Oct 30
Ferguson on mid-season trips: last season & this season
Just two clips for today. Some curious bit of stuff from Ferguson.
This year on the FA’s proposed England friendly in Qatar:
‘All the international managers have their jobs to do and we support that, particularly when it comes to the issue of competitive games like the European Championships or the World Cup. It’s very important that these players play for their countries.
‘But friendly games are a different matter. I don’t think that anyone agrees with them if you’re a league coach.
‘I think that some international managers could do without the friendly games themselves, but the football associations from every country warn them that sometimes it’s a nice day for them, a nice trip, a sunny day, and in some cases it creates good revenue for them.’
Last year we had to go to Japan for the World Club championship and were already swamped with fixtures. And we had the tiny little jaunt to Saudi Arabia to play a friendly. Ferguson surely would have expressed similar frustration with that?
“The one thing I am sure about is that this trip won’t do us any harm. We’ve gone to other countries in the past. Sometimes it doesn’t work, you get back and have a bad result, and you can say we should have done this or that. But we’re back on Thursday and that gives us three days to prepare for Tottenham.”
I guess it all boils down to PR, eh?
Related items from Red Rants:
- Get the new Tevez shirt
- The World Loves Rooney + West Brom Preview
- Transfer Rumours: Bardsley to Everton/Ibrahimovic
- Arsenal Preview: Will United do it?
- Fletch Wants To Stay. Do You Want Him?
Tags: Manchester United News · Opinions/Columns
October 30th, 2009 at 10:43
i agree with SAF, i cannot stand international friendlies. as with us going to Japan, it was a FIFA competition (which we won!) and i think that if we had said no to it we may have been penalized somehow.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:02
We did randomly go to Saudi a few years ago for no apparent reason (cough £££s)
Fergie is in my bad books at the moment. Our team this year has the worst disciplinary record in the league, we’ve been all over the press time and time again for negative things and he’s still talking about officials. He needs to shut the f*ck up and do his job. If not we’re in danger of getting our title back as most hated club, and Cheslea under Ancelotti are so nice…sigh.
Seriously there is no way a United team should have more yellows and reds than the rest of the prem. Either the refs are picking on us (Fergie’s fault) or we’re doing it as a tactic (Fergie’s fault).
October 30th, 2009 at 14:39
Refs have been harsh against us. I think fergie needs to talk to the team about mentality and aggressiveness. Tackling fletcher is out for how long? And why is Hargo still out?
October 30th, 2009 at 15:35
@[OPTI] Madschester United: we should bring Hargo now so that he will get some practice before going to Chelsea clash where he is must for any chance( of draw,forget win)
October 30th, 2009 at 16:00
@owen: Chelsea have had a cake walk so far. Which team have they faced that are of any quality?
Chelsea will struggle against us with their “aging” squad this season.
If they were old last year, they are more so now. Add AFC into the mix and their transfer ban (pending) and we should take care of chelsea before end of January. That is even if they go without injuries..
October 30th, 2009 at 16:01
This is the coolest United wall-paper I have ever used. I thought I would share it.
http://sports.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/94347/
= AWESOME!
October 30th, 2009 at 16:35
Ronaldo should be on it
October 30th, 2009 at 17:08
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Poor wall paper.All it does is ignore the man who won us three of those titles almost singlehandedly.And i would not associate myself with anything that talks about united of the recent future that does not recognize the only genuinely world class player that also doubled as our poster boy.
October 30th, 2009 at 17:12
If you are talking Ronaldo, you are stuck in yesteryear. Ronaldo is at RM now and is in NO WAY more influential on United than any one else pictured here. Whatever floats your boat.
October 30th, 2009 at 17:16
I just read that Adler was at Pool-United game last week… any guesses as to why? hint hint: We need a GK next season (or if VDS gets injured again).
Also, we are suddenly looking at half of the promising young players in Europe according TribalFootball (yes yes, they speak out of their posterior) but the massive influx of rumors makes it VERY feasible that we could sign someone(two or three) awesome players this January….
I love rumors and transfers!
October 30th, 2009 at 18:07
@[OPTI]Madschester United: but the massive influx of rumors makes it VERY feasible that we could sign someone(two or three) awesome players this January….
Like the summer, when we were linked to every footballer on the planet.
October 30th, 2009 at 18:49
except here the rumors are not Messi, Villa, Ribery, and other 40+ mil players but younger stars priced at 20 million and less – including Adler, Nini, and Veloso.
In fact, regarding Veloso dont forget:
CQ in 2007: “If Scholes, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves or Anderson leaves the club one day then it is true that a player like Miguel Veloso would be a priority.”
Veloso added: “My dream is to play in the Premier League and, if possible, for Manchester United. [T]o play for this club would be sensational. It would be nearly impossible for me to reject this option.”
Adding Adler, Veloso, and Ninis for less than 40 million should be good business and football moves.
October 30th, 2009 at 19:06
@[OPTI]Madschester United: We were linked with Villa and Silva only yesterday mate. I also heard Veloso has regressed over the past 2 seasons. I’d rather take Rodwell – versatile; can play in DM as well as central defence. Or maybe even Cattermole.
October 30th, 2009 at 19:56
@Red Ranter: Considering there is a desperate need for a leader in CMF, Rodwell at 18 is a bit green for my liking.
A good prospect, no doubt, but doesn’t address the needs of today!!
October 30th, 2009 at 20:11
@Redrich: Cattermole/Cana then?
October 30th, 2009 at 20:17
@[OPTI]Madschester United: The idea of doing “good business” or getting players “at good value” is, to me, just not good business!!
As in every other walk of life, you usually get what you pay for! Trying to squeeze a good deal for a player will usually get you nowhere – and that’s exactly where we got this past summer.
I’m not forgetting here, that Nani and Anderson cost us a combined 35mil, and in their 3rd season, they are still not first team regulars.
I wonder what 35mil would have bought us for a single striker or MF’er in the summer of 2007??
October 30th, 2009 at 20:21
@Redrich: FLetcher and hargreaves, no?
October 30th, 2009 at 20:30
@Red Ranter: I don’t think either one have the pedigree that we are looking for and besides, they are mostly DMF’ers and offer little or no goal scoring threat.
Improvement in CMF is clearly the way forward for us now and I would settle for nothing less than the best money can buy!
Silva would be ideal and when (or if) Hargo returns, it would turn the whole situation on its head!
October 30th, 2009 at 20:32
@Dan: In a word, no!!
October 30th, 2009 at 20:36
@Redrich: Fletcher is better then a lot of apparent world class defensive mids. If you cant see that, theres no point in carrying on this debate. Hargreaves, is better then fletcher, a half fit hargreaves like in his debut season, was still world class.
We do not need any midfielder enforcers. We need creativity.
October 30th, 2009 at 20:46
@Dan: Right you are, Danny boy, there’s no point debating you!
October 30th, 2009 at 21:47
@Dan: It seems like you are agreeing with Redrich, no?
You say we do not need enforcers — Fletcher and Hargo are enforcers in my book — but creativity. Redrich wants Silva, who I consider creative type player.
@Redrich: I disagree. Look at Ronaldo, for example, for good value and business – he took one year to become very good and only went up then we sold him for 80 million.
Now, look at RM & Man City. Both followed your way of thinking – get what you pay for – and paid combined 300+ million for quality. I have serious doubts that their method will be anymore fruitful than ours. Of course, only time will tell.
October 30th, 2009 at 22:33
@Redrich: Eh? Are you being sarcastic?
@[OPTI]Madschester United: By leader i thought he meant enforcer, not creator.
October 30th, 2009 at 22:39
@[OPTI]Madschester United: @Redrich: Transfer hullaballoo is always entertaining, but the plain truth, especially in today’s market is that none of the players mentioned above are clearly better than our own current crop of players. As RR said the fact that Veloso is scarcely mentioned nowadays hints towards him regressing.
Just a few months ago all and sundry were pining for Douglas Costa to sign for us, now it seems he’s might be the biggest fraud since Kleberson.
Truly recognised world calss players are far and few. In the Defensive Midfield position I’d welcome Toulalan, who has also recently been a revelation at Centre Back. But he’s already in his peak years, and Lyon are infamous for driving a hard bargain.
I’d rather wait on our own Fletch and hargo, and let’s remember ou reserves are most furnished at Centre Midfield position.
Keeper is tricky – My stance on that is known to all but in case we should go on the transfer market I’d say that Lloris is very good, more sound than Mandanda, but he’s also Lyonnais.
Now these Adler rumours going round got me youtubing and this does make him look the part.
As for the Silva rumours, I was one of which were the most enthusiast about him but it seems that he too is not having the best start of seasons. Word also goes that he’s crap as CM, and only truly plays well in a certain position AM I think.
My personal wish though is for Ferguson to stop his sentimental and tactical mindfucks and stick to the basics. And give a few of our youths (esp. those in Central midfield) a chance.
October 30th, 2009 at 23:14
@Redrich: Dan has a point about the need for creative force in the midfield. However, it’s premature to think Hargreaves will return and put all our problems to rest. I wouldn’t pin my hopes on a crock who’s out for 1 year to suddenly walk into the team. There will obviously be a reaction to his body after strenuous work having been out for so long.
October 30th, 2009 at 23:17
@Red Ranter: Actually I scrolled up and read, and if Dan had scrolled up, he would also realize that both Redrich and himself have been asking for the samething — creative attacking midfielder.
Funny how prejudices can make people still fight when they both want the same thing. If anything, Dan should have been addressing me and Opti.
October 30th, 2009 at 23:37
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Ronaldo, for example, is a player that comes along once or twice in someones lifetime and is not good example here.
If we need a great midfield of strike force we will have to pay the price!!
Citeh, started with nothing and admittedly spent rashly and OTT, but it has helped them. As for Madrid, they just tend to buy players they don’t need, then fire their manager, and then the new guy has no idea how to manage his squad. They are dumb fucks of the first order!!
October 30th, 2009 at 23:40
@Red Ranter: Good point about Hargo. But even a 100% fit Hargo will not solve our problems. 1 more great creative (leader) added to the mix, will.
October 30th, 2009 at 23:48
Arent i blushing
October 30th, 2009 at 23:51
@NicoQB: I like the idea of giving the youngsters a chance too, but to what extent??
You would really have to give them an extended run of games to measure their worth – and that could scuttle our season before Xmas. When people talk about giving the 2nd stringers a run, it’s usually because they feel the need for change and this appears as the only option available.
In a MF that is truely lacking ideas, Silva or the like is a better option than blooding the kids!!
October 31st, 2009 at 0:51
Ljajic anyone?
As for the leader, I think young lads Evans and Fabio show a very great character for such young lads. Maybe captain material both of them one day, as Fergie has said United mainy choose defenders and midfielders as captains, not striker which may put out Rooney. Not talking about right now, but in a few years time maybe?
October 31st, 2009 at 0:51
@Redrich: I don’t think spending 50 million on players would imrpove our squad much more. I think getting younger poyential (Ninis, Adler) into our experiences squad would also provide much needed competition for spaces. Here I think nani an Anderson need younger xompetition to elevate their levels.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:05
Pogba as the desctructor, Ljajic as the creative force. Rooney must be gien his free role of 2005-2007 back, and our defence is actually very good expect for that when VDS retires we have no solid first choice keeper. I think Foster is good, but he will probably never be good enough to be first choice at the worlds best club. Neuer or Akinfeev for me.
In defence we have a massive future! Evans, Fabio, Rafael, De Laet, Cathcart and more coming through as well. On the wings we will have Obertan, Nani, Valencia and maybe Welbeck, if he is not used as a striker. Up top we will have Rooney, Macheda, Welbeck. I think Obertan are showing all the right signs to become a top player. He will never be a Ronaldo, but its very unfair towards the big-headed boy to compare him to Cristiano. Nani for me has all the potensial to become one of the best players in the world one day, he just needs to work a little more and get his head sorted. Brilliant player, I just love his flair and playing style when doing well! 
Valencia is only 24(I think), and if anything I think he is the fastest player in our team. Looks like Usain Bolt at times! Good crosser as well, and with the confidence he has had lately he takes men on without hesitating. He is my type of winger, and I can see him having a good future here.
I think what this team lacks is a great goalscorer and a first class keeper. And I mean first class! Silva would be nice, but he could ruin the progress of the likes of Ljajic, Anderson and Ohi. So i think that even though he would be a brilliant signing, he is probably not what we need. Although, Villa would be a dream. Ive never tried to hide the fact that he is one of my favorite strikers in the world, its just something about him which excites me. He is the ultimate striker, and would be one of the best signings possible for £25 million or so… Berbatov is not right for this team, we have all pretty much agreed about that, and Owen has difficulties playing a whole 90 minutes during a week. They are both 29, so dont have a lot of years on them either. At least not Owen, with his injury record… King, Macheda and Welbeck are all good players, but will they ever become that real world-class striker this team needs? Although talented, I doubt they will. Villa would be the dream signing for me, along with Ashley Young maybe. But either way, I trust Fergie to make it right!
What our team may look like in 5 years time:
Akinfeev
Rafael De-Laet Evans Fabio
Obertan Pogba Ljajic Nani
Rooney ???
Only a first class striker remains for that to be a world beating side!
October 31st, 2009 at 1:05
@Redrich: WE don’t need a creative midfielder imho.
We need just a very, very good normal balanced all rounder type of midfielder (Roy Keane was one – he wasn’t just an enforce contrary to popular belief) or an world-class enforcer.
Silva is creative but he’ll be pants when the midfield needs to shield the defence.
United has a tradition of being mostly creative from the wings, and the main reason why our attack has been mediocre in recent times is because we do not dominate possession like we used to in the 90s- early 00s.
The main culprit(s) here has always been central midfield, but some short sighted fans have blamed our attack, or the wingers for it.
When we list our options on the transfer market, to me it seems that most of the well-known enforcers are either on the wane or not available.
Yes, regular first team football can be a stern test for our youths, but to me it seems that mos of our youths have acquitted themselves well of their tasks, defenders (Evans), strikers (Kiko, Welbeck)… Now comparatively midfielders have been given less time.
Oh, and Cleverley is apparently lighting up the place in the Championship… Surely he can be at least as good as Park.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:07
@[OPTI] Madschester United: Well you and I will have to agree to disagree, mate.
My way forward would be to admit that our MF and Strikers are not up to snuff and try to bring in some proven players to give us immediate relief!!
At that point the fledglings can spread their wings and learn to fly from a better crop of individuals than those struggling right now!!
October 31st, 2009 at 1:09
@NicoQB: Roy Keane is normal and balanced???
October 31st, 2009 at 1:17
@NicoQB: Seriously though, I disagree completely.
The problem is actually twofold, we have a striking duo that are incompatible with one another and a MF that cannot create enough opportunities.
Goal scoring will not increase until both issues are resolved!!
October 31st, 2009 at 2:22
@Footy4Eddy:
We are close mate, but in addition we need to sort out out MF. I’ll bet you that a CMF’er of quality and, as you say, a striker that puts Rooney back on course, would do the trick!!
October 31st, 2009 at 2:56
@Red Ranter: We weren’t linked to Riquleme
October 31st, 2009 at 2:58
@Red Ranter: Oh YUK, British players. Like we don’t have enough of them boring us to death. We need players who can play in Europe and have the versatility to change their style of play. It took Fletcher five years to figure it out and Carrick still hasn’t.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:02
@Redrich: I agree. I think I am looking for world class in the midfield. I’m sick and bloody fed up with potential. I want to see class immediately. Silva, Hernanes, van der Vaart, Ozil, are players I’d like to see us go after.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:04
@Dan: I think we need an attacking presence in midfield too Dan, not just defensive midfielders. Silva could play in the middle or move out to the left when Fergie feels compelled to play both DMF’s. Either way, we need an attacking presence from the middle of the park.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:08
@Dan: What you do not seem to realize is that Hargreaves tendinitis is so severe and so chronic that even with surgery and a year’s therapy I still think the chance of him returning successfully and still having the skill, speed and bite in his game is about 20%. Fletcher is just half of the puzzle, He needs an attacking partner who can help us create as well as also score goals himself. Now if you can’t see that, there’s no point in debating with you. Haven’t you and all of us for that matter had enough of the overly cautious defensive football for crying out loud? Do we need to be playing with two DMF’s? I don’t think so.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:08
@Redrich:
I feel you mate.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:11
@NicoQB: Adler or Neuer are goalkeeping gods. I can only dream.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:12
@Red Ranter: Totally agree with you RR. Well said. Hargo is my favorite United player but as I wrote earlier, I think his chances of making a successful comeback are around 20%.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:18
@Red Ranter: So yesterday you had your car broken in to and today I go out to my van and what?
It’s not there. Was it stolen or was it towed. So I called the towing company and they had no record of my van being towed so they suggested I contact the police but then just before the girl hung up she said hold on, let me check if they moved your vehicle. Apparently in this stupid city of Vancouver towing companies are contact to move vehicles up to five blocks away in order to do street cleaning. This is without warning any of us of any upcoming street cleaning schedule. Suffice it to say, I got a major scare to say the least. Even worse, I hate walk five long blocks to retrieve my vehicle and they never even had a sticker or anything on the windshield explaining why they did this. A city of Philistines. 
At least I never had to pay for the towing or got a ticket, which makes it even more unacceptable.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:22
@[OPTI] Madschester United: This is my feeling. If a science lab was able to join David Villa and David Silva together, you would get Cristiano Ronaldo. So i say buy both of them and lets return to being the second best team in the world.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:23
@Redrich: In my world he is. I patterened my whole personality after him and Eric Cantona
October 31st, 2009 at 3:24
@Redrich: Here here. Well said. I say shoot them all and be done with it.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:26
OK, Ronny has finally crossed the line with me and now I am pissed off. What the Hell is he thinking?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2707606/Cristiano-Ronaldo-Wayne-Rooney-should-join-Real-Madrid.html
October 31st, 2009 at 3:52
@Grognard: Sucks for you!
October 31st, 2009 at 4:19
@Grognard: If this actually happened it would be the most asinine venture that I could imagine.
Rooney in Madrid, is like puting Beckham in LA.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:47
@Redrich: So what you are saying is……it’s possible?
God, I hope not. I know Rooney is united for life but even my loyalty has been shaken to it’s core this year and he cannot be enjoying the game we are currently playing. All it’s going to take is one bust up or loss of temper towards the Boss. And right now, I wouldn’t put it past anyone because there are a lot of frail and bruised ego’s at OT and so anything is possible when the Empire is in decay.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:20
@Grognard: I think what I was saying is that Rooney would destroy his career, or put it in serious jeopardy by considering such a move.
He’s really still just a kid, but I think one that is influenced by the mature guidance of both by his manager and now his wife.
Money and fame is another thing and if his ultimate goal is this, then we could expect a move south.
I don’t think so though, I think Rooney is the real thing, and expect him to be the Gascoigne of his generation, (without the drama) and with some support from those around him, he could astound his strongest critics!!
October 31st, 2009 at 10:21
@Grognard: Never gonna happen, same possibily as me going to Liverpool or Royston Maurice Keane playing CM for Arsenal next year.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:41
@Grognard: I think he has realized that with the bunch of overinflated egos like Benzema and player-coaches like Raul he will probably win sweet fuck-all. He knows the fire that Rooney brings into games but sorry Ronny my boy, Rooney is not gonna come to sacrifice his ass for you the way he did for you at Old Trafford. So what next-Please Sir Alex come coach Madrid, in the future you never know!
Cant have your cake and eat it, eh?
October 31st, 2009 at 11:51
@Redrich: Strikers starved of opportunities will never get a chance to start to gel and play well.
In my opinion, every problem we have at United (misfiring attack, dodgy defence) can be traced back to our underperforming central midfield. Sir Alex is partly responsible in this.
Because our attackers are starved of service, they drop back in midfield and end up not as effective as they should be.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:44
Almost every problem we have will always trace back to rotation. It fucks up players
October 31st, 2009 at 13:20
Ronaldo is getting lonely at Madrid
…and i think he finally realized there is something fundamentally wrong in the Madrid setup…either Rooney will never leave or be allowed to leave..he is quintessentially our “franchise player” these days
October 31st, 2009 at 13:36
United to win 4-0
October 31st, 2009 at 13:40
We’ve got drawn Spurs at Old Trafford in the Cariling Cup. That’ll be a toughie.