Nov 04
Blah, Blah, Blah… Waffle, Waffle, Waffle…
yada, yada yada… I don’t write good post headings.
And so it goes. Another void to fill. It’s champions’ league day today, although it doesn’t involve us. It’s also election day today in the country where I reside. Of course, I wouldn’t want to use this platform to air my political views, but dear American friends who are reading this, please don’t vote for that nutcase. You know who.
Hmm… now let’s see what I can talk about. Ah! How about this? Fifa.com carries a Q&A session where fans, with many curious sounding names, asked Ronaldo questions. He answers questions about his personal ambitions as well as the club. In short, nothing out of the ordinary. Read it, then.
Curiously, it seems Tony Adams finds Ferguson more approachable than Wenger. Perhaps that’s because Wenger is now a stubborn, miserable, old git who can’t see his team’s failings and has recoiled into a cocoon. Surely, now, you wouldn’t want to take advice from someone whose lost to Stoke, Fulham and Hull. Jokes aside, I’m not really a fan of Adams, and I really don’t care. Also, I’m not sure if he’s manager material. But that’s a hunch and only time will tell.
Nani thinks a better grasp of English has helped him develop a better understanding of his mates, and hence, better performances on the pitch. Whilst a better understanding of language and culture may have been useful, I think it’s got more to do with the few games he’s started, forcing him to work more on his game to prove to the boss that he’s ready to make the right (or left) wing his own.
Ahead of the Celtic game tomorrow, I would hope we’ll get more quotes as the day wears on and bring them up either in the comments or in tomorrow’s preview, but it would seem that Ferguson might go a little easy on the team lineup keeping in mind Arsenal this weekend. We could probably see Carlos Tevez get a start, for one.
And that’s about all I’ve got for now. Rest tomorrow. Over to you…
Related items from Red Rants:
- Irresponsible Media Stir Up Another Storm
- Heinze Rumours (Again) and Foster’s Injury
- Someone is going to die
- Reds’ New Signing | United Rich For Real? | Lyon Draw
- United Sleepwalk to Defeat
Tags: Daily Roundup
November 4th, 2008 at 11:19
You say you dont write good headlines? That headline must have been the best Ive seen this week!
November 4th, 2008 at 11:22
I look forward to the game at Celtic Park. Hopefully we can win so we are through to the next round without any doubt. Fergie will want to win and I think Flecth and Giggs will be our midfield with Arsenal coming up this weekend. Park and Evra on the wings, Oshea and Neville on the backs and Vidic and Evans in defense. Foster might get a start, as should Tevez.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:50
Neville – Vidic -Evans – OShea
—-Carrick —-Fletcher——
———Anderson————-
Park——————-Ronaldo
———-Tevez————–
bring on nani for ronaldo,giggs for anderson early in second half
1-0 to Reds
November 4th, 2008 at 12:39
I think Fergie will take it easy in this one. I know it’s important to qualify early, and we can do that tomorrow night, but Aalborg has to be viewed as an easy win, so we can fall back on that. I think we’ll see a few of the fringers getting a run out, and I also don’t think Carrick will be risked given the frisky nature of the affair:
———Kusczak——— (though i’d love foster to start)
-Wes–Rio—-Evans–OShea-
—-Fletcher-Giggs——-
-Park————-Ronaldo-
——Berba-Tevez———
November 4th, 2008 at 13:23
oh pls lets not have Giggs start!!
November 4th, 2008 at 14:43
http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=947361
what do ya’ll think?
November 4th, 2008 at 14:47
RR: who’s that nutcase? give me a hint.
a really obvious hint 
November 4th, 2008 at 14:49
————-PIG————–
-raffy–jonny–rio–evra-
-cronaldo-carrick-andy-park-
—–tevez–manucho—
park and nakamura going head to head for man of the match.
November 4th, 2008 at 15:30
a lot of talking about Benzema going to be great but i never thought of him being in united shirt i dunno why, i dont want him to be either.
!
i like berba more
November 4th, 2008 at 15:48
@ JFOS – I’d love to see that team, though am not sure Manucho has shown he’s up to it. Anyone watched him in the reserves? I normally follow the highlights but haven’t had time lately.
I think we’re gonna draw 1-1, for the record. And that it’s gonna be a penalty to them.
November 4th, 2008 at 16:19
I think we will win 2-0. A classic United away performance in the CL. Fletcher and Tevez to score. Tevez is gonna score a penalty btw.
November 4th, 2008 at 16:27
@john freakin’ o’shea: Too be honest, I have a feeling that Benzema is a little scared of the EPL. Like it or not it is right now the best league. The money has attracted players from all over the world, Even South americans are thriving in England. I could be way off, but I find it a little odd that a player wouldnt want to test himself at the highest level. Having said all that the spanish league isnt bad, He just doesnt have to worry about the physicality of the league.
November 4th, 2008 at 16:29
Im a little curious as to the identiy of the “nutcase”.Judging from the press worldwide(excluding Fox News) this election should be a no brainer.
November 4th, 2008 at 16:48
Foster will get his CL debut tomorrow. Many papers reckon it, and I would be delighted with it. He is Uniteds keeper of the future.
November 4th, 2008 at 16:55
@johnsom33: Actually, judging by Fox News, it should be a no-brainer.
November 4th, 2008 at 17:14
I think Evra should be rested tomororw, let O’shea get the start. Evra will have to be up for it against Arsenal so give him the night off. Also, lets give Carrick 60 mins just to help him get back to full fitness/form. Ummm apart from that, I’d say business as usual. I dont think we’re going to be in for a classic to be honest, I’m looking at a bore 1-0 or 0-0
November 4th, 2008 at 17:17
I agree with DV – another dull away CL match from our boys. No idea why, but we just don’t do it away from home in Europe. Maybe its a bit better cause its just oer the border, but who knows. I’m not expecting much.
Totally psyched Foster is getting a run out. FINALLY.
November 4th, 2008 at 17:50
I think we will field a full strength team so that we can ensure the 10 points we need to qualify. SAF will want a six-pointer over his auld enemy Strachan and they are no dummies at home.
I would go for a standard 4-4-2 with our usual back four (Neville for Brown) and in the midfield Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani and upfront Rooney and Berbatov.
I fully expect Ronaldo and Rooney to get on the score sheet with assists from Berbatov and possibly Nani!
November 4th, 2008 at 18:51
now, im not against youth given a chance, but i must ask, why do you all have evans in your line-up?
November 4th, 2008 at 19:08
Rafaels gonna play because both brown and gary didnt travel…lucky kid..the atmospheres will be great as it always is at celtic park.
November 4th, 2008 at 20:10
@john freakin’ o’shea: Who cares? Benzema is so bloody overrated it makes me sick to hear his name. Hell I’d take Obasi, Ba or Ibesevic from Hoffenheim before I considered Benzema.
November 4th, 2008 at 20:13
@ROOOONEY: Benzema is not coming to United. No way no how. We have Berba now and even if we lose Tevez, we cannot afford Benzema. There are better players out there who are cheaper. Like I said earlier. Look to Hoffenheim. I think Obasi or Ibesevic are fantastic and highly skilled. Chelsea are already looking hard at Obasi. Thes guys would be cheap cheap cheap in comparison to the bloated Benzema. Besides, I hate the name Benzema. Sounds like a skin disease.
November 4th, 2008 at 20:50
@Red Ranter:
fair enough
November 4th, 2008 at 21:01
If we are going with Rafael we need a solid experienced central defence pairing i.e. Rio and Vidic. Evans can have a run out against Aalborg.
We are nicely stocked with strikers. All we need to do is commit Tevez to a five year contract and then we are fine for the next five years. Ronaldo and Giggs can both play as support strikers if required and perhaps next season Manucho will be promoted to the first team and become the magic 4th striker or perhaps Campbell will return to the squad. If neither of those players work out for us then someone cheap might be an option but really I think we are fine.
November 4th, 2008 at 21:13
@Grognard: DO you think players from Hoffenheim would come cheap? I dont follow the German League as close as I want to but I was under the impression that they are owned by a very wealthy benefactor. So they dont exactly need the money… or do they?
November 4th, 2008 at 22:02
Hehe chelsea getting stuffed 3-0…!
November 4th, 2008 at 22:31
liverpool down too! Can this week get any better?
November 4th, 2008 at 22:35
WHAT A DIVE!!!!!! liverpool is such fucking bullshit.
November 4th, 2008 at 22:36
Damn how lucky can you get? The worst penalty decision ever in the final minute for Liverpool.
November 4th, 2008 at 22:41
FECK!!!!
What a feckin imbecile of a referee!!! How liverpool keep scraping through games is beginning to piss me off!!! Feckin incompetent ref, I mean, Gerrard jumped into the defender!!! 
November 4th, 2008 at 22:42
DIVER!!
November 4th, 2008 at 22:44
thats hilarious. The perfectly executed dive. Arms thrown out, arched back, and to top it all off, a nice girly scream. HAHA i seriously would be embarrassed if i did that. I could never face my friends or my brothers after something like that, they would never let it down.
November 4th, 2008 at 22:44
I know its not football related but it has been a slow day day but just watched a film called “a bronx tale”. Man what a film, very good, any1 else seen it got any opinions of it.
Anyway just saw that gerrard dive for the penalty, god what a cheat, i dispise him along with john terry. If ronaldo does the exact same thing tomorrow the press will have a field day and he wud be the biggest cheat in the world, but when gerrard does it, it hardly gets a mention. And the funny thing is gerrard time and time again comes out and says how he hates divers and how if any1 at l’pool did it he wud tell him 2 stop. Its funny cos he is one of the biggest divers in the league. Players like him are the reason why i never support england.
November 4th, 2008 at 22:51
@colver: aah now there were 2 blatant handballs by Carragher and Arbeloa(?) which rivalled it
November 4th, 2008 at 23:15
Because im quite into politics and i know a large number of the lads on here are American,RR, did you vote for obama or the puppet?
November 4th, 2008 at 23:27
@dan(u-ol): You have 3 seconds to delete that post…how dare you accuse captain fantastic of diving…he doesn’t dive, the air just trips him.
November 4th, 2008 at 23:44
@Rd:
So, enough about me! 
What I care about is Saturday. 3/4 parts of my classmates are Arsenal supporters. You can imagine how thier last weeks have been. 
If we beat them, and its a big if, we will have deleted one of our rivals already. Seriously! They lost 3 games last season, and theyve lost 3 games so far. If we beat them we can move 9 points ahead already and we are still to find top form. Arsenal are off form, lack confidence and are missing several players. And if Walcott and Gallas are fit they will not be 100% either. I contrast to United who are full of confidence, have experience, are in great shape and in amazing form, Ronaldo hitting last seasons form and us having a full swaud now that Carrick is back. If footy was played on paper I would be 120% sure of a wibn. But football isnt played on paper and that has made me eat my words before. Hopefully we will win, and like the priest said: “God is a United fan!” 
Shit that ref sucked. But still, Pool didnt win and Chelski got chuffed 3-1 at Roma. If we win tomorrow and Arse lose(again) this week would be perfect. To be honest I dont care about tomorrows game so much because Ive got more important things to attend to. Ive got a big test, footy practice and gotta find a girl to invite to a dance. I can ask anyone I want, I just dont know who.
November 4th, 2008 at 23:46
@dan(u-ol): I live in America. Am not American.
November 4th, 2008 at 23:51
@johnsom33: Hoffenheim is a town of 3300 people. What they are accomplishing is nothing more than a major miracle.
Rich benefactor? According to whom? What’s rich in Germany is pennies in the Middle East. Trust me a team like that has a price and they can’t hike the prices up too high because they need cash to continue improving. Remember, their fan base and tv revenue is very limited.
November 4th, 2008 at 23:53
@RedDevilEddy: Honestly guys, who fucking cares about what happens to Liverpool or Chelsea in the CL. All I care about is United results. The rest can just sod off.
November 4th, 2008 at 23:57
@Grognard: I dont care. Its just that when Chelski/Arsenal/Liverpool lose/draw(lucky draw) then I have a reason to frustrate my friends. Fook, they do it to me when United dont win so I get pleasure from mocking them. Unfortunately I am one of three United fans in my class so I have to be careful.
November 5th, 2008 at 0:06
Im off to bed! See ya tomorrow. (turns of computer, scrathes balls and gets his teddybear. After tucking in and giving the teddybear the most delightful hug, he can go to sleep. He thinks: “Why, am I glad Im not a scouser!”)
November 5th, 2008 at 0:18
@Grognard: I think most United fans love to revel in the misery of Liverpool or Chelsea or Arsenal. I’m surprised how you find that new.
November 5th, 2008 at 0:20
@Grognard: Dietmar Hopp is worth over a billion and he’s co-founder of SAP. He’s not as rich as the Arabs, but he’s still rich enough to not be bound by a need to sell his player. Not yet.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:31
@Red Ranter: I don’t find it new rr, I find it silly. What Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal do in the CL should be of no concern to United fans unless of course……..they fear them. As far as I’m concerned I only care about who United plays because in the end, the CL champion will have to pass through OT in order to hold that trophy. I cannot see United relinquishing their hold on that trophy without a mighty fight. So bring on the Chelsea’s, Liverpool’s and Arsenal’s. We fear them not and they are pissing themselves over thought of possibly facing us in that competition in the future.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:34
@Grognard: It’s not a matter of concern. It’s revelling at another rival club’s misery which is what a vast majority of fans do. It may sound silly, but then who says fan behaviour is rational?
November 5th, 2008 at 1:45
@Red Ranter: Dietmar Hopp may be worth over a billion but he does not spend his money as wildly or as foolishly as Abramovich. He has a very small market team in a very small stadium with hardly any tv revenue worth dancing a jig over. Sure he does not have to sell but he also realizes that in order to survive he will need to spend more to keep the team in the Bundesliga and to eventually start showing a profit. Money talks and the right price can pry soem of their stars because the manager knows that he can find others like them. The ya re built for youth and speed and there is no room on that squad for slower veteran players. This team is a faster hybrid of Zenit and they counter attack like lightning. This style requires pace and youth and so he will constantly be happy to look to Africa, Bosnia and other feeder nations for players who will fit this mold. Right now this team has 5 to 6 players that really blow me away and they were no names in the world game a year ago. They are doing something right but it’s also a scouting system that seems to be able to continue to find talented but fast players. So I think they can afford to sell and buy even more players of similar quality. Honestly, Ibisevic, Obasi (aka Edu), Eduardo, Ba and others on that team are playing awesome football. And despite the system and the pace required to make it work, they show tremendous skill and composure on the ball, not to mention vision. Ibisevic is far greater for our needs than Tevez and he would cost 1/3 the price. He is fast, skillful and a real hungry poacher. Obasi is also a great finisher but he can also play wide and is a very good play maker. Trust me, these guys are fun to watch and it’s only a matter of time before big clubs in England, Spain and Italy start knocking on Hoffenheim’s door. Truthfully, I hope they keep them because I’d like to see how this team develops over a few years. They kind of remind me of the German juggernaut that existed at Borussia Monchengladbach in the the 70’s. A small club in a small city with not very much money but who was better domestically than Bayern Munich in the Beckenbauer, Muller era. They managed to stay great for a decade before spending escalated in the 80’s and drowned them.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:37
@RedDevilEddy: Lol, after Terry slipping in the CL, exactly 40yrs after we won our first European Cup, i agree God must be a Man Utd fan. About asking a girl to the dance, just tell her you’re a Man utd fan, and she’s putty in your hands,
@Grognard: Yes, it doesn’t affect United, but once in a while, its nice to be able to taunt rival fans after a bad result for them, might sound childish but its all football fun.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:27
obama won.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:36
@Rd: @RedDevilEddy: Rd is right, girls are suckers for united fans.
even girl scousers adore manutd. 
we’re just simply irresistble. 
November 5th, 2008 at 7:38
The only time I have been happier in this decade than tonight’s victory of hope by Barack Obama was when United won the Champions League. At least I have my priorities right.
A historic moment and an inspirational and motivational moment in history. The Death Star has been destroyed and the One Ring has been thrown back in to the mouth of Mount Doom. It’s time for the World to celebrate the end to tyranny, fascism, immorality and total stupidity. Although I would have preferred an Obama/Ferguson ticket.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:06
@Grognard: It’s funny that McCain’s concession speech was the best I’ve heard from him all campaign.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:54
Nice that obama won
and having a bit of kenyan blood 
like me makes it even more happy. back to football now, today is our champions league match and I really hope that we wont have those complancent spurts we have seen in some games this season. We need to be more hungry and never give teams a hint that they can get back to the game. Prediction Celtic 1- Man united 2
November 5th, 2008 at 8:59
we do care what happens to the three other clubs. If they crash out of CL, they lose money that they would have used to challenge us in the transfer market. That is why I care that they mess up.
Plus, their performance in the CL will affect their confidence going into the weekend.
Hence, we want Arsenal to give up a late goal and lose/draw – that should make then ready for our pickings this weekend.
Regarding, Obama — he still has a lot to prove. With congress on his side, he should be able to push his stuff through, but if he hangs with a bad crew, he can also create havoc…
November 5th, 2008 at 9:00
@Red Ranter: I agree but that isn’t unusual. By that time all the pressure is lifted and one is more like himself. All of a sudden the John McCain that many of us admired despite his political affiliation emerged. He showed some class instead of acting like a maverick ass clown. What a route. Thank God for Obama but thank our lucky stars, no Palin. That woman terrifies me.
November 5th, 2008 at 9:03
@Nelson Otieno: It was a funny and emotional week for me. I just finished watching five seasons of the HBO series “The Wire” which made me feel like there was no hope for America and the continued decline of the American Empire was so evident in that series. Then Obama wins and hope and optimism overflows in my heart. YES WE CAN!
November 5th, 2008 at 9:05
@Madschester United: “If he hangs with a bad crew”. You’d have to resurrect the Third Reich to find a worse crew of scum and villainy than the group of Nazis that were running the country for the last eight years under Bush.
November 6th, 2008 at 19:42
Grognard couldn’t have put it better they just changed their names to neoconservatives.