Aug 20
Don’t Hate Daniel Levy
[Ed: This may be a little, shall we say, contrary to general United fan opinion. But sit back and try to wrap your heads around it for a change.]
“God, don’t we all just want Daniel Levy to fuck off? I mean, I can’t see why he doesn’t just accept defeat and sell us Berbatov. He knows he’s going to have to eventually anyway, so he should just get it over with now so we can all get on with our lives. And that tapping-up complaint he filed is a load of shit. By the time he gets his head out of his arse, we’ll be five points off the pace. He is behaving unprofessionally and generally like a cock, and I hate him.”
Do you agree with the above? Then you must be a blinkered United fan like me, because any objective (or for that matter, and other type of) observer should have nothing but praise for Levy’s actions.
Spurs have seemed the most likely entrants into the elite Top 4 Club for the last few years, and barring a dodgy lasagne they would probably have consigned Arsenal to a season in the UEFA Cup. They are now routinely signing some of the best young talent both from the UK and abroad, along with some shrewd purchases of more experienced players. Bale, Woodgate, Hutton, Bentley, Zokora, Bent (admittedly at a hugely inflated price), dos Santos, Modric and, or course, Berbatov have been added to home-grown talent like King, Lennon and Huddlestone. It’s an impressive squad, albeit one whose last eighteen months have been characterised by underachievement.
Until they secure the sacred Champions League place, many of their players will harbour higher ambitions. And the top 4 will see their closest rival as an obvious place to go to pick up Premiership-proven talent, because it should be easier to buy from within the PL than from top continental sides. However, to sustain a challenge for membership of the elite, Spurs need to keep broadly the same squad together for a handful of seasons, so they can grow as a team. At the moment, much to the delight of United and co, they are in danger of becoming a feeder club.
So Levy’s behaviour during this intensely tedious and drawn-out saga is entirely in Spurs’ best interests. In the short term, he will secure an above-market price for a player who has mentally already left the building, funding further investment in the current squad. But more importantly, in the long term he has sent a clear message for the January window and beyond:
“I can’t stop you bidding for our players, but if you want to sign one of our stars then be prepared for us to make the transfer more miserable, disruptive, drawn-out, inconvenient and expensive than you could imagine. If you think you can come over here, tickle our tummies and take the players we scouted and we bedded into the Premiership and do so without a fight, you’re very much mistaken. Now fuck off before I report you to the FA for something.”
And who can blame him. We picked off Carrick two seasons ago, Berba is still (I believe) almost certain to follow; only the da Silva twins will deter us from tracking Hutton and Bale; and we’d probably have tried to sign Lennon already if he could stay fit for more than two games in a row. That sort of interest inevitably leads to cordial relations souring - think of PSV, who provided us with Jaap Stam, Ruud and Park, but have since made it clear that we’re not really welcome anymore, evidenced by our failure to secure players like Arjen Robben.
Robbie Keane, incidentally, is an exception to the rule. For one thing, Liverpool paid way too much for him - he may only be 28, but he is a big gamble for that amount of money. Also, he has been with Spurs through thick and thin since 2002, and nobody at Spurs could deny him a shot at the Champions League before he is too old. It would be comparable to Ole asking us for a transfer a year before his injury - we’d have hated to see him go, but he’d have gone with our blessing.
Berbatov, on the other hand, took four months of his first season to settle in, had a purple patch, immediately started agitating for a move, and then sulked for a while when he didn’t get it. Spurs are treating him with just the same loyalty as he has treated them. So whilst, as a United fan, I subscribe to all the views I started the article with, as a follower of football I think Levy has it spot on.
Oh, and I got all the way through without drawing a comparison with Ronaldo - it would have been too easy.
Related items from Red Rants:- Spurs, Levy, Ferguson and Berbatov
- Man Utd Blog 2007/2008 Home Kit
- Manchester United don’t need Barton, can’t have Richards
- Some More BerbaTalk
- Rossi vs Nani Videos from Portugal vs Italy U21 game
Tags: Opinions/Columns
August 20th, 2008 at 16:42
Good article RR and I think you have it spot on. Probably makes himself feel better by doing a bit of huffing and puffing and making things awkward for SAF and Man Utd before giving into the inevitable and Berbatov signs for us. Like you said Berbatov has already mentally left the building so it serves Spurs and Levy no purpose at all to hold onto him. I just hope these protracted negotiations and brinkmanship don’t cost us too badly. Two points dropped in opening game and a tough game at the Pompey. Would Berbatov starting for us have made or make the difference?
Can I just finish by saying I do think Levy is a complete ballbag!
August 20th, 2008 at 16:46
Levy is a hypocrite of the highest proportions, I am but I do hate him, he plays up to the press and to say me “picked off” Carrick is untrue we paid and astronomic amount of money for him.
He has talked constantly about tapping up when Ramos and Bostock were tapped up by Spurs constantly. Tapping up is part and parcel of football and he knows it, he is just trying to inflate another silly price for one of his players. I have no sympathy for him simply because of his treatment of Jol, I believe one of the good guys in football.
United are being treated as idiots and the sooner we hold our hands up and purchase, the usual names banded around, the better, we need to teach him a lesson and leave him with a very unhappy player, who will be a distructive influence on Spurs’s young squad this season. We need to show these greedy chairman that we will not be held to ransom.
August 20th, 2008 at 16:50
Ah, but I like being contrary to general United fan opinion….
August 20th, 2008 at 16:52
Tottenham don’t wanna sell Berbatov just like United don’t wanna sell Ronaldo.
Levy doesn’t wanna let Berbatov go and United should respect that. In the end he is a Tottenham player tied to a contract with the club and there is nothing that Berbatov or Manchester United can do about it.
Similar to the Ronaldo situation at Manchester United he is not for sale and after all I think that Tottenham are a team going places.
United should really concentrate on improving their own scouting system and doing a similar job to Tottenham. Paying inflated prices for players is just not financially viable and in the end it’ll be the supporters who have to foot the bill.
Also anybody notice their are still season tickets available for Old Trafford this season?
I am still trying to figure out why that is?!
August 20th, 2008 at 16:54
@scoop: I wrote this, not RR. And I think he’s resigned to Berba leaving, but he’s trying to make damn sure we don’t come back for their next rising star next summer.
I’m not saying that I like the guy - just that he is an effective negotiator looking after his club’s long term interests. Don’t make me start drawing comparisons to our stance in the Ronaldo saga.
August 20th, 2008 at 16:55
@AlphaRS:Finding their own talent paying £15/16m for Bentley, £17m for Bent, £15.8m for Modric pos circa £20m for Arshavin? Bar King who has come through their youth system who plays week in week out?
August 20th, 2008 at 16:57
I think Levy is a dick for a few of reasons:
1. Because he woke up, bought The Sun, read quotes attributed to Fergie, then called up the Premier League to file a complaint.
“Today’s public comments by Manchester United’s manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players,” said Daniel Levy in a statement on the club’s official website. “It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the Premier League about the conduct of Manchester United.”
So, as a result of comments taken from The Sun, he launched an enquiry in to the way United do business. Obviously, I don’t know what went on behind the scenes and if Levy had launched this complaint independently of the quotes in The Sun, I’d have more time for him. As it is, he looks like a tabloid reading dick.
2. Levy called Liverpool ‘arrogant’, ‘disgraceful’ and said that they had broken PL conduct. Yet the moment the dippers are prepared to make a ‘donation’ to Spurs suddenly all this was forgotten. Either what Liverpool did with Robbie Keane was wrong or it wasn’t. If it wasn’t, why did he kick up a fuss? If it was, why was he so happy to go back on what he said and sell one of their best players to a ‘disgraceful’ and ‘arrogant’ club? Either stick to your guns or give in, don’t dibble dabble in between the two.
3. “We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player. Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request.” So, kindof like Sevilla telling Spurs that they had no interest in letting Ramos go, but did Spurs stop persuing him? Or did they ‘arrogantly choose to ignore this request’?
However, in terms of what he’s doing, making us stump up the cash and not allowing them to be bossed around, I think that is fair enough.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:00
@scoop: I don’t like taking credit for someone else’s work. It’s Penguin who wrote it.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:02
@Scott the Red: Actually I did want to give him his due when he said he had a whole pile of evidence. But clearly when the Premier League threw all that out, it points to a lack of any evidence. So obviously Levy was bluffing and proved that he was a tabloid reading dick, as you put it.
I can wrap my head around him being firm about Berbatov, but if he does sell him eventually then he cannot be compared to us keeping Ronaldo.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:03
@Scott the Red: I agree - there isn’t much to like about Levy on a personal level.
All I am saying is that the defining feature of all his actions (like those you list) is that they serve Spurs’ interest to the exclusion of everything else, including decency. But, if I was a Spurs’ fan, that’s exactly what I’d want him to do.
If we start criticising other clubs for acting selfishly, inconsistently or unprofessionally, or of not bowing to market forces, then I think we’re throwing stones from inside one great big glass house. It may not be a popular view, or one that people think a die-hard United fan should hold, but I think it’s correct.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:10
“United should really concentrate on improving their own scouting system”
Despite the fact that we tried to sign Berba the same summer Spurs did, but he didn’t want to wait for us to sell Ruud so he picked Spurs.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:23
I am an Arsenal fan but I do come to this site every now and then because I do like the way u folks contribute to the blog. Needless to mention my disdain for the Sp*rs being a Gooner n all but I have to totally agree with this article. Come on Stephen, its funny how Man U fans can be so hypocritical. As much as I hate SAF, I was happy at the way he stood up to Real this summer and felt some level of comradeship when u saw off Real but to then turn the other way and perpetuate the same antics as Real and worse off, supporting your club just isn’t right.
I will not condone such a behaviour from Arsene or Arsenal FC. I can understand us being supportive of out clubs but we must also be objective and criticise when it is needed. Carry on the good work and nice post.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:28
No reason to hate Levy for wanting to prevent Berba from wanting to go, unless it is simply a ploy to milk one of the richer clubs just because he thinks he can.But at the end of the day we would expect SAF to resist bids for star players, as he did with Ronaldo. The difference might be that Spurs do want to sell Berba, and that if true makes the 2 situations very different.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:40
Penguin, normally I like you articles, but what are you talking about here mate.
1. PSV actually didn’t refuse us Robbin, they were willing to negotiate, but Chelski came in and offered MORE dosh as usual, and obviously PSV are going to sell to the highest bidder. They also offered Robbin a better deal than United, and that’s why he went to them.
2. This Berba case is nothing like Ronaldo’s. United stated from the beginning, and maintained all the way through, that Ronnie was not for sale. Spurs on the otherhand, even when making the statement of complaint about us to the FA, were saying at the same time their players heads were turned, and they were wanting to leave. Nowhere in that news statement did they say Berbatov is not for sale, and they still haven’t said he’s not for sale. They murmer things like we would be happy for him to stay etc. They want to sell, but at astonomical price because it’s United.
3. Levy didn’t have spurs well being at heart at all, otherwise he would have done what Fergie did, and ADAMENTLY refused to sell both Keane and Berba. This whole charade has been about Levy’s pride wounded, because he read a inflammatory Sun article meant to inflame Spurs, and he reacted without properly checking facts. LOSER!.
4. To bring Ronaldo comparison into this, as you avoided to do, I believe that if Ronaldo really wants to be at Real Madrid and not us, we should never hold on to him. I know I was behind Fergie in teaching Real M a timely lesson, but at the end of the day, I believe if players heads are elsewhere, and continuously so as Berba’s is, then best to let them go.
Do I agree with any of your article, NO sorry mate I don’t. And I have made my reasons loud and clear above.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:46
No what united need to do is cut out the middle man. If we had signed Carrick 2 years earlier from West Ham we would have paid a fraction of the price and the same with Berbatov. If we had have made him feel wanted at the club we would have got him 2 years younger and for 12m
August 20th, 2008 at 17:48
I think Levy is pathetic for making such a scene and trying to report us.
If he had just said “Sorry Berbatov is not available and I could care less if he wants to leave us because he is under contract” I would have respected him.
But I agree there is some hypocrisy when Berbatov is just doing a Cristiano and using them as a stepping stone to a big 4 club. Worse Ronaldo has given us 5 years service while Berbatov has only given Tottenham two seasons. You can kinda see why Tottenham are pissed.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:54
@Penguin:
D’oh sorry Penguin. Good article mate.
August 20th, 2008 at 17:55
I always thought Spurs told Berbatov that he could not leave last season, but he could leave this? I do not care about Spurs, they can do to a degree what they like with regards to asking what they want, my gripe is that we do not have to play to their or anyone elses tune, we should simply pull out and buy the Hunter!
August 20th, 2008 at 17:56
I am sorry to say this!
But Fergie is getting PATHETIC in his transfer dealings!
I mean he is toooo DAMN SLOW!
And for the Double champions!
3 Millions should not be an issue!
Shame on you Fergie! Just stop being so MISER!
and pay those goddamn spurs their 30 Million!
August 20th, 2008 at 18:02
I don’t have a problem with Levy’s stand on wanting to keep the player and not feeling obligated to allow him to go. With that said, nothing can excuse this clown’s childish schoolboy antics of going to the principal (school master) and accusing a fellow classmate of cheating. His antics and accusations thrown at United for supposed tapping up are ridiculous and completely unfounded. Had he not resorted to such amateur hour tactics I would agree with the fact that he has a right to say no, hold position and fortify his defenses. It is admirable when a small team does not allow itself to be manipulated or bullied by a giant team. With that said, it’s also admirable when a team honors a player’s request to be sold well over a year after he made his first request. Berbatov sat back and patiently waited while turning in another outstanding year for spurs. He was led to believe that after last season he would get his wish if the team did not make the Champions League. This was an agreement he came to with Martin Jol and Levy.
From where I sit I feel United have played buy the rules but have also made them selves look bad and foolish. Their stubbornness and inability to pay the asking price may seem like shrewd business but it’s naive and full of holes. A big team like United with an obvious hole has no choice but to pay big money for a player this close to the deadline and with this much evidence that they are in dire need of a striker. So what have they accomplished with their tactical game of cat and mouse? Nothing more than to piss off Levy and to make him paranoid and mistrusting. Not once did they come out and let the media have it for spreading lies about contact with the player. Not once did they threaten legal action against the Sun and other tabloids for spreading false rumors and false facts. They in a sense made all the rumors look true by simply saying nothing in their defense, other than the rumors were untrue. That’s not good enough and it’s not good enough to Levy.
United have played a silly little game that I am more and more convinced may blow up in their faces. After it’s all said and done, we will end up with nothing and we will then be able to kiss our EPL chances as well as perhaps our CL chances goodbye. United have a lot more to worry about here than just dealing with Spurs. Their dwindling ranks are a major concern while Chelsea are locked and loaded and ready to shoot us before we even get out of the gate. And we are constantly showing ourselves to either be frugal misers or just plain broke. In this day and age when a team is worth hundreds of millions of pounds and we sign deals with Arab telecom companies and others, I find it hard to understand why we are being held up over 5 million pounds? For a team like United five million pounds should feel like 20 pounds in your wallet. It should be a drop in the bucket. Instead, we are acting like Liverpool and to be honest, it’s rather embarrassing. When on Earth did we become so frugal and cheap? We look pathetic and sad.
Levy sees all these flaws and has quite astutely used them against us to paint a very negative portrait of Fergie and the team. Berbatov has been a sulking bastard but I would not put him in the same category with Ronaldo. He willingly stayed for a season and patiently waited for Spurs to honor his request. But Ramos is not Jol and it appears Levy, is not Levy circa 2007/08. The rules have changed and Berbatov needs to understand that he has a contract and even though he was lied to, he has no choice but to shut up, play and no his damn role. And United should respect the wishes of Spurs and leave them the fuck alone. Creating such bad blood with a club while doing nothing to ease their concerns or answer their accusations makes us look like arrogant and guilty cunts, even if we aren’t. I thought we were better than Real Madrid? The only teams we should have tough relations with are Chelski, Arsenal and of course the Scouser bastards to the west. Lets not alienate the rest of the EPL too. Berbatov is not worth the pain, bullshit and long term harm that will come from this debacle. Fergie, give it a rest and go after someone who is available. Go after Huntelaar and do yourself and all of us a big favor.
It’s all about respect, and neither team is showing the other any. Shake hands, make up and move on I say. Forget Berbatov. He’s not worth the hassle.
August 20th, 2008 at 18:05
I don’t know why people keep drawing comparisons between the way Real conducted themselves in the Ronaldo affair and the way United have been with respect to Berbatov. Even if one was to admit that United’s interest had unsettled Berbatov, the degree to which that was the case was miniscule in comparson to the incessant daily bleatings of Calderon and co to the Spanish media throughout this summer. Levy reported us as we did Real Madrid but United’s conduct could really not be compared to the low-rent behaviour of the Real chairman and his staff. I can’t stand Levy because he thinks United are fools who can be taxed to the tune of £30M+ for a 27 year old. I would LOVE IT if we gave this tight-fisted and unrealistic upstart the one-fingered salute and shopped elsewhere. Let him keep his unhappy striker then. F*** him
August 20th, 2008 at 18:07
I think United’s anger is that to any club other than United, Berbatov can go for 25 million. Now that should tell you something. For all their protestations to the contrary, Spurs want to sell Berbatov, but at 5 million over the odds if United want him. That’s why United are not biting I think. This to me shows that Penguin’s comment is unfounded, when he says Levy is just looking out for Spurs by holding on to Berbatov. Is he Feck!. If Barcelona or Inter came in, they could have him for 25 million. Does that sound like a club with either Spurs or Berbatov’s interests in regard.
August 20th, 2008 at 18:25
@Craig Mc: Yes Levy is bitter and angry and he is making a point with United. So United have two choices really. Pay the man what he wants or go elsewhere. But waiting and hoping for them to knuckle under is wrong and naive. We may still get him but we went about it in the worst possible manner. We also made enemies with a club which was not necessary. The bottom line is that no other teams have put in a bid because although he is a superb player, he is overpriced because of his age and his questionable attitude. Huntelaar hasn’t found buyers because he too is fairly expensive but because he is a an old school striker and the teams who can afford him don’t need him or they are looking for a different type of player. It’s got nothing to do with his pedigree. United are a perfect fit for him and the sooner Fergie realizes the Grognard is right, the better off we will all be. Hey, Fergie and Levy haven’t got the arrogance market cornered you know.
August 20th, 2008 at 18:33
what as annoyed me with spurs is they come out with comments that we have broken rules yet what did they do with ramos, but what as really annoyed me is every buy man utd have done over the past and trying this summer rival fans and the media always seem to think we have behaved like real madrid with ronaldo, I don’t recall any man utd player talking open about the player united are trying to sign, and have we ever see ferguson talk to the a newspaper and give an hour long interview on what they plan for the player, and then they compare tevez with ronaldo even though tevez was owned by a person not a club. man utd do what half the clubs do talk and bid for the players real madrid do things very different when they can’t get their way.
August 20th, 2008 at 19:11
@Craig Mc: craig
Lets see if he is successful or not 
you are forgetting something here mate. Berba right now is Spurs player and they can sell him to whosoever they wish and for whatsoever the price and we should have nothing to do with that! All we can do is we can put in a bid and see if it is accepted. Only then we can have him. Spurs are within their fundamental rights to sell him to any other club for less than what utd can offer (provided berba is willing to go there) its the same thing as we did with Heinze!!!
And why should spurs sell him to us? We are after all their rivals in at least 3 competitions!!! If they have any ambitions to break into top 4 then why should they sell their best player to us (even knowing he wants to play for us). Would we sell Ronaldo to Chelsea if tomorrow they come calling for him?
I guess this article wasnt about Levy’s character as a whole. What Penguin wanted to point at is Levy’s fundamental struggle to hold on to his best player and not let devils from Mancunia devor him
August 20th, 2008 at 19:50
Someone PLEASE give me the online stream link for the BULGARIA match!
it is 1-0 to Bulgaria!
BERBATOV has just scored!
PLEASE HURRY!
August 20th, 2008 at 20:06
’sup guys, anyone got links for the england game, don’t got setanta and can’t make it to the pub at the mo
. So, any links will be great 
August 20th, 2008 at 20:10
Jos - Mate, I am not so thick that you have to state the patently bloody obvious!. I didn’t say Spurs couldn’t sell to whoever they want to sell to, or for the amount they want too. What I said, if you read my post again, was that I thought that particular stance was WHY United weren’t biting. I don’t care what UNited have to pay, but United may well care.
2ndly, where did I say that Spurs were obliged to sell to us?. No bloody where - Geez!. I said, that Berbatov wants to play for us, and seemingly from all accounts, ONLY US. So I was saying that IMO like with Ronaldo, what is the point of keeping a player whose heart is elsewhere. I haven’t got a clue whether Ronaldo would ever want to play for Chelski, and if he did, judging by the Henize case, I don’t think Fergie would bite. Personally, once a player wants to play for another club, no matter what the club is, I think somehow he will end up there in the end. It might interest you to know, that I am not into these silly little games, if Heinze wants to go to the bastard scousers, let him. What I was against was the behaviour of R Madrid, and of Heinze in the way they go about their business. But I see that other fans feel the same way about how we do or try to do business. Everyone is feckin biased where their team is concerned. Please read my posts properly Jos before making assumptions on something you think I am saying, that I am not. I do you the honour, and everyone else on here of reading their posts over again to see I get it right first. That’s all I am saying Jos!.
August 20th, 2008 at 20:21
@Gabriel: http://www.justin.tv/chavsulmb
August 20th, 2008 at 20:27
its official we have sold silly to the gooners bloody hell what is fergie thinking
August 20th, 2008 at 20:30
@Duffstuff: Link?
August 20th, 2008 at 20:42
RR it is official, look on bbc.
August 20th, 2008 at 20:45
Wes Brown has just scored for england..
August 20th, 2008 at 20:51
@Red Ranter
your link…http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=564710&sec=england&cc=5739
silly move to arse
August 20th, 2008 at 20:52
its kind of an end of an era isnt it with silvestre, dunno why but i miss the big head already. On a brighter note, surely we will sign an experienced left-back now.
August 20th, 2008 at 20:54
@Grognard: Summary of your comment mate: forget berba and sign another younger. I recall lads; Santa would come for 20m and he is younger than fergie. I know some of you lads would fucking say ” thought he was a fucking berba fan”. But Spurs and levy should fuck off. As a united fan; our fucking club should not be taken for granted.
August 20th, 2008 at 20:54
@dan(u-ol): I wouldn’t think so. We haven’t signed a striker, yet. Left backs can wait.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:00
I guess Fergie thinks that Fabio is more than adaquete enough….
August 20th, 2008 at 21:01
hey, RR, were you SURPRISED by this signing
August 20th, 2008 at 21:02
@Penguin:
Since when was Huddlestone and Lennon home grown. I think leeds and Derby would have something to say about those claims
@Liam:
The problem is Carrick while at West Ham wasnt United quality and I’m not sure he ever would have been had we signed him then. Some players (see Anderson and Ronaldo as perfect examples) it makes sense getting early others (Carrick, Berbatov) arent at the right level and waiting and seeing even if it means paying a premium makes more sense.
Also tbh players often dont want to join us at that stage of their career as its not seen as a good development move. Look at spurs with Matthew Etherington and Simon Davies. Both had trials at United while they were at Peterborough and both choose Spurs over us, Bale had offers from United and choose Spurs, Matt Jansen had offers off United and choose Blackburn even Ramsey choose Arse rather than us. They all know that they need top level first team football to fulfil their potential which they won’t get at United. They however know that if they go somewhere and fufil their potential they still stand a great chance of getting the move later on.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:19
I wouldn’t celebrate Levy and I don’t like him for the same reasons others have expressed. But he does have the rights to hold onto the player he has under contract. It is to bad he can’t see the benefits of getting rid of a problem player for them for the best 2 years and get money to help pay for purchases they have made or ones they want to make (Arshavin).
However, I don’t think we need Berba and I do believe better options are out there (Huntelaar, ???, or giving the youngsters and injured strikers more time.) Hopefully this is sorted out for the well fare of both Tottenham and United.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:20
I agreed with someone on the day of the community shield (Think it was craig) that it was annoying that Setanta had football and how much more it now costs due to them to watch all the United matches that are shown on TV. However I’m now thinking its a godsend. I may not see all the games shown (well there internet streams but those arent great) but its saving me from having to endure all the England matches. So all hail Sentanta
August 20th, 2008 at 21:20
Anyone else think England look poor defensively? Not a good first game for Cpt. Terry.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:27
@Jameso: I am a Berba fan but everyone is just fed up with this soap opera and really, one has to ask ones self, is he worth all the trouble at 28? I think he is a special player but we will only see a couple years of reward from him for that money. It’s really not good business compared to a Huntelaar, Benzema, Podolski, Villa, Aguero etc. I am much more for a younger player who can be dynamic for us for at least five years.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:28
@dan(u-ol): Why Dan? I thought you were a youth guy. I’d be more than happy with Fabio as the backup or O’Shea if necessary. Fabio is much closer to Evra in style and technique. An easier transition for the team.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:42
@Grognard: Berba scored two for Bulgaria in their 2-1 win! over some team!
Come on Fergie! Sign him damn it!
August 20th, 2008 at 21:46
Well….Sillys gone to Arsenal.
Come on SAF….sign a striker already
August 20th, 2008 at 21:50
Berbatov now please.
August 20th, 2008 at 21:52
also : http://www.itsfootball.net/2008/08/wenger-gets-arshavin/
August 20th, 2008 at 21:57
@wakey: yeah but who would you prefer at CM, a 23 or 24 year old Carrick or O’Shea or Giggs which is who we were playing when Keane left and Scholes did his eye in? Also if a player is not ready Fergie would have no problem loaning them out
@Grognard: all of those options would be better than Berba IMO. Also with the exception of El Kun we would probably get for less than him. With regards to Fabio he is widely recognized as being better than his bro. The only reason Rafael gets more time is because his brother decided to play at left back to accomodate him and now he has to contend with the behemoth that is Evra for LB. Hell even Rafael himself said Fabio is better
August 20th, 2008 at 22:02
capello has suddenly become crapello in the eyes of my fellow england fans.
August 20th, 2008 at 22:05
@Liam: thats what the media says, Shame on you liam
August 20th, 2008 at 22:06
out with the old in with the da silva. this is a sure sign that fergie is ready to put his faith in the youngsters once again.
i for one don’t mind that we have sold him to arse… i mean they can pay his wages whilst he sits on the sidelines.. just as he has done for the last two seasons. added to that the only reason he went is the french connection.. that and clichy is shit. (read the penalty against birmingham last year.)
with one less squad player hanging about its a sure sign a player is on the way in… i just hope this wasn’t the big surprise that Fergie mentioned.
August 20th, 2008 at 22:18
out with the bronze in with da silva, kinda catchy lol.
August 20th, 2008 at 22:20
@Grognard: Just a quick notion - Villa and Berbatov are similar age… well Villa born in December 1981, and Berbatov in January the same year. So it’s not much of a difference, we’d get from signing Villa over Berba. But the others you’re right about.
I’d still say that we’d get more than enough years from Berbatov, if we sign him this summer - he could play at top level for 6 years, which is good enough for me.
Real will probably buy him for £10 mil at that time, so it’d be good business
August 20th, 2008 at 22:23
@Tomas: Listen mate! LETS SIGN HIM FIRST!
Then make the comparisons!
Pompey just got their 4 players back!
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/good-news-for-portsmouth-whilst-well-struggle-to-pick-a-team/
August 20th, 2008 at 22:23
I don’t mind us selling Silvestre to Arsenal. I think, it’s a shame that he’d want to make that move, but that’s his choice.
He’ll still polish the bench with those fine french cheeks of his at Arsenal. No way he’ll get into the team… he’ll be the least used Cliché at that club
August 20th, 2008 at 22:27
@Red Diablo: Before you use caps and sad faces to my remarks, I suggest, you read them properly first.
My comment was to Grognard on the age of Villa and Berbatov… simple fact. May have been a comparison but only in response to Grognard’s comparison, so there was no other way really.
But I agree, we need to sign him soon.
And what is it with you and those caps??
August 20th, 2008 at 22:30
@Red Diablo: About using caps, don’t you ever understand?
August 20th, 2008 at 22:59
@Red Ranter: I just use them to put emphasis!
Sorry!
@Tomas: Caps! I’d rather use them than going through the trouble to use bold or italics!
August 20th, 2008 at 23:00
whats so bad i about caps anyway? i think they really shout what you want to say, like if i say ‘fuck you’(i wouldnt say that, excuse my language, just an example) it could be seen as many things, rude a joke anything, but if i say ‘FUCK YOU’ you can tell im serious and mean business, it puts emphasis on what your saying.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:07
@Traverse: Lol, I almost took that link seriously and thought it was true, then i saw the contents, thanks for a good laugh.
I’m surprised at Silvestre’s decision to move to Le Arse, he turned down a move to PSG in France in hopes of holding out for a testimonial, and then suddenly all that changes and he moves to Arsenal? For £750,000?(media price might be higher, who knows). Fergie knows something we don’t, selling him to Arsenal and for that cheap, yes i know he’s old and injury prone, but thats still kinda a lot less than he’s worth. Anyway more chances for Evans who I’ve been wanting to see more of. Now here’s to hoping he FLOPS big time at Arsenal, a few own goals should appease us.
On Levy, I don’t dislike him for holding on to Berbatov, good for him standing up to us, on the other hand i dislike him for his hypocrisy in accusing Man United of hypocrisy after doing the something similar to Seville, coming to out berate Liverpool and then selling to them later on and making up something stupid like it was a “forced” sale, and all becomes well with a donation to Spurs charity and a public appology. For an offence that is supposed to be the worst in football(according to Levy), it sure didn’t take long for all to be forgiven. Thats why I dislike him and think he’s a cnut. Berbatov returns tomorrow, lets hope something happens.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:18
@dan(u-ol): where do you get your football news if you don’t use the media
so Rafael himself saying that his brother is better than him doesn’t give it some crediblitiy? Fabio was made the captain of Brazil and most experts agree he’s better and just because you’ve seen more of Rafael doesnt neccessarily make him better
August 20th, 2008 at 23:23
@dan(u-ol):
No, I’d think you were 14…
Anyway, there are far better ways to getting ones point across than capitalization.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:33
Dan and Red Diablo,
Capitalisation is bad commenting etiquette. It appears as if you are shouting. And yes, you have to take the trouble of using bold or italics rather than over using caps. In fact over use of exclamation is also poor commenting etiquette.
It’s laid out in my commenting policy to not over use caps. So I see no reason why you should be questioning me. If you don’t like it then don’t comment here. Using one word or so in caps is fine by me. But entire sentences or most of a sentence when using bold or italics can suffice is unacceptable.
I use my discretion to decide where use of caps is ok and where they are not. So the best thing for you is to use bold/italics.
And Dan, if you were to say fuck you in caps I would most likely delete the comment however it was said.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:36
@Liam: but rafel could also be modest. Maybe even Fabio might say that his brother is better.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:48
@Red Ranter: hey, i was only commenting on it, how many times do you see me use cap anyway?
@benjd: that may be, but i was commenting on the positives of capitalization, not whats better then capitalization.
@Liam: yea but surely you know you cant trust all of the media? and for the captain argument, john terry lol, who is better terry or ferdy, and who is captain? From what we have seen so far, rafael is better, but that be due to him settling in better then his brother.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:51
alright i guess its not so bad using those tab things, but i dont even know what half of them do lol, i might just go back in history to an earlier article and test some of these out.
August 20th, 2008 at 23:52
Regarding the discussion on who is the better Da Silva brother, surely its a matter of personal preference. Although Fabio has been said to be the better player, from what I have seen of the two, I prefer Rafael. My reason for that, is that I love a combatant, and a player who harasses the oposition, snapping at their feet, and into them all the time. Tevez, Nani, Evra, Rafael. But these players have got skill too, to go with their FIRE. So to some it will be Fabio, to others Rafael, depending on what type of players you are drawn too.
August 21st, 2008 at 0:15
@Red Ranter: Ok! Bold and Italic it is!
August 21st, 2008 at 0:19
@Craig Mc: You prefer Raphael! Lets save the comparison till we see Fabio play in the first team! I mean we still haven’t seen the true Fabio!
I think that we should reserve the judgement till atleast both the twins get atleast 25 min in 4 games.
August 21st, 2008 at 0:36
@Craig Mc: Fabio may be in a similar mould though. I mean I think Rafael is great but I’m going to reserve judgement until I’ve seen more of both of them. However I just can’t get over that goal Fabio scored for the reserves. I think that he should be getting the same first team chances as his bro and I think he would’ve been a great option on the left or right wing last week. From what I hear he seems to be the better going forward.
As an aside seeing as how they’re twins maybe Fabio has been impersonating his brother to make him look good
August 21st, 2008 at 0:40
did anyone see how Henry set up Govou tonight for France. A backheel volley cross. Say what you like about the guy but he is absolute class
August 21st, 2008 at 0:42
@Liam: A rare show of class from him from France. I honestly always thought he’s been shit for France.
August 21st, 2008 at 0:55
So… Now, we don´t have a cover to Evra! And we are helping Arsenal at the same time. Can someone please explain me this move?
I don´t understand our transfer strategy this year, i guess there isn´t one… Why do we always have to make our team selection so difficult?
August 21st, 2008 at 1:05
@Pedro Vilas-Boas: Helping Le Arse by selling them Silly??? No no no my friend, it is the opposite!
August 21st, 2008 at 1:07
Used to send shivers down my spine when I saw his name in the starting line up
August 21st, 2008 at 1:10
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/08/21/rooney_pours_his_heart_out_but.html
All to true!
Come on Fergie!
Open Your Eyes!
August 21st, 2008 at 1:11
Hey! Nani scored in Portugals 5-0 win!
http://www.footytube.com/2008/08/20/portugal-5-0-faroe-islands/
August 21st, 2008 at 1:13
Sorry here it is!
http://www.footiedb.com/portugal-vs-faroe-islands-international-friendly-match-highlights-and-livestream/1179/
August 21st, 2008 at 1:14
@OllieY: hahahaha I know. the ideal scenario would now be for him to direct one of his famous misplaced passes to a united striker (assuming we’ll have one) in the next united-arsenal game.
I doubt he’ll be a first team choice though…I can’t see wenger playing him except in a crisis.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:36
August 21st, 2008 at 2:41
Sun’s ridiculously stupid article - Dimitar Signed
August 21st, 2008 at 3:14
@samphraim:
Very cheeky, it almost had me(second time today) then i scrolled down to read what remains of the article…
@OllieY: But he’s right, who’s our defensive cover if Evra gets crocked? I don’t know if Evans also plays LB, but if he does, i doubt he’ll give us the option of going forward like Evra does, and i don’t know if Fabio is quite ready yet to handle being back-up. We’re looking thin in that position right now and i have to agree that this summer has been bizarre and this only adds to it.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:58
Silly leaving is nothing, he obviously knew his days were over at Old Trafford.
I say ask spurs one last time for berbatov, if they decline get Santa Cruz. as for Huntelaar, I only want him if it means stealing him from under Madrids nose.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:02
@Liam: The problem with cuttin gout the middle man is that we dont have ability to blood youngsters like a West Ham or Spurs. United play into too many high stakes games to risk trying out a player. So yeah, we do end up paying double or triple the fees for people like Carrick, but that is the price we have to pay for success.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:03
@Rd: If Fabio isn’t ready, which is an idea I think you’ll be having a laugh about a little down the road, then we can throw in JOS. G Nevs and Evans are also in the mix. We have cover.
Does anyone think Silly deserves a testimonial? 9 years at a club is impressive in today’s game. The problem is that a testimonial should be reserved for a player who had a massive impact on the club, regardless of the duration of their tenure. Ronaldo could leave tomorrow and we would still be somewhat obliged to pay tribute to what he helped us achieve last season. Silly was never really inspiring. I think the only interesting possibility if they did give him a testimonial would be if they got the King to do a cameo.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:07
I just remembered that I read in one of the rags that we had made a offer for a Lens LB. Perhaps the article had gumption and he will replace Silly.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:17
@Red Diablo: Which of those 2 goals is Nani’s?
August 21st, 2008 at 8:34
Well I honestly dont hate Levy, hes doing whats best for his club and he didns Berbatov is going nowhere, hes just saying Berbatov is going nowhere if they dont get the money.
Now I want to talk about the transfer fee which was reported at the 30mil range, if Berbatov is the so called missing link in the Manchester United team, savior of champions (both Enlish and European) shouldnt he be priced in that way, shouldnt he be that expensive?