From the BBC!
Sir Alex Ferguson's status as the most intimidating man in football allows him to use his reputation as a shield against reality.
It also allows Manchester United's manager to escape criticism for £28m blunders such as the signing of Juan Sebastian Veron.
It allowed him to brush aside suggestions he had weakened his defence by selling his best defender, Jaap Stam, before the season.
It allowed him to announce in December that Laurent Blanc had not been responsible for one goal conceded by Manchester United this season - a claim even the player's close family might have to dispute.
It cannot, however, allow him to rest any longer on the recent claim that Veron has been "fantastic" this season.
Ferguson may like to fool himself, particularly as it was his idea to get Manchester United to sign the cheque, but he cannot fool anyone else.
Ferguson has stood by his £28m signing
Veron has clearly been less that fantastic.
He has, in fact, been awful - a colossal waste of money who has been more of a disruption than an inspiration to Manchester United this season.
But nobody appears willing to say so, presumably because Ferguson's fearsome reputation puts him above the usual laws of soccer scutiny.
It is the transfer blunder that dare not speak its name. All £28m of it.
If Arsene Wenger or Claudio Ranieri had parted with £28m for such an under-achiever, be in no doubt they would have been pilloried months ago.
And now Ferguson's devotion to a player who does not appear to have the heart for Premier League combat may have clouded his judgement to such an extent that it may cost him the title.
Ferguson inexplicably restored Veron to his midfield against Middlesbrough at the expense of Paul Scholes, who had been brilliant in the 5-3 win at West Ham United seven days earlier.
There was no logic in the decision, unless it was based on misplaced loyalty to Veron, or complacency that Middlesbrough could be easily overcome.
It was doubly ironic in that Scholes was the man who, earlier this season said: "Juan is a better player than Eric."
It should be made clear that the Eric in question was, laughably, Cantona - not Sykes or Clapton.
Scholes has suffered from Veron's arrival
Scholes is a more likely match-winner than Veron, better goalscorer, and fits more snugly into the tried and trusted pattern of OId Trafford success.
The result of Frguson's decision was another under-stated Veron display, underscored by being caught like a novice in possession near his own penalty area by Benito Carbone to set up Alen Boksic's winner.
Veron arrived in Manchester amid fanfare - with even BBC Sport Online columnist Mark Lawrenson proclaiming after his signing: "It is already a case of who comes second."
But after a bright start, he soon went into decline.
He was particularly exposed in big matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, when the man regarded as one of the world's finest midfield operators went missing.
Soon his mediocre on-field performances were matched by constant stories of his desperation to return to Rome and Lazio.
Veron allegedly yearned for Lazio. He was supposedly upset he was not shown the same affection at Old Trafford as he was in Rome.
Scholes claimed Veron outshone Cantona
All denied of course - with Ferguson blaming Lazio despite sightings of Veron at the Stadio Olimpico.
The brutal truth is that if Veron wished to make his way back to the Eternal City, many Old Trafford fans would pay his taxi fare to the airport if it meant Scholes was no longer excluded to accommodate him.
For Ferguson, more serious questions will need to be faced if United end the season empty-handed.
Manchester United's midfield was not broken - so why attempt to fix it by spending £28m on a player he did not need?
Ferguson's defence was in need of repair, but rather than spend his transfer fund on a defender, he replaced Stam with the ageing and free-of-charge Blanc.
But Veron is the great enigma of United's season - and the biggest albatross around Ferguson's neck.
The fans are rarely wrong, and if Veron was sold swiftly no tears would be shed on the Stretford End.
And their judgement would be sounder than Ferguson's.
NT: I'm starting to wonder if Veron does have a 'Play me if I'm fit' clause in his contract, because he clearly hasn't been playing as well as Scholes. I almost hope that was the reason, because otherwise it would be SAF's pride and ego being the reason. But if he can drop Beckham for a while, then he should be able to do the same for Veron. I think there is now a good chance that Veron will be sold in the summer, although I wouldn't bet on it, but if he is, would we buy another midfielder? Personally I was happy with Scholes and think a solid defense and more depth in the striking department are bigger problems.
Sir Alex Ferguson's status as the most intimidating man in football allows him to use his reputation as a shield against reality.
It also allows Manchester United's manager to escape criticism for £28m blunders such as the signing of Juan Sebastian Veron.
It allowed him to brush aside suggestions he had weakened his defence by selling his best defender, Jaap Stam, before the season.
It allowed him to announce in December that Laurent Blanc had not been responsible for one goal conceded by Manchester United this season - a claim even the player's close family might have to dispute.
It cannot, however, allow him to rest any longer on the recent claim that Veron has been "fantastic" this season.
Ferguson may like to fool himself, particularly as it was his idea to get Manchester United to sign the cheque, but he cannot fool anyone else.
Ferguson has stood by his £28m signing
Veron has clearly been less that fantastic.
He has, in fact, been awful - a colossal waste of money who has been more of a disruption than an inspiration to Manchester United this season.
But nobody appears willing to say so, presumably because Ferguson's fearsome reputation puts him above the usual laws of soccer scutiny.
It is the transfer blunder that dare not speak its name. All £28m of it.
If Arsene Wenger or Claudio Ranieri had parted with £28m for such an under-achiever, be in no doubt they would have been pilloried months ago.
And now Ferguson's devotion to a player who does not appear to have the heart for Premier League combat may have clouded his judgement to such an extent that it may cost him the title.
Ferguson inexplicably restored Veron to his midfield against Middlesbrough at the expense of Paul Scholes, who had been brilliant in the 5-3 win at West Ham United seven days earlier.
There was no logic in the decision, unless it was based on misplaced loyalty to Veron, or complacency that Middlesbrough could be easily overcome.
It was doubly ironic in that Scholes was the man who, earlier this season said: "Juan is a better player than Eric."
It should be made clear that the Eric in question was, laughably, Cantona - not Sykes or Clapton.
Scholes has suffered from Veron's arrival
Scholes is a more likely match-winner than Veron, better goalscorer, and fits more snugly into the tried and trusted pattern of OId Trafford success.
The result of Frguson's decision was another under-stated Veron display, underscored by being caught like a novice in possession near his own penalty area by Benito Carbone to set up Alen Boksic's winner.
Veron arrived in Manchester amid fanfare - with even BBC Sport Online columnist Mark Lawrenson proclaiming after his signing: "It is already a case of who comes second."
But after a bright start, he soon went into decline.
He was particularly exposed in big matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, when the man regarded as one of the world's finest midfield operators went missing.
Soon his mediocre on-field performances were matched by constant stories of his desperation to return to Rome and Lazio.
Veron allegedly yearned for Lazio. He was supposedly upset he was not shown the same affection at Old Trafford as he was in Rome.
Scholes claimed Veron outshone Cantona
All denied of course - with Ferguson blaming Lazio despite sightings of Veron at the Stadio Olimpico.
The brutal truth is that if Veron wished to make his way back to the Eternal City, many Old Trafford fans would pay his taxi fare to the airport if it meant Scholes was no longer excluded to accommodate him.
For Ferguson, more serious questions will need to be faced if United end the season empty-handed.
Manchester United's midfield was not broken - so why attempt to fix it by spending £28m on a player he did not need?
Ferguson's defence was in need of repair, but rather than spend his transfer fund on a defender, he replaced Stam with the ageing and free-of-charge Blanc.
But Veron is the great enigma of United's season - and the biggest albatross around Ferguson's neck.
The fans are rarely wrong, and if Veron was sold swiftly no tears would be shed on the Stretford End.
And their judgement would be sounder than Ferguson's.
NT: I'm starting to wonder if Veron does have a 'Play me if I'm fit' clause in his contract, because he clearly hasn't been playing as well as Scholes. I almost hope that was the reason, because otherwise it would be SAF's pride and ego being the reason. But if he can drop Beckham for a while, then he should be able to do the same for Veron. I think there is now a good chance that Veron will be sold in the summer, although I wouldn't bet on it, but if he is, would we buy another midfielder? Personally I was happy with Scholes and think a solid defense and more depth in the striking department are bigger problems.
