DON’T you find it a bit odd that our two most experienced managers both have issues filling certain positions in their teams? I most certainly do.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who has won a phenomenal 27 trophies at Old Trafford including 12 Premier League titles (in exactly 1,400 games in charge), has trouble with goalkeepers.

And poor old Arsene Wenger doesn’t know a centre-half if he slapped him in the face – namely Gary Cahill of Bolton and England.

Fergie is now so tetchy about his £18m keeper David de Gea that he blames the Press – and his treatment of TV’s Kelly Cates when she asked a routine question about the under-fire young Spaniard was nothing short of disgraceful. “Don’t be so stupid,” he rapped. He should be ashamed of himself.

But that’s typical Fergie – the Victor Meldrew of football. Everybody else is to blame except him. Siege mentality. Next week blame the FA. Then the poor old ref. He is predictable and boring. No wonder rival football fans despise him. Oh yes they do.

Then there is Wenger. You would have thought that he’d have learned sufficiently from the defenders he inherited from George Graham – the likes of Dixon, Adams, Bould, Keown and Winterburn. Stick one in and let’s all go home. 1-0 to the Arsenal. Game over.

But no, and Arsenal fans have endured down the years plonkers like Stepanovs, Grimandi, Squillaci, Koscielny, Djourou, Senderos and now Mertesacker. It may be early days but my first impression of the 6ft 6in German is that he is to defending what Nora Batty is to Miss World.

Wenger gets all alliterative when he claims his defence lack “communication, co-ordination and concentration.”

But whose fault is that? He buys these wretched players and so it his judgment which is once again under scrutiny.

Little wonder then that this is Arsenal’s worst start for 58 years.

Close your eyes now as I re-introduce Fergie’s blunders down the years. Remember Jim Leighton? Fabien Barthez? Mark Bosnich? Roy Carroll? And the biggest joke of the lot Massimo Taibi.

The point is not lost on the amiable Law-rence who works for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and is a United fan.

“It is weird,” he admits. “Fergie is probably the greatest manager ever – but he has a black spot with his keepers. He has bought brilliantly again this season.

“Ashley Young and particularly Phil Jones who I predict is a future England captain. What a prospect he is. Sensational. But I am not so sure about de Gea. Only time will tell of course.

“But he sure looks shaky to me.

“It is strange with Wenger too. The whole wide world knows Arsenal have been crying out for a quality centre-half for years now. I am not certain this new guy is the answer.”

Too right, pal. But I suppose there are worse things in life.

Such as being Chelsea’s £50 million laughing-stock Fernando Torres.

Oh, what a miss!