Bits and pieces

DIDN'T think much of Sir Alex Ferguson's putdown of the United crowd - when he described the atmosphere as being like a funeral after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Birmingham City on New Year's Day. "The crowd were dead," he complained. "That was the quietest I have heard the crowd and it's disappointing because we needed the crowd today. We have come through a difficult period of game after game and in moments like these we need a lift. But it was like a funeral out there." Not very appropriate words there, Alex, given that Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell had died the previous Saturday after collapsing during a Scottish Premier League match against Dundee United - and that there were tributes to him during the New Year's Day games.

UNITED'S automatic cup scheme for season ticket holders needs sorting. I see David Gill said the system would be tinkered with - ie season ticket holders will not have to buy Carling Cup tickets next term - but surely it needs a proper overhaul? People I know say there should be a two tier set-up - with a return to league match ticket books and season tickets. The former would by definition get LMTBs, the latter the full monty. Others say the set-up should return to that of the 70s and 80s when your season ticket meant you got all the league matches and the FA Cup, and paid extra for any other games, if you wanted. I think the latter is a fair deal, but I doubt the Glazers will go for it.

I AM not sure about Mark Hughes as the next manager of Man Utd. My feeling is that his teams are functional and not entertaining enough. If Utd are going for grinding out results Mourinho is surely a better bet? It would not surprise me if the Portuguese is the next manager at Old Trafford - it is going to take a big man to walk into the shadow cast by Ferguson...that man certainly is not Queiroz whose one claim to the post is that he is well in with the Portuguese/Brazilian players at OT.

Sparky could do worse than prove me and other people wrong by taking up the Newcastle job - and turning the club around. I wonder if Shearer has the guts to finally put up - if not he should shut up and let the club get on with its business. It is a difficult enough job without him playing a Phantom of the Opera role around St James'...

David Beckham should not play for England against Switzerland just so he can get that 100th cap and boost the Wembley gate. If he does, it will make a mockery of Fabio Capello's claim to be an iron man who puts out the best team on the day. Becks was great for United, but his day has gone.

The American election is brilliant viewing on the box - much better than some of the football swill served up by Sky. Barack Obama is inspirational, but can he beat the Clinton machine? Hope so...

Plug of the month...all the best for this year to Angelo at Red Legends. A great man and a fine business. Good seeing you in December mate - see you again later this year. Also a big hello to Russell Forgham - another fine man and an inspirational figure who lives life to the full.