Gary’s wrong, a 0-0 means we’ve all lost

And while we’re at it...

DRAW every game 0-0 and you will probably not get relegated from the Premier League. You will, however, finish no better than 14th in the last 10 seasons, with 16th the average. And one imagines the two Manchester clubs are aiming considerably higher than that. So, why the euphoria about the single points gleaned from the Manchester derby on Sunday? And what is it about goalless draws at Old Trafford and members of England’s coaching staff? Two years ago, Roy Hodgson was mesmerised by the sight of Manchester United and Chelsea playing out a quite dreadful game, now Gary Neville has claimed the first 45 minutes of United’s contest with City is the best half he has seen all year. Maybe he is hoping to fool those squatters occupying his hotel premises, in the hope they will abandon it for one of the hospitality boxes in the South Stand. No doubt, as a defender, Neville (right) was excited to finally see some competence at the back — and justifiably so, because both defences performed very well — but that isn’t what the game is about. The bottom line, football’s reason for being in fact, is to score goals. If neither side does this, they have failed in the point of the game. Defence in boxing, safety in snooker, these are very admirable skills, too — but those sports are about potting balls or punching the other man incapable. Without reds in pockets or the odd right-hander, the action has not evolved as intended. It is the same with football. United and City did not send out six forwards worth a combined total of £226million to draw 0-0. A successful game involves the eye-catching attackers being as effective as the defenders. There is always some clever Dick intent on playing the only grown-up in the village who thinks he’s seen a goalless masterclass — but invariably he hasn’t. The all-Italian Champions League final was a lot of old rubbish, so was Steaua Bucharest versus Barcelona, Brazil’s World Cup win over Italy and the Manchester derby. All failed in the point of the game.