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United are left chasing their tails
SO the Dream Final turned into a nightmare for Manchester United as they were out-thought and out-played by a Barcelona side many pundits felt were not up to the task.
The gulf between the two teams was, for much of the time, embarrassing as the Catalans dominated possession and made United chase them.
As it turned out it was the English champions were simply not up to the task.
Barca went into the game without Dani Alves and Eric Abidal and there were serious injury doubts over Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta.
But you would never have known it was their build up that had suffered all the disruption.
Wayne Rooney struggled to get into the game and there were times I thought Ryan Giggs had been left at home.
It was not until he handed over the captain's armband to Paul Scholes with 15 minutes to go I actually realised he was playing.
Sir Alex Ferguson appeared gracious in defeat, admitting the Spaniards had been the better team - he could do little else.
But given the obvious deficiencies against a really top quality side, it will be interesting to see how he reacts next season.
THE debate over the fairness of the play-offs continues with none of the teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places going up.
Reading - third in the Championship - crashed to Burnley in the semi-finals while MK Dons, who were third in League One, went out on penalties to Scunthorpe.
The same fate befell Bury, fourth in League Two, when they played Shrewsbury.
On the face of it, it might not seem fair, but everyone knows the rules when the season starts - finishing out of the promotion places means everyone starts off level in the knockout.
And, having supported a side that has both won and lost in Wembley play off finals, I have to say that the excitement massively outweighs any sense of injustice.
THE football fans of Accrington must have a nasty sense of deja vu this week as the town's football club appears to be on the brink of collapse.
Back in 1962 the club suffered a major financial crisis, owing 4,000 to the Inland Revenue and 458 in National Insurance contributions.
With other debts thrown in they were forced to resign from the Football League and in 1966 went bust.
The current club was formed in 1968 and worked its way up the pyramid before reaching League Two in 2005-06, the season Halifax Town were beaten in the Conference play-offs.
This week it was revealed that Stanley owe around 300,000 in unpaid tax and national insurance, claiming that their inability to pay is as a result of dwindling crowds.
They face a court hearing next week and chairman Eric Whalley claims he is "99 per cent sure" the club will be around next season.
To lose one club may be regarded as careless, to lose two . . . .
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
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