Why Fergie must stop crying wolf over refs, and Lyon are mad if they think Liverpool will do them a favour

By Brian Reade

Published 05:02 28/11/09

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We learned this week that banks are set to do away with cheques. Meaning one of our nation's three great lies - "the cheque's in the post," - will soon be extinct.

Mind you the other two - "British telly's the best in the world" and "Fergie was right about that referee" are looking even shakier. Especially the Fergie one.

There he was again this week, desperately trying to divert attention away from another lame performance by claiming the ref had denied United a "stonewall penalty" against Besiktas. Adding that it was the second time in this year's competition.

It was also the fifth time this season Fergie has blamed a draw or defeat on the officials. It's getting so monotonous now you fear if he lost his wallet he'd phone up the police and blame it on a ref.

It's got to stop Fergie. Especially before your next European game. Unless you want to be ignored by the world and labelled "the man who cried Wolfsburg."

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"We hope for a surge of pride from Liverpool" said Lyon's Jean Alain Boumsong, hoping the Kop will roar their struggling players to an empty victory over Fiorentina at Anfield, to enable his side to top their Champions League group.

Sure. It's not like they've got other things on their minds. I reckon they're desperate to do Lyon a favour. The same Lyon whose two injury-time goals deprived their side of progress, and needing to draw in Florence to give Liverpool a chance of survival, played a weakened team and didn't manage a single shot on target for an hour.

Alain, mate, I'd say you've less chance of the Kop taking up your cause than the team being led out  to the Z Cars theme with Gary Neville as mascot.