Well done United in winning the Carling Cup today. Whomever the opposition (no reflection on Wigan who have been great this season) to win a cup final 4-0 is a very good day at the office.

However, as every good United fan knows the Carling Cup is not exactly the trophy United were aiming for this season. Not so long ago, even if you were the tea lady you were guaranteed a game in the League Cup at some point if the team survived long enough.

Still, United (like every other club over the past four years or so) have actually been trying to win the competition in recent years, so this win was always on the cards.

The bigger question is whether this is the first success of a great new Fergie team, or the last of his great era with the club. To be honest the jury is still out on that one. Although the signs have not been promising of late, you can't argue that if it wasn't for a Russian with a lot of money, United would probably win the league this year (and last year too).

The old master still shows he has the ability to make a big decision (i.e. dropping Van Nistelrooy). This one has been coming for sometime, in that Saha has been the best United forward every time he came on the pitch and that Van Nistelrooy's goals have been covering up the fact that he is not the player he once was. I know a striker is judged on goals and for that you could never knock the Dutchman, but a few years back his overall play was that of the best front man in the world, now it seems the brain and not the body is main part of his game. Like the top class player he is the memory will keep him there or there abouts for a few years yet.

More to come on this subject, but to sum up, you feel that Fergie needed this win today to give him the chance to create that one last great team. Has the old master still got it in him? You wouldn't bet against it, but as I say, the jury is still out.

In both Euro 2004 and the World Cup of 2002, England looked somewhat heavy legged on occasions. True the searing heat of the Far East in 2002 must have played a part and also both tournaments coming at the end of long and hard domestic seasons is a big factor.

However, wasn't it the same for everyone else?

So, Mr. Eriksson has got his wish and now has more time to prepare his team for this year's World Cup. They can now also recharge and come to the tournament as fresh as daisies.

One thing to think about though........

At the World Cup in 2002, I remember seeing the Republic of Ireland game against Spain (which they ultimately lost on penalties). Whilst watching the game I thought that the Irish lads were playing the game of their lives and were running the legs of the Spaniards.

Sort of disproves Sven's theory, doesn't it?

Could the answer be that his teams don't get their second wind because of his own lack of passion (and a pulse?).

Could it also be the case that because he is so weak he makes them weak too?

I guess we will find out in Germany soon enough!

No doubt about it. Arsenal's victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday was a great performance and a great result. Well done to all concerned.

However, wasn't it what we should have expected? Backs to the wall and all that. This is the team remember who lost a league title that they should have won (2003) and used a song Manchester United sang when they were presented with the trophy (we've got our trophy back...we've got our trophy back....etc.) as the motivation for a historic and unbeaten next season.

So we would expect them to get beaten to Blackburn away the following Saturday? Too right. Did they? Absolutely.

Two things you can draw from this I think.

You can defiantly say that Real Madrid must be the most expensively compiled bunch on misfits (who only use the word tackle when it comes to fishing or euphemisms about their private parts) since Michael Jackson decided to alter his facial features.

Also, be sure that Arsene Wenger can produce a mind set within a team that is literally unbeatable sometimes; no matter what the circumstances. Let's see if it can last for the second leg!

Football Muse - If you think about it and you're right about it, write about it!