ARE you sure he wasn't worth the money Fergie? Really, really sure?
Manchester United's boss will never admit he cocked up by letting Carlos Tevez join the "noisy neighbours" at City.
But deep down, when he is all alone sitting by the fire with a glass of his favourite red in hand, he must wonder if he has dropped one of the biggest clangers of his managerial career.
Because, right now, Tevez is on a mission to make Fergie choke on his words. And, if Gary Neville chokes too, so much the better.
Neville said before this game he agreed with his manager that the Argie striker was not worth the ?25million United would have had to pay for his services.
So, when Tevez struck with a controversial 42nd-minute penalty which cancelled out Ryan Giggs' opener, he went looking for sub Neville who was warming up on the touchline.
Then, when Tevez pounced with a close-range header on 65 minutes which gave his side a crucial edge in this Carling Cup semi-final, he cupped his ears in exactly the same way he did at Old Trafford against City - when Reds fans were imploring their manager to sign him up.
This time the strains of 'Fergie, Fergie sign him up' rang round Eastlands from City fans revelling in taking the mickey.
Tevez has got right under the skin of the United boss.
Ferguson absolutely hates that poster in which the Argentina hitman is featured in all blue with the slogan 'Welcome to Manchester' - and this has added to his torment.
After a sticky start at City, Tevez is scoring goals at will. He now has 17 for the season and every one of them strikes at Fergie's heart.
Tevez is not in the Denis Law camp, a man who famously refused to celebrate when he scored for City against United after helping condemn them to relegation.
While Tevez could not even raise a smile when he scored for United against his old club West Ham, these strikes were special.
It is personal now between Tevez and his more recent employers.
Yet the evening did not start so well for City as United took the lead on 17 minutes after Antonio Valencia got the better of Craig Bellamy down the right.
The cross was low and hard towards the near post and, though Wayne Rooney's shot was blocked by the diving Shay Given, the ball spun across to Giggs - who had the simple task of tapping home from a yard out.
To say Fergie was delighted was something of an understatement. The Scot jumped out of his seat, both arms pumping the air, followed by manic hand-clapping.
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But his celebrations were nothing compared to Tevez, who had been getting hammered by the United fans behind the goal for first missing a good headed chance and then claiming Jonny Evans dived as the pair challenged for a high ball.
The worm turned when City were awarded a controversial penalty. Bellamy tried to get away from Rafael and was tugged back outside the box.
The Welshman continued his run although he was stumbling as he got his cross in - and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot. United were furious as there was no foul in the area but Dean was unmoved.
As Tevez prepared to take the kick, Rooney was rabbiting away in his ear. But the Argie absolutely smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Rooney was not pleased at being second fiddle to Tevez and, just after the break, got in on goal only to be denied by Given at the near post.
Then the keeper scrambled a Giggs header round the post before the roof came off Eastlands as Tev struck again.
United only cleared a corner as far as Pablo Zabaleta, who headed back into the box, and Vincent Kompany hooked the loose ball across where Tevez headed in.
City almost got a third but Edwin Van der Sar saved well from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
In the dying minutes, Michael Owen's deflected shot was cleared off the line by Nedum Onuoha and Valencia's embarrassment was spared when the linesman flagged him offside as he missed when almost on the goal-line.
Given ended proceedings by tipping Rooney's shot over the top.
Bring on the second leg - it's going to be a cracker.
screw you nag3 
A good game from a neutral spekky point of view .
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