jts1882
Dean Richards
It's Alex "Little Bill Daggett" Ferguson again: "I guess you think I'm kicking you, Chris. But it ain't so. What I'm doing is talking, you hear? I'm talking to all those referees down there in Stoke-on-Trent. I'm talking to all those referees in Whitley Bay, and all those referees up there in Chester-le-Street...!"
The problem is, it does have an effect, because referees understand that part of their job is to forestall any criticism of the way the game is officiated (especially in terms of openly questioning control of technical issues like timekeeping) by high profile clubs and individuals, and that the FA start shifting nervously in their seats when it happens.
The next time some other side scores an injury time goal that denies them 3 points, Ferguson will have forgotten all about the importance of providing a fair chance for someone to win, and he'll be moaning about too much time having been added on, claiming they add time now for too many ridiculous and spurious reasons other than genuine stoppages. It's all just an opportunity for him to prime the ref for their next game.
This is the main point. Yes, part might be deflection from his teams' failings, but mostly its setting the scene for future games. A few years ago there was a terrible example ... which I can't remember exactly ... where he complained about a perceived bad call by a referee (possibly Atkinson?) and was rewarded dramatically later (I think Chelsea were the victims or beneficiaries of the bad call).
United got one bad call and now Fergie is out to set the balance ... more than one compensating call. Besides, he'll probably recall Howard Webb for the next game.