Garrick wrote: Bit early to start running up the white flag, Sylvester!
Maybe United's early exits from recent competitions is a bit of a cosmic 'book balancing' from all the good fortune they enjoyed under Ferguson. I know of no side that appeared to benefit as much from marginal refereeing decisions than United did during that era.
I would go so far as to say that they might have won a few less trophies back then had VAR been around to adjudicate on some of the last gasp goals scored.
it would not have taken much for Ferguson to influence VAR. Refs at the were petrified of the likes of Keane. They were constantly verbally abused by the players. Any decision that went against them was scrutinised by the press and refs were made out to be not "up to the job". Mike Riley the now head of refs including VAR, awarded United 12 penalties in 13 matches at OT. When MU ended Arsenals 49 match unbeaten run he awarded United not only a penalty which today VAR would have overturned on one look at it, but also failed to send off 3 United players. Van Nistelrooy for stamping on Cole, Ferdinand for pulling Ljunberg back when free on goal (he did not even give Arsenal a free kick) and Neville for kicking out. He booked Neville in the last minute of the match.
Take a look at the video and decided for yourself. (no Trump United fans please as they would all say its a made up video)
www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/a-foren...td-2-0-arsenal-2004/
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