Jul 04
Ferguson Trots the Same Tired Lines
Alex Ferguson was apparently “interested” in David Villa. Of course, Villa has since moved on to Barca, and most keen observers of the game would know he was unlikely to ever leave Spain. How convenient!
He then goes on to make another outrageous remark—well not so outrageous, if you think about it.
“We’ve looked at a few options,” Ferguson told the Mail on Sunday. “We did consider David Villa but he was always going to Barcelona.
“I just don’t believe there is value out there at the moment. I’m very happy with the strength of our squad as it is.”
No value? Well, let’s translate that to we-don’t-have-money. And I’m very happy with the strength of our squad as it is? Well either he’s lying/being politically correct, in which case it’s sad, or he honestly believes that his squad is alright, which is disturbing.
I think he knows the squad is not as good as he wants it to be. But clearly if he thinks there is no value in the market then he’s either deluded or his scouting network needs an overhaul. Wesley Sneijder stands out as a shining example of how the market has value—I mean, last season, of course. Of course, if you are looking for the likes of Ozil right now, his value is going to go over the roof simply because of an amazing world cup.
At the moment I’m willing to call it a bonus if we sign anyone at all. Fabiano openly declared his interest, but due to a combination of there-is-no-value-in-the-market and oh-but-he’s-29-and-we-look-to-develop-young-kids we won’t sign him. Ozil said something to the effect of ‘he likes the way Chelsea and Manchester United play’ but no one should read much into that anyway. The Mirror reckons we are interested in Stephen Ireland because Man City have bought a gazillion midfielders, but City might rather sell him off to the likes of Everton or Villa—with whom they could work out an exchange deal with James Milner—than to us.
In conclusion, I want the remote control with the fast-forward button, once this World Cup gets over, so we could skip straight to the start of the season.
* * *
Speaking of the World Cup, it’s a shame Brazil are out. Prior to the Cup I predicted Brazil or Spain with Germany as the dark horse. My pick? The winner of Spain-Germany will win the World Cup. I loved the way Germany taught a lesson to Maradona and co, simply because the Albiceleste were outed for their flawed, stuttering defence. I found the pre-match talk—of Maradona being a managerial genius—ridiculous. Whilst I thought Germany would win, I never imagined it would have been this brutal.
Also: doesn’t anyone else find it odd that the Netherlands—who have the best chance to reach the final—have got this far by playing the most un-Dutch football ever?
I bet, if they win this tournament, Rinus Michels will be Cryuff-turning in his grave.
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- On Premier League’s new media rules
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- Perez would ‘welcome’ Ronaldo — that’ll be £70m, thank you.
- Man Utd v Porto: Preview
Tags: Daily Roundup
July 4th, 2010 at 12:37
Speaking of Spain, they are the best swimming team on earth
July 4th, 2010 at 12:45
Suarez looks every bit of a United player to me, even though he is a dirty chap he has everything I seek in a United player. He clearly has heart and skill, and although this may be a bad thing for some of you, he really is willing to do everything in his power for his team to succeed. For me, that means a lot.
Ole and Scholes anyone?
July 4th, 2010 at 13:54
Fergie is going to offer £25mil for Ozil since Sjneider’s price has become prohibitively massive, according to The Sunday Express. Either of them are a player that would improve our squad. Ozil, being younger would be preferable.
July 4th, 2010 at 13:56
True. Utd/SAF has no money. If you waste a fortune on duds like Berba et el, you are lucky to still have a cushy job. Then again, Gill is SAF’s chum. Poor Glazers…’09 title was a gift from Liverpool but SAF’s luck ran out in’10….He can’t beat Burnley, Fulham, B’burn, Villa ( never mind Chelski, ‘Pool ,,,) anf=d SAF says squad is good enough? Yes, pbbly for Europa lge place…
July 4th, 2010 at 14:01
I give up with Fergie. It was inevitable that Manchester City would splash the cash and I hear they are giving Toure £220,000 a week and Silva £150,000. And yeah players like Villa and Di Maria are Spain bound.
But there are PLENTY of other players available who won’t be subject to a bidding war from those clubs.
So far the names Im hearing include Ozil, Meireles, Coentrao, Paolo Henrique, Sanchez, Suarez, and a bunch of others.
Most of them would cost between £15-£25 million and that seems like reasonable value.
Also there are rumours we are offloading Hernandez on loan to Valencia which I think would be a big mistake. Id rather play him in the first team and sell Berbatov to raise some money for one of the aforementioned names.
Meanwhile Tottenham are rumoured to be spending £35 million to buy Kjaer and Cavani.
It is a ludicrous situation at this club. We are crying out for a goalkeeper, a midfielder, and a forward and we are making the same excuses not to buy them. Why doesn’t Fergie just admit that “value” is a synonym for “we cannot afford to spend more than £10 million on any player”.
Also Ronaldo has had a baby boy! And he wants to be the kids guardian!
July 4th, 2010 at 14:15
It goes without saying that SAF is a God for what he has done for United in his time at the club. But his recent comments about no value is utterly baffling and leaves a lot to be desired. There clearly are players out there that represent good value for money. His comments are obviously a cover up for the fact that we have no money to spend because of the bastard Glazers. I’m sorry Fergie, but with all due respect, your comments are utter garbage.
July 4th, 2010 at 14:28
@ RR: Yeah, always liked the dutch but it’ll be something of a shame if this dutch side won instead of much more deserving ones in the past…
Suarez? Do. not.want.
July 4th, 2010 at 14:28
Anyway Fergie ALWAYS moves late so I think we just have to sit tight for the next month or two and hope that there are still some good players left when Real Madrid, Chelsea, barcelona, Bayern, City, Tottenham and co have finished their business.
Grognard, how come Bayern aren’t in the market for Ozil? He obviously has great chemistry with the other Bayern players and Bayern must have quite a lot of cash after their big Champions League win.
Personally Id like us to go for Gourcuff. While Ozil has been amazing this World Cup his price is going to skyrocket out of our range. Whereas Gourcuff through no real fault of his own flopped at the World Cup and has been forgotten. Im sure we could sign him for £20 million.
July 4th, 2010 at 16:40
Why can’t we calm down a bit…How many of us have seen from close quarters just how good our young players( the likes of cleverly, Welbeck , Pogba et all) are…maybe they are ready to take the step up in Sir Alex’s eyes….We may have Hargo fit for the next season too…plus haven’t we signed Hernandez and Smalling for a combines 20 million?…For gods sake we lost the champions league semis on shite luck…and the league by a point…..How can we fucking gurantee that the big names being bandied around can fit into our system..We already have 6 strikers right now…Welbeck and Kiko need to be given a chance NOW…isnt that the United way?….We just need a winger to bolster our options out wide…our midfield is fine…Scholsey ,Carrick ,Ando, Hargo, Fletch ,maybe Cleverly too….i think Fergie spot on trying to find value in the market…40 fuckin mil for Villa…what if he ended up like Berba?…The market is really massively inflated due to the likes of Real ,Barca and Shitty…Maybe he is waiting to make his move…
Maybe he really thinks the new generation of United players can emulate the class of 95…Lets wait and watch lads…Fergie is a Fuckin legend…He woudn’t EVER put the interests of those american bastards before the Club..never ever.
July 4th, 2010 at 16:50
I do believe that you lot need 2 stop being scared of other teams transfer activities as it aint anythink special, big deal we dont wana waste cash, oh no city bought average in silva & yaya
laughing at those duds; for the best part of a decade sir alex has stated the “no value” line when being ripped off in the market so stop acting like he just started now cause he hadnt. Man utd has only ever had 2, coumt them 2 big transfer markets and that was 89 & 03, we’re still a young side and one of the best.
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Manchester+United
July 4th, 2010 at 16:53
Ozil has talked about United and Chelsea. We must act now, not on the last day of the window, 3 weeks after he’s signed for Madrid.
July 4th, 2010 at 18:27
Pipe down and have faith in our manager. Don’t they usually have United fans write these things?
July 4th, 2010 at 18:46
Traverse, we’d have to wait till Germany get knocked out of the World Cup. I wouldn’t listen to transfer rumours. I highly doubt he is talking about which clubs he wants to join DURING the world cup. It is probably his agent angling for a move.
In any case his value is surely now out of our range. He had a great World Cup no doubt but I do not see us splashing the £30 million or so that he is no doubt going to sell for.
And as we all know Fergie will not even contemplate transfer activity until he has finished his long holiday on the beach in the South of France.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:11
Fucking hell, I wake up to this shit. Im getting sick of that old man now, honestly, he has done well but fuck it, hes gonna lead this club to the shit!…City have signed boateng, silva toure and hes happy with our carling cup winning squad? Fuck that! Players like Ozil will only be available once and that is it, The fucking old man spends 31 million on Berbatov, and now says he cant spend because there is no value, Berbatov is minus value to us, right now I would sell him for free, fuck I would pay 2 million pounds to rid us of this value signing because he is detrimental to the club and I can guarantee that he will once again play more games than talents like Hernandez and Macheda, preventing their growth. When Hernandez joins if he is to be successful he must be played in lots of games but no doubt he will get random subsitute appearances and Dimitar ‘value’ Berbatov will once again do fuckall in all our games. My gosh I hate Berbatov. And fergie is just pissing us all of right now because he talks of value. If we have no money and rather he just shut the fuckup and begin the season
July 4th, 2010 at 19:21
Seriously, if we could get rid of Berbatov and Carrick, I would be pleased with our team. Not delighted, but pleased. Can’t really ask for more at the moment…
July 4th, 2010 at 19:26
I’m blind, but I’ve got faith in Fergie. And I’m sure Hernandez, Cleverley and Anderson will come good. If our current talent step up next season, I can see us ripping team to shreads again. Our team IS good enough, and I’m pleased with our current squad. Can see Hargo recover well, Rooney to find his form, Nani and Valencia to keep up their form, as well as Fletcher continuing to be the midfield-destoryer we so desperately need. Rio is a lost cause if you ask me, but Evans and Rafael is the future and with Vidic, Evra and VDS we have one of the best defences in the world. We still need some backup there though, Smalling doesn’t really cut it if you ask me. I’d rather have Coantrao come here so we have backup on the left back/left wing, that for me would be the perfect signing, if we were to only make one!
Lads, I may have smoked some weed last night but I know what I’m talking about!
Come on United!
July 4th, 2010 at 19:38
I don’t understand how Fergie sees the transfer market.One one hand he spend 20 millions on Championship Material like Anderson and on other hand sold Pique,a world class defender,for 5 million.He never tried to get Sneijder when he was available for 15 million and now he is telling lie that he wanted to sign Villa.
How much he will lie?Is there going to be any end to this shit which he is speaking for last 1 year ?He is just irritating the fans now.Does he think that his comments are read only by persons sitting in some regions of the world who don’t know anything about football and will believe his words.
I will support Shitty to get higher position than us in the League(and i never thought like this in my last 10 years of United love).Then this fucking old man will accept the truth that we were even lucky to win Carling Cup .We don’t deserve that trophy also with a squad of some ass holes like Rio,Park,Diouf,Andy,Foster etc .
The fact is that Fergie has become a liability for the club.He must go now.In fact his departure is even more urgent than Berba and Anderson.Because now i have no patience to hear his next lie that he even made a move for Messi also but turned back as he was not finding any real value of the money.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:42
@EduardoDaVinci4: And the so called best defence in the world had no defender in the box against Bayern and Carrick was the only player present in the penalty box when they scored.But Carrick was made the culprit and wrongly blamed for the exit.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:43
By the way, Skillet is an amazing band!
July 4th, 2010 at 19:48
@Owen: Every team lets in goals mate, it’s unrealistic to expect that we won’t concede. We also also lost our right back in that game, while Rio has been shite all season long. Seriously, can’t remember his last truly good game!
Have more faith in Evans tbh
July 4th, 2010 at 19:50
Fergie to this shit again all i can say to you is JUST FUCK OFF. Im sorry if that sounds harsh but i am so sick of this guy right now, i really find myself actually hating him now. I dont care what the guy has done for us in the past, we are in the present and we have to ask ourselves what has the man done for us recently because as far as i can see its very little good and alot of bad.
Still playing the value game are you fergie. I took those comments as shit the minute you decided sneijder and robben were not value and would rather let the team go stale than go get them.
Its absolute crap the transfer market has no value. On the whole yes maybe theres not much, but what should we do then master fergie? Cross our arms, twiddle our thumbs and leave things as they are?
Oh yes that will make us a better team wont it. All hail mater fergie and his grand ideas.
Its a fucking lie and one i am absolutely god damn sick of. If you are telling me sneijder, robben or this season ozil is not value then your past your bloody sell by date and need to piss off before our team falls further and further down the table.
How can you say ozil for £25m is not value. The man has been the best player at the this tournament along with muller and has shown his class all at the age of 21. Are our scouts so shit they dont think hes going to be top class. The guy will be one of the best around in 2/3 years time but hes not value is he. He wont become a top player, his value wont double will it fergie.
Instead we will stay as we are. Get stale and fall down the league. And for anyone who dares question grand master fergie we arent loyal fans and deserve the death penalty. Yeah well thats fine, the sheeple will never see any bad in anyone and will do exactly what theyre told.
Fergie was allowed to kick the likes of ruud, becks, keano in the bollocks after years of loyal service yet fergie is above the law isnt he.
Bollocks he is just a man as far as i am concerned and he deserves to get his ass booted out of the club and his name written out of our history as far as im concerned. The man wants to side with the glazers, ok then fuck off and go with them, you have shit in my face for the last time. This value shit, your constant sucking up to the glazers, and your pissing in us normal fans faces have brought me to the conclusion i just dont like you much anymore.
Your are a sell out of the highest order and i refuse to forgive you for the shit you have done along with the glazers. You can all burn in hell as far as im concerned.
I make no apologies to how harsh i have been here, i have simply had enough of this senile old bastard and his refusal to get with the times. Does he ever think there is value if you look close enough?
Does he ever wonder if this is going to be the norm in the transfer market and prices have changed like they did in the 90s compared to the 80s?
Does he really think this squad is going to win the major prizes when we continue to go season after season without top players being added to our squad.
I am just sick of hearing the crap that comes out of his mouth. I am sick of his smugness, the look on his face when he tries to act like everything is fine when its not.
This club was the best team in the world just 2 years ago. Now it is a ridiculously average past it team. In just 2 fucking years it has fallen that low. God i dont think even graeme souness could have made this club plunge as low in 2 years.
Do yourself a favour fergie and just piss off. Im sure the sheeple will continue to think everything is fine but unfortunately alot of us have seen right through you.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:54
@EduardoDaVinci4: And that all season long shit was made England Captain.Oh poor England.2100 will be your Year.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:56
@Owen: No World Cup in 2100 mate, gotta wait till 2102 then!
July 4th, 2010 at 19:57
SACK ALEX FUCKERSON.
Even Rafa will be a better choice than this mentally ill old man.
July 4th, 2010 at 19:59
@EduardoDaVinci4:
July 4th, 2010 at 20:06
@Owen: <3
July 4th, 2010 at 20:06
@Owen: HIRE GROGNARD!!!
July 4th, 2010 at 20:17
@EduardoDaVinci4: Grognard will replace Mourinho at Madrid in October when he will be sacked by Perez for illegally parking that famous bus at Santiago Bernabéu .
July 4th, 2010 at 20:30
You know… I just pictured myself scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League Final shootout for United. You know what? I started crying. This club means so much to me, and I am not gonna just stand back and watch it be driven to ground. Our history, the commitment, just Manchester United as a whole, deserves better. We simply deserve better!
And fuck David Villa and money, I don’t care for that. What I crave is some fucking attitude, some of our players have bunch of it. Some just don’t. I know Cleverley is gonna be a fighter, which is why I have faith in him. I hope the team as a whole is gonna prove some hunger and desire next season, cause I really miss that. Especially in the big games, as against Chelsea(both), Leeds(home), Blackburn(away) and Bayern (away, at home the last 30 mins). If we can rediscover that fighting spirit, I think we’ll be alright.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:51
NO VALUE?
More like he has no money and no vision. Anybody who is doing his job properly would have pounced on all the players I have mentioned dating back two years now when they could have been had for pennies. Ozil, Mueller, Schneijder, Arshavin, Huntelaar, Schweinsteiger and countless more were mentioned as great buys or players with great potential back when they could have been bought for nothing. And now I am hearing talk that Chelsea is cloese to signing Aguero for only 20 million. If United cannot afford 20 million for a player of that skill, they might as well throw in the towel.
It’s time fans stood up to this lying asshole. And that is exactly what he is. I give a rats ass at this stage over what he has accomplished and what he has done for us because for me he is a traitor. There were spies who worked for the Soviets that were knighted before they were exposed. Does their public service for England exclude the fact they were exposed as traitors to their country? Ferguson is nothing more than a lying slime. Nothing more would make me happy than a regime change where the new owners can his candy ass.
No value. He should be fucking ashamed of himself. No intention of telling the truth, No clue is more like it. No money, No idea, No concept, No hope, No care in the world and no loyalty is more like it. Fergie can go fuck himself. I’m done with his dog and pony show. No more value in Fergie. Old Scottish fart.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:53
@Owen: No I’m sticking it out for the United job. I would never work for Madrid nor could i ever live in a country that stinks and can’t say to words without a faggy lisp.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:54
@EduardoDaVinci4: I think he is just what England and United are looking for in a goalkeeper. He’s much better than Foster.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:55
@Traverse: The day we get Ozil mate, I promise to make you walk naked around Old Trafford.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:58
@colver: The thing I noticed with the closeup of Di Maria yesterday other than the Pee Wee Herman resemblance was that you could use his head to break into people’s house rather than a credit card. The narrowest head on a man I have ever seen.
July 4th, 2010 at 21:59
@colver: I heard that Wolfsburg already bought Kjaer. Can we not trust anything we read anymore?
July 4th, 2010 at 22:02
@colver: They are direct quotes from him.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:06
@colver: Honestly, they have no room for him. They already have Robben and Ribery on the wings, Muller just behind Klose or Gomez (and I’m hearing the name Huntelaar being bandied about, which making me all wet) and Schweinsteiger and van Bommel as deep lying midfielders. The main reason is they have Toni Kroos. People don’t realize this but Kroos may actually be more talented than Ozil. He is actually a better passer of the ball, a set piece artist and a better striker of the ball and his vision is up there with Ozil. The only thing Ozil has over him is pace. Bayern need to find a way to get him in the lineup. The only real needs for Bayern in my mind are at goalkeeper because Butt is really old and at CB because van Buyten and Demichelis are only average (and they were the reason for the Champions League final loss.). Bayern must be smart and get either Neuer or Adler. No foreign keeper. It’s tradition the Bayern always have the #1 keeper for Germany. Lehmann was the odd exception to that rule.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:08
@rooney_thebestest: Or maybe he is full of shit and you are buying into his bullshit.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:09
@as: If you like our present team mate, I just have nothing but pity for you.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:12
@EduardoDaVinci4: You forgot Anderson mate.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:13
@EduardoDaVinci4: Too bad you don’t live in Vancouver mate or I’d recommend you to my opthamologist who would get your eyesight back to normal.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:16
@Owen: He’s full of shit mate. ANybody with an IQ over Anderson’s can tell he is terrible at lying between his teeth. Seriously, the man is a numptie when it comes to making his useless case. I am tried and fed up listening to the senile old bastard. I wish he would just retire and go on a wine binger in the South of France until his nose began to glow. Dishonest lying traitor.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:21
@tonymontanna4united:
Jesus Christ man, even I am thinking you are me in disguise now. 
Christ that sounded just like me. You are even using terms I use. You’re my hero mate. 
July 4th, 2010 at 22:22
@EduardoDaVinci4: Fucking Ay! Thumbs up to that mate.
I guarantee success because i would clean house, bring in Germans and Dutchman and work the same motivational and tactical schemes of Mourinho and Loew. You know they learned all that shite from me first don’t you? Notice how both of them started using 4-2-3-1 and counter attacking with pace after I joined Red Rants? But of course. Shut up Sven. Shut up FIFA
July 4th, 2010 at 22:29
@Owen: Grognard would consider taking the Barcelona job for a year so that he could internally sabotage the team by selling Messi for apple strudel to Bayern and letting go of Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, and Alves for the starting lineup at Mallorca. I would then bench Puyol and demand that all players have mandatory brush cuts. And as my final act I would sell Pique back to United for Anderson , who I would then sell to FC Brugge for some hot Belgian porn dvd’s
And then let them sack me after the team ends up relegated.
July 4th, 2010 at 22:30
@EduardoDaVinci4: I think you are delusional mate. But I love you anyway.
July 4th, 2010 at 23:23
If we really do have no money….
Sell Anderson, Berbatov and Carrick for a combined total of £35 million.
Buy either Ozil or Gourcuff
AND a goalkeeper
Problem solved.
We’ve all discussed to death Fergies obsession with value
But what puzzles me is why he tolerates mediocrity. Back in Fergie’s prime he would have shown Berbatov, Carrick and Anderson the exit door long ago.
We have a bloated squad so lets cut our wage bill and trade in the terrible trio for a great midfielder.
David Villa is just a smokescreen. Yeah Fergie has a fetish for strikers but with Scholes and Giggs in their last season he MUST realise we need a quality attacking central midfielder.
Fergies greatest quality was his ability to mix up teams and prevent them getting stale and rotting. Unfortunately this team is rotting. We’ve had pretty much the same team for the last five years plus or minus a few names. It reached its peak in 2007/8 and is now on a fast decline.
Last season Rooney, Scholes and Giggs saved Fergie’s bacon. But I think just like Ronaldo’s form dropped off after his 2007/8 season the same will happen to Rooney especially after he flopped so bad at the World Cup. And Scholes and Giggs are another year older
Worse we have a real centre back situation. Vidic seems unsettled and if he wont go this season he will go next season. Rio is a crock and is going to miss a good portion of next season. Evans looks shaky and I have no idea why we let Pique go and Smalling isn’t ready to be plunged in at the deep end.
Just as England got undone defensively I fear that we will leak goals next season and Im not betting on Rooney, Nani and Berbatov to score that many. While we are all hoping Hernandez will be our saviour, the reality is that he has only played in the Mexican league and while he scored against France and Argentina those teams have rubbish defences and it will take him a while to adapt to the physicality of the premier league.
Unless Fergie wises up and splashes the cash Im predicting we finish fourth behind Chelsea Tottenham and Manchester City and fail to make the knockout stages of the Champions League
July 5th, 2010 at 0:09
I not willing to jump, head first, into this issue quite yet. I’ve been a very harsh critic of SAF’s, seemingly, lack-luster efforts to revitalize our team, and if we begin our season without the addition of, at least a new Striker and central MF’er, I’ll be calling for his head too.
But there is something very unconvincing in this latest verbal snoozefest, and I can’t help feel that a trigger is going to pulled shortly. Him perpetrating the idea that we’re broke and fully immersed behind a trading 8 ball, can only give our competition an unclear vision of our intentions and our trading partner an unclear view of our finances.
Without trying to sound too rosy or upbeat, it would surprise the hell out of me if this team, with CL aspirations written into their business plan, would not budget generously for new players and their salaries.
July 5th, 2010 at 0:14
@ Grognard : Okay , lets say he really has fuck all to spend..What does he do then….come out and say it and then what?…..we’d be the laughing stock of the whole world mate…You really think the Glazers would let him do that?…He doesnt seem to have a bloody option…When we had money he spend it every year…did’nt he? the likes of Forlan . Veron, Ruud, Wazza, Berba didnt come cheap…Nor did Nani and Anderson..
Maybe he can’t do fuck all because his hands are tied…and to allthose calling for his head….are u fucking out of your minds? who comes in next? and how the fuck do you suppose the next guy is goin to get funds if Fergie didn’t…He won’t leave because he cares for the club and leaving it ina this situation would fuck up everything he has built for the last 20 years…
@ tonymontanna4united : how can you be so sure we can get Oezil for 25 mil…you can’t because none of us know what his price is goin to be after the world cup…Maybe we actually are negotioating for some of our targets eh?..it isn’t the end of the transfer window yet, is it?
And as i said earlier he really doesnt have a choice if he hasn’t a fuckin penny to spend…
We all aren’t exactly pleased with the way things went last season when we sold Ronnie off and didn’t go on a spending spree…but notice that we lost the league by just “one point”? And that Bayern were extremely lucky to knock us out of the champs league? And that we played a number of games with literally one defender, one of which was a terrible 3-0 thrashing? Fergie knows already that his squad is immensely strong. 3 years in a row and just a couple of points short of making it four… it speaks for itself.
Yet there is a “new breed” of little cheeky United supporters who seem to do nothing but look for a reason to bitch and whine. The fact that they second guess Ferguson constantly and pretty much accuse him of lying to them all the time (every time he says he doesn’t see value in the market, for example) tells me that they are in fact “new” supporters, who probably would have dumped Ferguson early last decade, or many times when we went through bad spells under him.
Never has Fergie allowed any fan to dictate to him, he has made it clear time and time again in interviews that he annexes control of his team and despises clubs who don’t provide that freedom to their coaching staff. He’s the boss, plain and simple, and if you can’t go one bad season without disrespecting him every time he opens his mouth, then you’re at the wrong club because he doesn’t care what you think. Not a popularity contest for him…
Manchester United is not a democracy, particularly when it comes to playing staff… and if it was, I guarantee we wouldn’t have Fergie and we wouldn’t even be top 4.
July 5th, 2010 at 0:51
@colver: Good point about hernandez. From what little I have seen of him is encouraging but nowhere close to conclusive. The one thing that I’m pleasantly suprised about is his pace. It’s true in all sports that speed kiils. He can’t be worse than Walcott, but as we see in theo pace can forgive lack of skill. So at this point I’m getting more and more optimistic about him making the grade at united.
July 5th, 2010 at 0:58
@rooney_thebestest: How can i be so sure we can get ozil for £25m you ask. Well point is im not 100%, we can never be 100% how much a player is going to cost unless be bloody well put a bid in and see if it is accepted or not. That or an enquiry.
As for if i think he could be had for £25m then yes i would say with a resounding yes, he would be ours for £25m.
How am i so sure? Well first off the club he is at is hardly one of the big boys. No disrespect to werder but they are not one of the elite clubs. This means he is a realistic target and we can negotiate easier than say city did for david silva of valencia.
Second ozil has a year remaining on his contract. So answer me this, will werder turn down £25m when he can leave on a free next season? I think not.
Then we have ozil himself. No doubt been the star of the show in this WC, and a man im sure after this will set the bar higher and want to play for an elite club, say maybe us.
Indeed last week he mentioned us as one of the teams he likes. A hint hint i would think.
In the end though we can see hes a class and would improve our team massively. I dont know 100% if he would come to us, but we could atleast bloody try. £25m for ozil would be good value in my book, if he rejects us fine and we move on. Its just this constant “no value” bollocks from fergie that makes me think we wont make a move for him. Anything over £5m in his book isnt value. Add to that we dont have a pot to piss in and i think we can rule out ozil.
Which then leads me to point 2. You say he doesnt have a choice if hes got no cash, well im sorry but he does. He should damn well stand up to those bastard owners and tell them exactly what he wants. A plane full of cash and their ass out of here.
If as he damn well knows there is no money then how exactly is keeping schtum and praising them helping our club.
Fact is its not, its fucking us up long term to tell you the truth. The very future of our club is in the shits if already they are taking our transfer cash except for a paultry £20m a season. We are better than that. We make as much as madrid and barca so why cant we have as much money as them to spend.
Dont get me wrong i hate their way of doing things and even if we had the cash i would be against spending £60m on one player. But point is we are better than spending £10m on kids and freebies. We are Manchester United for fucks sake.
If fergie knows the money is gone the fans deserve to know. The club was here long before fergie and will be long after hes gone. If him keeping schtum affects us long term then the fans who are the lifeblood of this club deserve to know the truth. Fergies siding with them just sickens me even more and its this pissing in the face of your common fan that has angered me enough to write my earlier rant.
He has lost his ways on the whole ownership scenario and it pisses me off his ball licking of that bastard family. Right now he is the enemy just as much as glazer. A sad but true fact and anyone who support the green and gold but doesnt feel this is deluded.
As for last season, please enough with this “we were unlucky” crap. We were the opposite, we were very lucky. Yes we had a defensive crisis but how many games did that cost us. The fulham game is all i can think of.
But what about all the own goals, 11 in total. Without them would we be even further behind? Definitely.
At the end of the day we lost 7 league games, about 13 in all competitions i think it was. That is not the form of champions and basically we didnt deserve to win the league.
Chelsea were a sack of sorry bastads aswell which made it even harder to take. We lost ronaldo yes but a sneijder would have made a hell of a lot of difference for us last season. I think chelsea were very poor, indeed its the worst chelski team theyve had in recent years, and a team we should have wiped the floor with.
A bit of investment and we would have been on for 4 in a row. Instead we ballsed it up and all we won was the carling cup. That is not enough for united.
Please say you are not questioning my loyalty to united because you are barking up the wrong tree if thats the case. I am a united fan for life. Have been since birth to this day which is 20 years. I know that is not as long as others but from every fan i hear they feel the same on the whole.
The fact someone like grognard, who is a fan of 35 years and someone i respect massively, feels the same way as i do makes me feel i am correct on the failings of this club and ferguson in particular.
The fact is i may be a spoilt fan but that is because that is all we have known for 20 years, and we dont want it to end yet.
It has to end some day, yes i know that. But it should not have been in these circumstances. Not with our own manager leading us up shit creek without a paddle. Not this way.
The fact is this club has always had a tradition even when we were shit. We played good stuff, we would spend money to buy the best we could and the fans were entertained. Now a days we see us churn up shit performance after shit performance and apparently we play good stuff.
We pay through the nose to watch them and be bored to tears. We no longer buy the best. What the hell is good about our club anymore.
Very little i would say. But will i jack it in and leave united.
No im united for life. But there is no reason we should be reduced to this shit, this is not the united i know and love. Worse thing is its our very own ferguson who helped wreak this havoc. Him and the glazers got into bed together, and as far as im concerned i wish they would just fuck off. Thats just the way i feel though.
July 5th, 2010 at 0:59
@craigmc well it not for sure yet, but looks like I got a little one on the way. Any advice on how to deal with the mom?
July 5th, 2010 at 0:59
@rooney_thebestest: See you just don’t get it mate. You are missing the point entirely. It’s not about buying players. It’s about sopping the lies and doing the right thing and confronting the owners with a do or die demand to either pay up or sel the team. Fergie should be representing us, the loyal legions of fans and the pride and history of Man Utd, not the Glazer’s. He needs to get his head out of the sand, wake up to thew realities of the situation and check his heart and loyalty. Right now he has allied himself with the enemy of the club and the enemy of the people. Trust me, when it’s all said and done, he is in a no win scenario and he will eventually pay the piper. Fans are loyal but they also live by the old adage of “what have you done for me lately?” The bottom line is Fergie has done nothing and lied through his teeth. He needs to answer for that whether he buys a player or tow or not. He could spend 75 million tomorrow and I still want him to answer for allying himself with the Glazer scum.
His loyalty is misplaced because at the end of the day he forgets who really pays his wages. I used to love the man but these days, if I ran into him on the street I’d either do my Ronaldo imitation or I’d give him a right good kick in the bollocks. I kid you not. He has destroyed for me a passion and a love affair that he helped build and create. It’s no different than finding your wife in bed with a scouser.
And i’m not of the breed of new cheeky supporters. I’ve been a hard core fan since 1976. What I hate is see nothing hear nothing conformists who watch Rome burn and then ask if there is a barbecue happening.
July 5th, 2010 at 1:05
I dunno. 2007 we made a HUGE statement in the transfer market buying Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves and Tevez. Admittedly Anderson was rubbish but we were splashing serious cash.
The next season we buy Berbatov.
Then neatly coinciding with the financial crisis we offload our best player for £80 million, buy just Valencia, and begin in earnest our acquisition of every cheap youngster from every corner of the earth.
Meanwhile Barcelona and Real Madrid are splashing upwards of £100 million a season on well known players while we are buying Hernandez, Smalling, Tosic, Obertan, Diouf and co
Every time we buy a player I have to google them.
That is kinda tragic
July 5th, 2010 at 1:10
@tonymontanna4united: Well said mate. Nothing gets me more hot under the collar than the glass half full society. Rome burns to the ground while they stand in front of a mirror and a picture of Fergie jerking their love pump. Drives me fucking nuts. One thing I cannot stand more than stupidity is blind conformity. It’s the reason this planet has been so fucked up for the last ten years. Fergie can take a long walk of a short pier for all I care and so can all his die hard blind as a bat, conformist moron sympathizers and supporters. I’m beyond tolerance or listening to the other side. I’m about anarchy right now. I care enough for this team to not let it burn from within. And if it does, it’s open season on all the ass clowns who went along with Fergie Gill and the Glazer decree. As far as I’m concerned, they are just as much to blame as the perpetrators of the crime. Why isn’t everyone just losing it with Fergie over his constant bullshit and lies? I just don’t get it. How stupid can people be?
July 5th, 2010 at 1:48
@Grognard: Grog, no crime has been committed yet. If SAF stands pat at the onset of our season I will question the man’s ability to manage a top tier team (honestly, he’s that close from losing my total respect!).
But I just cannot conceive of him ignoring the huge gaps in our squad, and then churning head-first into another campaign without calling up some re-enforcements!
A man of immense pride and stubbornness, such as Fergie, does not lay down his legacy to be shat upon by every Tom, Dick and Harry who would lower their pants for such an occasion. He want’s to have the last laugh, always.
I’m giving him the measure of my patience until that Well runs completely dry!
July 5th, 2010 at 2:00
Well Dunga is done, – duh!! But Capello is bello!!
Go figure, the very worst English WC performance I’ve ever watched and the FA, in the utmost wisdom, have retained a coach who can’t play anything other than a straight 4-4-2, and has problems pronouncing the word FLEX-A-BILITY.
No hope for English football – no chance for Euro 2012!!
July 5th, 2010 at 2:14
@Grognard: Well judging from so called united fans opinions right now i can tell you some people can be very very stupid.
Thank the lord there are people who actually get it like yourself and the countless others on here who are not total twats and are realistic and can see the shit that is happening to this club.
I think some people will not say a bad word until this club has burned to the ground. Anyone who doesnt think everything is all sunshine and light in the kingdom of united is a traitor and unloyal fan.
God i mean this is coming from supposed united fans. I mean do some people have to actually be fucking blind to not see what is going on. I mean wake the fuck up.
The expectations as well as the team have fallen dramatically within the last 2 years. 2 bloody years. Its pathetic. Im convinced graeme bloody souness could not have destroyed this team as badly within 2 years, and imo he is one of the worst managers i have seen in the game.
The whole reason we used to be successful was because year on year we would quality to an already great squad. Fact is we didnt replace ronaldo nor tevez let alone add to the squad so its no surprise we won very little last season.
And how will this season fare? Well i honestly wouldnt be surprised if this is the year we finish outside of the top 4, things are that bad.
Yet some fans fail to see that things are not all rosy in the garden of eden. And hey why not as long as old man fergie says everything is ok, then it must be. Typical sheeple.
Worst thing is i really dont see fergie stepping down any time soon. United is like a drug to him and i dont see him leaving anytime soon. The old man brigade (nev, giggs, edvs, scholes) will all be rewarded with yet another contract that takes them to their 40th bdays and the team will get worse and worse.
And yet we all laugh at liverpool. Why? They will new owners in place soon, whose to say they wont get some sheikh and go on a spending spree to rival city. That would just be the last straw.
God i really wish i was like the fans who thought everything was ok, it would be so much easier and less stressful to just believe everything is ok. Sadly i love this club too much to let it go to shit without venting my feelings.
In 5 years time those very fans will come to realise the likes of you and me groggie were speaking sense. By then though i fear it will be too late.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:24
@colver:
LOL, so true..
July 5th, 2010 at 2:32
Oh the drama of it all, the passion – I’m swooning by all this intensity – it’s almost too much to bear.
The true fans (sic) are coming out of the woodwork, whingeing at the thought of supporting an unsuccessful team, and then turning their collective venom on the very one that drew them in in the first place!!
It’s not really a question of naivety, it’s a matter of belief that a man, who has brought you all so much, could, perhaps deliver the goods again!
Wow, not such a stretch of any logical imagination is it? But the mongers of suspicion and lies will always raise a convenient question or two – especially when it serves their own cause!!
July 5th, 2010 at 3:35
@Redrich: Mate, the reason why people are moaning is because the team right now is not good enough, yet from fergies comments he thinks it fine and is still using this value shit to pull the wool over supporters eyes.
Simple fact is this man is not the man he once was. The old fergie would not tolerate such a shit team, he would move on the stale and past it players and keep us competitive. But hey who knows we may sign ozil, benzema and neuer before the summer is out. And pigs might fly.
I say what i feel and i might sound unloyal and a right cunt to those of you who still think fergie is the man to lead us to success after all he has won with us.
Fact is though i dont. I question his desire and hunger and his unwillingness to add to the squad. If thats because of lack of funds fair enough, but he tries to tell us day in day out he has those funds, so maybe its just him.
I just dont see the same old fergie anymore. I think he has sold out and no longer has what it takes to lead this team. Age has caught up with him and his glazer boot licking and lack of quality replacements to the team has hurt us.
Football is a cut throat business at the end of the day, and there is no room for sentiment. Many loyal players in the past who alwasy gave their all have been kicked out without a second thought from the gaffer.
He is a human at the end of the day, and he deserves no more than they did, so he is not imune from being kicked out himself.
Its sad i feel this way about him, but this is not the fergie i knew and loved. I will call him as i see him, and right now he is a complete sell out, senile old bastard and he deserves the abuse he is getting.
Who knows mayeb he will lead us to more glory. By which i mean the major trophies, and not the carling cup. If he does i will give credit where it is due. However i dont think we will be winning anything of any note anytime soon.
Our squad is average, we are full of too many oldies and too many kids and too many past it players. We will win nothing as we are now.
But if we somehow do i will give credit where it is due. Fact is though i feel our era of dominance is over. Thats just me though. If thats the truth i will still support us, i am united for life afterall.
Doesnt mean i cant feel pissed at the people who have made us nose dive so rapidly and so quickly.
And i dont think you can disagree when i say those people are the glazer bastards and fergie.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:01
@Redrich: Sorry mate but many crimes have been committed and he keeps committing infractions against all of us. This goes back two years. it’s not just a recent phenomenon. Lets not forget the Ronaldo money and lets not forget all the dicking around before we got Berba not to mention all the things the Glazer’s have done that Fergie has condoned and turned a blind eye to. Like I said in an earlier post, it’s not just about buying players. It’s about a massive crime being committed at OT and we are not being heard. I think the well ran dry last year mate.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:03
@Redrich: In fairness to Capello the man has a very impressive resume and I think what he did was give the old guard on the team a chance to prove critics wrong and it backfired on him. He will learn from this and major changes will be made. Problem is England doesn’t have much of a talent pool.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:07
@tonymontanna4united: I don’t know mate, I think Souness or Keegan could come up with great ways to destroy the team even faster than Fergie could. I could see Souness selling Rooney for Heskey and Buttle and then try to convince millions what a great bit of business he did. What a character the looney toon is.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:13
@Redrich: Ah come on mate, that’s just unfair. In twenty years I never ever questioned a thing Fergie did even if he bought players I never heard of or thought were shite. But this is so much different. Lets look at what has happened in the past 24 months and nobody can look us in the eye and say it’s business as usual and how can we possibly question the great man. The great man has either lost his mind or his soul or both. And to be a conformist who could never turn on him is to be naive because people change and people can lose perspective or get corrupted or just bloody well lose their minds.
I think there is something at play here that we all are not aware of and i am just pleading with…..Hell I’m begging Fergie to come forth and tell us what it is. Something has to be going on for him to act like this because I cannot in my heart of hearts conceive of him building this club up into a majestic dynasty and then allow an American band of greedy ass clowns to come in and completely destroy what he has built. It just doesn’t compute. Honest to God I am lost in confusion and pleading for answers because this is bloody killing me.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:19
@tonymontanna4united: Bottom line is he is acting like every pound spent on the transfer market is coming out of his own pocket. Now why would that be? Is it perhaps that in order to keep him in line and quiet about their evil deeds that the Glazer’s have cut him in on their extortion racket and promised him a large percentage of the profits. To do so would require great financial discipline and a lack of spending on big name players. Probably not the case but honestly, I cannot think of any other answer that could possibly make sense as to why he is so tight fisted with others money when his MO for years was to over spend to get the player(s) he wanted. He may be Scottish but that never ever stopped him for paying top dollar to get the likes of Keane, RVN, Veron, Berba etc. I just don’t get it.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:30
@tonymontanna4united: @Grognard: Both of you believe that a changing of the guard at management level will change the outcome on the pitch. I think you are both, completely and utterly, out of your combined boxes.
With a the strong possibility that United are operating on a very tight budget, why on earth would you want to sack the man that has brought 20 odd years of success??
What are your options once he’s gone?, who would think could make a big difference?
Are you confusing the issue of finances with the issue of team management?
I’m completely unhappy by the events that have led as astray over the past 12 months, but Fergusons reign has lasted 1332 games. How can you discount that kind of tenure?
I share the fear of decline, that you both do, but my finger is pointed squarely in a different direction!!
July 5th, 2010 at 4:56
@Grognard: Capello was in charge of a group of talented, English misfits. If he was any kind of manager at all, he would have figured out a way to at least, make them play as a team. (hell Portsmouth on a bad Saturday afternoon would have made that bunch look like mugs!)
The manager can’t always be responsible for the players he has in his charge, but he sure as hell can make a difference in how they play together.
In this respect, Capello (and his impressive resume) failed totally!
July 5th, 2010 at 8:08
@Redrich: See this is what really gets me mate and frustrates the fuck out of me. I don’t know how many times I have written on this blog that even though I am really anti Fergie right now, a management change would be totally catastrophic until the team is sold. No manager worth his salt in gold would take this job right now knowing full well he has no money to buy players. Fergie knows this team and knows how to get the best out of them. For that reason it is vital that he stick around. But i am praying that the day will come when the ownership of this cub changes and when it does, I hope Fergie goes along with the Glazer’s to Florida where he can drink Florida moonshine to his hearts content and then he can tan his red nose in the sun. I’m emotional mate but I’m no idiot and i haven’t lost my box. But knowing and accepting the realities for what they are doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. Fergie is a great manager. As a person I am starting to think differently though. All I can say is that when he finally retires, I hope the Glazer’s are gone and then I can stand up and cheer out loud. I just wonder how many times I have to write this before people stop accusing me of being an idiot who wants Fergie fired before the Glazer’s are gone?
July 5th, 2010 at 8:11
@Redrich: Many of those players are beyond being coached. Terry, Lampard, Cole and Gerrard are as selfish and set in their ways as one would expect. The only way to get them to change is to start a Manchurian Candidate brain washing technique on them. Capello can try to turn black sheep to white but it will not work. His mistake was not purging the whole group and just keeping Rooney and a few team oriented players. And it’s funny how you dismiss Capello’s resume but blindly believe in Fergie’s. Capello at least was loyal to the club he was serving. I honestly question Fergie’s loyalty right now when his actions are showing me a completely different side.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:15
And yet another one who wanted to play for us gets away. How many more will we watch get away due to our calamitous situation?
http://www.soccerway.com/news/2010/July/05/wolfsburg-signing-kjaer-hoped-for-man-utd—palermo-chief/?
July 5th, 2010 at 8:45
When has there ever been value for Manchester United?
Berba, Carrick, Veron, Anderson even Andy Cole were hardly at the time value.
The real concern isn’t “value” in the market the real worry for me if he genuinely belives the quad is good enough.
Sacking the manager isn’t the answer, the real problem is those fucking Yanks, fuck off for where you come from and let us have our club back.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:46
@Grognard: But Fergie has brought success, Capello has delievered fuck all.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:00
@Grognard: Capello’s team under-achieved terribly, Ferguson’s teams perennially over-achieve.
It’s so, so easy to see who gets the best out of his players.
Capello and his 2 dimensional approach, had no way to turn when his steel hand failed to impress his players.
Another shocking decision by the FA to retain him until his bloated salary is fully earned.
A lame duck manager leading an uninterested pool of talent. Frankly, who in their right mind would go play in that regime??
Least we not forget, England 0-0 Algeria – a massive blot on the national psyche and another black mark on the yet to be established international career of Mr. Capello.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:33
@ Grognard : @ tonymontana : I still don’t agree that we need Fergie out..Fact is under the circumstances he is still the man to lead…what we all can agree on is we need to get these american thieving bastards out of our club…Because the fact reamins mate howerver money we make most of it is goin to go servicing the debt and the only way these cunts are getting any profit is by eating the share of transfer funds..I know there maybe be something goin on but then again I don’t think coming out in the open against the ownwers at this time is goin do us any good until we have someone on the horizon who would be ready to buy the club from the yanks..
@ Redrich : Atleast we have some sanity back mate
July 5th, 2010 at 9:55
As much as I am angry and frustrated at Fergie’s statements, I still believe he’s the best man for the job. It worries me that he believes the squad is good enough, but other managers would probably not get money from the board either.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:39
@Red Ranter: Also any new manager would be Glazer’s man, he certainly would not rebel against them especially if he got the United job, he would not want to rock the boat.
July 5th, 2010 at 11:25
If Fergie really has £100mil to spend as we keep getting told by that snake Gill, and Fergie is worried about value, then make these signings;
Mesut Ozil, 21 – £25mil
One year left on his contract and is the best player of the World cup. Has mentioned Manchester United twice in a week when asked about his future. Could play for us for the next 10 years. That is Fergie’s precious value.
Karim Benzema, 22 – £25mil
He is one hell of a talent, a player who isn’t hitting his peak, maybe Fergie’s last chance at making a world beater. We all know Fergie loves him, and we can get him for £5mil less than we offered last season. THAT is value!
Manuel Neuer, 24 – £20mil
We need a goalkeeper. We are desperate for a new #1. This guy would be our first choice for the next 12 years. Easily.
Along with Hernandez and Smalling that’s £90mil. We’ve got £14mil for getting rid of Foster and Tosic, so that’s £24mil you can piss up a wall on interest payments.
Neuer
Rafael Vidic Ferdinand Evra
Valencia Hargreaves Ozil Nani
Benzema Rooney
SB: VDS, Evans, Smalling, Fletcher, Anderson, Park, Hernandez
I would put that team against us last season, and they’d whoop us.
July 5th, 2010 at 16:18
@colver: you cant make it rain all the time. we splashed then and now its their turn. when they are done pouring buckets of money into the cracks of their squads we will be able to pick up some players at un-inflated prices+united tax
. I just dont think that we need to spend 150m on players. would it be nice… sure but half would flop and would be wasted with our own youngsters not getting chances.
I think there are a couple more arrivals on the way anyway.
July 5th, 2010 at 16:20
@EduardoDaVinci4: that is pretty funny
but after you do he scores a couple beauts in the WC
July 5th, 2010 at 16:21
WC world cup not the toilet in europe
July 5th, 2010 at 17:12
@Stephen: Agreed. And then sack the manager when Mourinho is good and ready to come. I eventually want Fergie sacked because he has to pay for his crimes. A great manager and right now he is doing his best managing job because he has less to work with. But once the Glazer’s are gone, the new owners need to make a statement and they need to appease many fans who have seen Ferguson for what he is right now, a cold faced traitor. Sack his candy ass.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:16
@Stephen: Go take a look at what Capello delivered in his previous jobs. England was a no win situation for any manager who hasn’t got the guts to do the unthinkable and that’s get rid of Terry, Gerrard and Lampard. That triad is the cancer and problem with England much more so than just their lack of talent. England used to own the European Cup with inferiorly talented teams than their opponents in Europe. They won those trophies by outworking, out hustling and just being a physical menace. England have to go back to playing English football so that they have their own distinctive edge and advantage. Conforming to the rest when the players aren’t good enough is a recipe for failure. Right now Capello has to conjure up Brian Clough and Peter Taylor in a seance and tap on his rules and strategies to success.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:27
@Redrich: Like i said to others, look back at Capello’s resume. Forget the England job because that isn’t even a club job. As a club manager Capello is as close an equal to Fergie in every way that you will find. He has won 8 league crowns with four different teams and 14 trophies all together in a shorter period of time than Fergie. He has succeeded at Milan, Madrid, Juventus and Roma and has proven his worth. Coming to England was a real test for him because of the cultural and language differences but he did well up to the World Cup despite the cancer that was eating away at his team. Now let him get rid of that cancer and judge him over the next two years before we completely write him off. I have no doubt the man knows what he is doing but he needs a receptive audience and dedicated players in order to do it, not a bunch of selfish primadonas.
And as for Algeria, big deal. West Germany lost to them in 1982 and ended up in the final. That Algerian team in no way was as good or as developed as the team today. There is much more parity in football today than there ever was. Nobody can be under appreciated or taken lightly. Just ask New Zealand.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:31
@rooney_thebestest: Again I ask people to carefully read what I write. I want Fergie gone but not until the Glazer’s are gone and that new ownership with deep pockets arrives. It would be a big mistake to let him go before that. But he will continue to receive my wrath nevertheless, not because he is a bad coach but because he is a bad person and a traitor.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:34
@Stephen: That’s why Glazer’s have to go first. This however does not absolve Fergie from his complicity in this conspiracy to extort money and destroy Man Utd from within. He is standing by and letting it happen and is in fact encouraging it. That’s treason in my books.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:34
@Grognard: Sack on what grounds? You have a crusade against him and desperatly want Mourinho as our manager? You cannot sack him on the teams performance as they are punching above theirn weight.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:54
@Grognard: Nonsense, Capello is an international manager now and you can throw all the club stats out the window.
Again, I will make my case, – a manager is responsible for getting the most out the resources he has at hand. We can all agree that England badly under-performed (not beating the US and especially not beating Algeria) and the manager must hold the ball for that.
He has kept his job because it saves a lot of embarrassment for the clowns who run the FA. Giving him an extension to his contract right before a major tournament is asinine and to fire him now would expose them all for the idiots that they are.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:55
Spending 100 million or 50 million on buying players is going to improve the look and play of the team but it will not do anything for helping and improving the overall problem with the team which is the debt and it’s ownership. The on field product is not the major concern. My beef with Fergie is not about the on field product. Yes I wish he would stop lying about lack of value in the market and fess up but overall, it’s the financial woes of the team that concern me and whether this team is headed for Pompey land in a year or two. Too many of you are only concerned with wins and goals and aren’t looking at the big picture. You refer to Gill as a snake but let Fergie off without a criticism and for me that’s just infuriating. Can any of you not see that Fergie is as complicit and as dirty as Gill in all this? It’s the old wag the dog theory.
Fergie and Gill are both lap dogs for the Glazer’s and the fact that so few of you seem to mind or grasp this is absolutely shocking and mind boggling. You all have the mentality of junkies. Just get me wins and goals and new players and I could care less about any of that. I need my goals and wins and new player. Get them for me now. Why aren’t you getting me them I need my fix blah blah blah blah blah. I could give a rats ass right now about whether we have the money to buy Ozil, Benzema, Neuer, Kjaer, or bloody fucking Kaiser Wilhelm. That’s not the point. The point is whether this team will be solvent in three years or whether this team will be completely bankrupt and broken into small pieces because the damage the Glazer’s left before they fucked off was too great for any investors to come in and want to fix.
Some of you have brains swimming in shit if you think billionaires made their money by investing in a football team that at the end of the day makes money but all of it is eaten up in a massive debt. GHow many billionaires do you know who would buy a team for 1.5 billion pound plus and then also take on a 1 billion pound debt. If the Red Knight’s who have done the unusual and pooled a lot of money together can’t do it, I doubt anyone can. Perhaps some Arab with an ego might decide that it’s worth the risk, but the truth is that even though United makes a lot of money, at the end of the day the profit in a debt free environment is rather small after you take into account all the expenses the club has to pay out to and the operation of the club.
Read Soccernomics and you will find out that the money the most successful clubs in all of football make is relatively a drop in the ocean compared to serious money making ventures going on around the world. Goldman Sachs make what United make all season in a few hours. Football despite what many think is not a viable investment. It’s a lose lose scenario and only people looking to stroke their ego or looking for a tax shelter buy into it. So lets stop all this fantasizing about players. I could care less at this point. I’m just worried the team i have loved most of my life will cease to exist within five years or will enter the Twilight Zone of mediocrity and despair.
I’d also like to add something Bobby McMahon a football pundit on America’s Fox Soccer Channel said yesterday. “Enough with all these bloggers online linking every bloody player with Manchester United. Don’t you think United need to show they are capable of spending cash before every player worth anything is linked with them?” Well said Bobby. This blogger crazed environment where news is not reported but fabricated has turned all of us into willing pawns and addicts for fantasy. It’s time we all woke the fuck up and had a heaping hot cup of reality.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:57
@Stephen: On the grounds that by repeating the bullshit about “being not value in the market” he has turned into a shopkeeper rather than a football manager.
July 5th, 2010 at 17:57
@Stephen: On what grounds?
You have got to be kidding me right? I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer mate because i would just be repeating myself for the umpteenth time. Seriously people, start reading what the Hell I am saying rather than just the first fucking sentence in posts. 
July 5th, 2010 at 18:02
@Grognard: You cannot sack him for performances, you had developed a hatered for the manager and that is your problem not ours.@frankie: What a load of bollox, how can you sack a manager for moaning about value jeeez
July 5th, 2010 at 18:20
@Redrich: First off mate, I respect your views greatly even if I don’t always agree with them. That is why I take a minor offense to my comments coming across as nonsense. I never ever speak nonsense mate. I have given very valid and well thought out answers and I have backed them up with proof that validates my point. You have also brought up very valid concerns and points which makes for a strong debate. Although I disagree with your points up to a point, I do not think of them as nonsense. What is nonsense is dismissing a man’s entire coaching history for the mistakes he has most recently made in a non club oriented environment. He is dealing with selfish, egotistical primadonas who do not get paid to perform for their country. Try motivating volunteers some day mate. You will see they are a different animal than employees at work. A threat of getting the sack or a reduction in pay or duties and position can motivate people really well. On a national team you have stars who all want to be the main go to guy. Not for goals but for leadership. Unless a manager understands that this is an entirely different atmosphere and environment, he will fail. Club rules and expectations go out the window in this world. That is why there is a long list of great club managers who have failed with national teams and vice versa. Some deal with it better than with club teams, Klinsmann being a perfect example.
Capello’s big mistake was assuming that these veteran players would act and react like mature adults and that they would put their ass on the line for their country. Obviously Capello did not know John Terry well enough. Obviously Domenech didn’t know Anelka and Evra well enough. Tactically Capello went with what he felt was the best formations and players based on the talent he had available to him. It’s not his fault that on the field these high priced ass wipes couldn’t string three passes together to save their lives. Tactically he wasn’t wrong. Where he was wrong was in trusting veteran English players to be professional to play with passion and pride. Domenech too was saddled with the same problem. I think his tactical mistakes were far greater though than Capello’s. And lets remember that although England got smoked by Germany, they did at least create chances and did score 2 goals even though one was disallowed. Argentina who was considered much better than England totally got destroyed by Germany. So from that point of view, England wasn’t as bad as we may think. They just had a lot of factors that came to the forefront all at once. Fatigue, injuries, bad attitudes, revolution and cancerous cells within the tea that tried to usurp power. To his strength, Capello squashed the coup unlike his French opposite number.
I think Capello needs a chance to prove what he can do with a younger squad. A squad without trouble makers and players who feel they earned without working for it. As for offering him a contract before the tournament, that isn’t as stupid a concept as you may think. Why? Consider the case of Joachim Loew. He is presently out of contract. He can walk after the tournament is over or demand major money, especially if Germany win the World Cup. I think if Germany was smart they would have offered him a contract before the tournament if they had faith in him. His record shows that they should have. Now they risk losing one of the best in the business. Capello’s record for England going into the WC was exemplary. A lot of wins and only a few setbacks. Overall, he did much better than any of his predecessors. So offering a vote of confidence and securing his tenure for years to come seemed like a good idea at the time. It seems like a bad idea to you because as an Englishman you are used to failure after failure at that position and so you have put up a negative shield against such actions due to all those failures of managers past. Now seriously mate, I don’t think what I am saying is nonsense. IUt may be counter to your thoughts but I do think they are well thought out and plausible.
July 5th, 2010 at 18:23
@frankie: Also by constantly going public with his support of the Glazer’s while discounting and putting down the concerns of the green and gold supporters as well as the Red Knights. He has spit in the face of all the fans who care about what is going on by making light of their concerns. By allying himself with those sharks ha has made his bed and he can lay in it. Judgement day is coming.
July 5th, 2010 at 18:28
@Stephen: No your thinking is bollocks mate. I am not knocking his performance. I am knocking his values and his morals and his loyalty. Something you seem to know shit about. For fans like you it’s steer the ship forward at night and hope it doesn’t hit an ice berg. All you are concerned with is your yearly fix of football and wins and to Hell if one day it all comes crashing down. I guess you haven’t been reading the financial reports or the news of late. United is in dire straits. And Fergie is in bed with those who are responsible for it. That matters not to you? Fine, but do not come back to me and make light of my concerns and call my valid comments and complaints bollocks just because you have your head in the clouds. And i am being kind and respectful here mate, believe me. His performance as manager has been outstanding considering the age of his club and the lack of money given to him to buy new players as well as his unwillingness to fresh up and improve this club. That’s not the issue. But for blind as a bat fans that is all that matters. On field performance. To Hell if Rome burns around you eh! Unfuckingbelievable!
July 5th, 2010 at 19:47
@Grognard: For fans like me?? What locals who have given up season tickets as a boycott against those fucking Yanks?? By the way mate what have you done? What have you done as “Rome Burns?” What meeetings or sacrifices have you made or been to?
So you are saying that it is Fergies fault that the Glazers are running the club into the ground?
I cannot condone Fergie backing the Glazers, but demanding that they sack him is a contradiction and is sorry laughable.
Your personal favorite Mourinho played puppet very well to the rubbles didn’t he? He said he always wanted to sign him ect oh yes he was sacked by Chelsea for playing boring football mate, he didn’t walk and the Russian was getting involved with team matters Mourinho sold his soul certainly for the money, which he always does.
Sorry mate you are talking bollox, blaming Fergie for the ownership is a joke you are using your Fergie hate or Mourinho obession to suit your argument, as I say I think Fergie should have pleaded the fifth and not said anything about those cunts, but no other manager would have, and no other manager would have got what he has out of that playing staff.
July 5th, 2010 at 19:49
Grognard I think Capello’s tactics were at fault as well. He seemed to have no idea how to pick up Ozil and basically allowed him a free role. With two slow central defenders we needed to play a 4-5-1 so that Barry could pick up Ozil.
Even with a 4-4-2 he should have instructed Barry to hold but instead Barry bombed forward with Lampard leaving us exposed on the break.
Maybe it is a case of the players completely ignoring his instructions-and I have a suspicion that is part of it. But the players obviously weren’t mentally or tactically prepared for the game and Capello has to take a share of the blame for that.
I know the excuse all the England managers trot out is that England players are only able to play a 4-4-2 but that is nonsense. Capello never had a plan B for the better sides and stuck rigidly to the tired looking 4-4-2 which may have washed in qualification against average sides but wasn’t going to cut it in the World Cup.
Similarly why was he playing Gerrard on the left after his performance in the centre in the USA game?
And why was he selecting unfit players and leaving behind players like Adam Johnson, Sol Campbell and Theo Walcott?
His club record is impressive but international level is a whole different ball game and his lack of experience at this level was painfully obvious.
And his headmaster act may work at club level where players have a lot more freedom anyway but obviously demoralised the England players who were cooped up all summer with Capello which must have been hell.
July 5th, 2010 at 20:00
As Neville pointed out it is unrealistic to expect a new first XI come September. It will take time to purge the squad of the big names. For example my dream would be for Capello to drop Terry permanently. But who do you play in his place? Rio is out till God knows when. Upson and Dawson are crap. King and Brown are always injured. Rodwell is more of a midfielder. Smalling has barely played a game. It is not that easy.
Definitely I would hope he gives our midfield a make-over and drops the Heskey experiment and play Rooney on his own upfront.
Id like to see this midfield:
Milner, Gerrard, Rodwell/Hargreaves, Wilshere, Adam Johnson
July 5th, 2010 at 20:48
@colver: Cahill or Dawson are a step up from Terry.
If we’re playing a 451/433 or 4231 for England, they should go with this for the next game.
Hart
Johnson Cahill Ferdinand Cole
Hargreaves Rodwell
Walcott Gerrard A.Johsnon
Rooney
I never want to see Lampard, Heskey, Terry or Green in an England shirt ever again. James and Beckham either, but that’s on age they are/will be by 2012 rather than ability.
July 5th, 2010 at 21:07
@Traverse: I still want Carrick to be given a proper chance to express himself.He is the kind of player who are much required at Country level than likes of Lampard.Look at Spain.They prefer Alonso over Fab.And Carrick is a similar player to him.Play Carrick with Hargo as Senna and Alonso.Gerrard to be used as Xavi with Rooney upfront like Villa.These are possible.But what England will need then to have some decent players to play the role of Silva and Iniesta on left and right side of Rooney.And here Capello should try his best to develop Johnson and Walcott close to that level.
July 6th, 2010 at 0:02
@Owen: Carrick of 07-09 yeah, but Carrick 2010 has been terrible. If he recovers this season then yeah. I’m all for it.
July 6th, 2010 at 0:38
The Mirror are talking about us being interested in Sneijder. Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it.
July 6th, 2010 at 0:41
@Grognard: So you wouldn’t hold a manager responsible for an under-performing team?? You would give them another chance, to repeat their follies again and again?? You would give then a contract extension before they prove they are worthy of it?? You would stubbornly stick to a formation that was not working??
I repeat, your argument makes no sense!!
July 6th, 2010 at 0:48
@Red Ranter: I did see that – but was biting my lip until we saw confirmation from a better source!!
We can but dream!!
July 6th, 2010 at 1:00
@Redrich: The Sun is also carrying the story—they claim his value is 35m, while Mirror claims it’s 25m. If pigs had wings…
July 6th, 2010 at 1:04
@Red Ranter: I personally don’t see any value in it!!
July 6th, 2010 at 6:08
@Stephen: I’m not a season ticket holder mate but I did donate $250.00 Canadian to MUST to help them with their Anti-Glazer drive. I also pledged $1000.00 as an investor to them if the Red Knights were successful in a takeover as they did say they would be welcome to selling shares in the team. I was willing to put in what I can afford. What can I say, I’m trying.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:19
@Stephen: I am not using anything to suit anything mate. Your accusations are worthless and untrue. I hate Fergie, yes it’s true, but I used to love the man. I feel completely let down by him and even more so betrayed. If you don’t that’s your own cross to bare, so stop stabbing me with it in the back. Yes I do want Mourinho as manager but not while the Glazer’s are owning the team. What’s the point of that. He’d have no more success than Fergie with his hands tied behind his back. The only difference is he’d tell the owners off for it rather than kiss their putrid asses. Have you ever sat down and just asked yourself why Fergie is not supporting a takeover bid against an ownership that is in such personal financial shambles that for them to continue with our team is similar to the end product the Titanic? Seriously, stop lashing out at me mate for having the eyes ears and common sense to see and smell a shitty situation when it’s presented.
I have a great deal of respect for you and your views on football but on this you clearly are missing the boat and getting quite nasty with me. I’ll let it pass because I do like you and because I know you are a solid bloke with a all the right motives. Lets just say your accusations towards me are wrong and unfounded although I could understand why you might think that way. Again what really pisses me off with you and others is that i have on numerous occasion complimented Fergie on his managerial work, professed many times that to can him right now would be catastrophic and that unless their is a change in ownership, no new manager should ever replace Fergie. You and others seem to always forget that when you throw your unfound accusations at me. Frankly mate, it’s not fair.
I am deeply disappointed in the whole situation and my number one and only concern is not the team winning this year or next but the overall future of the club. As long as the Glazer’s are in power and continue to get the benefit of the doubt from the gaffer the club will continue getting deeper and deeper in debt until one day our whole house of cards comes crashing down on all of us. I’ve had enough years working for government and big business to know exactly what I am talking about. The Glazer’s are complete scum and criminals of the first order. Anybody that sides with them ids therefore scum too. END OF.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:21
@colver: Barry had no chance of picking up Ozil in any formation because he couldn’t keep up with him. The tactics were at fault but more so, the lack of talent and pace was most to blame.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:25
@colver: Too much caution on your part. Hell yes I would try Smalling. Did Loew think twice about the inexperience of Mueller, Ozil, Badstuber, Boateng, Marin, Kroos, Khedira etc? No he just said it’s their time and they willlearn. You have to have the courage to throw a few friendlies into the trasher. Expect bad losses. Klinsmann’s first few months were embarrassing but he was implementing a new way of thinking that would take time and look at that system now, it has made Germany, vibrant, faster, fitter and just plain awesome. The only way young players will be ready to play for England is to blood them now. Play them. Enough with Terry and the cancer crusaders who have destroyed the English team and it’s reputation. I’d rather take my chances with young and hungry kids who are eager to impress.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:30
@Red Ranter: You live in the States mate so you know Booby McMahon on Fox Soccer Channel. Yesterday he pleaded with fans to stop paying attention to all the bloggers who have the obsession to link every player in the world with Manchester United well before United has shown any capability to actually spend any money. Bottom line is he knows a lot more than a lot of us know about the situation. I stopped paying attention to the links late last year after the Ronaldo money disappointment. I no longer believe or have faith in anything United management do. They are dead to me.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:34
@Redrich: All I’m saying mate is I am interested in seeing how Capello deals with this failure and how he purges the team of the cancer elements. I personally would like to give him some time to prove critics like you wrong based on the man’s past history and his recent history with England before the World Cup. He could come up shite but I’d be willing to give him some time because I am not so confident there are too many qualified names out there who would be interested in the position. I think Capello is doubly motivated because his present players embarrassed him and shamed him and i think he is bringing out Madame au Guillotine. I want to see his Stalin style purge as I think it will be fun. If there isn’t one then I say sack the MOFO.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:37
@Red Ranter: And what was I saying this time last year? Why is Fergie not asking Madrid to throw Scheijder in the deal for Ronaldo as he was a cheap bargain bench warmer then. Yet again proof that I’m awake and Fergie has his head firmly screwed up Glazer’s ass.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:37
@Redrich:
July 6th, 2010 at 6:41
@Grognard: yeah, I don’t pay heed to rumours. I never have even in our peak days unless there were direct quotes from important people. Which is why you usually won’t see me link to those stories on the main posts. I don’t believe the BS served up in the press easily.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:11
Frankly, I am sick of the “Sack SAF” and “SAF is a lying whatever brigade”. Yes, we do NOT have money, times are hard – get used to it. What do you expect him to do – shout from the rooftops – “Look we do not have money and hence there wont be any fresh signings?” So that the world can laugh at us? Resign as a mark of protest against the Glazers? How would that help, unless you get Santa Claus as the new gaffer? And just in case, we do have some money, do you expect him to publicise that so that every mercenary agent and his aunt can rob us? We DO have a large, and by and large, very competent squad. The only thing you can accuse SAF of, is being patient with his players and not having a knee jerk reaction with the likes of Berba, Carrick, Ando and Park. You can say tht he is wrong there, but remember a certain Darren Fletcher? John O’Shea? All of you were saying “Park is not United quality” for years, till he shut you up with those performances against Milan and Liverpool. Mind you, he could still be wrong w.r.t Berba/Carrick/Ando and a host of others, but ffs, let him run his course! So, BELIEVE, and always remember – it could be worse, we could be scouse!!!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:21
@Jeet: I am not a fan of the sack Fergie brigade, but I can see there’s a lot of bad in the squad. I think Carrick has regressed. Anderson is not a world-beater IMO. And Darren Fletcher is a good player, but you are not going to win the league by building your side around Fletcher, as much as I like him. And John O’Shea? What about him? He’s a great squad player. But we aren’t talking about squad players.
And Berbatov? He has had two seasons. I’ve been patient with him for two seasons. If I am underwhelmed after two seasons, it’s not knee-jerk. I have seen enough to understand that we haven’t fit him or he isn’t meant for us.
Ferdinand and Vidic have been injury-prone. Although I think Evans and Smalling could potentially do a job. EVDS is 40, and we have pinned our hopes on Kuszczak to become the next Schmeichel/EVDS. (I’ll bet £50 that he’s not.)
So yes, there is enough evidence for people to be concerned about the state of our squad.
Saying “Believe” and “it could be worse we could be scouse” is rhetoric. Not a rational answer to those questions.
I understand regarding your stance on Ferguson, but saying our squad is good is just well, based on faith and hope. Which isn’t good enough for a rational debate.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:43
@Jeet: I could care less about the signings. I’m shouting on top of the rooftop over the fact this club is headed for a major disaster due to irresponsible and callous ownership and a debt that is spiralling way out of control and may actually make the team impossible to sell before long. I could give a fuck about transfers and Fergie’s player value BS. I care more about his lies, dishonesty and most of all, his allegiance and loyalty towards a family of snakes and thieves. And the fact you and many others aren’t and don’t get that is the most disturbing trend of all. I would lump many in the Blind as Bat Brigade or Daft as Twit Brigade because they continue to act like clueless Pavlovian dogs who are just waiting and salivating for a quick fix.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:48
@Red Ranter: Again though mate, why aren’t more showing great concern about the team’s long term future and solvency as opposed to our roster problems? We need a lot of new players and we need to get rid of a few but that is just so immaterial considering the big picture problem and Fergie’s role in that. Fergie will take this current bunch and they will again threaten for the title because Fergie is a great if not frustrating and stubborn manager. He knows how to motivate and get results. But that is such a short sighted goal for all of us. I never expected Fergie to have his head so far up Glazer’s ass but then I never expected so many of our supporters having their collective heads dug so deep in the sand that they are smelling Australia. Gobsmacked!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:57
@Grognard: Firsly I am sorry if you felt that I was attacking you that is certainly not I wanted to do.
Fergie like any employee would never speak out against their employer it ould be career sucicide and Mourinho would is pure specualtion and something he has never done in the past, even at Chelsea Abramovich was meddling in team affairs, Shevchenko, Ballack and Avram Grant were all brought in without he say so and what did he do, nothing.
The issues with Fergie for me are his spin on the side is good enough when clearly it is not, this for me is two folded, he has no money to spend which we all know but all it is good man management give the players beleif that they are.
Talking about “value” in the market is bollox and we all know that but the guy who said he should be sacked over that statement is simply embarrassing.
Fergie has sided with the fucking Yanks is a bitter pill to swallow, and something that I hate more than anything, but I m trying to play Devils Advocate, he does not want to upset the apple cart as he is one title away from his lifes work of nineteen. Yes he is being selfish and yes it is a slap in the face for the fan in the street but he has delievered a lot to the club and he probably feels he deserves to be.
But calling him “scum” is going well over bored, he has been loyal to the the club, unlike Mourinho who is a locust takes what he wants, the trophies the money and moves to another Country and so on, who has he been loyal to bar his wallet?
July 6th, 2010 at 9:02
Now Fergie wants to sign Sneijder for 25 millions.This player was available for 15 millions and Fergie was busy finding value in the market.
Now he is 90% sure to win the FIFA Player of the Year Award.No way Fergie can get him now for 25 million.Also if some how Rafa decides to sell him for that amount only,then from where Fergie will generate the money.By selling Rooney?
July 6th, 2010 at 9:24
@Owen: Again Sneijder is talk more tabloid rubbish, it is unsubstantiated so no real point creating an argument over. I still do not think a single player will be signed between now and August the first, sad but true.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:30
@Stephen: I think Fergie will some how get Benzema and will sell Berbatov if Munich offers 20 million.
Fergie should atleast swap Anderson with Raul Meirless.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:32
I contacted Rory Smith of the Telegraph, who wrote this article on Sneijder in the Telegraph, regarding his sources. He said the story has merit in that there is ‘interest’ within the United hierarchy. But it all depends on a million factors namely: 1. Sneijder himself—who has the world cup on his mind right now; 2. Rafa Benitez—who might want to speak with him on his plans for the squad; 3. Fergie’s willingness to go for the bid.
I told the journalist that I remain cynical about it, and that we are skint. He said he doesn’t believe we have all the Ronaldo money but thinks that there may be enough to make one marquee signing this summer.
I wouldn’t hold my hopes up, because well, I’d rather see it for myself first.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:38
@Red Ranter: It may also be that Fergie thinks Smalling as a marquee signing.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:40
love united hate Glazer, rant about the millions in intrest we now pay, the millions he takes from our club in consultancy fees.
If we had a 200 million transfer kitty and Fergie could buy big name stars would you think he was the man to lead us to more glory?
Do you think the club would go in to shock if he called Glazer a thief and was sacked?
Do you think we would drop down the league with Mick Phealen as care taker while Glazer got us some cheap mexiacan labour as manager?
Who is stealing our money Glazer or Fergie?
Who is our biggest problem Glazer or fergie?
Out of all of you over seas reds who has joined MUST?
Who has replied to pertisions and press survays to back any campaigne to get Glazer out?
Those that can say no to my last 2 questions should step away from the key board and NEVER say they love this club
LUHG
July 6th, 2010 at 9:43
@Red Ranter:
To be fair he would hardly tell you he made it up while ion his way to the office that morning
July 6th, 2010 at 9:43
@Owen: I can’t see it, we should sell Anderson, Berba, Carrick, Possebon, Diouf and Obertan I am not a big fan of Meirless but lets see.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:44
@Red Ranter: I am sure he is backing his own story……
July 6th, 2010 at 9:48
@Stephen: Which is true. But it’s carried across several outlets. If this was purely in the Mirror or the Sun I wouldn’t have paid much heed. It’s on the Telegraph which is why I happened to contact him. As I said, there’s nothing in the story to say we’re going to sign him. So it’s anyway as good as a no-story. I just wanted to hear it from him, and share it with you folk.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:58
@Red Ranter: Thanks for that and if it happens I will run naked around the Trafford Centre with glee, he would be ideal and would get me as excited as I was when we announced he were signing Veron, obviously he did not work out but at the time he was a dream.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:16
@Red Ranter and Grognard: To an extent, I agree with you.
1. I agree that our club is being pushed to a dangerous brink. In fact, Grognard, its not that I don’t get it, I think we are already there. We are already too large to be sold, the Glazers don’t want to sell, and whoever is going to buy is not likely to be much better – they would have very similar financial interests at heart. So, IMO, the only option is to make lemonade and hope to keep winning with what we have. personally, I think SAF is doing exactly what is right – maintain a solid front in public, and make the best of what scarce resources he has available to him. He is being loyal to Utd, Glazer or no Glazer, in this moment of crisis and is thinking ten years ahead, not just for next season.
2. Yes, the squad could do with improvement. IMO, we could do well to get rid of Berba and Carrick. But, remember that we have been proved wrong many times before. And I do believe that Ando has it in him. Just look at Nani. The pt. is that for every Veron and Kleberson, there is a Fletcher and a Nani. So, maybe we should just hold on a little longer. lastly, football is a team game. Even with the monstrous injuries we had last summer, we were done out of the PL title by dodgy decisions, and a potential CL final, by a moment of madness by an inexperienced, but supremely talented 19 year old RB.(and a wonder strike by Robben). While I agree that the squad can do with improveents, I believe that we will stillput up a jolly good fight with what we have, because we are a team, not a collection of random big names thrown together. If it had been otherwise, madrid and City would be winning everything.
Bottomline, yes there is cause for concern. City will get stronger, Spurs looks good and Bayern, Madrid and Barca are going to be very tough nuts to crack. But do you think we won’t be up for the fight? 100% we will. Do you think that given the current situation, SAF could have done better? Maybe, but only in terms of offloading a few players. But that’s judgement. In terms of his public line, I think he is doing exactly what he should – sticking it out with grace under pressure and planning way, way ahead than what us fans can envision. To call for his head, or heap abuse on him is nothing short of lunacy, if not treason.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:31
@Jeet:
great post
July 6th, 2010 at 10:33
If we are willing to pay £30 million for a 27 year old Berbatov then Sneijder for £35 million is a steal. (Although like Red Ranter I highly doubt we have the money)
My only reservations are
1) We usually get burnt when we spend big money on players in their so-called prime….Veron, Berbatov etc. It has always been the United way to buy players in the 22-25 range and turn them into stars.
2) I have doubts about his longevity. If I remember correctly part of the reason he got turfed out of Real Madrid was that he was very injury prone.
3) At his age his resale value is going to be limited and I dont see him spending the rest of his career at Old Trafford. With our financial problems we need to turn into a selling club, buying players when their price is low and selling them when their price is high. For that reason Id prefer to sign someone like Ozil or Gourcuff.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:39
@Jeet:
1>Believe it.Anderson has nothing in him.He is even worse than Djemba2.
2>City have already become very good and have spend brilliantly this time.
Silva and Toure can find place in any side .They are so good.
3>Rooney,Evra,Vida,Fletcher are only 4 players who can play for real MANCHESTER UNITED side.
4>The worst thing happened to this club is that we have to google it for a player who has signed for MANCHESTER UNITED.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:46
@colver: If we sign Sneijder ,then i think it will happen for the first time in our history that we will sign WPOTY.
Do you really think that WPOTY will be available for 25 million when he has 4 years left of his contract and Mourinho also wants him.
On what basis he has been valued at 25 million?Even players like Djeko,Milner,Johnson have higher price than him.If Milner is valued at 30 million,then Sneijder will cost 60 million.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:55
@Owen: I hadn’t heard of Solskjær, Kanchelskis ect in the past, we rarely sign established players and bring youth through.
Toure for £200k a week is a joke and nobody can safely say that Silva will take to the rough and tough of the Premiership.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:02
@Stephen: We will see how many of Diouf,Obertan,Fabio,Smalling turns into Solskjær, Kanchelskis.
We have already seen how this club has treated Tosic,Llajic,Pique,Rossi.These were also young ones and better than a lot we have now.But we set an example how badly you can treat young players in case of Tosic and Llajic.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:10
@Owen: So do all clubs treat players well? Pique and Rossi were treated well, Pique was allowed to move on the cheap to Barca as was Rossi how were they badly treated?
Tosic and Llajic were disasters but obviously were not up to it, how many other players fail at Arsenal, Real or Barca lots.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:47
@Stephen: Mate ,does not Tosic deserved a single game instead of Giggs last season who did nothing at all?
Barca prefers Pedro,Sergio over Henry,Toure but we never played De Laet and instead preferred Carrick to play CB.How can it be a good treatment to Young ones?
July 6th, 2010 at 11:53
I think Inter would listen to offers because Rafa will want a big transfer budget to build his own team of Spaniards. But I agree it would be amazing if they sold for less than £50 million.
Anyway Im a realist. I dont require us to buy world player of the year. I just want us to buy players who can improve our squad. And our midfield in particular is so crap that even with our financial problems we should be able to raise £20 million or so to buy a quality midfielder. It doesn’t have to be Sneijder. Just a player a lot better than Carrick and Anderson and Gibson. And lets face it there are at least 50 midfielders who fit that description.
Tosic and Ljajic were disasters I agree. At least we didnt lose any money on them.
With Rossi it was unfortunate that at the time we had Ruud, Rooney and Saha all ahead of him in the pecking order. Definitely we should have sold him for a lot more money. Also I dont think he was really suited to the Premiership anyway.
With Pique Fergie made a bad call that Evans was the brighter prospect and at the time Rio and Vidic were playing all the games. We weren’t to know how injury prone Rio and Vidic would become and if Pique had stayed another year Im sure he would have had a lot more opportunities.
Again we sold him WAY too cheap. He is now worth at least £20 million. And with Vidic considering a move away, Rio on his last legs, and Evans looking shaky Pique is definitely the one who got away.
If anything we were too good to these players. We couldn’t offer them first team spots so we let them develop their careers elsewhere. Like most young ambitious players they want to play every week. And at the time there wasn’t a spot for them.
Now if we had sold Rossi for £10 million and Pique for £15 million then that money would be very useful right now.
The truth is that for a long time we have mismanaged our finances.
Imagine we never bought Berbatov and Anderson…..=£45 million
Imagine we sold Pique and Rossi for their true value = £25 million
Imagine we never bought Diouf, Obertan etc = £5 million
That would give us £75 million which we could have spent on a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a striker……and we would have a great chance of winning trophies again
July 6th, 2010 at 12:03
@colver: Imagine we never bought Ronaldo and sold him = 70 million loss
so Net Profit = 75 -70 million = 5 million.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:11
@Owen: Sorry so we never promote youth are you saying?
How do you know Tosic would have been better than Giggs? I agree we should have played specialisist centre half against Fulham which turned into a mistake, but we bring more young players through than 90% of sides also we don’t know if they were ready, you can kill young players if they are not ready, and they hardly did themselves any favours against Leeds did they?
July 6th, 2010 at 12:41
@Red Ranter: I don’t doubt we are interested in Snjeider. He is too expensive, and not for sale. It’s exactly the sort of top name we’ll go after, not get, and then say ‘look, we have the money, he just wasn’t for sale’. Same with David Villa.
Saw this coming a mile off.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:52
@Stephen: For one, he can run and two he was banging the goals in in the reserves and then out on loan.
July 6th, 2010 at 13:46
ferguson is probably just trying to get the most out of scholes, giggs, neville etc until they finally retire. altho it is about time they call it a day, they can still do a job and are 3 more players on the wage bill and do not need replacing until they do actually retire (hopefully after this season). fergy is probably resisting buying (saving) until this day comes and then it will be time to invest big and wisely.
July 6th, 2010 at 13:52
@Traverse: So he has scored goals in the reserves means he can score in the Premiership and Champions league?
July 6th, 2010 at 14:33
@Traverse: I have to say if and this is a big if the Snjeider deal does happen how is that “value”?
He sold as Owen said last summer for £13m, and if we made a demand he msut be included in the Ronaldo deal he could have been less, how is now £25m so called value.
Yhe only reason I can see him sold is if they need to money for Mascherano, it would be typical of the FSW to dismantel an already winning side for his wown ego.
July 6th, 2010 at 15:02
@Stephen: Then what one has to do in the reserves to get a chance in PL?What Scholses ,Giggs and Beckham did in the reserves?Why they were given a run in the PL?
So to say that scoring goals in the reserves does not guarantee a chance in PL is just a very very poor excuse to Protect Fergie.Fergie did his best to destroy Tosic.
July 6th, 2010 at 15:17
@Owen: They all pretty much made their debuts in the Champions League victory over Galatasaray, a lot of our youth now play in Carling Cup matches also.
I am not protecting Fergie at all, I am saying he made poor judgement firstly paying the money he did and secondly not playing him, but scoring in the reserves does not mean they are going to score in the league.
The reserve league now is so sub standard not like it was 15 years ago, a player to make it needs either to go on loan, have a chance in the first team an to impress or have a good Fa or Carling Cup run.
Fergie did his best to destroy Tosic? How what by not playing him, hardly destroying him is it? Then he went on loan and was sold, Tosic is now probably a millionaire now due to his fleeting time with us, wish my career was destroyed in the same vain.
July 6th, 2010 at 15:20
jeets post was spot on, there might be nothing worse than ferguson opposing the glaziers, it would cause massive unrest at united, especially on the media front. They would have a field day fabricating stories about the impending demise of the greatest club in england and the feuding management and owners, anything to dethrone us from our pedestal. This mass hysteria is something that is unncessary and can be avoided by ferguson simply doing what he does best? continuing to nurture talent and being the most successful manager on the planet. He doesn’t want to jeapordise his position at the club that he calls home and that he has shaped for the past 20 odd years, he does not want a sour end to his tenure, and especially to some capitalistic american tossers.
ferguson might not be totally sincere by appearing supportive of the glaziers, but theres no guarentee this opinion is genuine either, he might simply be making light of a bad situation with the fans and the clubs interest at heart. to suggest he doesnt have the intelligence to look at the bigger picture? he’ll be looking at the bigger picture of the bigger picture and realising it could be extremely detrimental, niaive, even impossible to publicly go up against the owners that dont appear to be going anywhere.
The situation might be far from ideal but we don’t know the precise ins and outs of whats going on, the glaziers and everything that they stand for is cancerous but they have made it through the recession maybe good times can come into fruition? maybe not but that might be part of the bigger picture.
i wouldn’t be so quick to condemn a manager that has won 3 leagues in the last 4 seasons and a champions league, with the glaziers at the helm, limited resources, and the fans continuously questioning your ability to still manage. at least we dont have to spend £200 million every year in our quest for success.
and on another note, benitez is hardly going to inherit and demise a trebble winning team by selling his best player to his most rivalled/hated team back in the premiership. we sure could do with some creative impetus in midfield tho, i think james milner could really grow into a great player under the management and guidance of ferguson and in a team like us. he might be over rated but you’d be a fool to suggest he doesnt have the potential.
July 6th, 2010 at 15:22
Owen, considering that we have received NONE of the Ronaldo money it is as though we never bought him. With the £75 million profit we made on the Ronaldo deal that should have financed three new players to help the rebuilding process. That is why everyone hates the Glazers and I sympathise completely with Grognard for criticising Fergie for staying in bed with them.
Fergie seems to have this dream of walking off into the sunset in a blaze of glory. More likely he will leave for health reasons having overseen us fall out of the top four and see Manchester City eclipse us. If ANYONE is in the position to make demands of the Glazers it is Fergie. He has tenure and the Glazers cannot risk sacking him. And even if they did Fergie would go down as a martyr.
I am convinced Sneider is a decoy.
Fergie’s new tactic is to tell the fans we are bidding for Villa, Sneijder and then predictably when quoted a £50 million fee or gazumped by Barcelona he can say “Oh we had the money, we made a bid, but we are not paying stupid money”
I fully understand we cannot afford the big stars. But it is ludicrous that we cannot even part with the £20 million or so it will take to buy a quality midfielder.
Oh and funniest rumour yet. Carrick on loan to Stoke City!
July 6th, 2010 at 15:52
Latest Rumor :
Man Utd will match Man City bid for Inter Milan rebel Balotelli.
July 6th, 2010 at 16:31
@Stephen: Mate what can I say, Fergie has so pissed me off because of his attitude and allegiance to the glazer’s that I have turned on him as sharply as a Cruyff turn with the ball at full speed. I am just so upset and disappointed in him you just cannot imagine. At his age he should be willing to stand up and confront his employers to basically demand answers as to what’s going on. The fact he doesn’t do that not only upsets me but makes me ask very uncomfortable questions like why not and what has he got to gain by keeping his mouth shut.
If indeed he is keeping his mouth shut because he wants nothing to upset his chance at 19 EPL titles or a third Champions League for him then I am even more pissed off and even more disappointed in him than before. Inexcusable simply because this club is quickly arriving at a crossroads where it will have to make a decision to allow the Glazer’s to continue extorting all the money the club makes without any going towards the debt or whether to ride the good ship Glazer until that fateful day we all wake up to find the Glazer crew have abandoned ship, taken all the lifeboats and let all of us stranded on the Titanic heading directly at an enormous debt ridden iceberg knowing we are going to sink with the ship.
I just believe with all my heart and soul and with every fibre in my being that the Glazer’s are riding this debt until just before D-Day when they plan on defaulting, leaving the team saddled with it and fucking off to Florida with their fortune packed away and hidden from legal grabbing hands. Meanwhile United is well over a billion in debt and no buyers in site waiting for banks to declare it bankrupt and insolvent and having the club end up like Leeds or Pompey. Our size means nothing and our revenue stream by that time will become half of what it is now because of all the fans that stood up to Glazer and all the advertisers and such that stopped using the team due to the teams slide in the standings due to no money put back into the team’s development. I can see it as clear as day. And all through this I see a man named Ferguson staying mum about it until he gains what he wanted out of the deal and then he quickly retires and leaves leaving a carcass formerly known as United behind while saying I did my best and it’s not my fault, the owners never worked with me and I had no control or input regarding the paying back of the loan and that I am disappointed and surprised the Glazer’s defaulted on the loan. I always felt they were right for the team. I see it as easily as I see my Mac screen right now while I am writing this.
July 6th, 2010 at 16:36
@Owen: See this is what I am saying. I begged him on this blog last year to sign Scheijder. Of course he doesn’t read this blog but you know what I mean. I absolutely begged him to take one or two players from Madrid in the Ronaldo deal because Madrid was having a bargain basement fire sale. But no he wouldn’t because he couldn’t or because he wouldn’t is not clear. What is clear is the man’s lack of vision and his knowledge in foreign players in order to make a valued assessment and guess on a player. Pretty sad you have to see him play your team or be highlighted at the World Cup to finally wake up to the fact he has his head up his ass. And as for his scouts, fire the lot of them. A bunch of useless old men who inform him on the latest wines around the world. Certainly not about who are the best footballers. His assessment and evaluation of talent is just awful.
July 6th, 2010 at 16:52
@Grognard: Fergie clearly lacks vision,no doubt.He has proved it by letting Pique,Rossi go.Forlan’s record has just made Fergie look like a joke. He has no idea of how to use players like Veron,Forlan,Berba,Tevez.
And today Fergie again lied that he always knew Forlan will become a hero but he always wanted to go to Spain.But Forlan has always said that he wanted to stay at Utd.
July 6th, 2010 at 16:59
@Jeet: Sorry mate but if I am in Fergie’s shoes I resign and make a loud stink because only then will the actions to save this team really come to the fold. Right now there is an uneasiness but many like yourself are left in a false sense of safety and calm because Fergie is there to steer the ship through choppy waters. Fact is what he is doing for the club right now is only a short term fix. The club can win championship after championship the next two or three seasons and it will mean fuck all at the end of the day because the ship is headed for disaster. Sorry to be using the Titanic analogy over and over but I think it is a fitting one. You see, back in 1912, the Captain of the Titanic Edward Smith claimed and boasted to all before it’s maiden cruise and during it that the ship was unsinkable. He offered all a false sense of safety and encouragement and we all know how well that went in the end.
Fergie is himself sitting back with a very great false sense of security and his reasons for that are the Glazer’s do not meddle with his business of running the team. They don’t give him any money to run the team but other than that, they are invisible and he loves this. How selfish, close minded and totally naive can one human being be? This false sense of personal security has led him to close his eyes to the reality of the situation and to react badly towards the many who see the problem for what it is. Why is this? There can only be a few answers. First, Fergie is selfishly trying to hang on to a position in order to have the chance to pad his legacy which is all that concerns him. Secondly, he is truly an idiot when it comes to the business end of running a business and has no idea just how dire things are. And finally, he stands to gain from this Glazer regime because he has gotten into bed with them by being offered a substantial some or share of the profits if he keeps mum about everything. What other explanation makes sense? That he is keeping everything working while this thing works itself out is only hopeful naive thinking from good fans wanting to believe the best in the man while all around us starts to shake and crumble.
Nothing Fergie does with the team on the field is going to matter one bit in the end because this team is headed for major disaster because the Glazer’s have absolutely no intention of fully paying off this debt and once the revenue stream begin to resemble a trickle happens they will vacate this team and default on the loan and happily fuck off back to Florida where they have dozens of malls and other ventures that are all going up in smoke around them while they still live in their cushy beach mansions while having their money securely put away in offshore banks. People need to wake the fuck up mate. And Fergie needs to start giving a damn about this clubs future and ability to survive, not whether they can win more titles to pad his legacy. It’s as clear as water at the end of the day.
July 6th, 2010 at 17:04
@Traverse: That’s exactly what they are doing. They are playing the good old fashioned bluff. Go after players that are not available, not interested in moving or who are so overpriced that they can excuse themselves after a while because their was”no value” in the asking price. Fergie must think all of us are idiots like him and are easily swayed with this kind of manipulative BS. Sadly it seems many are gullible still. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
July 6th, 2010 at 17:06
@rimi: I appreciate and respect honesty and sincerity mate. Something Fergie has not shown no matter what his reason, he has made many many mistakes in this matter and for me needs to pay the piper.
July 6th, 2010 at 17:10
@Grognard: Fergie resigns. Then what? The Glazers will hire a yes-man. And carry on like nothing happened. It won’t matter a jot to them. If it’s a sinking ship like you say it is, then it’s bound to sink no matter what.
July 6th, 2010 at 17:18
CARRICK IS A MAN UTD LEGEND
July 6th, 2010 at 17:38
Fergie also said we sold Forlan because he didn’t play that well with Ruud. Anyway hindsight is 20/20. I dont think Forlan would have developed into the player he is in a squad rotation system at Old Trafford with Ruud and Rooney ahead of him in the pecking order and Rossi coming through. Also I do not think Fergie anticipated selling Ruud as soon as he did. Or that Saha would turn into a permanent invalid.Im just pissed we didnt get a good price for him.
Anyway with Forlan still around would we have put together the Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney forward line that swept all before it in 2007/8? Doubtful.
July 6th, 2010 at 17:59
@rimi: To rimi and jeet, im sorry guys but ive said it before and ill say it again. If as we know ferguson has no cash, then he knows the club is in the shits. If he knows this as i think we all agree he does, then we have every right to know, as right now it is threatening our clubs very future.
Now im sorry, people on here will already know that right now im not a fergie fan, and i make no apologies to that. But lets just say ok i still loved the guy, i would still say it is the wrong move for him to stay quiet, and hope all our money worries will go away.
Some will say a manager needs only worry about issues on the pitch. Well im sorry this is wrong. All the issues off the pitch will directly affect matters on the pitch. We have seen that ourselves in the last 12 months with the ronaldo money being stolen when our team is in dire need of a freshening up.
So i ask you, is it better fergie keeps quiet, pretends its all ok. Afterall were only talking about £700m of debt directly on the club, and over a billion of debt on our owners. Its not big is it, its not going to affect our future is it.
Horse shit. Of course it is bloody going to affect our future, its puts our club at risk, and means there is a very real chance this club may go into liquidation in the future.
Do us fans not deserve to know our beloved club is in the shits to put it mildly. I think we bloody well do.
This club was around long before ferguson and under normal circumstances would be here long after ferguson too. It is more than a club, it is just something you associate with football. A landmark, a religion to its millions of fans.
If there is any chance at all this club we love so much can disappear completely in a few years everyone deserves to know. I ask you why should such information be made privy to just one person.
So what should he do you might ask. Well imo he should bloody well take one for the team. If as he bloody well knows the club is in such a dire finacial state then he should go on air and sing to the world like johnny cash just what that inbred family are doing to us.
And what is that going to achieve. Well we will know for sure our club is in the shits and we will do all we could to get it back.
Will the glazers sack fergie? Well they might well do. In which case the glazers shoot themselves in the foot.
The world would know the club had no money and would then see their manager sacked after 24 years. The fans wouldnt stand for it, there would be rioting and the stadium would be empty until the glazers were gone.
It wouldnt matter if the glazers brought in a yes man as manager, nobody would be around to see him anyway as the stadium would be empty.
The club would no doubt go through a very dark period until the club was sold, but i ask you honestly how long would the glazers hold out if their team played in front of half empty stadiums. I would give them a year max.
Now i know that route is not popular but i have to say although it would be hard i think its the best option we can go down. This club is only heading down hill and is dying a slow death.
This way we will go through a very dark patch but it wont last. I would take a season or two of crap if it meant the glazers left and we could begin a new era.
I would still be here supporting the team and im sure many others would no matter how far we slump. Its just though the glazers will leave us up shit creek, over £1bn in debt with no way to pay it off.
That will be 10 times worse than anything mentioned in this scenario.
Short term pain for long term gain, thats what this is all about.
Its not going to happen though i know, obviously we would need the manager to side with the fans and against his masters. That wont happen though with this ferguson. The fergie of 10 years ago probably but not now. Lets just sit around and wait for the inevitable destruction of our club, whilst praising our master fergie whose doing all he can. Afterall hes only pulling the wool over our eyes and taking us up shit creek with the glazers afterall, nothing much.
They say the devil comes in many forms, they aint bloody wrong.
July 6th, 2010 at 18:06
@Red Ranter: No doubt, if fergie spoke out against the glazers they may very well sack him and replace him with a yes man. But it wouldnt matter, after fergie had been sacked for coming out and telling the truth there would be rioting on the streets of manchester. Old Trafford would be empty until they upped sticks and left. And how long could the glazers cope with the stadiums empty, a year?
They would be gone within a year im sure of it. They would bugger off and we could rebuild again, with better owners and brighter long term future.
Short term pain for long term gain, is what i say with this situation. Its risky but i think its a better option then just sitting there hoping everything turns out ok and after years of fucking us up, some billionaire will come along and sort out all our problems.
July 6th, 2010 at 18:44
I think its a 2 way street, if fergie speaks up he will get sacked, however if the glazers sack fergie they know there is no one one as good as him to keep the success flowing with the squad we have at the moment.
July 6th, 2010 at 19:01
@ROOOOONEY: But this is my point, if they sacked fergie they wouldnt have a leg to stand on. Do you really think anyone would attend the games anymore if fergie got sacked, and got the sack because he spoke the truth.
I promise you mate the stadium would be totally empty and how long could the glazers go with a half empty stadium, not long i would say. They need every penny they can.
Now as ive said it wont be popular and alot of people might say im unloyal and thats their opinion and their entitled to it. But i think we can all agree the glazers right now are like a cancer on this club, and its only going to get worse.
Can it get so bad in say 5 years we are over £1bn in debt and they piss off and leave us with this to pay. Yes it very likely and i am sure this was their intention back in 2005, they never ever intended to pay off the debt. Just make as much as they could before leaving.
Is that what we all want. No its not, but i dont see how fergie keeping quiet, scratch that, praising the buggers is helping us and making our future look brighter.
Quite simply nothing will except for mass boycotting or our manager speaking out and following the scenario i mentioned. Sadly though we all know our manager is all pally with the glazers now so its not going to happen, and i still fear although fans are boycotting, there will not be enough taking part to make a difference.
The action i mentioned seems the only thing we could do to get them out. Sadly though ferguson has sided with them and theres not much we can except boycott. So for anyone that wonders why i give fergie such a hard time, theres your answer.
There is the very real threat this club will go into liquidation in the future and its his sucking up to the glazers and lack of speaking up against them that will harm us just as badly as the glazers.
July 6th, 2010 at 19:36
@Stephen: He passed every test we put in front of him, and then never bothered trying him at the highest level. What was the point? A waste of everyone’s time.
If he hadn’t done it for the reserves, and then hadn’t done it on loan, then fair enough ship him out. This was pointless.
July 6th, 2010 at 20:22
It is a shame that such a boring side like Holland are still in the tournament and entertaining sides like Chile are out.
July 6th, 2010 at 22:18
I will never forgive Fergie for towing the party line, which after all he he has done for us is a damn shame.
July 7th, 2010 at 0:56
@tonymontanna4united: tony if the stadium is empty for a year and the glazers are hit in the pocket they will sell roony, vida, nani, evra… and sell Carrington. sell Old Trafford… until there is nothing left of united but the badge on the shirts.
July 7th, 2010 at 2:33
@gator: Im not so sure, i think they would say enough is enough, take their 30 pieces of silver and bugger off. Now of course i cant be sure of this but we cant be sure of anything when it comes to the glazers.
But every report we read it says the same thing, they have to sell out OT to make any kind of profit. If theyre not doing that their plans are fucked. Now im not saying its risky, it would have be handles carefully but we have to make a stand and basically have 2 choices. Mass boycotting, or my scenario which unfortunately mean the glazers puppet ferguson would speak out which is unlikely.
Both are likely to be controversial and there is the threat players would be sold etc but for how long could they run the club with empty stadiums. I would say not long.
Obviously i dont want to see my beloved club being dismantled but there are always casualties in a war and believe me this a war. We may have to lose a few players but if its for the greater good then it has to be done.
The alternative of course is do what ferguson is doing, and that is nothing. Keep smiling, act as if the debt doesnt exist, claim everything is ok and hope everything just turns out ok.
And thats fine but 5/10 years down the line that £1bn of debt needs to be paid back. Im not sure even a arab billionaire would be bothered to spend over £1bn just to buy what in effect is just a football club.
This club is literally up shit creek and it seems us fans are stuck either way we go. We can sit back and let this club destroy itself, or boycott and hurt the club short term by effecting revenue.
Its a hard choice but we need these glazers out whichever way is possible. If there are any other ways of forcing the glazers out without hurting the club then i would love to hear it.
Only thing i can think of is wacking them. God i would never usually even consider murder but for those bastards i say bring it on
July 7th, 2010 at 5:05
JEEZ, I forgot just awful working for a living is. It sucks and I haven’t even watched the football match yet. I have to rethink this business venture thing as it’s really cramping my quality time and especially my footy time. Money and security be damned.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:08
@Red Ranter: OH GOD
NOT YOU TOO. Go back and read my posts. I have said over a dozen times that I don’t want Fergie out until after the Glazer’s are out and new owners with deep pockets are in place to hire either my boy Mourinho or my other boy Low. Honestly mate, I expect more from you than the others. It’s like I’m wondering whether it’s worth writing on this blog anymore when most of what I write is ignored and only the first paragraph or first few sentences are read which cause people to misquote me and jump to conclusions. Very irritating and incredibly frustrating. It really makes me question the effort.
I may hate Fergie right now but sacking him before the Glazer’s are gone would be catastrophic and would lead to our complete demise. Despite his treachery, he is keeping the team competitive with his managerial talents.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:12
@tonymontanna4united: With his mouth he could create anarchy and action. We need anarchy and action.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:13
@tonymontanna4united: ANARCHY ANARCHY ANARCHY!!!
July 7th, 2010 at 5:17
@gator: Pretty valid reasons to have the Glazer’s professionally whacked. I’m all for starting a charity fund drive called “WAG” (Whack all Glazer’s). Any contributions? I’m offering scarves that are soaked in red imitation Glazer Blood that I am hoping all will wear with pride. A real fashion item.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:18
@tonymontanna4united: I love you man! No really, I do.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:28
Grognard, when you stop spinning, could you re-state all your views, so that I know which way your facing!!
July 7th, 2010 at 5:30
@Owen: Brrrrrr…
July 7th, 2010 at 6:02
@Grognard: Wow, typical fucking German!!
July 7th, 2010 at 8:21
@Redrich: Mocking my efforts isn’t getting us anywhere I think. I can take a joke as long as I’m not the joke. My feelings on this matter are serious and i find nothing funny about what Fergie is or isn’t doing. Fine you don’t agree with me, you think i’m full of shit, no problem. But I’m not spinning or looking for sensationalist headlines. I’m just on a blog sharing my views with other united fans. Sometimes I wonder if I really should bother considering the abuse I get for bringing valid well thought out and heartfelt rants. Am I pissed off? You bet I am. Frankly I’m too tired and way to busy these days to be responding to anti Grognard rants.
July 7th, 2010 at 8:59
@Grognard: MICHAEL BALLACK has been ousted from the Germany camp after a massive rift with captain Philipp Lahm.
The crocked ex-Chelsea star faces a bleak international future after Lahm insisted he will not give up the captain’s armband next season.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:19
@Grognard: Sorry mate this is certainly not meant as an attack on you but you hate Fergie, and want him sacked but you don’t want him sacked until the Glazers have gone and the club is again under the control of another owner then you want Mourinho as manager who has money to spend and is not restricted to the constraints of the current ownership, to me that is a trifle unfair and again gives Mourinho yet another easy ride.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:33
Obviously I have stronger feelings than Grognard. I want Fergie to have a showdown and give the Glazers an ultimatum threatening to leave if they dont give him the funds he needs to keep Manchester United competitive.
We’ve had dry spells before. But you could always see the light at the end of the tunnel and we made the necessary signings to get back on top.
Last season was bad enough. Having our weaknesses brutally exposed by Barcelona we sold our best player and bought Valencia, Obertan and Owen on a free.
Predictably we missed out on the league and got knocked out in the quarters of the Champions League.
Meanwhile Barcelona manage to sign the hottest striker in the world in David Villa and quite likely will get Fabregas as well. While Bayern are benefiting from the coming of age of Muller, Schweisteneger and co and most likely will strengthen further in the transfer market. Inter will probably self destruct under Rafa Benitez but they have the same squad that won the Champions League. Real Madrid are still signing every big name they can get their paws on. As are Manchester City.
And it looks like we won’t sign any big names this summer at all! Unbelievable.
Fergie knows beyond doubt that none of our midfielders (bar Fletcher) are better than Giggs and Scholes and also knows these players will retire sooner rather than later. But after seeing Anderson flop as a replacement for Scholes and seeing Carrick go backwards we still aren’t buying any quality midfielders.
Does Fergie really want to see us drop out of the top four? Because if he lets the situation continue that will definitely happen sooner rather than later.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:42
@colver: We are over £700m in debt, spending lavishly may not be the answer, if we do then the fan on the street yet again gets hit with merchandise and season tickets.
Valencia last season was a good buy I must say but I do see where you and Grog are coming from for me the problem is not the manager it is the owners. Yes Fergie has more weight than most managers, but cannot demand they spend money, for now and for the foreseeable future the Yanks are not going anywhere. Also is Fergie does go we are certainly in the shit, no manager ideally wants to take over from Fergie, especially with no money and without him no other manager would be able to get what he does out of the side.
In short we are fucked.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:48
Stephen, Im not demanding the sort of pursestrings Barcelona and Real Madrid and Manchester City have.
I want the deal the Glazers promised us. i.e. £25 million a season and occasionally £25 million for a marquee signing.
This was the deal when they took over long before player inflation got out of control.
Also if the Glazers had any sense they would know player signings are an investment because if we drop out of the top four and don’t make the knock out stages of the Champions League we will lose at least £100 million of revenue.
And I consider the 25+25 a bare minimum in this day and age to keep us competitive. The last two seasons (assuming nothing happens this season) our net spending has been minus £50 million. And that is unacceptable.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:55
@colver: Totally agree but the Glazers are using United as their personel piggy bank with the dividents they are drawing at the club.
I agree we need to specultate with regards to new players as the current playing force isn’t good enough anymore, yes Fergie could demand that they spend and he probably has but if they are unwilling to what can he do?
I do not agree with his siding with those arseholes, but without him we are in big trouble the issue is with owners but I can understand Grog’s and peoples frustration with him.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:18
Today’s rumors:
1.Man United face fight to keep Evra as Barcelona and Juventus eye defender
2.Utd are fighting with Madrid and Chelsea for Sami Khedira
3.Man utd may go after England Under-21 defender Dan Gosling as he is free now.
July 7th, 2010 at 13:32
@Stephen: Agree with you completely. While our blood may boil, the fact is that “the revolution is NOT just round the corner”. We are in a hole and qualities like tact, discipline, man management and dogged perseverance are going to get us further than in-your-face acts of defiance like Fergie walking out in protest. Tough as it may sound, that is reality.
And oh, by the way, what’s the guarantee that David Villa is going to bang in 30? Werent we overjoyed when Berba joined? What’s the guarantee that signing Sneidjer will get us the PL+CL? And frankly, if we had to google Antonio Valencia, so be it. What’s wrong with unearthing little gems? If big names guaranteed big performances then Ronaldo would have had 10 goals in the WC, and Ozil wouldn’t be the star everybody seems to be salivating for.
July 7th, 2010 at 14:12
@Jeet: There is no guarantee that Villa will score 10 or 30 goals but the fact is that MANCHESTER UNITED has lost to Burnley,Leeds etc. and that idiot Ferguson has said 10 times that squad is good.
And Jeet If big names don’t guaranteed big performances ,then how Chelsea won the League when they brought some big names and Everton have not won any thing with a group of average names.
July 7th, 2010 at 14:58
@Owen: But that idiot did bring in big names didnt he? Berbatov and Veron come to mind, dont they?
July 7th, 2010 at 14:58
If we buy Sneijder, I’ll parade down the most public filled street in Oslo dressed like a tranny
July 7th, 2010 at 15:09
@Jeet: Yes and at that time ,he never cried about value in the market.He got rid of the stars like Keano,Beck,RVN at the right time and replaced them well by spending on Ronaldo,Carrick,Rooney etc .Now we are replacing Tevez with Owen and Giggs with Obertan.This is the main worrying factor because on one hand other teams are trying to get Silva,Toure,Aguero,Torres and Fergie is busy finding Dioufs,Obertans,Owens,Smallings…
July 7th, 2010 at 15:58
@Stephen: Life isn’t fair mate. That’s exactly what I want mate. I want Mourinho but there is no way I want him showing up while the Glazer’s are around because he would want to build his team and with no money, that would be impossible.
I am mature enough and intelligent enough to know what good Fergie brings to the situation and what is bad about his tenure. He brings stability and calm to the team and his managerial prowess is appreciated if not always agreed with. But at the end of the day, he is a bold faced liar, a traitor and a Judas for siding with the owners over the fans. I don’t think I am wrong when I say that the day a regime change happens in ownership, that sacking him would be justified for those reason I just mentioned. I care not if many think I am being unfair or disloyal to him. He has stabbed all of us in the back whether all of us want to believe that or not. I want payback for his Glazer allegiance. How can we have a regime change and allow him to get off scot free after the things he has said and done in support of the Glazer’s? Honestly, I am amazed and shocked people cannot get this.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:08
@EduardoDaVinci4: Sneijder + Benzema will make you do what then
Wake up from a dream
July 7th, 2010 at 16:09
@colver: First off mate I respect your feelings on the matter but let me make a few points that I feel are important. Barcelona just announced that they are seeking a 150 million pounds from banks because they haven’t got the money for payrolls. I am shocked over this considering they just bought Villa and are about to get Fabregas. If that isn’t the height of irresponsibility in spending, I don’t know what is?
Secondly, your feelings may be very strong but I seriously doubt they are as strong as mine and I’ll tell you why. You seem most concerned with the product on the field. You are bringing up available cash for transfers and the like which is valid and of great concern but my anger mate is far more pressing and of greater concern because i could care less about players and transfers and winning this year. I am concerned and scared to death about the future of this club long past the tenure of Ferguson and even past the period the Glazer’s will be in charge. I’m afraid that the long term damage they will create will be for the most part irreparable and that we will fall into a sinkhole like Pompey and Leeds. This kind of massive growing debt could cripple us because as it grows it could get to the point where it will make this club impossible to sell to a bright investor with deep pockets who will take over and continue to buy players and give the club the necessary funds to stay competitive and ambitious.
This is my worry and it’s a valid one because all one has to do is look at the financials and the long term prognosis and forecasts and finally look at the present track record of the Glazer’s and how they are crumbling at the seams in America. We are headed for a disaster and yet all i get from most on here is abuse over my stance and mockery because they don’t understand my disgust and feeling of betrayal towards this club’s manager. So I respectfully admire and understand your feelings but seriously mate, putting a competitive team on the field right now is the least of our problems. With all due respect you are looking for a bandaid and an aspirin while I am looking for a preventative cure. I could care less about the top four when I am worried about the actual future existence of this club in the Premier League.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:19
@Stephen: Ferguson has enough power and pull not only within the league and the team but with the community and if he were to stand up to Glazer and threaten to quit, he would provoke rioting and rebellion against the owners that they would not be able to handle. He also might provoke civil and federal governmental action against them to force them to sell to the Red Knights right now. He needs to fall on his sword to finally force the Glazer’s into action because the threatened loss of Ferguson would so unsettle the club and situation at OT that it would in theory make everything unsettling for the Glazer’s and would force them into a quick exit strategy. And any manager in the world would think twice about taking the job under those conditions as he would be looked at as a scab and be very unpopular. Ferguson’s power is severe enough to dislodge these owners because of his great tenure and reputation. He would be the roar heard round the world but instead, he sits on his hands, chews his gum and praises Nero while Rome burns. Inexcusable and completely traitorous in my books. At his age he should be willing to make the great sacrifice for the long term good of this franchise, instead of being selfishly concerned about padding his legacy or his wallet or both.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:21
@Owen: I have no problem if we were to sell Evra and replaced him with Coentrao. He is a great young LB/LM while Evra is 29 and on his last legs when it comes to peak form.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:37
he will probably retire before theres a change of ownership. so we get rid of ferguson then what? become a chelsea, a real madrid, chopping and changing of manager every year for the eventual hope we win some silverware. the stability and success that ferguson has brought us is a godsend and he should be respected for that. i cant stand the glazer’s, i cant stand capitalism, but everything is not so black and white. ferguson tries to become the modern day che guevara of football, which achieves nothing whilst the glazers laugh at his silly ass and carry on as before.
its not that people dont get you grognard, but just because you are 20 years more mature than everybody else doesnt mean your sole judgement is the answer. id love ferguson to go up against the glazers, i love controversy, if nothing else it would be funny as hell, but i think it would also be extremely stupid and get him nowhere, so maintaining a respectable relationship seems the reality. he’s the one who still has to deal with them, he’s the one who has to request money for transfers, and last before least he has been the heart and sole of this club for over 20 years.
the government stepping in and forcing the glazers to sell would be a viable solution that i hope happens, but at the end of the day we are still afloat, we are still being competitive and we still have a great manager.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:40
@Jeet: Completely disagree. How would your scenario possibly help the situation when it does nothing to threaten the tenure of the Glazer’s and not force them to sell and get out asap? Let them stay, let the debt go over 1 billion and let the chances of us finally moving out of the top four further tap our resources and start the teams spiral down to complete ruin and mediocrity. If you do not think revolution is the answer than all you are doing is sitting on your hands, closing your eyes and ears and ignoring all the signs of impending doom that are not being over sensationalized by me. They are there for all to see as bright as day.
Read about the Glazer’s and what they are doing with all their business ventures. Read how they are living on debt and what spending cash Man Utd is securing for them as consulting fees. Read how they lost more than half their wealth over the past two years because of the market crash, failed malls and getting ripped off by investing in Berbie Maidoff’s Ponzi schemes. Learn how their NFL franchise has reached rock bottom and attendance there had dropped off dramatically while no good players have been bought for that team in 8 years. Look around you and see the situation Valencia, Pompey, Liverpool and Leeds are in because of their financial mismanagement and then ask yourself if a growing debt which will pass 1 billion in a short time is not something to panic over and something to get off our hands and react over with force and bitter angry revolt?
People need to get off their asses and wake the fuck up about the realities of this situation. Before long United will cease to exist the way you know it because the massive debt will force it into receivership and no buyers will come forth because nobody just wants to buy something and then automatically throw over 1 billion in cash out the window in order to just get the accounting numbers of this team to zero. It’s amazing right now at 700 million in debt that there were people (The Red Knights) who were willing to offer 1.2 billion for the team and to take over the debt. Soon that kind of generosity and concern will be a memory but fans like you sit back and question the actions of concerned fans like me who just may know a thing or two about business and financial collapse and who feel that defiance is the only way to force the Glazer’s into actions of selling what is left of the club.
Do you honestly think that in a few years all our advertisers and financial deals that bring in money will continue to create a positive money stream if the club continues to flounder and slip out of Champions league contention. No advertisers worth their ounce in gold will hitch their car to train that has no engine. The money that comes in that lists us as the richest club in the world will begin to run out and we will be left with very little to sustain this club as a Premier League entity. If people care about this team and if they give a damn about it’s long term future need to stop talking and acting like stupid selfish gits who’s sole concern is fielding a competitive team this season. The problems with this team are so dire and grave that we need to all collectively open our eyes and act against the owners in order to save this club from further collapse. If you and others do not get this and all you can do is point fingers at people like myself by referring to us a doom and gloomers well then i have nothing but pity for all of you. Sad you are so clueless and sad you just don’t get it. It’s wakey wakey time folks.
July 7th, 2010 at 16:47
@Jeet: He may have brought in big names but he is an idiot for all the other small names he brought in like Djemba Djemba, Jordi Cruyff, Poborsky, Forlan, Taibi, Anderson, Tosic, Kleberson, Manucho, etc etc etc etc. Who cares who he has brought in and who he has omitted. Again, look at the big picture. It’s not about who he does and doesn’t bring in. It’s about the lack of resources he has to work with and the lack of concern he has regarding that problem while defying the wishes of the fans for him to stand up to owners who he says let him to his job but continue to tie his hands behind his back on a daily basis. Instead ask yourself why he would say nothing and yet put up with the present regime doing to him and the club what they are presently doing? Why?
July 7th, 2010 at 16:49
@EduardoDaVinci4: Isn’t that already your daily attire there mate?
July 7th, 2010 at 16:58
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/07/barcelona-seek-money-players-wages
wow everyone it seems, apart from Read Madrid, Chelsea, and shorty are being hit hard by the world economy.
The thing that really posses me off, is that our debt isn’t the clubs fault. Yes we spend alot of money on players, bur that’s because we made alot of money. Our debt is strictly from the glazers. Imagine if they never would have bought us, we would be perched to dominate Europe for years because it seems we would have the only workable model.
And I’m sorry, call me a hypocrite. But teams like Valencia, Portsmouth and now Barcelona who can’t pay wages for players and staff shouldn’t be eligible for competition. Whatever players that haven’t been paid shouldn’t be allowed to compete that week.
In my scenario this would hopefully force clubs into being responsible because they wouldn’t sign a player they couldn’t pay. If a player like villa and silva weren’t getting paid at Valencia and they weren’t allowed to play because of it they would have walked out. Instead they both stuck it out because they are loyal guys. In reality the club turned down numerous offers for the players, how many of those offers would have been turned down knowing the players would be ineligble if they weren’t paid? This would apply to all clubs and it would make clubs think twice before rolling the dice with their finances.
Obviously this isn’t water tight, but I think something among those lines is in order.
July 7th, 2010 at 17:07
@rimi: It’s got nothing to do with my age mate but never discount age as it brings valuable experience. I have worked for government as well as for major corporations and I have seen all the games Glazer has been playing long before any of you. In fact if people go back a few years they will read posts predicting the exact problems we are facing now written by me. Problem with people who feel threatened by someone like me is their ego because they feel they are being talked down to or being lectured. Well perhaps it may come out that way but that certainly IS NOT my intention. I am a teacher by trade and so if I sound a lot like a lecturer I beg forgiveness right now as habits are hard to break. But i know of what I speak and I can prove time and time again from my writings on this blog how often I have been right a bout many things and how few times I have been wrong. It’s not about ego, it’s about experience and it’s about understanding the machinations of financial warfare being fought and manipulated today in the world of business. Scum like the Glazer’s have operated for decades consuming property and businesses by never ever using their own money. They leverage buy everything, extort as much money as they can possibly get away with and then they let that entity crumble and die. Go online and check out their trail of waste and you will know why I am scared to death about what is going to happen to United but which fans like yourself are just too blind and ignorant to see.
Fans like you never do the research, you never learn from history and to do so you would see patterns forming and the old adage that history repeats itself. Wake up and stop pointing fingers at the messenger just because you cannot stomach his message. What I say is fact and i will stand by that. And in three to five years when we have hit rock bottom (we’re not there yet) be prepared for me to offer up a list of whining bitchy complainers on the blog who questioned and even took offence with my views and i will put all of you in your places. More out of bitter satisfaction not because i was proven right but because none of you did sweet fuck all to stop this because all you cared about was whether we would buy Sneijder or whether we would finish first in the upcoming season. Short term success addicts who cannot and will not see doom looking down on them. Pick on my age but I have been a fan of this club for probably longer than you have been alive. In my books that counts for something and experience gained over that period counts for everything. One day you will know what i am talking about once you gain the experience and knowledge that years bring to a person. Until then mock my efforts and throw the age card back at me, as if my using it was meant in an insulting way. Lets put it this way, if I was in an economics class I’d rather listen to 50 year old professor who has an extensive CV than some wet behind the ears snot nosed 20 year old who knows shit but likes to think he knows more than he does.
Bottom line is Fergie is wrong to do nothing because sitting back and allowing this just gets this club further in to the hole. And putting down the fans that care is also not the answer and he has done that.
July 7th, 2010 at 17:19
@Johnsom33: How can they possibly justify the purchase of Villa and the chase for Fabregas when they cannot pay their current staff of players? It’s ludicrous and it’s the height of irresponsibility.
Let me take a page out of the NCAA (college sports) in the US. Most recently they invoked a two year ban from participating in a Bowl game and from offering football scholarships all because of recruiting violations that are strictly prohibited by the NCAA. This is a sever financial hit for the University and it’s football program and it further excludes them from national attention and televised games because they are in a sense playing for nothing for two years.
What i am getting at is that FIFA and UEFA should start imposing the same kind of restrictions on clubs that are massively in debt and are especially unable to play their players. Under this kind of system United and Liverpool would be banned form the Champions League and they would get massive points subtracted from them before the season starts which would destroy their chances of a title. Barcelona would get relegated for a season due to not having the money to pay players and all players would be free to stay or go. Financial irresponsibility and operating in a delusional way while massively in debt has to stop. Punishing teams who operate like this will stop the insanity and fiscal order will return in time.
July 7th, 2010 at 17:29
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Sneijder+Benzema would make me have myself dressed as a tranny, wearing massive makeup, having a crowd around, and taking a picture of it and use it as my Facebook profile pic.
Yeah, no way in hell are we gonna buy them!
July 7th, 2010 at 17:32
@Grognard: But Sir!
How dare thee speak to me in such manner. Do you not own any respect for thy fellow social network commenters? Because thee Grognard, thy cannot speak to Eddy in such manner, unless you wish for nothing but the cruelest faith.
Yippie-Yay-Yay!
July 7th, 2010 at 17:38
http://www.unitedrant.co.uk/exclusive-sneijder-offer-doc-leaked/?
July 7th, 2010 at 17:51
@EduardoDaVinci4: But what if will get Sneijder but sell Andy??
July 7th, 2010 at 18:08
@EduardoDaVinci4: At this point I don’t want sneijder, we had our chance last summer to get him for peanuts but our staff didn’t think he was good enough then but now that his value has quadrupled we are interested. It’s pure bullshit, especially when arm chair managers like us were screaming for it last summer? I’ve never made a cent kicking a ball, let alone being a scout or manager. So explain to me how a relative idiot like me could see it in black and white but arguably the best manager of all time couldn’t see it? I honestly don’t have a reasonable answer and I’m dying to know.
What the fuck was fergie doing during the sale of Ronaldo?
July 7th, 2010 at 18:16
@Grognard: I understand your point in using the NCAA as an example. But as you know the NCAA has more than it’s share of problems, it’s probably one of the most currupt “old boy” networks out there. Listening to those cowards extort young talent in this country for billions then hide behind “student athletes” makes my blood boil… Almost as much as hearing the words “bowl championship series”.
I’ve had my own personal run ins with the NCAA, and honestly it’s something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. They truly are the worst kind of scum.
July 7th, 2010 at 18:20
im not mocking you, im not picking on you, i have nothing against you, i even agree with you a lot of the time, the only thing i dont agree with is the vendetta on fergusons head. and altho ive not been a contributor on here i have been an avid reader and the general trend is that you regularly get into arguments with people and then ask why, when its YOU who reiterates the same tiring message about your age, about your wealth of experience, about your profound knowledge that is superior to everybody elses. it has basically come to a point that anyone who objects anything you say automatically progresses into a personal exchange. why is this? because everybody has an ego to maintain? because you are never wrong? or maybe you take things a little too personal and then provoke those who are below your level with snidey comments as in your last post?
by your analogy we should trust every word ferguson says with his extensive cv over anything you have to contribute?
im not a short term success addict, ive not moaned at all about our lack of spending or transfer policy. ive simply tried to analyse the situation and suggest reasons why ferguson is handling it like he is, and why a tet offensive might not be the solution here.
July 7th, 2010 at 18:23
@Grognard: Sorry for the NCAA rant I never prolly responded to your post. I’m in complete aggreemenr with you about banning debt ridden clubs even if that hurts Manchester united. If these things were in place already, we wouldn’t be dealing with paper billionaires like glazers, hicks and gillet, *insert any Pompey owner etc… Only people with the actual money would come in for these clubs.
This is truly a dark period not only for our club but football in general. I’m just hoping that this will finally trigger reform from the top down. And that ultimately football will be better for it.
July 7th, 2010 at 19:31
England footballer Wayne Rooney has been voted the ugliest player in the World Cup in an online poll.
According to the survey conducted by beautifulpeople.com, Fabio Cannavaro, from the Italian team, is the most beautiful player in the World Cup, followed by Fernando Torres and David Villa, both from Spain.
“Collectively, the worst looking team is Algeria. The term ‘trophy head’ could have been coined for most of their team,” telegraph.co.uk quoted Greg Hodge, managing director, as saying.
“England follows close behind, captained by the most unattractive player on the planet, Wayne Rooney. The England team do have very beautiful wives and girlfriends, but this is surely due to their bank accounts which certainly makes them a lot more attractive,” Hodge added.
David James, the England goalkeeper who let in four goals in the match against Germany, was the only England player judged to be attractive enough to join the dating site.
July 7th, 2010 at 19:55
Germany choose the wrong boateng
July 7th, 2010 at 21:20
Damn the Spanish made the Germans look incredibly average. Trust them to find their form when it matters.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:20
what kind of world do we live in where the primadonnas are in the final this is shit.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:26
Were Schweinsteiger and Ozil even on the field?
Xavi Alonso alone was sufficient for the whole German midfield.
Great result.Pretenders are out finally.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:27
This German team has nothing to be ashamed about, thru were written off before this world cup but they showed their quality. Apart from klose, this team will be there for the next world cup. I think they are poised to be the next world power, with their commitment to developing youth of all ethnicities. I for one have been pleasantly suprised with the Germans and I wish them continued success. To me they represent what is right with football at the moment. Team over individuals, fast counter attacking and exciting.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:28
Paraguay is a much better team than Germany..
July 7th, 2010 at 21:33
Wooooooooo come on you Hollanders – get the WC will ya? So that I can collect a packet from the bookies. I want that dosh lads. Make sure Spain get the pain in the final!
July 7th, 2010 at 21:38
@Johnsom33: They need a defence though Johnsom! Spain showed how to play against the Germans – don’t give them any room, because their game is all about space, and Spain didn’t give them any. Spain also won nearly every 50-50 ball, but like you say – the Germans have some very good young players!
July 7th, 2010 at 21:40
@CraigMc: No way ,Craig.Spain will win 3-0.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:40
@Owen: Shweinsteiger was, but Ozil against close marking didn’t cut it at all. Shweinsteiger is the only German player I really, really like!
July 7th, 2010 at 21:42
@Owen: Now Owen don’t put the mockers on me getting the dosh from those sneaky bookmakers. I want that cash man
.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:46
@Owen: Errrr Christiano is the most beautiful, and that is a fact. Whoever ran that comp must have been Spanish
.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:47
@CraigMc: Holland will have very little chance.But Holland have lot of players who can score from distance.So they may cause some problems..
July 7th, 2010 at 21:49
@CraigMc: Valencia is the most beautiful but he is not playing.So sorry for him.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:51
@rimi: It would be better if Fergie told the truth though Rimi, instead of lying to us fans. That’s my main gripe with Fergie mate!
July 7th, 2010 at 21:52
I was surprised to see that German side had no pace today.They just parked the bus .
July 7th, 2010 at 21:52
@Owen: Valencia is paying you to say that – right Owen
.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:54
@Owen: The dutchmen will surprise you Owen
.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:57
@CraigMc: Dutch will have to take the aeroplane on rent for one day from Mourinho to park it.That is the only way they can do it.
July 7th, 2010 at 21:59
@Johnsom33: I think you know the answer all too well Johnsom – UNited would have not been able to balance the books without Fergie handing over the full 80 million Ronnie money. So that’s exactly what happened and we ONLY just broke even.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:00
By the way,where is the person who was shouting for 10 days as this German side is the best ever side to play Football,Ozil is new Maradona and Schweinstieger is new Platini.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:03
@EduardoDaVinci4: Thy was a bad boy. Sorry all exalted one. I am your servant Your Heinous.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:06
@EduardoDaVinci4: I think Inter would demand more than 14 sacks of coal.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:09
@Johnsom33: I so totally agree. Why buy him now for almost double the price when we could have won the league and perhaps the Champions League last year with him already in tow had Fergie not wasted his time in the head playing with himself. I’m so sick and tired of him showing interest in players two to three years after I have brought them up as outstanding transfer targets. And as for Neuer, does he need more evidence than today as to whether he is an outstanding keeper? Certainly couldn’t blamed on the goal by Herman Munster that fucking long haired Spanish bastard freak.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:11
@Jeet: Ronaldo would have had 20 goals in the world cup IF Nani had been his supplier, cos Nani was on fire and in great form, until he hurt his collar bone, and they made a mistake not keeping him out there because he was fit 10 days into WC.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:13
@Johnsom33: That’s not the point. NCAA is a joke and the way it treats student athletes is disgraceful as they are feeding themselves off their sweat and energy and won’t even let them have a taste. The point is I love it when they come down on a school for recruiting improprieties. The slam their fist down unlike UEFA or FIFA whose sole purpose in like is to find way s to screw with United and elevate the status and success ratio for the top two Spanish sides. They make physically with their hypocrisy. UEFA and FIFA have to come down hard on all teams operating on a debt.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:14
@Owen: You want whacking with a soggy custard pie Owen mi man?
July 7th, 2010 at 22:26
@rimi: You’re not mocking me or picking on me but all you did with this rant is exactly that. I made my case and defended and I’ll be damned if I don’t defend my age when it’s constantly thrown in my face because I do believe that with age comes experience and wisdom. If you cannot see that or respect that then it’s you has the problem mate, not I. I will always defend myself against unfair accusation on my person or personality.
I love to debate and have often admitted being wrong or giving my opponent his due, but not when my knowledge and experience comes into play. Frankly put, if you saw my resume you would piss yourself and then permanently shut up because it is that extensive and it is that much in tune with operational aspects of major corporations and how the cheat and steal. So unless you can match that, don’t come up to me with your wet behind the ears attitude and shit all over my experience because that’s when I’ll have you for breakfast factually and intellectually. And if you can’t handle that, I just don’t really care.
I’m just tired of people who can’t match my experience or intellect being put off by it simply because they do not have the capacity or ammunition to get into a battle of facts and wits with me. And as for Fergie, his CV is based on football management and nothing but. He knows sweet fuck all about running a major corporation or multi million dollar football team from the business side of things. So like you, when it comes to what the Glazer’s are doing, he is all wet behind the ears. My analogy of what you are trying to do with me is debate the legalities of the law with a lawyer when you are just a plumber. Perhaps that is overly harsh but then again, making light of my experience and age is just as insulting to me.
At this stage I really could give a rats ass if people consider me arrogant or full of myself. I just hate stupid blind ignoramuses that try to tell me I am overreacting or I’m full of hot air or that my messages are “tiring”. Frankly I’m sick and fucking tired of being questioned over things I am extremely knowledgeable about. Disagree with me if you must but just don’t mock or insult me in the process and you’ll be surprised how much respect and politeness I will show you in return, even if I disagree with your point. I’m too old school for online trash talking. I still live by an old code that makes me often act out in frustration on here.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:35
@Johnsom33: There you go mate, we are in agreement. I too agree with your feelings on the NCAA. I just think it’s time to step on all teams who conduct themselves in an irresponsible manner and who rule over more fiscally responsible teams like Wigan simply because they can and are willing to carry a massive debt. It eventually comes back to blow up in their faces but by the time it does that, they have numerous trophies and bought numerous players which makes what Wigan is doing mute. Wigan is responsible and playing by the rules yet they cannot compete because of this unfair manner in which bigger clubs operate. It’s got to stop and a good start would be for FIFA and UEFA to use the German Bundesliga model for imposing sanctions and changes that will get all teams on the same page playing fairly and operating within their means. That’s not socialism, thats being fair. United should still be better than wigan because of the size of their stadium and their much longer supporter base. Tough times call for tough and strict measures. It doesn’t protect the small clubs from the big clubs. It protects the big clubs from themselves.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:42
@Grognard: Thy excuse is granted! Now my little puppet, dance and cheer for Holland to win the World Cup!
Driven by one of the players I respect the most, Wesley Sneijder! Come on Wesleeeeey! 
There is no secret that I like Dutch players. I’m very fond of Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Van Persie, and Stam and Bergkamp in the past. Dutch masters!
July 7th, 2010 at 22:44
I am totally gutted and deflated by the Spanish victory today. Fuck how I hate Spain. Fuck how I hate Herman Munster Puyol. The one player I never wanted scoring against my Germans.
Germany got it all wrong today. I actually didn’t think they played that poorly. I am not an advocate of ball possession as it is an overrated statistic. Spain had a few great chances and a lot of half chances but then again, Germany too had some really good chances. Where Germany lost this game was in giving the Spaniards too much respect and by setting up way too far back. They should have come at Spain early in the game hoping to poach an early goal which would have opened up the Spaniards more for their cobra like counter. But instead they fell back and did an admirable job of soaking up pressure but that tactic I felt even before today was going to backfire in their faces. I knew that if they gifted Spain the first goal that it would be game over because Spain would go into Barcelona mode and just play keep away for the rest of the game. And thats exactly what happened after they scored. It was Rome all over again.
I could live with it if Villa or Xavi had one it for them but the two players I hate the most in Spanish football who I dreaded scoring against Germany were Iniesta and Puyol and as it turned out Puyol scored with that ugly Frankenstein head of his. FUCK how I hate that dork. I’ll say this though, that game for me was the final. No way the Dutch with their inferior defence are beating Spain in the final. They can Robben and Schneijder themselves all they want, Spain is going to win the final 2-0 or 3-1. No way are the Dutch a better team than Germany. As for the third place match, who the fuck cares? If i were Germany I wouldn’t even waste my time showing up. Play the reserves and who cares if they win. Bitter, angry and totally gutted.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:50
@Owen: Rooney is not as ugly as Puyol or Mertesacker.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:51
@Grognard: I agree, this game has got to be the final. Spain should win it from here. I used to have a soft corner for the Netherlands in the past, but I feel the current side, is a bit crap and joyless and a far cry from its attacking/total football philosophy.
Anyway, Germany have done well. Don’t worry. I think this German side has a lot of talent to become a major power for the next 8 years.
A word of encouragement: In 2014, Kroos and Müller will be 24, Marin/Ozil will be 25, Khedira 27, Schweinsteiger and Podolski a grand old 29. These players will be entering their prime.
Other teams have got to be shit scared of this.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:58
@Owen: Up yours mate (I mean that in joking manner so don’t get too offended as I’m really bitter and hurting right now). The Germans were fine. They played great but the choice of tactics limited them. I love Low but he got it all wrong in this game because he showed them too much respect. Schweinsteiger and Khedira were forced far back and Ozil was just a little off his game but still had moments where he was dangerous. Capdevilla was not tested enough as Spain’s very weak link at the back because Mueller was not around. Had Mueller played a lot of those quick triangle counters with him, Ozil and Lahm on the right side would have sprung them for some better chances. Of that I am convinced. Still, full value to the Spaniards for playing good game and deserving the win. Although Brazil is hosting the next World Cup, look for Germany to be a true powerhouse by then as all these kids right now will be in their prime by then. And that is a scary thought because inexperience hurt them today.
Germany has nothing to be ashamed of as they were a bright light in a tournament that has been steadily destroyed year after year by pragmatism. Unfortunately what hurt Germany today is that for the first time in this tournament, they became pragmatic. That’s an opponents reputation can do to the best of teams.
July 7th, 2010 at 22:59
@Owen: Pee Wee Herman is a much smarter person than Owen.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:02
@EduardoDaVinci4: I dearly hope the Dutch win and kick Spain’s ass but it won’t happen mate. This win will be all Spain need to find their true mojo and roll over the Dutch. Grognard has spoken.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:07
@Grognard: The truth is ( and you must accept it) that Germans were scared today.They just allowed Spain to dictate the game and at which they are so good.It is a shame that a player like Lahm never crossed the half line for 70 mins.Schweintieger turned into a defensive midfieder and Ozil was completely isolated with no one near him.Podolski is a joke and should have never got a place in starting eleven of such a power house like Germany.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:07
@Red Ranter: I couldn’t agree with you more. This is Spain’s golden age right now. This is and always will be their best team and if they don’t win it now, they will not win it with the majority of the same same group in four years. Germany on the other hand will have so many of their squad at around 25 and 26 by 2014. If they enter the tournament in form they will have to be the favourite as Brazil is looking to be a little depleted in young talent right now and many of their stars like Kaka, Fabiano and Maicon will be gone by then. Unless Pato, Costa and some others become major world stars by then, Germany will steamroll the whole competition after four years of growth, experience and maturity. Christ, I just shudder to think how great Ozil, Kroos and mueller will be in four years. By the way, the biggest mistake that Low made today was not starting Kroos over Trochowski.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:15
@Grognard: Sorry Grog but 2014 will be the year of England.They will have a brilliant side with Gerrard,35,;Lampard,36;Terry,35;Rio,35,;Heskey,37;.That will be the golden generation
July 7th, 2010 at 23:17
@Owen: You got me there. And don’t forget the return of 40 year old David Beckham.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:22
I’m going to shock and awe all of you right now with a bit of positive energy coming from me, Mr. Wonderful. I honestly am getting the feeling that despite all our financial woes, the Glazer’s are feeling a lot of pressure to get the mass number of Grognard wannabe’s off their backs and are going to sanction the purchase of Wesley Schneijder or Mesut Ozil (Ozil would be Plan B). I then think Fergie will do as rumoured and shop Berbatov, Anderson and somebody else off to other teams to get the money for Benzema due to the quiet lack of demand for him by other teams. So from an on field perspective these two inclusions would be great. Scneijder or Ozil alone would be enough for me, but Benzema on top of that should make most of you euphoric. As for Neuer, forget about it. I will be shocked if Bayern don’t get him at the end. I also hope Bayern get Huntelaar. So there you have, some early Christmas cheer and optimism from Scrooge himself.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:25
@Grognard: I just read that Capello has decided to make RedNev new English Captain keeping in view the 2014 and may be 2018 world cup and hope to bring Shearer out of retirement. FA has backed his decision and they have given 100% support believing this time Capello is really serious .
July 7th, 2010 at 23:27
@Owen: What about Scholes? Surely Scholes is due for his long awaited comeback.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:31
Now that I am thinking about I have to seriously consider this Germany squad one of the best to not win the World Cup. When thinking about I ranked the top 6 teams all time who never won the Cup with #1 being the best of all.
1. Holland 1974
2. Hungary 1954
3. Brazil 1982
4. France 1986
5. Germany 2010
6. West Germany 1970
With honourable mention to England 2010.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:34
And just for balance, I rank the 6 worst teams to have won the World Cup with #1 being the most overrated to do so, regardless of the final score in the final.
1. Italy 1982
2. Italy 2006
3. Italy 1934
4. Italy 1938
5. France 1998
6. Any Italian team to win in the future.
To all Italians out there. No need for any of you to apologize.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:36
@Grognard: Fergie has not allowed Scholes because in 2014 and 2018,Man Utd have a very tough fixture In Championship.Man Utd have to play reigning Champion Leeds,Barnsley,Portsmouth and Burnley in May,2014.Scholes will be exhausted and also he wants to go on holiday with his grand children.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:38
@Grognard: Grog ,You watched Hungary in 1954?Are you class mate of Hitler?I never thought you are so old.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:40
@Owen: Germans are never scared mate. I thought they were overly composed at times. I think they were cautious and followed Low’s overly cautious tactics far too literally. Overly cautious is not scared, it’s just too respectful. I agree with you over Podolski. For me he has always been a major underachiever who seems to become a good player for his country in a manner similar to Robinho. I would much prefer a German starting eleven that would include Ozil on the left and Kroos in the middle just behind Klose with Kroos on the right. And that is what you will see in the future, not counting Klose of course. Trust me when I say, the future of German football is Mueller, Ozil and Kroos.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:41
@Owen:
I can’t wait to have ten more years of back passes to look forward to
July 7th, 2010 at 23:42
Manchester United last night launched a £29million bid for Holland World Cup star Wesley Sneijder and they are ready to compete with arch rivals City for his Inter Milan team-mate, Mario Balotelli.
Inter will listen to offers for unsettled striker Balotelli, but the European champions are determined to keep Sneijder at the San Siro
July 7th, 2010 at 23:44
@Grognard: Grog i was reading a very old comment and there you said that: “I was always a big Scholsey fan and now i have started to develop love for Carrick also”
July 7th, 2010 at 23:45
@Owen: I’ve watched video and I actually own a copy of the 54 final in which they lost to a far inferior German team 5-3. The Magyars were frakken awesome mate. Puskas, Kocsis and other were just awesome player with great finesse and imagination. They were very similar to the Dutch in 74 who had all the skill and class but lacked that graft and grit the Germans always possess. Trust me mate, I know my football going way back. I guess to be honest my real knowledge of the game starts in 1970 but I have video and have studied plenty about the game before that, especially the germans as you would expect of me.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:47
@Owen: Also, Hitler was tutored by myself on strategy and tactics, congeniality, always being right, public speaking, being arrogant, opinionated, full of himself and generally being a delight to be around.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:49
Xabi Alonso is the most Under rated player in the world along with Darren Fletcher and Sergio Ramos.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:50
@Owen: Have you considered help from a psychiatrist or even thought of entering a convent to live a life of sacrifice and piety for your sins? Seriously mate, I’m worried about you.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:51
@Grognard: If you can teach Hitler ,then who the fuck is Fergie who has refused to hear you for last 2 years.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:51
@Owen: Alonso and Ramos are Spanish players and thus they are scum.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:55
Wayne Rooney has won maximum number of prizes at WC 2010 with Ugliest Player Award,Worst player Award by media whole over the world and Best Player Award by English Media.
July 7th, 2010 at 23:59
Acc. to English Media,Villa along with Sneijder and Rooney are in contention to win Golden Ball Award with Rooney having a slight advantage .
July 7th, 2010 at 23:59
United team just before 2018 World Cup
GK EVDS
RB Neville
CB Rio
CB O’Shea
LB Evra
MF Scholes
MF Giggs
MF Fletcher
MF Phil Neville
ST Owen/Solksjaer (after miracle arthroscopic surgery completely fixes their lingering injuries)
ST Rooney
R Pig
R Evans
R Silvestre
R Berbatov
R Raul
R Joe Cole
R Shevchenko (just to piss of Mourinho)
July 8th, 2010 at 0:03
@Grognard: Fergie has just rejected your list because he wants Park in the team at any cost as he shows real value of the money
July 8th, 2010 at 0:03
@Owen: Fergie is a sad pathetic little man who’s greatest failure is not hiring me instead of Mick Phelan as his #2. Why? Because he is afraid that I will eventually usurp his authority and take over the club by using my tactic and knowledge on performing coup’s or junta’s. I’m the true Dr. Evil and he’s only the margarine of evil, the diet coke of evil etc.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:06
@Owen: Rooney has already won the Golden Bollocks award and lets face it, afte rhis great World Cup he has leapfrogged over that useless git Messi Robert Green and Capdevilla for the Balon D’or (or was that the Christian Dior) award.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:08
@Owen: Christ, tell him I screwed up. JEEZ! How could I forget Park and Anderson. I guess Phil Neville won’t be making a return tot he starting lineup. I stand corrected. Park instead of Neville.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:10
@Grognard: The team which started today had 7 players from Barcelona.Have you any knowledge that such thing has happened before also with so many players from one club?I think if it had ever happened,the teams must be Bayern or Santos.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:36
i didnt bring up your age to initiate a war, i simply suggested that you reference it every single time you get into an argument like it gives you some evangelical status, and might just have a slight baring on why you have to continuously defend it.
so if ferguson is not clued up regarding the glazer’s intent and proceedings then it’s not really fair to hold him accountable and crucify him is it?
and as far as the analogy goes i wasn’t referring solely to this matter. from your rekoning, what use is there of you ever questioning alex fergusons actions related to football, considering his cv and experience exceeds anything that you can offer. but yes you still do it on a regular basis here.
corporations, their motives and their extortion was something never in question, and thus the recollection of your lifes achievements wasn’t really necessary. i may not be at your level, but for the record i did do A level economics, have a computing degree, and yes was an avid fan of rage against the machine during my teens so lets say im not a conformist sheep with no knowledge on western politics and the cancer that is polluting the world.
if you are so intellectually superior and sick of being questioned by inferiors, then surely you wouldnt even entertain the idea of regular conversation on some joe public man utd forum trying to get mario and luigi to kiss your ass?
and sorry but yes you don’t always come across has the open minded and utopian you proclaim, more like some one south of the border.
and on another note im happy that spain are into the finals, i may go visit my family who live over there because the atmosphere will be excellent if they beat holland. germany have been a quality team that just fell short when it mattered, but this group of players will build a foundation for success i am sure. i was actually in berlin for the world cup in 2006 and the atmosphere was insane, especially aiding the minute argentinian following against a german filled fifa fan festival in the quarter-finals.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:38
@Owen: I’m not sure about Santos or any South American teams but West Germany 74 was saturated with Bayern players (Maier, Schwarzenbeck, Beckenbauer, Hoeness, Muller, Breitner, Kapellmann). the Dutch of 74 were mostly Ajax players or former Ajax players like (Cruyff, Neeskens, Haan, Keizer, Krol, Rep, Suurbier and Geels). The smaller nations who compete usually pick most of their talent from just a few domestic teams but really, they don’t count in this debate because they are nobodies. The present German team has a lot of Bayern players or former Bayern players. (Butt, Lahm, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Mueller, Klose, Podolski, Kroos, Jansen, Badstuber and Gomez.). Of all that group, 8 are currently with Bayern but only 4 or 5 start for Germany. Hell I remember years where Belgium consisted of players from only two teams, Brugge and Anderlecht.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:42
Just heard from media sources:
United have been rather quiet in terms of transfer moves until 3-4 days ago. Now they’re on the move in the transfer market, although how much it pays off, no one knows. We have contacted Real and Inter so far for players — although, with Real, we don’t know who.
By most accounts, three players in particular, are on our radar. Sneijder, Mario Balotelli and Panathinaikos’ Sotiris Ninis.
Sneijder, as you all know by now, has been the subject of a £29m bit from United. Inter president doesn’t want to sell: says he hasn’t looked at it because he doesn’t want to be tempted. It will boil down ultimately to what plans Benitez has for Sneijder. And even if Inter sell, it will be much, much higher than £29m. In my opinion, I won’t hold any hope on it happening.
Mario Balotelli: United are interested, and according to sources, Ferguson spoke to his agent for 10 minutes yesterday over phone. However, Man City have upped their bid to £28m, and it’s a ridiculously large sum that Inter would gladly take for an unsettled and temperamental forward. Also: Mancini has worked with him before, so he might well go there.
Finally, Ninis. It seems we are competing with AC Milan over his signature, and apparently Milan have pulled off negotiations.
All these is what I’ve managed to gather through sources, so we can’t really say how true all of them are, but there is more truth to these than we get to see in the Sun. So there…
July 8th, 2010 at 0:46
@rimi: What I do towards Ferguson I do as my right as a football fan. I don’t have to be on his managerial level to criticize him whether you think I do or not. And your spiteful attacks regarding my defensive stance on my age is because you are threatened by it yourself because you do not respect the fact that somebody older and more experienced than you should have a louder voice than you. I can just guess what you do for a living mate. You say you didn’t want to argue yet you never broached the problem or debate with some class or with some respect or politeness. Instead you went on the attack because you felt threatened by me. Frankly mate, I am beyond this kind of BS. I just don’t care what you or others who don’t like me or what I write think. I respond to you out of courtesy so that i can answer your questions or correct your assumptions. I don’t like being disliked or being unpopular but if that is the price I have to pay for offering my honest, and well thought out feelings on something, then it’s a cross I can bare. And i don’t need Mario or Luigi to kiss my ass. You kissing my ass will be just fine thanks. Now go back outside and play with your friends OK Scooter.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:47
@Red Ranter: Man Utd have asked Madrid whether they want to do business over Benzema .They have prepared a 25 million bid with cash generating from the sale of Berba and Anderson.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:52
@Red Ranter: What is Fergie thinking with Balotelli? I wouldn’t touch that emotional basket case with a ten foot pole. He’s more full of himself, temperamental and arrogant than me, and as you know, that’s saying something. Why does Fergie always feel he has the tools to turn misfits into players? He’s talented but he is nuts. I also think that if he fails with Schneijder he will then go to plan B which is Ozil. Although I would be more prone in believing that he would sign some reserve player from Gremio in Brazil or bring back Phil Neville.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:52
@Owen: I meant to write other than Benzema we don’t know who else. And it seems it’s not only Benzema we’ve contacted Real about.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:54
@Grognard: If Bayern bid for Ozil, I believe there’s no chance in hell we’d sign him. Also: how do you rate Ozil? Would he handle the rough and tumble of the Premier League? I’ve seen him only in the world cup although I’ve seen a little of him in the Bundesliga.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:55
@Owen: Berba and Anderson are not worth 25. You could get 12 to 15 for Berba and a bag of Jubalani balls and a half eaten panini for Anderson. Personally, I think that is far too much for Anderson. I’d be honest and tell them to keep the balls.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:56
@Red Ranter: Could it be RONALDO? Or is he not worth spit?
July 8th, 2010 at 0:58
Another important factor regarding Sneijder. Even if we offer Inter 40m and they sell, we need to give offer him pretty hefty wages. Currently Sneijder is on £3.5m a year after tax. Which means, before taxes it works out to about £120,000 per week. In England the tax rate is 50%. Which means, not only would we have to be offering him in excess of 120k, we would need to do even better than that to factor in the 50% tax rate.
All this means, we have to break our wage structure. In our current situation I think there’s fat chance of that happening.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:59
@Red Ranter: If Fergie is really interested in Schneider/Ozil then other Madird player must not be VDV.So the only other Madrid player avialable is Lass.
July 8th, 2010 at 0:59
@Grognard: My guess: van der Vaart. But I’m just guessing.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:01
I have an inside tip that is top secret but worth the trouble of getting caught by posting on this site:
It is VERY LIKELY that United will bring in Sneijder and Benzema
It is VERY LIKELY that United will part with two of Anderson, Berbatov, and Carrick to fund their purchase.
Don’t say you got it from me
PS: My source is strictly confidential and guarded by 1st Amendment, but it is made of glass and is a sphere with infinite wisdom!!
July 8th, 2010 at 1:02
@[OPTI]Madschester United: Ha Ha Ha. Funny.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:03
@Grognard: French clubs are mainly interested in Anderson and French clubs have a habit to bid 10-15 million for any player whether it is Ronaldo or Anderson.So i hope we can generate 10 million on his sale.Berba will easily get 15 million by Bayern/Milan.So Berba + Andy = Benzema,no doubt.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:06
@Red Ranter: I don’t think Bayern is going to bid for Ozil. If you are Bayern where to you play him. In van Gaal’s 4-2-3-1 formation you have Robben, Mueller and Ribery and either Klose, Gomez or Olic up front. The reason they don’t want Ozil is because they have to find a spot and playing time for Toni Kroos who for me has way more talent than Ozil. His elusiveness is a gift and he seems to know how to ride a tackle well as i rarely ever see him get hurt form them. Very light on his feet. But I just love his finesse and vision mate. Great imagination.
Don’t get me wrong, Ozil is an uber talent but he is not as overall talented as Kroos. Kroos has great crossing and set piece capabilities as well as outstanding passing and shooting skill. His one weakness is his pace. Not lead footed by no means but certainly not as agile or as fast as Ozil. Ozil also has the ability to stop on a dime with the ball at full speed and turn on a dime similar to Cruyff. Kroos is also capable like Ozil of playing across the midfield as he can use both legs well but is predominantly right footed where Ozil is left footed. If i was Bayern i would not have resigned Ribery and would have resigned Ozil due to age, potential and lack of selfishness. But it’s too late now.
Can Ozil survive in the EPL? Why not? There are plenty of players smaller and skinnier than him playing there and his pace will always get him out of more trouble than in. He is very good at riding off tackles and having enough give to not get hurt. Cruyff again was very much like that as is Schneijder.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:06
@Red Ranter: Owen will be sold to fund wages of any big signing.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:08
@Grognard: Bayern are very much interested in Robinho as they want Klose to replace with him.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:08
@Red Ranter: I’m guessing Casillas or Diarra. But knowing Fergie, it’s Raul or Di Stafano.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:10
@Red Ranter: I will be the happiest person if Fergie buy Xabi from Madrid.But it will never happen.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:11
@Grognard: Or Perez.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:13
@Owen: I wouldn’t trade the sugar free can of coke I’m drinking right now for Anderson. I could get 3 cents for that can elsewhere which means better value for me. Fergie would know where i am coming from.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:16
@Owen: God forbid. That would be the day I cease being a United supporter. Buy Xavi or Iniesta, or Puyol and all of you Grognard haters out there would get your wish. Grognard would move permanently to a Bayern blog.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:17
This was written last November on Ozil. Agree? Disagree?
July 8th, 2010 at 1:36
My condolences Grognard. I was rooting for the Germans. But the Spaniards especially the Barcelona guys are smart and know how to press and choke the midfield and a counter attacking game plan doesnt work because they dont leave gaps. You have to attack them on the flanks and Germany didn’t do that enough.
The Dutch probably have a better chance as there is no way Sneijder lets Spain’s grubby midfield best him, Von Bommel will kick Xavi and Iniesta, and Robben can cause Spain problems.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:46
OUR transfer market strategy
1) Make ridicuously low bids for big stars that the fans would cream over if they actually joined us
2) Bid for every player that a richer rival is also bidding for then drop out of the bidding so we can blame Arabs/General Franco for our failure to get the player
3) When said offer is rejected/gazumped moan about there being no value in the market
4) Pretend that our squad is so good that the only players who could possibly improve our squad are the aforementioned big name players who would require us to break our transfer record. Ignore completely mid-value players
5) Emphasise our youth strategy and use it to justify signing nonentities from the four corners of the earth.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:49
RedRanter, nice little article on Ozil. Imagine if we’d had the foresight to make an offer then when Im sure even we would be able to afford him.
July 8th, 2010 at 3:41
@Grognard: Fuck I hate Germany, so much.
The Spanish completely outplayed them and showed what a shallow squad Germany really had.
Smart tactics by the Spanish, limiting the German break-away and making them play a game of Football that they couldn’t compete with.
I sympathize with you, somewhat, but you, as a Canadian, I have no fucking idea why you side with Germany!!
Anycase, DEUTCHLAND – NIEN, NIEN, NIEN!!
Hope you take this with contempt you deserve.
July 8th, 2010 at 5:17
I do have to say, that while all this speculation about Schneider has evoked the chat about whether we can afford him or not, I do think this is a serious bid!
He does fit the United profile, in that he is a work-horse player and a proven goal scorer. He also is a Dutchman – SAF has had good luck with them, and will probably bet the farm on another, especially of his quality.
At some point United have to offer their fans some form of hope and direction. This could start to pave the way.
From what I’ve seen this guy would be an instant winner in our side, an instant improvement at MF and as a goal scoring threat. He would vitalize and he would inspire.
I do think Ferguson will pull this one off (although in my mind, much more is needed) and my god, I hope he does.
July 8th, 2010 at 5:27
@Redrich: It’s a serious bid no doubt, one that would entail United break their wage structure to accommodate a marquee player like Sneijder.
But I doubt SAF and Gill will be able to pull this off. Exceptionally difficult to do this.
July 8th, 2010 at 5:45
Read Van Der Vaart’s name here. he is average at best. he may be the most affordable of the lot but we someone better than van Der Vaart. Of course the finances are an issue. As good as Sneijder is it is very difficult to see him leaving Inter. His price must have soared even more now as he is a good shot to win the Golden Ball. Also read about Balotelli.How much truth is there in those rumors?
July 8th, 2010 at 6:15
@Red Ranter: That’s the media making too much of a fuss based on one great game. Yes he’s really really good but he also needs to improve in areas and find consistency. I watched Toni Kroos in several games for Leverkusen and i’ll be honest, he impressed me more. But both are studs and like i said before, along with Thomas Mueller are the future of German football. Germany has a chance to create a golden generation that is better than their Muller, Netzer, Beckenbauer era or better than Portugals Figo era or this present Spanish renaissance. Because it’s more than two or three great players. I am counting close to ten young players who are going to have many years of great football and superstardom in front of them.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:25
@colver: van Bommel andDe Jong have to have the game of their lives and really intimidate Iniesta and Xavi. If they do, they have a chance. Where Holland falls apart for me is in goal and especially their back four which are pedestrian Wigan Bolton types and not blue chippers like all but Capdevila are for Spain.
Spain is so high and confident after this game while Holland have to be asking questions after a poor game where they won but sucked. Finally, Villa over van Persie any day of the week.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:28
@colver: Hello Mr. Colver. This is David Gill from Manchester United. You seem to have a player transfer strategy down pat. Would you consider applying for work with us as we are looking for like minded people that understand our methods?
Yours Truly
David Gill
July 8th, 2010 at 8:33
@Redrich: Nope. I’m completely over it. Germany played OK but they also tactically played into the hands of Spain and deserved to lose. I call it as I see it and although I hate Puyol, Iniesta and th