Eideard

The worst defeat for Manchester United since the founding of the English Premier League in 1992. Listless, mediocre defending, few shots taken at goal much less into the goal – while Manchester City played a professional, workmanlike match throughout.

There will be plenty of professional coverage of the match by those writers paid to do so. I recommend the GUARDIAN UNLIMITED for that task. The result was just so stunning I had to make mention, had to record this at my personal blog.

Sir Alex’ strategy can’t sufficiently motivate a team that doesn’t reach its own standard. Roberto Mancini can take credit for bringing together an international aggregation into a real team.

Mario Balotelli [center] celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of the match
Daylife/Reuters Picture used by permission

Daylife/AP Photo used by permission

The former Manchester United manager, who left his first managerial job at Sunderland in December, was confirmed as the new Tractor Boys’ manager this morning. He replaced Jim Magilton, who was shown the door at Portman Road on Tuesday, having failed to reach the Championship play-offs in his three years at the club.

Keane said that the board’s desire to succeed was a big factor in his decision to take the job. “I enjoy working with ambitious people,” said the 37-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal.

When asked why specifically he accepted the job, the former Republic of Ireland legend continued: “My gut feeling, the ambition of the club, the history of the club.

“There’s enough people out there with no ambitions who are happy to go through the motions in life.

“It’s going to be very difficult [to gain promotion], looking at the teams that will come down [from the Premier League].

“It’s a massive challenge, but hopefully we will be in the mix. At the moment we are 26 points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, so that’s a big, big gap to make up.”

At least I got over a year’s wear from my Sunderland kit. Now, I have to get a Tractor Boys t-shirt, at least.

Won’t help much that I’m married to a Wolves supporter.

Daylife/Reuters Pictures

Paul Ince has been sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers after six months of his three-year contract and 21 games in all competitions in charge at Ewood Park. The former England captain leaves with the Lancashire club without a win in their past 11 league games, a run which has seen them fall to second bottom of the Premier League.

The Blackburn board met yesterday to discuss the future of the former Macclesfield and MK Dons manager, who guided Rovers to only three wins and 13 points from 17 league games since his appointment in June.

“It is with great sadness the board announce that Paul Ince is to leave the club, blah, blah, blah…”

As another sect within the Guardian Church put it…

While he may have lost over half his 21 matches in charge, the sales of David Bentley and Brad Friedel and the injuries to Steven Reid and David Dunn meant Ince also lost almost all his top players. The Guv’nor was presumably looking forward to filling the holes in his squad in January. Indeed, he had perhaps already supplied the board with the names of his transfer targets.

And it’s not as if those names probably included a lower league journeyman, an England has-been and a portly property developer who looks like he’d struggle to finish a paper round let alone a Premier League match. Isn’t that right Keith Andrews, Paul Robinson and Robbie Fowler?

Thanks to The Fiver for providing much-needed perspective.

Roy Keane has resigned as manager of Sunderland after 27 months in charge.

Keane, 37, took over in 2006 but chose to step down with the club lying 18th in the Premier League following five defeats in six matches.

“Roy’s decision sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club, despite the club’s efforts to keep him,” said chairman Niall Quinn. “Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League.

“His winning mentality and singled mindedness were just what this club needed. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself.

I’ve just had to call my wife at work and pass along the sad news.

We’ll miss you, Roy. Hopefully, not for long.