'Paddy' Barclay suubjects us to his views
Two and a half years ago, Manchester United overcame Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup final. More of the Middlesbrough generation have progressed to the Premiership, but one United player who caught the eye was Phil Bardsley and he has not let Old Trafford's lush grass grow under his feet. Bardsley, a right back who likes to go forward, has been deputising for Gary Neville and shows signs of being able to hold down a regular place as and when Neville's powers start to wane. But Bardsley would be a more attractive prospect if he learned some respect.
If you saw Match Of The Day last weekend, you will know what I mean. During United's draw with Tottenham, young Bardsley was stretching to prevent a ball from going for a throw when, with a vain hook of his right leg - the ball was already 18 inches over the line - he caught the attendant linesman, who winced while maintaining a dutiful concentration on the flag. Bardsley, far from offering a light-hearted apology, scowled and reprimanded the poor man as if he were some idiot occupying the wrong space, then ran off muttering. I later noted him berating the referee, Uriah Rennie, again with no justification other than that the official had got between Bardsley and what he wanted at that particular time.
Maybe this is how budding professionals are expected to behave these days. You certainly see plenty of them shaking their heads in impertinent mock bewilderment at the decisions of men more experienced and, in most cases, professional than they. It just makes them look stupid, but managers do not seem to mind; rudeness appears to be perceived as an aspect of the winning mentality.
In a sane world, Bardsley would have been called to Sir Alex Ferguson's office on Monday morning and instructed that, if he wanted to represent United again, he should pick up a pen and a piece of paper, write an apology to the linesman, put it in an envelope, apply a first-class stamp and pop it in one of those red things you see on street corners.
I cannot think of a current manager who would do that - with the possible exception of Stuart Pearce, whose mature attitude towards football in general and referees in particular has been one of the joys of the season thus far. And for whom did Pearce play? Among others, Brian Clough, the only manager I have ever known who would unquestionably have corrected any tendency towards ill manners among his charges.