Feb 10
Ferguson: There is absolutely no patience in the world now
Yesterday I was thinking aloud on twitter on Scolari’s sacking. I’ll quote from it for the benefit of those not following my sporadic byte-sized rants on the rather excellent micro-blogging service:
So now that Scolari’s sacked, what are the odds of tempting Zola? He says he won’t be tempted by the offer. Hmm… we’ll see.
Whether Scolari was good or not, the problem with Chelsea has been a lack of patience. Of course this is the case with most teams these days
Most sackings are followed by comments like “he’s lost the dressing room”. And if there are repeat instances like Chelsea’s case doesn’t that reflect poorly on those that inhabit the dressing room — i.e., players?
Chelsea over the years — of needless spending/chopping and changing — have accumulated far too much deadwood. Time for rebuilding question is, does Roman give a fuck anymore?
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The part highlighted in bold above underlines the essence of Fergie’s shock at Chelsea sacking Scolari. Perhaps, he may have been found out in the big league. Perhaps, his early season hysteria was an aberration. Perhaps, he didn’t get the team he wanted. But the problem with Chelsea, and many other clubs of late, has been a lack of patience in managers. Of course, the likes of Tony Adams had serious issues, but when you have a team that, despite playing poorly, is better off than Arsenal then something is clearly wrong with the game.
In addition to expressing shock, he also spoke on the role played by the media on the sacking:
“It just seems to be more volatile now. You can’t always blame the press – but it plays a part,” he said. “The way the tabloids are – competing against the internet and Sky News – there is a sensationalism every time someone has a bad result. There was great expectation at Chelsea that they were going to do well this year – and it is only this last month they have had a bad spell. The judgment really is only on the last month.”
Anyway, enough of the sermonizing. Meanwhile, let’s all laugh at Chelsea. HAHAHAHA!
Related items from Red Rants:
- Home Grown Quota Could Temporarily Shut Platini Up
- Ronaldo transfer money harder to spend in reality
- Is it really time up for Nani at Old Trafford?
- Man Utd v Inter: Preview
- Celtic v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Daily Roundup
February 10th, 2009 at 5:29
I’m afraid that we might become a club with no patience once Sir Alex rides into the sunset. We’ve been privileged to witness so much success over the recent years that it will hamper any future United manager’s chances of retaining the job and building his own team. “He’s no Sir Alex,” we’ll say.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:59
Actually, I see this as a bit different regarding Roman. I think by sacking Scolari and being saddled with paying his very large contract, he is sending a clear message to Chelsea fans that he still cares and that he is committed to the Blues. Otherwise, why would he care? He needs to keep them competitive and winning to ensure he gets the selling price he wants for when the time comes that he does decide to unload the team.
No new manager is going to take that job now unless they get a couple guarantees. A transfer kitty and no interference from upstairs. Only the desperate will take the job under any other circumstances. Chelsea, prepare yourself for Steve McClaren or Sven………or both baby….
February 10th, 2009 at 6:20
I want to re-open the Essien pipe dream discussion. I am still mad that essien choose the money of United, but I am most mad that he is being absolutely wasted at Chelsea. You said it Grogs, the man is the best in the world at what he does. I cant remember who said it, but Essien is world class in like 4-6 positions. And because of his versatility he doesnt get the chance to do what he is best at going foward. Chelsea have almost used him exclusively at defensve mid or full back. But if you see him play for ghana he is a playmaker. It just unfuriates me that a talent of this magnitude isnt reaching his full potential because of chelski.
I too realize that the chance of him coming to United are slim to none, but at times it feels good to dream
February 10th, 2009 at 7:09
@Grognard: This is a bad time to sack a manager, with UCL coming up do you think a new manager could get past their opponents? i think not, with this sacking, they might end up being eliminated from the CL and maybe just maybe, lose a CL spot next year. and if that happens, the pensioners at chelski might leave. that is a perfect time to grab essien
wonder what else will happen to chelsi? Grant back? Tony Adams at sbridge? or Frank Rijkaard?
February 10th, 2009 at 7:15
@johnsom33: I know how you feel. I feel the same way about Ballack. Perhaps he’s not as good all round as Essien but he was and still is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world and probably the best header of the ball also. How he could pick a team like Chelsea that already had a player like him in Lampard over a team like United which needed a player with his attacking and probing presence is beyond me? Players today are greedy mercenaries but what I am also noticing is they allow themselves to get poor advice from agents who are not looking out for their best and long term interests, but for their commissions. They are also very stupid or ignorant individuals. Footballers are amongst the dumbest athletes in the world because so many of them have poor educations and come from relative poverty so I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise. But that should not be an excuse for someone like Ballack who is brought up and educated in a more privileged environment in Germany. just goes to show that bad judgment has no interest in a bank balance.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:28
@Grognard: Ballack choosing Chelsea over United — apart from the money aspect — was also a case of bandwagon jumping. At that point, Chelsea were on the ascendancy having won 2 titles under the most happening coach. United were “on the decline”, sold RVN and Fergie was even facing heat from fans, not to mention the Glazer takeover.
Of course, in retrospect, it all seems like a bird brained move.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:39
@johnsom33: If I can forgive Ronaldo for his crap, I can easily forgive Essien. I know it is just a ‘pipe-dream’, but can you guys imagine a box-to-box midfield of Essien and Anderson? I’m getting shivers just thinking about it. (Fuck Valencia, AMF, DMF, etc., etc., etc.). Having those 2 in midfield will be similiar to the Keane/Ince partnership. Problem is, I doubt it will ever happen as this is the one area that Fergie feels confident about. He feels we have the strongest CM midfield in the world.
Regarding Scolari – stupid Chelsea. I just hope that the Portugese FA swallows their pride and take him back, which will free up CQ again for United no2.
@RedDevilEddy – screw those who claim Anderson is not offensive. Stop defending him. We know something that they don’t. You’ll see, his actions will speak louder than any words, and trust me, his actions WILL come.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:49
anderson cant score to save his life
February 10th, 2009 at 7:57
@john freakin’ o’shea: With a strike force of Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo (150m pounds), why does he really need to? Regardless, come talk to me again after that first one goes in.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:17
@Red Ranter: He should have looked at the track record of success. At that time it was 17 years of winning vs two years for Chelsea. It was a stupid move with very little common sense. But what was most stupid about it and I see this all the time is players wanting to go to a team that already has one or two players like them in which they will have to battle with for playing time. I just don’t get it. Perhaps it’s the fact that i don’t give a rats ass about winning anything if I’m always sitting on the bench. Just the way my ego is. I play or I stray. Ballack would have been a shoe in to start for United. For that reason he is a narrow minded and poorly informed idiot. But i still love him.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:11
@john freakin’ o’shea: Maybe not to save his life, but he scored a goal to save Uniteds and all the fans life. Remember Moscow…
February 10th, 2009 at 9:16
@Karl: Will do! Its just that it pisses me when people critisise Andersons overall play just because he cant score a goal.
Since when were midfielders based on how many goals they scored? Carrick only scored twice last season, and twice so far this season. And he is playing/starting the double of games that Anderson is playing! There is so much more of his game too see, but some people are just too fucking blind!!! But the future will show what Andy can do/will do. He is still a young lad and I am sure the future will give him, and he team he plays for, many trophies!
February 10th, 2009 at 9:40
@johnsom33: I said some weeks ago that I considered Essien as possibly the best midfielder in the world. How he can be sub, behind Mikel, is beyond me! He is the best box-to-box midfielder I have seen since Scholes golden days, and his versitality is immense. Playing RB, CB, RM, DM, CM, AM. I remember his goal against Arsenal in December 2006, the one with the outside of the boot into the far top corner. Dream stuff! Although I hate Chelski, that goal was just too good not to admire. He was my wish signing in 2005, but dickhead went to Chelski.
“Money cant buy me love!”
He is wasting his career right now. If I was Essien, I would put in a transfer request. And since United is his boyhood team, there is a big chance he would like to join us ig the chance opens.
I just wonder what would happen to our midfield then. Would Hargo be sold? Fletcher? Will it damage Andersons potential? We have many midfielders right now. And its not a time when none of them are injured. So I think buying Essien then would be a good deal, but now? Im not sure. I think Giggs would have to retire then, along with Scholes. And Fletcher should be sold also. THen we might manage to cope with our midfielders being Anderson, Carrick, Essien and Hargo. But lets be real, Essien will not join us. He let the opportunity pass, and now he is at Chelski. The chances of him joining us are the same as Chelski keeping a manager for more than 5 years.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:17
There will be no diffusion of players from Chelski to us.
1. Their wages are astronomical
2. They went to Chelsea for money and will not want to get paid less
3. They are too old
4. They will go to Real Madrid where they can rot for all I care.
Man United > Chelsea! We don’t need their players! Ballack and Essien made their choices and I have no desire to see them stain a United shirt with their greedy sweat.
In all honesty, I do like 26 yr old Essien’s abilities – but we do not need him.
But Ballack, ever since his diss of United, I cannot stand this German prima-donna…
February 10th, 2009 at 10:32
@RedDevilEddy: He’s not a sub mate. He’s been injured. Nobody is stupid enough to play Mikel over Essien. Sorry…..I take that back. Rafa would play Mikel over Essien.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:33
I dont think we need Ballack. We dont need John Terry, Cech, Carvalho, Bosingwa, Cashley, Lamb-arse, Mikel, Joey Cole, Quaresma, Drogba or Anelka. The way I see it Vidic and Rio are better than Tiny Tears and Carvalho. VDS is currently better than Cech-up. Bosingwa and Cashley are inferior to Rafael and Evra. Ronaldo is better than Quaresma. Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves over Ballack, Mikel and Lampard(my opinion). And Rooney is now better than Drogba, and Berbatov makes Anelka lok like a bug. And from what I have seen lately, Giggs is much better than Cole.
And of cource Alex Fergueson is better than Scolari. And most importantly! United are better than Chelsea.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:34
@Grognard: Scolari said he would play Mikel over Essien because “When Mikel plays well, Chelsea play well”.
Probably why he got fired. 
February 10th, 2009 at 11:09
I don’t see any harm in making a cut-price move for Essien at the end of the season, particularly if Chelsea are in trouble (ie 4th or worse!). But only if we could have him quite cheap. No doubting his quality, but next season we should have Anderson, Carrick, Hargreaves and Fletcher competing for those two spots, and that’s assuming Scholsey moves on. Perhaps if Hargo comes back in March or whenever and shows that he’s lost it, then we should pounce.
Depending on the Tevez situation, I really think we’ve got a team that doesn’t need too much tweaking for quite a while. The only concerns I have are in goal (Foster has never been given a chance, but given that he’s seen in day to day by coaches, I assume there is a reason) and potentially a ‘big man’ type striker that could be useful for the odd occasion. If Tevez leaves (as looks quite likely) we’ll need someone, because Berba can’t lead the line and Rooney appears to be unable to make it through more than 2/3rds of a season. I do rate Frazier Cambpell as a decent 4th choice, but no more than that. (is he stuck at Spurs now for the rest of the season?)
Anyway, my point is Fergie has done a great job (d’uh) and we really are in a position to be envied:
————–VDS(Foster)——————
-Rafa(Gary)-Rio(Evans)-Vida(Wes)-Evra(Fab)-
——Carrick(Ando)–Hargo(Fletch)———
-Ronaldo(Nani)————–Park(Tosic)—-
———Berba(Campbell)-Rooney(Tevez)—–
With O’Shea, Welbeck, Kusczak, Gibson, Possebon and so forth to spare.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:54
@Beachryan: I like that, in my view, any team can only compete in all competitions if they have atleast 2 specialists for each position.. that seems to be the case with us..
February 10th, 2009 at 12:58
Poor Chelski… totally horrible time to let Scolari go but to be honest, I don’t care that much for them so I can’t be arsed to write a eulogy or a requiem
@Beachryan: Mate, you are absolutely right, we have a wonderful squad that should be the envy of every team in the world. We have the perfect mix of youth and experience, not to mention the abundance of talent. Let’s have a look:
GK: VDS, Foster, Kuszcy,
RB: Gaz, Rafael, Simpson, Eckersely
CB: Rio, Vida, Brown, Evans, Chester, Cathcart
LB: Evra, Sheazy, Fabio
CM: Hargo, Cazza, Fletch, Gibbo, Possebon, Scholesy, Ando, Ljajic
WF: Park, Ronnie, Nani, Giggs, Tosic
CF: Rooney, Berba, Tevez, Campbell, Welbeck, Petrucci, Macheda
That’s excluding some of the other younglins in the academy/reserves that still have a big chance of making it big for us. Our squad is just too good and the only problem the manager that replaces Fergie should have is juggling these talented group of players while continuing our attacking/winnung mantra.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:59
@Karl: i like anderson, i really do, im just so eager for him to score that i feeel disappointed whenever he has an open opportunity he passes it up to somebody else, dont get me wrong i like that selflessness, i just think he should be a little selfish sometime and hog the glory.
February 10th, 2009 at 13:00
@Gabriel: Petrucci!!!!! the next big thing!
February 10th, 2009 at 13:04
An article to show how good Sir Alex is! He was tracking Vidic for 3 years before his arrival!
February 10th, 2009 at 13:06
Scolari himself said that he lost five players when he lost Essien. And Eddy, saying Rafael and Evra are better than Ashley Cole and Bosingwa is biased in my opinion. Evra and Ashley cole are equals maybe and both of them are world class. But Rafael over Bosingwa, no way. But then our Rafael is a kid while Bosingwa is established. Plus Rafael never kicked anyone and perhaps won’t. It shows that the team is bad when a player blatantly kicks the opposition like that. Mind you, I would take Eboue’s kick at Modric the other day over Bosingwa’s. Although both of them were disgraceful, Eboue atleast can console himself by thinking that he was retaliating to what had been a push by modric himself. I for on, do not understand why Wenger has been tolerating such nonsense like Eboue in the team. Way off the topic I know.
That cunt Bosingwa had such an inflated ego that he thought by kicking a player on the back, studs on, in front of approximately 80,000 people was alright. I know Grognard that you would give tell me that benayoun was equally disgraceful by wasting time, but then teams do all sorts of nonsense on the field in the form of time wasting tactics. Hell, before the back pass rule how many teams didn’t waste time with their goal keepers picking up the balll after a back pass and then putting it down and dribbling it around and then picking it up as soon as the opposition’s striker came to challenge him. As disgraceful as it might be, time wasting is k IMO. But kicking another in the back is pure thuggishness.
February 10th, 2009 at 13:15
the thing is that Chelsea probably would be up with us right now if Essien and Carvalho didn’t get injured. They are 2 lynchpin players for them in the top 5 in the world in their positions and would have made a huge difference imo
February 10th, 2009 at 13:19
@UnitedUnited: A Hole hasn’t been world class since he left Arsenal. But yes , right now Bosingwa is worth 2 Rafaels. Tbh if Gerrard was between me and the ball then I wouldn’t be held responsible for my actions. God I hate that prick
February 10th, 2009 at 13:23
btw I know it was Benayoun and not Gerrard on this occasion. Still I would love to get that rat bastard back for the goal he scored against Ireland to prevent us getting into the WC
February 10th, 2009 at 14:29
Liam I agree with you. You can never completely discount Chelsea. They pushed us to the line last season and they are pretty much the same team. I think Quaresma could be good for them as he has something to prove and they have players coming back from injuries. We should take advantage of the temporary turmoil to increase our lead on them , because Chelsea will get over this period of bad form and start a new winning run.
I still see Chelsea rather than Liverpool as our main rivals this season.
February 10th, 2009 at 16:23
Well it looks like Chelsea are going to get Hiddink until the end of the season.
February 10th, 2009 at 17:26
@UnitedUnited: Fair point about unibrow being better than rafael, but evra is hands down better than cashley cole. For my money he is the best lb in the world.
February 10th, 2009 at 17:59
@Grognard: I think it’s interesting though, that Abramovich is only looking for a temp. manager until the end of the season. My take is that he will try to sell Chelsea in the meantime and wants the clubs books to be free of a large managerial contract.
February 10th, 2009 at 19:44
@UnitedUnited: I don’t disagree with you except Bosingwa did not kick Benayoun in the back. Sorry that was not a kick, that was a shove. It still was dirty, and unsportsmanlike but it was not a kick. He raised his leg and placed it on Benayoun’s back then pushed forward. Now I don’t have to give you a detailed definition of a what a kick is and how different it is to a shove do I? Still it was wrong but Benayoun was doing much more than trying to stall for time. His body was out of bounds and he was trying to shield the ball by holding on to the corner flag. Thats something only a despicable little weasel would do. He acted like a woman in doing that and frankly, he deserved worse than he got.
I realize that my stance on this may be in the minority but I also was brought up playing a sport that settles it’s disputes by dropping the gloves and fighting. To you and to others it may seem rather Neanderthal but to Canadians growing up it’s taking care of business and acting like a man. Bosingwa just did what any normal and overly frustrated player would do, which is to put an end to that nonsense without hurting the player.
Time wasting is a terrible part of the game but there are rules in other sports called “delay of game” penalties which should be brought into what already is a very slow game. Hard working supporters do not pay their hard earned money to watch back passes, stalling and pieces of shit like Benayoun cheat at the corner flag in order to waste a few seconds. Play like a man, show some bollocks and try to beat your opponent with some skill, dignity and honor. Benayoun was just a true and honest extension of the prick and weasel who is managing him. And as far as I’m concerned, I say to Hell with both of them. I applaud the Unibrow for his actions, even if it was wrong.
February 10th, 2009 at 19:48
@colver: Quaresma had a chance of making good but now that his pappy Scolari is gone he probably feels like he is in no mans land. Like a fish out of water. I’m honestly expecting him to do what he has always done with big clubs, FAIL. He’s a loser with no intestinal fortitude and the big reason why he never advanced in his career like Ronaldo. Lack of courage, and the fortitude and discipline to succeed. With Scolari there may have been a chance of seeing the best from him. But now, I’ll bank on his failure. He has to go down as one of the great disappointments and most overrated young players ever.
February 10th, 2009 at 19:56
@colver: I smell a David Beckham here. This is a smart move buy Abramovich but it’s also such a stupid move by the Russian FA. It was really stupid of LA to let Donovan and Beckham both go to big European clubs, where if they succeeded they would get the eye of the tiger and the willingness to once again compete at that high level. I wasn’t as concerned about Donovan because frankly I think Landy Cakes is crap, but i just knew Becks would do well in the slower and more technical Serie A.
Abramovich knows that if Hiddink comes and he has some success as well as enjoys his stay, he has a chance to to do a better job of seducing him and promising him whatever he needs to stay. That wasn’t as easy had he not been given an early taste of the club and scene. Russia won’t hold a candle to Chelsea when it comes to pull and allure after these next 5 months. I f Russia expects to see Hiddink back after not paying him on time to begin with, they are dumb as nails and even dumber for allowing this, if indeed it does happen. If Gus comes, he will come and stay for quite a while because he is a very good manager. Russian football fans should be very worried.
February 10th, 2009 at 19:59
@Johnsom33: Is Bosingwa that much better than Rafael? I don’t think so. I also know that Rafael is just 18 and is a lot farther ahead on the curve because of that. I wonder if any of you will be singing that song in two years when Rafael is 20 and has three years of top line experience under his belt. I predict that Rafael will be the best RB in the world within three years. Bank on it. I bet you Fergie agrees with me too.
February 10th, 2009 at 20:03
@Redrich: His first choice has always been Hiddink and he knows that if he waits until the summer to approach him, there will be no chance of bringing him in. This is a tactical ploy that is being borrowed from Milan and it is a smart and very sly move. Trust me, if he plans to keep Hiddink and then pay a major buyout to the Russian FA in the summer, he will have to promise the world to Gus in order for him to stay. That means not selling the team, that means a wholesale fire sale of malcontents like Drogba and Anelka and it means a healthy transfer kitty to rebuild the team as he wants. Roman is smart and he has figured a way to screw over his country in the process. At least that is what I’m feeling from this possible appointment.
February 10th, 2009 at 20:13
IMO Once Fergie retires I would like to see the following management team at United
Manager : Moyes
Assistant : Solksjaer
We have a good tactical manager and a good AM who knows the legacy of the club and have the experience of working with the players the United way!!
February 10th, 2009 at 21:36
can the real brasil please stand up, honestly due to god above i never thought i will see the day brasil play like this as long as dunga is brasil manager, NEVER
but now everything has changed, we are free-flowing with a good balance of attack, we have the Italians right where we want them, chasing the game 2-0 down, this is a shock to me, because it is the second time this has happened.
Unbelievably i am now warming up to the idea Dunga may actually be a competent manager
February 10th, 2009 at 21:45
@Shyam: hmm i do not agree nor want david moyes, but rather martin o’neill, but i do agree with ole as assistant,
February 10th, 2009 at 22:11
best RB is arsenals’s sagna..better than bosingwa…
and martin o niel to replace sir alex..moyes wont play that beautiful football…
February 10th, 2009 at 22:38
Grognard you make a good point. Although I suspect it is more likely Ancelotti will join Chelsea in the summer with Hiddink stepping in until the end of the season. But if Abrahovitch doesn’t get Ancelotti I also think he’ll do whatever is required to get Hiddink to stay.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:04
who won the brazil match?
February 10th, 2009 at 23:21
@Dan: Brasil 2-0 Italy. Robinho and Elano scored. Two breathtaking goals, pure brasillian magic with one touch and precise passing.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:31
@colver: Hiddink has always been his number one choice even above Ancelotti. It’s just that Hiddink has never been available. If Roman can borrow him for a while and make life heavenly for him, i can see him trying convince Hiddink to stay come June. This would upset his Russian compatriots greatly but I somehow do not think that Roman’s priorities are ensuring a successful Russian team over the well being of his Chelsea squad
February 10th, 2009 at 23:32
@adc: Players with idiotic haircuts don’t count.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:37
@Grognard: At the moment Bosingwa is better. Potentially, Rafael is miles ahead in his learning curve. Of course, he’s young, this is his first season and we had little to no expectations of him when he first came here. Echoes of Anderson’s first season. I see enough potential in a world class right back in Rafael. Let’s hope he stays on his learning curve.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:41
@adc: Best RB in the world is Maicon. Then Serbio Ramos or Dani Alves. And from the Premier League I think its hard to say who is the best between Rafael and Bosingwa. Unibrow came with a big reputation, but has done nothing to enhance that. He has been ordinary and I dont get what all the hype about him being the Prems best RB is.
Rafael is really good, but inexparienced and young. And a RB needs to be someone you can trust in difficult situations. I trust Rafael, and I feel he is the best RB in the Prem right now. Maybe even in the world if he becomes better in positioning. Still awsome! 
And Sagna? What the fuck has he done this season? I thought he moved back to France in January, because his performances hadnt been up to standard. And I watch most Premier League games during the corce of the season. Sanga hasnt done shit, and he has been terrible this season. I consider Fletcher as a better RB than SpANGgetti hAir.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:41
@Grognard: Regarding the kick/shove thing — the way I see it he had his studs raised and showing when he planted his foot on his back. He made no attempt to win the ball (that Benayoun was trying to hold the ball and wind down the clock cannot be held against him because he was doing what was needed for his team to hold on to the lead well within the games rules). What Bosingwa did was illegal whether it was a shove or a kick. It was impetuous and stupid if you ask me, and certainly a red card offence. If a slap (or mildly touching someones cheek with the palm) is red card, so is planting the stud on a players back intentionally.
That’s how I see it.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:45
@RedDevilEddy: Maicon? He doesn’t hold a candle to Dani Alves at the moment. Just look at the season he’s having with Barca. Unbelievably brilliant. Sid Lowe in the Guardian recently had an article claiming why Dani Alves is the second best player in the world at the moment. While I won’t go as far, I can see why he’s the best RB at the moment.
February 10th, 2009 at 23:56
@Red Ranter: I follow Barca as Grog follow Bayern. So I think I am fair to judge him. He is brilliant, seems like the player Rafael is gonna become in some years. He is fast, great skills both offensive and defensive, good free-kick taker, faultless positioning and decisionmaking is really good. But he lacks some strenght and aerial force, which Maicon has. To be honest I think it is a tie between Alves and Maicon, because while Dani Alves is better than Maicon to very much, Maicon has some advantages that a RB needs which Dani doesnt have. Like strenght or leap. He is at least in the top 3 of the worlds right-backs, which I think will be nice for him to hear after his very up and down season for Seville last year. I had high hopes for him during the summer, and he has proved better than most Barca fans could expect. But I think playing just behind Messi helps him there. Brown was one fo our best performers last year, and he played as a RB behind Ronaldo most of the games. This season Messi is the RW, with Dani Alves the RB. They work really well together and they know when to overlap and such. On the other hand Maicon plays behind Mancini, a player who is far away from the caliber of Messi. And he is Inters best performer(apart from Zlatan) in most of Inters games. Maybe that is why I think of him as a better RB than Dani Alves.
Im not saying Alves is not playing incredibly every game, Im just saying that Maicon has been Inters star performer this season. Messi, Etoo and Xavi, I feel, have played better than Alves. But he plays in what is currently the worlds best team… Oh, its so hard to find the correct answer!!! Im just gonna end saying they are equally as good, because I cant seem to get my head sorted on this one.
February 11th, 2009 at 0:01
Best players in the world this season:
1. Leo Messi
2. Samuel Etoo
3. Nemanja Vidic
4. Franck Ribery
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
6. Steven Gerrard
7. Xavi
8. Frank Lampard
9. Dani Alves
10. Maicon
This is just my opinion…
February 11th, 2009 at 0:07
I cant believe FIFA 09 made Zoran Tosics total overall 69!
I know I havent seen much of the lad, and probably not many of the EA board either. But 69?! Fabio is fucking 70! And I doubt they have seen much more from him than Tosic. Oh well, I hope they have put some of those 69 in free-kicks and speed. And hopefully some over 50 on heading, jumping and marking/tackling and aggression. Deary me… I hope his face looks similar! 
February 11th, 2009 at 0:25
@RedDevilEddy: ill have vida at least second, maybe even first, i believe he has been incredible to this united squad and the real reason why we are doing so well, tis a shame he is not English as he would have been raking in all the plaudits the minute united went 3 games without conceding, which is what usually happens to john terry.
February 11th, 2009 at 0:48
@Red Ranter: I’m in agreement with you there. Yes Bosingwa is the better RB right now but I do not think it’s a huge gap between the two. Bosingwa wins by the length of a unibrow.
February 11th, 2009 at 0:54
@RedDevilEddy: I get the feeling you are judging right backs by reputation mate. Alves is good but he often gets caught upfield and napping. Ramos is having a poor season for Madrid and Maicon is having a great season which does make him probably the world’s best.
February 11th, 2009 at 0:59
@Red Ranter: I’m not disagreeing with you about whether it was wrong or right. It was wrong and very unsportsmanlike but it also was not a kick, whether the studs were showing or not. But I still feel that what Benayoun was doing was just as bad. Why? Because he was partly out of bounds and holding onto the flag. The ref or the linesman should have called for a throw in or a corner. The fact that nothing was done prompted Bosingwa to act out of sheer frustration at both the player as well as the officials. Not nice of him but Benayoun right or wrong a player who acts like a bitchy girl deserves it as far as I’m concerned. I just hate players that play like girly men.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:02
@Red Ranter: Have you watched Maicon play this season RR? He’s been frakken outstanding and probably the best player in Serie A. Alves is good but you are judging him more on the form of his entire team, not his own performances which from what I have seen, have been a little inconsistent. Maicon has been an offensive force and Inter’s best player by far. Without him Mourinho would have been looking for employment with Big Phil.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:06
@RedDevilEddy: It’s a video game mate and most of the guys working over there haven’t heard of 90% of the players in the game. Because he was from backwater Serbia, he was a total enigma to them and so they just got his vital stats down and guessed the rest. I know some of these programmers and they are just snotty geeky kids. Morons really. If you want realism, play Football Manager 09. That game is very well done and extremely well researched. Once you use the editor to tweak the injury frequency down to normal, the game is fantastic.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:10
Worth noting is that our boy Rafael has passed up on a sure spot in the Portuguese team to challenge both Alves and Maicon in seasons to come for the right back/right wing-back spot. That takes a lot of self-belief not to mention loyalty to his country. Those are the sort of mental qualities that will take him to the top.
Eddy I know your list is mostly based on form but I think there is still a spot for Ronaldo on the list. Even playing badly by his standards he still kicks Ibrahamovitch’s ass and has scored 11 in the league already, more than Lampard, Gerrard who are also midfielders. This is even though Ronaldo has been given less freedom to roam this season.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:12
@RedDevilEddy: My top ten
1. Messi
2. Ronaldo
3. Vidic
4. Ribery
5. Aguero
6. Essien
7. Xavi
8. Gerrard
9. Maicon
10. RedDevilEddy
February 11th, 2009 at 1:17
@colver: I aggree 100% about Ronaldo. How in God’s name could anybody omit him from the top 3. He’s having an off year due to injury and fitness problems and still has score 15 goals. The guy was superhuman last season and this season very good just isn’t good enough with many of you. Perhaps you would prefer Quaresma or Jermaine Pennant or how about Dirk Fucking Kuyt? Ronaldo is still tied with Mess i as the best in the world although 2009 is Messi’s season as 2008 was Ronaldo’s. And for those wondering where Mr. Ricky Kaka is on my list? Nowhere. Like Ibrahimovich and others, he;s overrated and struggles to get in my top 20. The grognard is after all, a miserable old bastard.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:41
Grognard, I like your list!
Except Gerrard. In the last 5 years at Liverpool if you take away the CL title they won and for which credit is due to Gerrard, I don’t think he has really been a world best top 10 player. He was not able to lift Liverpool into title contention until Torres came. To me, Gerrard is nothing but an above average Premier League player. He would not make the cut at Chelsea, Barcelona, or Manchester United and that is why Liverpool will not win the league or the C-L. In fact, I rate Torres higher than Gerrard.
PS: Did you know Barbie is making a doll based on Fernando Torres. They call it Barbie.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:46
On the RB discussion. Do you guys really believe that Rafael is better/more consistent than Gary Neville. I agree that Rafael is of far greater potential and will perhaps become better than Neville ever was, but as of right now, I see Neville > Rafael. Of course, I still think Rafael is a good player just not top RB in EPL right now.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:06
I hope we don’t end up like Chelsea come the day Fergie retires! Imagine if United hadn’t been patient! We’d probably be a mid table team.
As to the comment written prior to this. Yes i believe Rafael is overall better than Neville. The thing that he lacks is that sometimes he rushes to the ball while Neville is calm. Therefore Rafael lacks calmness. It, i believe, comes by experience. So yeah `Rafael is better than Neville but Brown is better than Rafael at the moment so when fit I’d prefer Brown playing RB.
Some Man Utd players and the Gaffer are in my country right now, Malta. The supporters club here(the oldest in the world) have released this song: Click on the link if u wanna hear it:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9R7CvR35n8
Oli
http://utdtillidie.blogspot.com
February 11th, 2009 at 2:21
@Grognard: I have seen Maicon play this season and I think he is a superb player. But I think Alves is better and my judgment of him is not affected by the awesomeness of his team’s play; on the contrary I think he hasn’t got due credit and has actually been overshadowed by Barca’s front three and Xavi.
I may have over exaggerated by my choice of words when I said Maicon doesn’t hold a candle to Alves. But I maintain that I feel Alves is better. And my primary reason is that I don’t just view him purely as a right back — rather a right back, defender, midfielder, winger, second striker everything rolled into one. He brings a lot more to the plate in my opinion than Maicon, for all his excellence for Inter this season.
I suppose we cannot agree on who’s better on this count.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:33
@Grognard:
Regarding what Benayoun was doing, taken in the context of the match (i.e., dying seconds) the last thing he would want to do was to try turning on the style and concede goals in the process. It’s all nice to talk about showing intestinal fortitude and man up, but at the end of the day, especially in the dying seconds you don’t want to do anything silly. Almost everyone does that in football. I’ve seen Rooney do it before.
Regarding penalties for time wasting, we do see it in the case of goal keepers who are yellow carded for time wasting. So are players trying to feign injury and take an unusually long time either getting out of the pitch or standing on their feet and getting a move on. In Benayoun’s case the ball was in play — doesn’t matter whether the player was or not — and it’s upto the defender to tackle him from behind in an attempt to win the ball.
It’s not illegal, but I see where you are coming from here. It isn’t a case of what is legal or not, it’s a perspective thing for you where I find fighting (like you have in ice hockey) neanderthal, you find antics like that of Benayoun despicable. So once again, since it’s a case of perception of an act in the game, we would have divergent views on this one.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:36
@Oliver: Filling out the website name in the field meant for that should suffice. You don’t have to put it at the end of the comment too unless the link adds value to support something in the comment.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:14
@Madschester United: I know what you are saying about Gerrard but I just can’t get out of my head what he means to his team and how often he scores big goals when they need it. Frankly speaking, he’s a clutch player. Torres just misses being in my top 10 as does Lampard, Arshavin and Rio. As much as I hate Liverpool, I don’t dislike Gerrard. I have always seen him as a great player. It hurts me to say that as I have little trouble despising Chelsea and Arsenal players. I love Ballack and had I been asked 6 months ago about my top 10, Ballack would be in it. But ever since the season has started, he has been out of sort at Chelsea. And my other favorite is of course Riquleme who is still great and who would have been my number 1 player in the world before last season started. He has slipped a bit but still makes my top 20. A lot can happen to a player in one year.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:15
@Madschester United: Wouldn’t a Barbie based on Torres be better off with a name like Torrie?
He’s proof positive that girls can play with the big boys in football.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:18
@Madschester United: Yes I do. Neville is alright and he has done a great job coming back because three months ago he looked just awful. To be honest he has never been that great to me. Too often I remember him losing an opponent and it costing us. A good player during his career but not a great one. Rafael is already very good and has greatness written all ofver him, as does his brother Fabio. The are both Fab.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:27
@Red Ranter: He was holding on to the corner flag for balance mate. That’s a no no in my books and I still think it’s gutless. I come from a culture where time wasting and sniveling cowardice in sports is just not tolerated and I’m not going to apologize for it. If you need to resort to that kind of BS to beat your opponent, you don’t deserve to call yourself a winner. It’s bad form and it lacks guts as well as class and if it was me instead of Bosingwa, my boot would have gone so high up his ass his back teeth would have tasted leather. Sorry mate, that’s just not my style and I don’t tolerate the wimpiness of other cultures and how they transfer their cowardice on to sports. Yes I do want men to man up and play like men with dignity, courage and respect. As soon as they show classlessness to me, the gloves come off. I’m very old school and very alpha male about that. Let gay’s stick to figure skating.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:38
@Red Ranter: I don’t find fighting in hockey Neabderthal at all although I can see why others would do so. I know you have never played the game like myself and so I will say this, the game is the fastest team sport on Earth and it’s a very tough and physical game that allows body checks and all kinds of contact. With such speed and strength and collisions happening as well as the use of the stick, sometimes things get out of hand. But hockey players have passion and emotion in their souls and when tested or put in an uncomfortable situation, they will drop the gloves and go at it. That’s not Neanderthal. What is Neanderthal is boxers who make a living destroying each other and then suffering long term problems form that abuse. Hockey violence is as part of that game as corner kicks are a part of football. It was a game invented and perfected by hardened and tough as nails Canadians in the 19th century who lived in tough pioneering environments where letting off some steam often included the occasional fight. It’s the old west mentality. Right or wrong, nobody has ever died from having a hockey fight and many grudges have been settled. I’m far from a Neanderthal but I have been in my share of hockey fights because in the heat of the moment, you need to do it to defend yourself as well as the dignity of your team. Not like football where most of the players dive and fake injuries and act like they have just been shot by Lee Harvey Oswald.
The rules of footy have turned men into little girls. I mean I will never ever like yellow and red cards. My dad who played for Panathinaikos used to curse and spit at the screen when he saw a referee hand a card out. His exact words in Greek was “Malaka” (translation means JERKOFF). I’m mmy father’s son and when I played sports, I never wore a dress. It’s time football players all over the world grew a pair and stopped acting like a bunch of spoilt prissy cunts from a Jane Austen novel.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:36
To quote Goal.com!
February 11th, 2009 at 10:09
i have to opt for Alvez as best right back….hands sown actually, he’s been at it bout 3 yrs n this yr looks to be his best
as good as bosingwa looks, iv seem him look defensivly frail alot more than i have R.silva…..then you need to takes their respectives ages int consideration.. Pretty confident rafa infact is n definately will be the better player.
am i right in thinkin PETRUCCI N MARCHEDA Are in UCL Squad ahezd of Welbeck btw???
February 11th, 2009 at 10:31
@real red – Welbeck is in on the ‘homegrown’ list of 5. so they’re all in it. Welbeck was also rubbish last night in the U21, whereas Frazier Campbell was English man of the match. The kid is good, maybe not United good, but definitely worth keeping for a season as an impact sub. His ability to get in behind is somethign we lack, and his workrate was exceptional.
Also, Welbeck looks really big relative to the other kids, anyone who watch the reserves know if he can head a ball?
February 12th, 2009 at 19:46
@jos: I know its from Marca, but please Fergie, here’s your second chance, maybe if Tevez doesn’t get a deal, we could go for him? Though its Real and after the Ronaldo brouhaha, they’ll probably want to screw us with the price they’ll put on him.