Sir Alex Ferguson never ceases to amaze. Just when you thought the knight in whining armour could no longer stun with his skills, we find out that in addition to his football prowess he is a tip-top post-impressionist painter. This effort, we believe, was daubed by the Scot last Saturday and is, according to critics, "a masterful rendering of the anguish endured by managers of clubs in flux or plain old decay, in this case, evidently, Portsmouth's Paul Hart."
That tableau has been compared to certain works of Vincent van Gogh, which is apt really, as the Scot's management is also beginning to bear uncanny resemblances to that of the Dutch brush-wielder. Famously, Van Gogh cut off his own ear (though some historians now claim it was, in fact, Gaugin who lopped it off in a fit of pique but the Dutchman was so drunk at the time that he thought he'd done it himself, or something), whereas Ferguson is currently in the process of lopping off his own nose, apparently to spite his face. At least that's what the Mill deduces from reports that he will deplete his already inadequate squad by flogging both Anderson and Michael Carrick before the transfer window closes.
Word is the manager has fallen out with both players, neither of whom made it even so far as the bench for United's trip to Wigan at the weekend. Barcelona are said to be eager to liberate Anderson from Old Trafford, while Fergie's old chum Rafael Bentez, wants Carrick, whom he fancies as a decent replacement for Xabi Alonso. Fergie isn't particularly keen on sending him to Anfield, of all places, but money is so tight around Old Trafford that if Rafa can come up with 10m the deal will be done. That's a mighty big 'if', though.
