Have Manchester United lost the plot?

A 2-1 defeat to Chelsea has left the Premier League title race wide open. Manchester United may still top the table, courtesy of their superior goal difference, but it appears the tide has turned.

Sir Alex Ferguson was furious at the late penalty decision given against Michael Carrick which offered Avram Grant's side the win, despite it looking like an obvious handball. Then afterwards, Fergie's players followed suit with Rio Ferdinand kicking a female steward when he was actually aiming for a wall (in frustration) and several of his team-mates got involved in an unseemly scuffle with Stamford Bridge groundstaff who wanted them off the pitch while they were warming down.

So has the pressure got to them? Do Chelsea now have the upper hand? Did Ferguson's decision to start with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench explode in his face? Have Avram Grant's subtle mind games proved his worth in the big league?

Let us know your views ... but keep 'em clean or they won't be published.

Comments

[T.Morrissey]

Hold on! Gentlemen..let's get a sense of measure here, come down from the grouching cosmos. Manchester United were and still are the most 'entertaining' side in the Premiership. Yes SAF may have got it wrong recently, then again Bristow never threw consistent 180s'. Tonight Manu will beat Barca...end of story!

[Oli (Manchester)]

We always stumble over the finish line, it's part of the entertainment!

Since our win over Villa everyone, pundits and fans alike have been hamming up claims that, "the title's over!"

Football fans are in a league of their own when it comes to rash nonsence, that's part of the attraction.

I seem to remember United being written off at the beginning of the season with 2 points from 9. United fans know that it's not over until it's over and with 2 draws from three games we are again being doubted.

360 minutes of football separates the Gods from the Clowns.....isn't football brilliant.

[Mindress]

No matter what happens but still more Manchester United will be granted champions of England again, they can`t lose the two remaining games and thats for sure.
The CL is also in their hands because of their attacking football, Barca is going to be punished for not scoring at their camp.

[Stephen.Warrington]

Of course Man Utd are under pressure.
For months all we've heard is Liverpool not good enough again.....
Arsenal blown it.....Chelsea in turmoil.....Man Utd wonderful attacking football/is this the best United team ever/Ronaldo this/Ronaldo that.
If Utd win nothing after such a build up it'll be a bit of an embarassment wont it?

[neil goodes]

SAF hasn't lost the plot. He reckoned that whatever happened at Chelsea they would still win their last two games and hence the title. He therefore decided to rest some key players for the Barca game.
What shone through in the chelsea game though was that, at the highest level, Utd's squad is not good enough.Their midfield was completely overun and nani in particlar had a shocker.

[Ray O'Brien]

Manchester United have not lost the plot. Chelsea have the best squad in the league - Lampard is out - replace him with Ballack - Man U have a big squad but are affected more if one of their key players is removed. The second is the style of play. Chelsea are more used to grinding results out - masters at it. Man U are good but their natural play is attacking.
Finally, can we drop the rubbish about players having bottle or not. Players for Arsenal and Man U have courage but they have less experience collectively than the Chelsea team and it will tell. Ballack has built up his experience through losing many games and championships.

[Zwe Moyo]

This is still United's title to lose courtesy to Newcastle, who gave them bucket loads of goals over the two legs.

However I think Fergie is a clown to say 'Carrick never lifted his hands to the ball.' Fair enough he didn't but what does he have to say about William Gallas's handball that got them a pen against the Gunners 3 weeks back? Any similarities? I just love the hypocrisy in the league!!!

[Gen]

It's not the team that has lost the plot its Ferguson and his coaching staff with their bizarre team selections in recent weeks in particular.

Ever since Vidic was injured away to Roma he's been making two changes in the back 4 to accommodate for the absence of Vidic. We need Hargreaves in midfield, not at right back. I do not understand why he did not just play Gerard Pique alongside Rio. Away to Boro we played O'Shea at centre half instead of Pique. I don't trust O'Shea at centre half and knew it would backfire as soon as I saw the line up. O'Shea had a shocker against FC Basel a few years ago (it was so bad he had to be hauled off at half time after we were 2-0 down). Ever since he's been a liability at centre half.

Ferguson's failure to recruit an out and out centre forward in the last two seasons has cost us dear. Saha has been a waste of space in the last couple of seasons because of his inability to stay fit. I am sick and tired of hearing that he is injured over and over. He has to go pure and simple in the summer.

Watching us away to Barca last week I could not believe the line up. Quite frankly our performance in the Nou Camp was embarrassing and I expect Barca to knock us out tomorrow night. If we do make it to the final that will be a miracle in itself.

The bottom line is that we should have had the league wrapped long ago and thereby giving us the luxury of resting players for both semi final legs. Too many players running on empty this season again and injuries cutting into us again (just like last year), despite the so called big squad.

[peter shaw]

It's hard to imagine a manager with SAF credentials could so under estimate Chelsea and think that by not playing his lethal weapons he could ground out a draw and so a league title. That being said they will probably still win the title but this should teach Fergy and Benitez and Wenger if you want to win you play your best team, no ifs buts or anything else.

Thank you

[Anthony Barlow]

Neither Utd nor Ferguson have lost the plot,in the next two games you will see Man Utd building both on the legacy and the pedigree, that has allowed us to be rightly acknowledged; as one of the most honest,skilful and passionate football teams, ever to grace a pitch with it's presence.

[allen elliott]

with 2 games left were now in the realms of the 3 foot putt
it will be a real test for both teams players and managers
the next 180 minutes of football
be no ordinary will affair
who will win -who knows it will take skill good fortune and mis fortune

[Roy Pinney]

As a CFC fan I will readily admit that United have played some wonderful football this season, but mentally they now seem nearly as flaky and shredded as Arsenal. Last Friday Ferguson was bragging about possibly ending Chelsea's 4 year unbeaten home run in the Premiership, and yet 24 hours later he picked a wholly negative team which got what it deserved, particularly in the first half. Only Rooney seemed to have the necessary drive and commitment (respect due for the way he shrugged off his injury to rattle in the equaliser), and all their arguments about Carrick's handball just show how in pieces they are at the moment.

I still expect United to win their last 2 matches and secure the title but it would be nice (instead of the usual criticism about alleged boring football and whingeing about Abramovic's millions)to see some credit being given to Grant for the approach which the team took on Saturday, and to the players for their phenomenal resilience and mental strength during the run-in. I'm sure privately Arsene Wenger wishes his much-lauded "young" side had as much bottle as the likes of Terry, Ballack, Essien et al.

[Antonio]

It was not only at Chelsea. Already at Barcelona has Man U decided not to play, just waiting for the 90 minutes to be over. They escaped in Spain, but Chelsea has a little bit more tempo in their game. This new approach to the game by Manchester United is a bad interpretation of continental tactics. Mourinho's teams can defend with the ball; Ferguson and Queiroz can only defend giving the ball away.

[Paul Rowland]

West Ham and Wigan, both managed by fomer personnel of Ferguson ? Don't remember Alan Curbishley playing for Manchester United.

[Andrew Sergent]

It was swashbuckling, free flowing football that catapulted Man U to the top of the league and into the semis of the CL. In doing so, it allowed arguably the best player in the world to exhibit his remarkable talents and plunder an impressive amount of goals. It is therefore baffling that when crunch time comes, Fergie changes the team and tactics. Gone is the attacking football, replaced by a dire defensive approach which relies on a naïve counter attacking policy which all but blunts Ronaldo and Co’s ability to effect the game. To fall at this stage of the season would have been disappointing for Man U, to surrender their position with tactics that are so often Fergies nemesis at Old Trafford would be unforgivable.

[DavcidG]

Obviously Ged doesn't "geddit" does he?

[Bob Cox]

Both the F.A and the football writers give Ferguson an easy time - he and his sidekick never fail to denigrate the opposition and cast all blame for defeat on the referee.No action was taken after the Portsmouth game and no doubt no action will be taken after Chelsea.Ferguson is a great football manager but when he is wrong he is wrong and you writers should be saying so.

[Tim]

Man United, and particularly Alex Ferguson, aparantly have no idea how to lose with grace. The first penalty that has been given against Man United all season (an obvious hand ball) and the world is against them again. It would be very entertaining to see Man United end up with nothing, probably wont happen but if it does you can be sure it will be entirely the referees fault!

[Tony]

Ferguson has lkost the plot in that he has shown fear in the last couple of months instead of going for wins and letting the opponents fear United. Playing Giggs and Park is insane. Giggs is absolute garbage and Park is not much better. Lightweight midfield is going to win nothing and unless Carrick has someone tough alongside him he is usually knocked about and ineffective. Responsibility for this mess lays firmly with Ferguson, because the choice of who plays is his alone.

[A Todd]

Ged, not sure what you're trying to say there, but best to include a few more words to make sure your syntax works out.

Man U is definitely limping to the finish line here. They haven't played well for a while now, squeezing out draws and wins against lesser oppostion in the league. If they hadn't got the draw against Blackburn, then Chelesea would already be top of the league. I think unfortunately, Man U will win the league because they will win both their remaining games. Psychologically, Man U have it over pretty much all the other teams in the league. Hopefully Chelsea will get through to the Champ League Final, against Barca (who will knock out Man U because they'll score at Old T).

One out of two will keep Chelsea happy after the season we have had.

[OL]

Ferguson's team selection suggested that his focus is on Europe - no suprise given his annual comments about Man Utd's poor European record, however he could risk losing both the Premier League and CL as a consequence. It is worth considering however that Man Utd face West Ham and Wigan, neither of whom are a particular threat and both being managed by former personnel of Ferguson. Man Utd to be Champions but lose to Barcelona on Tuesday

[Will Fred]

I will happily have an even £1,000 bet with any Chelsea fans who think they'll beat us to the league.

We will murder West Ham and Wigan. Any takers?

Thought not.

[Phil]

Fergie was wrong not to risk his two most potent goal threats. Yesterday's starting line-up have scored about 20 goals between them this season, while Ronaldo and Tevez have racked up a combined total of 56- do the maths. With those two starting, Man Utd might well have won against Chelsea and would have momentum going into the Barca game, with the knowledge that the league was practically sown up. How different it is now. Oh and Fergie, please stop sending the puppet Queiroz out in front of the cameras in your place. He sounds ridiculous as he tries to remember all the nonsense post-match excuses you've told him to trot out- and doesn't sound like he believes any of it anyway.

[ROY C]

It's absolutely disgraceful that any ref should award a penalty against Man U - does Wiley not realise that they are a special case. To compound this error by not awarding Ronaldo a penalty when he was touched by Ballack in the box beggars belief.
Poor SAF and his BBC mouthpiece Queiroz need to grow up and realise that the world does not revolve around them or their group of spoilt brats. Ferdinand for England Captain - NO WAY - money doesn't buy class!!

[Stephen Reeve]

No, MU have not lost the plot - Fergie has ... and for that matter lost the plot a long time ago. Despite his many successes he all too often fails when it comes to team selection and tactics. Team is suffering from a lack of continuity because of too many changes in recent games and with little end product. Should have really gone full out for the win from the start against Chelsea - being negative led to defeat. Ferguson, Querioz and others need to be more gracious in defeat. Of course it was a penalty - and I am a MU supporter.

I expect us to stagger across the line and win the PL ... far less confident that we will defeat Barcelona.

Stephen Reeve