Then again, the knives had been out well before Jim Furyk was conceded the 17th hole by Miguel Angel Jimenez to finally take the United States over the 14 and a half point barrier.

Watching from a distance it seemed to me that most of the British journalists at the course were just waiting for Faldo to fail.

Unfortunately for him, he is not perceived as media friendly - and the golf correspondents don't like that.

He was slated for his selections on day two before the players even went onto the course.

But his strategy worked as Europe closed the gap on their hosts to just a couple of points.

Then he was criticised for the order he selected for his team on the final day.

But he was let down by his senior men, not by the order in which they played.

Sergio Garcia was a shambles in the opening game, as was Jimenez until the closing holes lower down the order.

And the idea that he should have had Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington out earlier holds little water for me.

Both players were struggling in their singles matches even before the final nail was hammered into the Euro-coffin.

His decision to had a wildcard pick to Ian Poulter - a decision that had baffled the 'experts' - proved to be the entirely correct one.

The simple fact is that the USA played the better golf over the three day event than Europe.

And when that happens it is difficult to do anything about it as the non playing captain.

Faldo was a great player but remains a poor communicator but that is no reason to make him the scapegoat.

WAYNE Rooney's anger management issues continue to disturb those who watch one of the greatest footballing talents this nation has.

Barely a decision went by in Manchester United's game at Chelsea on Sunday that the England international did not dispute.

He escaped punishment from referee Mike Riley for all of the words directed at the official.

But was, quite correctly, cautioned for his crude lunge at Ashley Cole on the edge of his own area.

And was anyone else out there as pleased as I was to see Salomon Kalou's header level it up from the resulting free kick?

The challenge did little to persuade me that Sir Alex Ferguson sees games the same as anyone else as he later suggested there had not been a bad challenge in the entire game.

ANDY Murray's recent successes at the US Open did much to paper over the cracks in British tennis.

But they reappeared at the weekend as GB slipped out of the World Group of the Davis Cup with a whimper.

Murray continued to buck the recent historical trend by winning his two rubbers fairly comfortably.

But Alex Bogdanovic was every bit as disappointing as we all knew he would be.

He is ranked number two in Britain yet has never won a meaningful David Cup tie.