Alex is Firing on All Marbles

The Premiership fixtures have been completed and the annual close season festival of transfer speculation is upon us.

By tradition, the Silly Season formula demands a liberal sprinkling of outrageous stories – none more so than the rumour that Ruud Van Nistlrooy, who has had a well publicised tiff with his manager, might be on his way to the King’s Road, possibly in exchange (or part-exchange) for Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Leaving to one side the fact that clubs with Chelsea’s brand of pocket money do not normally demean themselves by becoming involved in ‘part-ex’ deals, there is a much more important issue here – the question of the Manchester United manager’s marbles.

Sir Alex Ferguson is not, and never has been, noted for doing anything whatsoever which may be remotely advantageous to his closest rivals. This helps to explain why, in his time at least, there has been very little transfer activity between Old Trafford and Anfield or Highbury. Now Alex knows perfectly well that Chelsea are desperately short of a top quality striker so it is difficult to envisage any circumstances in which he would be prepared to provide them with one so that they can continue to dominate the Premiership and once again win the title which he regards as rightfully his.

The only other possible explanation would be loss of marbles on Alex’s part.

For which there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever.