Sir Alex Ferguson: Who's Cracking Up Now?

After Rafa's "rant" (how calmly reading a script at a press conference constitutes a rant is still beyond me) way back in January Manchester United fans up and down the country were quick to claim the Spaniard was "cracking up."

Even comparing it to Kevin Keegan's remarkable tirade way back when Newcastle were still relevant.

Liverpool's subsequent succession of draws against lesser, obdurate opponents fed this.
The media highlighted Rafa's character assassination of Fergie as another example of Fergie's mind-games winning out.

Liverpool were seemingly surrending their best chance of a title in 19 years. A seven point lead turned into a seven point deficit.

The Merseyside club's annihilation of nine-time European Cup Champions Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield (the Spanish clubs heaviest defeat in the Champions League) was dismissed. Real were "poor" and Manchester United would finish off Liverpool's anemic title challenge at Old Trafford.

The match began with the ground full of Manchester United fans crowing about Rafa "cracking up" and with Ronaldo scoring a penalty early on.

It ended with the ground half-empty, tens of thousands of Manchester United fans fleeing the scene of their clubs heaviest home defeat in 17 years, whilst the small pocket of Liverpool supporters joyfully sang an ironic chant of Rafa's Cracking Up.

Now I don't claim to be an expert in psychology but since the whistle blew at Old Trafford that day only one manager has been doing anything resembling "cracking up."

Sir Alex Ferguson—knight of the realm—locked himself away, hiding from television cameras. Refusing to speak to Sky, blaming them for the defeat. Despite the fact the fixture time had been suggested by the police, agreed to by both clubs and was known two months in advance.

When he deigned to speak to the media he claimed his team—after their heaviest home defeat in 17 years—had been the better team. Even the clubs official website didn't have the gall to keep those comments up too long, pulling them quickly.

A few days later he came across as laughably petty when he called the Spaniard "weird" and named Wenger, O'Neill, and Moyes as the best three managers in the EPL besides himself.

Managers, by chance, of clubs with no chance of winning the title.

Over Benitez with his two La Ligas, two European Cup Finals, and a team fresh from scoring eight goals past Real Madrid and Manchester United in a week.

Now he has been incensed by Rafa's assertion that Manchester United have greater financial resources, the Scot claims "I worked out in the last five years Liverpool have spent £24 million more than Manchester United."

"You will see Rafa produce an incredible spree. That is an absolute certainty now he has signed a new contract. They talk of a recession but there will not be one at Liverpool.

There is no doubt they will have a big spending purge. That is Rafa's way."

The Daily Telegraph, with some simple research dismiss this showing that in fact Manchester United have spent a net £40million more than Liverpool.

The reality is neither manager is 'cracking up,' but talk of Alex Fergusons prowess at mind games is laughable, a cop out by lazy journalists looking for an easy excuse.

Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford punctured that myth, as well as the hype around Manchester United relative ability (Vidic, best defender in the world? After that?).

Despite the defeat, with a four point lead and a game in hand Ferguson should be aloof and dismissive of Liverpool.

Instead Fergies comments betray his fears about Benitez, who is rapidly becoming his major rival—partly due to a power vacuum at Chelsea and with Wenger content to play a glorified youth team at Arsenal.

More importantly, coupled with stunning result at Old Trafford last weekend, they show that this season could just be getting very interesting.