Jun 10
Edwin’s Dutch Delight, King Cantona and The Ronaldo Daily
Let me first say that I’ve always loved watching Cantona speak. So, yesterday, I was watching his interview to the BBC and, true to type, he didn’t disappoint. [Those who've missed it, you can still watch it here.] He’s been a showman [and now literally, because of his involvement in films], but when he speaks of United you still see the glint in his eyes. You know how much he cares for the club.
Whilst his opinion on Ronaldo wasn’t new — that he wanted him to stay although United could do well even without him — what was revealing was when he let slip that he would like to manage United some day. “Management is like an art” is what he had to say. Of course, one mustn’t get too carried away by this because he said he’ll take up management only when he loses passion for what he’s currently doing — which, of course, is why he retired in the first place.
His shadow over United’s history is considerable, but if he has aspirations to manage United some day, he’ll have to earn it. Just like how Keane and Sparky are having to prove themselves.
United have reported Real Madrid to FIFA. Sepp Blatter, I suspect, would use the blank side of the sheet — that contains said complaint — to scribble out how much he owes Platini, as they play a game of poker with Calderon for company.
Deco, meanwhile, says Cristiano is calm and unfazed by the ‘circus’ around him. Indeed. Why would he be worried, in the first place? A bumper contract would either way be round the corner.
And since it’s my responsibility to report as much United news as I can, I’ll give you one more link to read on the Ronaldo soap opera; literally because it’s about his family involvement. Read it for your own pleasure.
Moving on to footballers who are almost incomparable in their loyalty and attitude toward the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be at the ticket booth helping staff sell tickets for his testimonial game against Espanyol. So if you are a season ticket holder you could very well be served at the counter by none other than 2OLegend himself. For details click here.
According to his advisers, Mr Crock intends to stay on at United. You see, despite what people might say or think, very few players really want to leave Manchester United. It’s sad that some players think they’ll be better off at Real Madrid.
Then there’s an article that’s a mixture of conjecture and journalistic instinct (which again, is another word for conjecture) which says that Arsenal are favourites to land Aaron Ramsey. Funny, considering United were proclaimed favourites to sign him when he went to OT to have a word with the manager, and now Arsenal emerge favourites because the kid had lunch with Arsene. I think I’d rather wait for the transfer to go through before making any assumptions. Both are equally plausible destinations.
Update: Arsenal are said to have signed Ramsey, according to the BBC.
Moving to the Euros, I won’t get drawn into the snooze fest that the France-Romania game was. I’ve heard singularly pathetic reviews of the game, and having missed it there’s no point for me to go into this. Also Eric Abidal was preferred to Evra [seriously though, does no one rate good performances in the Premiership anymore?] shocking, considering Abidal had a stinker of a season for Barca.
I happened to watch parts of the Holland-Italy game though, and I must say it’s been the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far. I don’t know about you, but I was delighted to see the Italians outplayed at their own game. Edwin van der Sar had an outstanding game making a few big saves. I feel happy for him. The Dutch seem a bit vulnerable at the back which is why I am not entirely sold on them, despite having an attack (and midfield) to die for.
Right. That’s all for the day. Euro opinions, transfer rumours, fantasy league predictions welcome. Take it away…
Related items from Red Rants:
- Interview with Phillippe Auclair
- Cantona: Domenech’s the worst coach since Louis XVI
- Who Is Your Choice For United’s Number 2?
- New Links Feature
- It’s Still All About Ronaldo, Love
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (490)
RedDevilEddy (461)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
I think we should by Ibrahimovic, no reason really, just think we should buy him.
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Cmon How the hell did greece win euro 2004…They’ll feckin kill the sport..ZZZZZ.God they are so
boring..This is the land of Hercules and Zeus, how the fuck can these people be so bloody booriing….I wish that they god’s woke up and smack the hell out of these greek players..feckin retards..
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Stop this thing you guys…Moments back you wanted villa now you want Zlatan…Grow up people.
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Good how about this we put in a bid for every feckin player who scores a goal in this tournament…
Would’nt that be fun????///Wake up people,just don’t be like those feckin
wannabe scousers
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Maroon 14 – it’s not completely new that Villa and Zlatan are pretty good players, and since we’re debating a lot in here who to buy, it’s natural they come up. They would be very interesting, even if they didn’t score.
Yes, them scoring may be the reason they’re brought up on occasion, but it doesn’t really matter.
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umm, who are you to tell us who and who not to discuss.
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maroon…dude Villa has been around for ages…not just today.
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[maroon14]
You do understand it is not one person that’s commenting here. Different people will have different options that they want to discuss. And during the summer typically this is what we can all talk about. At least it’s a relief from talking about Ronaldo.
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Grognard- I suppose both of our “motherland” national teams are in the same situation in their respective groups: Lost 2-0 from late goals in the second half. That said, both can still get out of their groups.
Anyway, Villa and Torres were frighteningly good! would really hate to see that combo for the entire 08-09 BPL season.
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Dan(u-o.l):
You were suggesting above Ramsey and Moutinho are similar players, but I don’t think that’s true. I don’t know that much about Ramsey, but from comments here at Redrants it seems he’s more of a winger. Moutinho, on the other hand, is closer to a Gareth Barry or Lampard. He’s quite versatile, but he plays through the middle of the park, a kind of cross between a DM, a playmaker and an AM. He’s extremely hard-working defensively and tactically astute, but also appears often up front, at the edge of the area. And he’s a good outside shooter. I think he’ll be a great player, but I’m not so sure we need him right now. I think we’re covered for that sort of position/role.
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Dude, I was being sarcastic. Ibrahimovic please. Would have thought that was quite obvious, but I will more blatant for you next time.
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After a good week and a half of saying we should get Villa he comes out and scores a hatrick for Spain. Grog, sure he will probably go to Real or Barca, but that would be like Gerrard coming to Man Utd no? Plus, he has stated that he would like to play in the EPL.
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Tomas: “Benzema, Huntelaar, Villa, Podolski, Gomez and Ibrahimovic” That is one hell of a list. Hope you’re right that we’ll get one of them. It seems to me that it will be the easiest to get one of the first 2 or 3 on that list. Then again, you never know, fergie might buy someone who we were totally not expecting.
So far though, I never expected that we would even sign someone in June, so it’s going smoothly. Some people were really buying into the hype that some paper was touting (SAF would buy his players in the 2 weeks after the UCL final).
Look at last year, we didn’t get any players until Nani, Ando, Hargo in July (i think) and then Tevez in August.
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Hahaha – panic, panic, panic. So we lost Ramsey, and people think that’s a big thing. He is no Giggs, he doesn’t have great pace, and his dribbling is not the same as Giggs was at Ramsey’s age. Who says he is going to be good anyway, promise is not meaning he will fullfil it. His two welsh footballing friends went to London, Bale at Spurs, and another lad. And Bale is Ramsey’s best mate, so maybe that’s why he opted for London. He will be able to settle in better with his friends there. Walcott has proved nothing yet at Arsenal, he is still a bit part player, so Ramsey might not even get that far. I think Wenger is being pushed to take on young british talent now, because Platini said that Arsenal are disgusting, fielding teams which have no British players, and should be kicked out of Europe.
As for signings, Fergie said he is only bringing in a striker, and a defender, and I do not think that will change. I personally think we need another COMMANDING, holding midfielder, and I have said that all season. Our midfield apart from Hargo are lightweight against the big teams with strong midfields.
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[Turkish Red]
Nani’s and Anderson’s deals were sealed in end May. I know this because I wrote an article last year, bursting with excitement. The deal was sealed then but the transfer took place in the first week of July.
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And it’s surprising that many of you are slagging off Ramsey and writing him off already. True he’s gone to Arsenal, but is that why he’s crap? Sounds like sour grapes to me.
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Just to point out an interesting article by Martin Jol in the Times,Picking out 10 talking points for the Euro 2008.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article4087739.ece
I mention it partly because Jol talks a bit about Moutinho (and choses Veloso as one to watch, although I don’t think he’ll have that many chances this tournament). You’ll have to forgive me my Portuguese bias – I’m Portuguese and a Sporting Lisbon supporter (as well as a ManU supporter, of course)- which is understandably looked at with some suspicion given you know what. And I can also understand the doubts many of you have about having too large a contingent of Portuguese and Latin American players, but I can assure you that Moutinho is nothing like Ronaldo. He’s a team player, he’s extremely humble and loyal and has both feet on the ground. Finally, although I’m a great admirer of Veloso as a footballer, I wouldn’t say the same thing about him – even among Sporting Lisbon fans he’s known as being a bit vain and may prove to have a large ego (unlike his dad, a Benfica and Portugal fullback). Ok, I’ll shut up about Portuguese players now and add once more that, despite my comments, I have serious doubts as to whether Moutinho is the player we need right now. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Ferguson comes up with – he’ll know better than anyone.
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Err RR, why sour grapes?. What basis you got for saying that. I wasn’t impressed with Ramsey from hearing we were after him, and you won’t find a post on here from me saying otherwise. Just because some of us are not fussed about having him at United, doesn’t mean we are bitter because the Arses got him. I would have given the same assessment even if we had got him. So don’t be giving those who have not been impressed with Ramsey thus far a hard time!!!!!!.
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Ronaldo steps on eggs and thinks he is touching the air
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I personally really don’t think the idea of waiting till after the Euro’s to sign a player isn’t a very good one, considering if the player has a good run in the tourney, his price will get ridiculously hiked and Ramsey going to Arsenal really bothers me, i’d preferred of he had gone to Everton, but hey he hasn’t signed yet, talks are still ongoing so maybe theres a slight glimmer of hope(though i don’t see it). And realistically i don’t see us getting any of the players turkish red listed. I must admit i’m a bit worried about the transfer madness thats gonna happen after the Euro’s and i really hope we won’t have another Bosignwa case on our hands cus this year a lot of clubs seem to be ready to splash money.
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Craig MC
In terms of a commanding holding midfielder, what about Micah Richards? This is a genuine question rather than a suggestion, given that I’ve never seen him play in that position, but I keep hearing that he can play there. Has anyone seen him play in the midfield? Physically, he’d be a match for anyone. And then there’s Orlando Engelaar, the big holding midfielder for Holland. I’ve only seen him play this week, but Ruud Gullit has good things to say about him:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/06/08/sfngui108.xml
The problem, though, is that he’s only recently moved. And he’s already 28.
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Owl-of-Minerva, I think Veloso is a fantastic player. Cantona was a proud, arrogant type of player, but Old Trafford was the place where these characteristics made him a great acquisition to our team. He was a major strutter alright, so not always a bad thing. But then we have Paul Scholes, who was a quiet type with humility, so Motinhou does sound a bit like Scholesy. I would love Veloso at Old Trafford though, he is a real combatant, and I cannot for the life of me understand why he isn’t in the Portugal team.
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[Craig]
You’re not the only one here, are you? If you didn’t say that then you wouldn’t have any reason to think I told you. Those who’ve done so, on the other hand, will know so in their hearts.
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TinManUnited; What do you mean Torres looks a little bit feminine? Didn’t he win the award last year in some paper as the world’s best female footballer?
I forget where I read that but I just howled it was so funny because the truth is he is a pretty boy type isn’t he?
And Ibrahimovich is so bloody overrated it’s pathetic. The guy sleeps on the pitch for most of the games and then occasionally wakes up to seduce some with some rare magic. He’s lazy.
Johnsom33; It’s pretty hard for Fergie to give more of an effort when he sunbathing in France. I’m not saying don’t go on vacation but take care of your transfer and signing business before you do.
Maroon; Watch it mate. there are a few Greeks on this blog that might not appreciate that. I’m one of them. I referred to the Italians as wops yesterday in jest and it was not really appropriate. What you say is not in jest and I find it a little insulting as I am of Greek heritage and I am proud of it as well as the team that shocked Europe in 2004. Greeks don’t like their brothers being referred to as “feckin retards”
And how about trying to complete a sentence without the word feckin in it. Just a suggestion….
Turkish Red; Yes both out motherland’s are in a bit of trouble but i think Turkey has a decent chance because their big test is over. They can win the next two games and easily go through. Greece is done like a nice beef souvlaki cooked over the spit to perfection. They are finished. Their problem was that they actually have a cocky attitude now that they are capable of mounting some offense. If they had played their style from 2004 they could have come out with a scoreless tie. The formation is the same but the approach is much more adventurous. This is why I never fancied them to get out of their group from the beginning. Turkey is in much better shape, believe me, so keep the faith. I’m still happy though because my German machine is efficiently moving forward with no problems in sight. Before the tournament I was afraid of Croatia but not after what I saw against Austria. Germany should take them 2-0 or 3-1.
As for Torres and Villa, if Liverpool was to sign Villa I could see Rafa rotating them so much that they hardly play together and when they do, he will be using his static defensive style which will neutralize them. Rafa is an idiot who out coaches himself.
Ralphie; Villa going to Real or Barca is nothing like Gerrard coming to United. Not even close. In the past many players have left Valencia to sign for either of the big two. Alves did last week. Valencia is in big financial trouble. They can’t afford to be choosy. And if Villa has ever said he would go to the EPL it was for either Arsenal or Liverpool.
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I agree with craig mc, I dont think its sour grapes at all. I was just never really excited about ramsey. And judging fgom the fact that fergie couldnt be bothered to cut short his vacation, let’s me know he wasn’t high on the list. I’ll admit I’ve never seem him play, but I just have very little faith in young British players. Except for a few (bale,Richards, abonglahor, barry)
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Owl-of-Minerva, I think Micah Richard best position is centre back. Mark Hughes wants to become the King and His team the kings of Manchester now, so I don’t think he will be letting any of his players move across the City to us. I’ll be amazed if he does. The dutch guy I haven’t seen enough of to give a sound opinion, so I’ll have to hold back on that one.
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What is sour grapes is putting down the player by saying he isn’t that good or he’s slow etc. None of that crap would have been uttered had we signed him. What isn’t sour grapes is showing dissatisfaction with the lad’s decision making and why we never worked harder and better to convince him to sign with us. The idea of that arrogant Frenchman seducing the mind of of British lad instead of Fergie is really hard pill to swallow. Regardless of my bias, I think the boy made a major mistake signing for any London team over the best team in the world and the most stable learning and playing environment in all of football.
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[Grognard]
Well put, and in much clearer terms than I would have.
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Unless we want a repeat of the Ronaldo situation we had better avoid Benzema like the plague –
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3672773,00.html
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RR: I just knew that I had the dates for nani, andy and hargo all wrong… As for the august bit, I was a bit ambiguous and only meant Tevez. Anyway, it’s been a long time since then, and felt sooner…
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Owl; I wouldn’t take anything Ruud Gullit has to say with any seriousness. He was a great player but he is and idiot as a manager and as an evaluator of talent. Just look where he has ended up for all his smarts. The LA Galaxy. I think that says it all.
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I’ll say this one last time, ramsey choose arsenal because that was host best shot at first team football. Knowing that I have never seem him play I am asking a serious question, is he as talented as a welbeck, Simpson, eagles or Campbell? I’m not trying to make a point, I honestly want to know where he would stack up against those mentioned or am I way off and he is better then them.
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[johnsom33]
To be honest, I have very little video evidence to form any opinion on the lad.
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johnsom33; Ask yourself this question. Was their a dog fight of teams trying to get at Welbeck, Simpson, Eagles and Simpson so they would sign for them? No there wasn’t. They were local talent which made the grade. Ramsey was from Wales and so every English team could pursue him. That alone doesn’t make him better but the video evidence as well as all the scouting reports tell us that he is way better than those United players of which Welbeck may only have a the smallest of chances of ever making it on the Manchester United main team. Ramsey was good enough that he could have fought for a starting position on the team in a year or two.
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A reason for Ramsey opting for L’arse instead of us could be the fact that Fergie has already announced his retirement in next 2 years! Ramsey would only be 19 by that time and would have spent 1 or 2 seasons with Cardiff or other clubs on loans and by the time he comes back to the squad there will be an another manager at the helm of things. there will be uncertainty about who will play and all (as the new man might want to play his system/team/players). Probably this will be in the minds of all the players we might want to sign! I think it could be tough this year to get players at OT. L’Arse was the next top team for Ramsey to choose and he wisely is going there. If foreign quota rules come then he would have much more of a chance playing there as well. They hardly have any British players!!!
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Wow, good going Red Ranter in the fantasy league. You’re no:1 for the 3rd day running…
A good day for Spain ensured I’ve jumped quite a few places to 2nd.
How’s everyone else doing?
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Ryan: Two PL titles, one CL, a League Cup, an FA Cup, two POTY awards, a probable WPOTY award this year, 100 goals and assists in two years, the English and European Golden Boot and if he goes a profit in the region of anywhere between £40-90m. I would take a repeat of the Ronaldo situation any day of the week.
On Ramsey, put yourself in his shoes. What success have we had in bringing through young talent recently? Unless we have paid a whopping great transfer fee for them, very little. The likes of Jones, Pique, Simpson, Rossi, even Richardson have all failed to make significant breakthroughs in recent years. Criticize Arsenal all you want but they do promote more young talent from their youth teams into the first team than we do.
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This has been said may times before, but I think I could enjoy United treble without any mixed emotions for hardly a day.
First the news of the CR7 transfer saga, then Fergie saying he will retire by 2011, and now Ramsey goes to Le Arse. No new signings expected any time before the Euros end as well.
Compare this with when we won the PL last season. Wat a wonderful feeling it was throughout the summer, even though we lost to Milan in the CL and the also the FA cup to Chelsea. 3 new signings just when the transfer window had opened was even more of a sweetener.
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JB; And Arsenal has tremendous success turning British talent into regular first team players? Last time I looked they were the biggest disgrace in English football when it comes to developing homegrown talent. Theo Walcott…..That’s it! Homegrown talent is a very cyclical thing. In the 90′s United were a footy factory with their young development. Territorial borders rules limit the continual success of this kind of development. I think the fact that the club showed as much interest to a Welsh kid as well as be willing to loan him out so that he would get better experience than he would with the reserves, tells me that they were very serious about him. Instead he is going to be stuck in a situation trying to fit in with a bunch of Frenchman and Africans. It makes no sense when you consider the English speaking mentors that Ramsey would have had at OT in a year’s time. So, no I don’t see his point. He’s 17 and incredibly naive and immature. And he deserves all the Hell that will come to him in his chosen London life. Can you say GAZA?
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Grognard: In recent years NIETHER team has had sucess in turning British talent into first team players. One has had sucess in promoting youth teamers and one hasn’t. You can guess which one is which.
PS: It is can you say Gazza not Gaza. He isn’t going to the middle east
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Sorry for the misspelling JB. I guess I can’t forget all the stories of my father’s exploits in North Africa along the Gaza Strip in WW2.
Sp from now on Gazza it is.
I will say this though, I believe United have tried harder to promote their British talent. Other than Walcott, they don’t even get a look at Arsenal.
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