expectation was that as the audience settle into their Old Trafford seats at tea-time on Saturday, the conductor would be among them in the stalls rather than taking up his traditional position in the orchestra pit.

Musicians often claim they’d be better off without the man with the baton. Until the FA’s clarification of when – and against whom – Sir Alex Ferguson will serve his touchline ban – this weekend’s ESPN live game against Everton was expected to be Manchester United’s chance to show the same could apply in football. As it is, the Scot will now sit in the posh seats at Portsmouth and for the Carling Cup quarter-final against Tottenham.

When the Old Trafford overlord’s banishment does kick in, it probably won’t alter too much out on the pitch. After all, his glowering stare can instil fear from long range as well as short. I just hope the ground authorities can find him a seat, unlike Arsene Wenger at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Ferguson’s diversionary tactics have been much in evidence in recent weeks. Alan Wiley is not the only referee to find himself used as a public target, when in private, the manager’s ire will have been directed at players who have fallen short. The Wiley outburst directed attention away from Ben Foster’s shaky display in the home draw with Sunderland - Andre Marriner’s “inexperience” in big games was brought up rather than the capitulation of the United centre-backs following the setback at Liverpool. Then, at Stamford Bridge, Martin Atkinson was criticised in the wake of an unlucky defeat by Chelsea.

In the last case, I can find some sympathy. Darren Fletcher was harshly penalised for a challenge on Ashley Cole, and from the free-kick, a combination of John Terry and Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea an undeserved victory, and with it, a five point lead in the Barclays Premier League title chase.

Yet in defeat, I thought I detected signs of better things to come from the champions. Despite a healthy number of wins, their start to the season has been underwhelming. Only in the 5-0 dismissal of Wigan have they played with the swagger of seasons past, but history suggests that they usually start to move through the gears once the string of autumn international breaks is behind them.

That being the case, Saturday’s visit of Everton may be the starting gun in Manchester United minds for the real race to begin.

David Moyes will hope not. He’s been tormented by a cruel cast list of injured players including both his best defender, Phil Jagielka, and his most creative midfielder, Mikel Arteta. Set against that, the acquisitions of Sylvain Distin and Johnny Heitinga have made the sale of Joleon Lescott look a very good deal – and the arrival of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, although suspended this weekend, also offers plenty of hope for a brighter future.

Whether Jack Rodwell will be part of that Everton future has been a topic of hot conversation this week. All eyes will be on the 18-year-old as he strides out at what may prove to be his home ground in years to come.

I struggle to see that a move from Goodison to a supposedly bigger club is in his interests at the moment. Were it not for Everton’s injuries, he wouldn’t necessarily have been a regular this season, so what chance would he have of a starting place with Manchester United, Chelsea or any of his other reported suitors? Better to develop further under the sympathetic guidance of Moyes than languish in frustration on the fringes of a more sizeable squad.

However, Saturday’s match should give some indication of just how ready Rodwell really is. And watching on proudly will be his uncle, Tony, who works at Old Trafford on matchdays, relaying information to broadcasters covering the game around the world. He gets one of the best seats in the house to do his job, as, for this week at least, does Sir Alex Ferguson.

Comments

Posted by Abhishek on 20/11/2009

i read somewhere that he comes from a family of liverpool supporters. its quite possible that he too is a liverpool supporter and i hope he moves to liverpool

Posted by John French on 20/11/2009

Undeserved? Unlucky? How about ungracious? I wonder exactly how long and how loud SAF would have belly-ached if say Terry had done a five feet high studs up in the chest of Rooney. Do you honestly believe that such a scenario wouldn't have caused a free for all on the pitch? I understand that Drogba is regarded as the boy who cried wolf but the video evidence seems a cut and dried case of ABH. I think Trafford Park United should consider themselves very lucky that Evans ddidn't get at least a red card.

Posted by afiq on 21/11/2009

"Chelsea an undeserved victory" - it not undeserved..! Fletcher did making contact with A.cole. and there was no contact between drogba and brawn. plus..chelsea really deserved the win after flying kick by even and still drogba showed yellow..
even should be send off!! so antifootball..