Sep 08
Gill on City and Ronaldo
There’s been a lot of nonsense circulating in the media lately regarding David Gill’s comments on the reported £135m offer from Man City for Ronaldo.
Leave all those reports alone. I suggest you listen to what David Gill had to say exactly and make up your own minds about it. Here’s the link to the interview on BBC 5 Live.
Listen to the interview right now and come back to read the rest of this.
I am waiting…
Right. Now that you’re done listening let’s talk about what he had to say. When asked about the comments al Fahim made about signing Ronaldo, he said this:
“I have never met the gentleman. That is a fantastic amount of money and would turn the industry upside down so I can’t believe he is serious at those sorts of levels.”
But the following words were what got most papers all chatty:
“Ultimately we would discuss any offer with Alex and the owners, as that sort of money is very large for one person. But we are not in the market to sell our best players.”
But the important thing to note here is the way the reporter pressed him with his questions. What he asked was something to the effect of, “any club would consider an offer as high as 135m for a player” for which he answered in the most sensible manner that he could befitting his standing in the club.
So really, sending out headlines that United will consider an offer that high from Man City is being sensationalist. Nothing more.
Al-Fahim is supposedly the PR face of ADUG, and according to this article, there are more conservative factions within the consortium which could tell Fahim to shut his PR trap temporarily. Really, nothing can be said about the seriousness of the group until the January window. They are loaded and could spend big money, but the question is: are they loaded and stupid too? Conventional wisdom would say no. But when their wealth exceeds the GDP of several African nations put together, the lines between stupidity and prudence get blurred.
That does however bring us to a more interesting question. How much would you really sell Ronaldo for? Would a figure of say, £200m, be too much to resist? After all that is about a third of the debt, if I’m not mistaken. And with that sum of money, entire clubs can be bought — leave alone individual players. Of course, even if we decide to ship Ronaldo to City, I seriously doubt Ronaldo himself would be keen to swap colours within Manchester. I just can’t see that happening.
What do you think about City, Ronaldo and a transfer fee big enough to appear acceptable to us to sell Ronaldo?
Related items from Red Rants:- United to Sign Another Striker
- Roy Keane on leaving Manchester United
- Manchester United don’t need Barton, can’t have Richards
- Man Utd 1-2 Man City: City Do the Double
- City Is Concerned About Some ‘Idiots’…
Tags: Daily Roundup
September 8th, 2008 at 9:21
I would drive him to Eastlands for £135m!”
September 8th, 2008 at 9:31
Stephen - LOL.
I personally don’t think Ronaldo would want to go to City. I think he’s set his sights on Spain and Madrid. Let’s be honest, Spain is beautiful country and Madrid is a beautiful city. I also think Ronaldo cares too much about his persona to want to come across as greedy and since he’s been saying for the whole summer that Madrid is his dream move, I don’t think he’d want to go to City. Besides that, who would want to go to City. Even with all the money in the world and Robinho they still seem to me like a B (or even C) grade team.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:14
Ronaldo is priceless, wouldnt want him to leave for all the money in the world. We havge an exellent team, why change it. We have debt, lets win trophies and erase that. No problem, righr. I know its difficult to win trophies, but with this squad? At least easier.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:17
The deal would never go through, even if the club accepted the big - why should he go to a lesser club?
City should learn that they have no status in football compared to Man. Utd. Major players don’t want to go there, and we’ll see the evidence of that in January, probably. A few players have already issued their opinion on the matter (i.e. Fabregas’ statement about a shift being career suicide).
Having said that - if the bid was £200 mil, it should be accepted - or at least Ronaldo should be told to make the decision. We could spend £100 mil on new players and still bite off a huge chunck of the debt.
Ronaldo is fantastic, and I don’t want to see him go - but that kind of money is simply too much to resist.
I just hope, they don’t make an approach at all.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:32
When that fayed guy said he would make a bid for Ronaldo, did he say 135 million or £135 million. If he wasnt talking about pounds, then it be just 60 mill or sumthin
September 8th, 2008 at 10:47
First things first! Man sheiky might have loads of money, but you cant buy class, they might even do up the council house, but its still a council house! 2nd if they make a bid for the slave, they might aswell change the name of the council house to dreamlands! There is no way that our slave would want to play for the bitters, no way in this reality that our slave is going to dreamlands, no way never! But if it was down to me, i’d take the money and run. Did anyone see the look on Sparkys’ face on deadline day? He looked like he too was watchin sky sports news to see who the bitters had bid for! Another future managerial casualty in the making?
September 8th, 2008 at 12:06
@RedDevilEddy: He said “more like 260 [or 240, can't say for sure] million dollars”
Any bid of that magnitude should be accepted, but Ronaldo would never go. Remember, people, Ronaldo is a fairly loyal player; he might want to go to Real Madrid, but he is just following his childhood dream and he would never do what Berbatov did.
Besides, I think I remember him saying that he would never play for another club in England. He will not go to Man City, but any bid, from anyone, for any player of 135 million pounds has to be accepted, especially if the player is unsettled.
Rooney - better than Ronaldo!.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:09
RedDevilEddy, a FAN after my own heart
. If I was Ronaldo, hearing some of Gill’s comments and reading fans shitty suggestions on blogs like this, I would tell everyone to FECK off and insist on a move to Real Madrid in January. But I am not Ronnie so don’t know what his response will be. Yet after his decision to stay and play his heart out for us, to hear these things, even if some of you do think it not very serious, I would be fecking furious, and wouldn’t be thinking about upsetting the club or United faithful next time Madrid come knocking. No loyalty shown, no loyalty given. Admittedly he has had loyalty in massive amounts at OT, but in this, listening to many of you, you would bite the hand off those who come with it filled with dosh 
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September 8th, 2008 at 12:10
He would never sign for City, its laughable to even consider it, its Real or us for the greasy one.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:22
Man Sheiky supporters have supposedly got a petition going, that they don’t want Ronnie, or any ex United players, no matter how brilliant they are. Because to them, these same players will not be going because they love City and want to play for them, but because of the big bucks on offer. Well they got that right at least. Why else would top players move to them?.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:32
The problem they will find is attracting players, only mercenaries would sign foe City simply for the money. Most players want yo join the big 4, and then most other foreign players would rather play in London.
If the only get players who are motivated by money, then unfortunatly you have to question their character.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:42
The biggest problem with these sort of figures is the impact any sale then has on the market in general. Presumably should Ronaldo be sold at £135M (And I don’t think that he will) the mark up on any potential replacements will go ballistic overnight. The money is then only meaningful to the owners in terms of debt repayment.
Incidentally both Berbatov and Robinho bought at well above market value, thanks largely to the spectacular arrival of the new kids on the block.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:43
im sick of hearing about this dodgey property wheeler dealer totally sick of it. i mean first off, if you had an ounce of competency about you, you wouldn’t go around shouting about how fucking filthy rich you are.. its an absoulte absurity, its the reason why so many of the transfers this season… until the final day were listed as undisclosed. what a mug really is. that and if fabrearse has said he won’t go then what chance of city got of hoping to convince ronaldo? even more moolar woudn’t make him go to wastelands in my opinion… but regardless, i think mark hughes has a bit more sense about him than to simply go round buying the best recognised players.. he will use the well grounded youth system and nick all the best youngesters… that what we should worry about… we can however rely on prestige and the fact that we have won a few more silver trinkets than city have scored away goals.
inregards to the question of how much for ronaldo.. i simply say this.. if they are soooooo loaded and they want a player that much. then simply say this (and this goes for every chairman at a club where a city target is) “oh you want to buy “X” do you? eh… well lets see, yep we would let him go for £1billion…… what you mean no? you’ve got 50billion lying around in that desert kingdom.. besides technically a share of it is mine cos of all the bloody petrol tax i have to pay every year! no? well then you know where you can go.
“oy they boy’s staying, citeh wit that much money is an absoulte desgrace”
September 8th, 2008 at 12:43
@Craig Mc: the slave has alot to do in my books, i dont think a few goals will do it either! Loyalty is a two way street, so after the summer you might not agree, but can understand some of Our feelings on this topic. I personally dont want ANY players who dont love putting on that glorious red shirt and relish playing for our club.
But you never know, he could do some growing up while he’s recouperating. Hopefully he’ll come round and pledge his future to our theatre of dreams, if not then get as much money as poss for him and move on. United > Ronaldo
September 8th, 2008 at 12:56
Jdwr, damn right mate!. Sell a player for astronomical price, and the whole market will skyrocket. Now here’s where toothless Blatter and Platini can really show whether they are all mouth, or do something about all the money coming into the game, for the sake of the lesser clubs, as they have sworn to do. Put a cap on the amount a player can be sold for, and also players wage cap. That will at least get rid of some of the stink in football. FIFA officials moaning about all clubs having equal playing fields, and big clubs agreeing to SHARE their lucre increments more - mmmmm, I think communism died when the Russsian empire broke up. How fat cat lawyers for the big teams would fight any wage capping and transfer fee capping, but I think it needs to be done.
September 8th, 2008 at 13:14
Phoenix Red, I don’t get why Ronnie isn’t getting at least some respect for his decision not to leave if United and the fans would be upset about the deal. To me there was at least some loyalty there
. Like somebody said already, he didn’t do a Berba, Robinho, Heinze, etc etc etc. He wanted to leave on good terms. We all surely know, that no matter how much Fergie insisted he would not be allowed to leave, IF Ronnie had kicked up the same amount of great fuss others did, and demanded a move, he would have got it, though Madrid would have paid thru their nose!.
I do not feel the way he went about things in keeping quiet etc was acceptable, and I said that. But looking at how others have behaved, and berated their clubs etc, I do believe that he was trying to do what was best for United. Now some of you sceptics might say, “Yeah right.” I believed his interview, and can at least give him the bebefit of the doubt. How long do you go on punishing somebody for though, because they have a dream to play for another club?. We were all pissed, because that club happened to be the dastardly R Madrid, at least I was. You know I was most vociferous about it. In the end, I think he did show some loyalty, but I don’t expect everyone to agree. In fact I know most United fans have turned from Ronnie, and I feel he should think more in these circumstances about going off to Madrid in January or next summer. Whether you admit it or not though, he will leave a huge hole in our attacking prowess.
Ronaldo BETTER than Rooney - a zillion times better.
I will follow his progress with interest, wherever he goes.
September 8th, 2008 at 13:15
pls stop calling ron slave…….and i think it is good deal but are they ready to bid with the amount?did ronaldo want to go city?if yes then we shld consider it and do it cos of the money involved,by then ronaldo would have won everything for us including the wolrd best player…
September 8th, 2008 at 13:34
Wayneboy, spoken like a trooper. You want people to stop calling Ronnie a slave, and rightly so. Yet in the same sentence, you wouldn’t mind selling him to the highest bidder - O the irony
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September 8th, 2008 at 13:39
Craig Mc,not that but i know city will never come up with the money and i even follow gill comment that we don’t even want to sell our best player so the most important of the comment is that stop calling him a slave again,not you others who did so.
September 8th, 2008 at 13:44
Wayneboy, okay mate I hear you. I did just notice you said only IF Ronnie wants to go, so peace mate
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September 8th, 2008 at 13:59
Craig Mc,thanks peace mate hun and up utd…..
September 8th, 2008 at 14:00
Im sorry but Ronaldo will never get any respect from me til kingdom. Except ito pitch abilities. Craig mc u are being one sided. It was not because he opted 2 stay that he is here. It was up 2 his paymasters ultimately. So are u conveniently forgetting his oral alliance with sepp blatter. ‘yes we are treated as slaves’. So we should continue calling him slave. Because he believes he is one. He is a classless and ultimately selfish person. I have this view of him since june 2006 and he hasnt done anything to deserve respect. I wont boo him but i dont have any affection for him. Just have a business like relationship with him. Would have sold him 2 real maggots with what they offered,never mind the city amount
September 8th, 2008 at 14:05
Wayneboy, i didn’t call him slave, he did. Until he says something to the contrary i’ll continue to refer to him as his self appointed moniker.
Craig Mc, well its all still fresh in my mind, and i’m still pissed off, no doubt! I’d say he’ll definitely be off in the summer, and there will be a “hole” in our attack. But not anything that cant be fixed, no player is irreplaceable. I’m sure Fergie is already on the hunt, quietly. As far as giving him a chance, yeah anybody who dons the shirt will get my support, as i passionately support our club. But he’ll get fuck all love, and i wont be singing his name. Now my position isn’t written in stone, some positive soundings coming from the slave would be a start,though i haven’t heard fuck all so far. Presumably he’s keeping quiet and he’ll let his feet do the talking but i’d like to hear some more commitment. Fickle, i am not!
Remember when he was vilified by the whole of england for being a winker, the love and support he got from us was shouted on high in every football stadium(away support!) in england esp Old Trafford. Not now though!
As far as citeh is concerned, a bidding war is just what we need with Real Fascists and the massive citeh, we might recouperate some of the millions over the odds that we paid for Berba.
September 8th, 2008 at 14:20
Here is why i believe ronaldo doesnt deserve respect. Since he came he has not exactly been known for his team work principles. Why is it that a player described by the likes of beckham,keane,neville,raul and capello as a model professional had to depart due to friction with ronaldo? We lost a legendary target man thanks to urs truly,slaveman. Ok. How about his world cup shenanigans with wayne rooney? His own teammate and supposed friend. Yes he had a phenomenal season last term,but dont forget that he shot on goal a zillion times. At times and quite frequently at the expense of teammates. How many freekicks did he take. Even from impossible angles and distances. How many hit the wall. Id rather have hargreaves take freekicks everytime he is on the pitch. How about denying tevez a hattrick going 4 3 nil towards the end of the game. What of denying half a billion fans a chance to just celebrate the double. I mean 24 hours after moscow,in fact in his first interview,he puts his united future in doubt. How about showing a bit more respect to his teammates,club,manager and fans by even just saying he is currently a manutd player and would rather discuss trophies. Thats diplomacy. I can go on and on talking about his infuriating egotistical behaviour,like celebrating an assist all by himself as if he has scored himself. Point is u want to give him a benefit of doubt,some of us dont and dont ask us to be more forgiving to someone who hasnt even apologised.
September 8th, 2008 at 14:25
Well, well.. thanx RR for that clarification. If people base their opinions on the tabloids and online media’s twisted journalism, they’ll be thinkin ManUtd already accepted the bid for Ronaldo.
That interviewer was trying his best to put Gill on the back foot and get a negative, sensationalist response to the ronnie questions, and thankfully, Gill said the truth, “we’re not in the market to sell our best players”. Now, how that’s different from his earlier stance on Ronnie during the summer, someone pls tell me, cause all i read in that statement is we’re not intending to sell Ronaldo.
Ronnie showed a great deal of respect for the club this summer - compared to robhino et al - and it’s good to see the club repaying that respect. It would have been easy for David Gill to say, “If they are ready to put up X amount, we would be ready to sell”, but he didn’t and that’s what IMO, makes Manchester United a great club, our morals.
Hopefully, the fans can realise this and not start taking sides on the matter, saying Ronnie is disloyal or Gill is a Hypocrite etc…
September 8th, 2008 at 14:25
I am from India and a ManU fan…so I don’t know the intensity of a United vs City rivalry..but for the last 1 week if people believe whatever they read on the online media ….they might start to think that Man City was the Double winners last season
….if thats the case what would happen if they win something this season …. 
Anyway looking forward to Liverpool’s clash this weekend …3 points would be a nice start after the break
September 8th, 2008 at 14:25
Phoenix red- Good points.
September 8th, 2008 at 14:28
Jaywire, ‘Oral alliance with Sepp Blatter’
, that sounds so BAD mate. I would ask you to read back through your post, and tell me if you are not being onesided also?. I said didn’t I, that I know that everybody is not going to agree with my take on Ronnie?. We are just sitting on opposite sides of the fence, having our differences. I can live with that, can you?. Ronnie said he was misquoted on the ’slave’ thing, so who knows mate. In any case, I DO NOT hold grudges. I don’t agree with poisoning myself with long standing bitterness against people because they said this or that. Ronnie apologised publically several times, and O chose to accept his apology. You didn’t, along with many others, so what, that’s life 
. So sue me for wanting to give him another chance. Nobody (who isn’t in denial), can say Ronnie didn’t give us all he had, especially last season. How about you remembering that we would not have won the CL or PL without his goals. But hey, be short memoried if you like, I won’t hate you for it 
.
September 8th, 2008 at 14:28
Gabriel- Could u enlighten me if u dont how Ronaldo showed respect for this club this summer? Viva Roovez
September 8th, 2008 at 14:32
Jay Wire: Is that the model professional who made a joke about Ronaldo’s dead father
United with legendary target man = 1 PL and 1 FA Cup in five years.
United without legendary target man = 2 PL and 1 CL in two years.
He may have taken a zillion shots but most of his team mates showed a capability to miss a barn door at blank range for large parts of last year. It was a good thing he was about or we would have been relying on the finishing of Tevez and Rooney
Free kicks, the majority of his goals came from longer range ones, well outside of Hargreaves speciality. Ronaldo takes the long, power shots, Hargreaves the short curlers. And it is worth bearing in mind that he scored five free kicks last year, a damn good haul by even Beckhams standards.
The Tevez hat trick, I remember Keane stopping one of our players giving Forlan a penalty to break his duck because the designated penalty taker was still on the pitch.
The world cup antics, if Wayne cant control his own temper that’s his problem, no one elses. And in that game they were not team mates and friends, they were opponents. What exactly did he do? Complain to a referee about something an opponent did……….. nobody else ever does that now do they
That bastard, imagine celebrating an assist
Shoot him!!
With fans like you who needs enemies?
September 8th, 2008 at 14:39
Gabriel
, that is the difference about United OUR MORALS. Tell that to Stam, Ruud, Keano, Beckham, as they were pushed out the door. They would give you that O so wry smile!. If you know anything about politics, you will understand the ethics of diplomacy. That is what Gill was trying to be, and pulled it off very well in that interview I might add. Wait first until we see if the City Wealthy Sheik’s come up with the dosh for Ronnie, and then we will be able to test your agreed boast with Gill, that United are not in the market to sell their best players. We shall see, We shall watch and learn. I know I will 
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September 8th, 2008 at 14:39
Craig mc- Lets see. When did ronaldo apologise to anyone? Admitting i was naive is not equal to apology so it wont count. Yes,his goal gave us a shouting chance in moscow. So what? So did ole’s in barcelona. Im not bitter. Just dont have respect for ronaldo in the same way i do 4 the likes of rooney or giggs. Thing is everyone keeps saying give him a chance. I ask what makes him deserve it? What has he done since may 25 to show he deserves it? As far as im concerned,zero.
September 8th, 2008 at 14:52
I think Gill’s comments are being flipped around by the ever incompetent british media. Always sensationalist. Yes,if a figure of £135m is thrown around as asking price,any reasonable club would and should consider. Him consulting with fergie shows that its not a sole decision. He would probably say ‘hey alex,whatchu think of this offer? Should we sell the slave? Btw u did mention u wanted to bring benzema in once. Kaka is also apparently available. ‘ fergie would probably say ‘no,the boy stays.’ Or ‘if u can guarantee me kaka or messi then lets do it.’ bottom line is it would be up 2 saf ultimately if recent history is anything to go by (becks,ruud,tevez,berbatov,hargreaves),since everything seems to be done on his word,regardless of price
September 8th, 2008 at 14:54
Jaywire says “don’t ask us to be forgiving to a player who hasn’t even apologised”
. Errr where have you been then that you haven’t read his INTERVIEWED apologies?. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to forgive Ronnie, for obvious reasons enumerated in your posts mate. I could write such a lengthy list of complaints about the selfishness of any number of our players, especially your beloved Rooney. But I can’t be arsed anymore, because it brings out the demons in the Rooney lovers 
. From the posts, I see few Ronnie lovers anymore, but people have choices in the world of fandom, and mine is to forgive AND FORGET. Toodle hooo, or as we say in Salford - Terra (bye) mate 
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September 8th, 2008 at 15:02
Jaywire, admitting he was naive, is not the same as saying he is sorry???. I believe Ronnie said, he regretted or he was wrong in acting so naively in the summer, but hey whatever, I am not going to choke on any bitterness sandwiches
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Ronaldo better then Rooney - a zillion times better
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September 8th, 2008 at 15:02
@Jay wire: First things first, Ronnie wanted to move to Real, not for monetary reasons, but for personal/family reasons. He did not even instigate the rumours, they were pasted all over Marca on the day of our CL final. When asked after the final - prior to his knowledge of Real’s concrete interest - he said he wanted to stay!.
Madrid then obviously made their interest concrete, and Ronnie realising he had pretty much accomplished everything he could at United - and he has - he decided it was time to move on to his heart’s desire. Madrid went on to make a first bid, apparently, and United then turned it down. Now, here is the part that makes me respect Ronnie:
He could have at this point, began a full scale media assault, saying he wants to go, ManUtd should let him go, wearing and signing Real Madrid shirts etc but he didn’t. If he did, he would have been showing a lot of disrespect to our club and more importantly, given Real Madrid the upper hand in the dealings. Imagine if Ronaldo did what Robinho did this summer, calling press conferences saying he wants to leave and how evil the club is etc?
Ronaldo didn’t do any of that, but decided to keep quiet, knowing that any transfer issues will be best settled behind closed doors and that any direct conveyance of his wish, will only be detrimental to Manchester United’s stance. More importantly, after his talk with Fergie and his decision to stay, he released an apology for his silence and intentions, explaining them justifiably, and in the process, promised to continue to play his heart out for our club.
Now, if that is not the professional/respectful way to handle things, I don’t know what is. We all know he wanted to move to Real and he could have been a bitch about it, but he didn’t do that, rather, he respected the club and also it’s wishes and remained a United player.
People might want to look at it differently, but that’s my point of view. I see nothing wrong in what he did this summer, the United players don’t see it and the manager doesn’t see it also. All these anamosity has been creted and fuelled by the sensationalist media and I fell for it too, until I examined the facts behind the situation, which was, ronaldo wanted to move to Real, went about it the professional/respectful way and when it did not come to fruition, ungrudgingly released an apology/explanation for the summer going ons and promised to continue to play 100% for Manchester United.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:03
Craig mc- All well and fine. Oh and i have read the most extended versions of his interviews and u found any APOLOGY in them u could probably find a world cup winning formula for england. But i dont see any point in arguing because we are each convinced in our thinking. So cheers
September 8th, 2008 at 15:09
Vignesh, like you mate, I am looking forward to the L’Pool game
. I am a little concerned though, because United don’t always play their best football coming back from long international breaks. We will need to be at our best though to beat the scousers, as many of their players are not away, and getting ready and all psyched up for playing against us.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:15
Ronaldo did call homself a slave, and how do you know his move was not for the money? What because he sayes so? Fuck me do I believe everything that comes out of the mouth of a footballer, certainly no.
Ronaldo did not keep quiet, he made a few sly comments eg, “I like wearing white” and the before mentioned slave comments which were fucking awful.
We should not be blinkered, the guy is a great player but would not be at our club through his wishes, he is only at our club because of Fergie, so lets not get too carried away about his feelings for our club.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:23
Jaywire, my sentiments exactly. Wouldn’t do if we all thought alike. Well it would be a very bland world wouldn’t it
?.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:26
Stephen, who are you speaking to in your post mate
?. If your addressing me, I would be delighted to respond, but I am just not sure mate, because you were talking about him moving for money, and I don’t think I mentioned that - Did I 
?.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:26
Gabriel- perhaps u view his explanations as apologies. Its a matter of opinion. All i heard was,’it is my desire to play for the maggots. I was naive. ‘ perhaps he knew many fans would be content with that. I expected something along the lines of apology not reflective speech. What of agreeing with the blatter rubbish in the heat of the moment? What message was he sending? Are u staying or going? Um i will give u an answer in two days is what he said. Not im staying. Then i will give u an answer in three days. Then two weeks. And on and on. So he didnt realise what a circus he was causing? What more in the aftermath of a sentimental european conquest (munich any one.) Dont think so. He could have been more sensitive. Just say im not commenting on speculation right now. Period. Yeah right he tried to let things be sorted out behind closed doors. Really. How many times was he quoted even on tv saying its his desire to play for madrid. In fact,even since last year he was saying that,till he signed the infamous slave contract extension
September 8th, 2008 at 15:26
vignes : Here is something for you to ponder and all the new fans out there………………Man U is not a term United fans refer to themselves as. The term is only used by other supporters as a complete and utter insult to our club. The “u” is meant to be “you” by the rival fans.
An early example of its usage is this chant by West Brom fans: “Duncan Edwards is manure, rotting in his grave, man you are manure- rotting in your grave”. The origin of “Man U” is a song to insult the dead Duncan Edwards.
Liverpool and Leeds fans copied this with their own man you /u versions to insult all of the lads who died at munich.
“Man U Man U went on a plane Man U Man U never came back again”
and..
“Man U Never Intended Coming Home” (if you combine the first letter of each word you get the word “munich”).
I hope this makes it clearer that saying Man Utd is an insult, particularly to the older supporters and to see United fans using it now is shameful. I hope a few might read this, understand and spread the word.
So… Please REFRAIN from using this term ever again!!!!!!!!
September 8th, 2008 at 15:30
@Craig Mc: I was not responding to anyone just my views, if you want to stand up for him, mate thats up to you
Sometimes as fans I believe we are seduced by the press, and we get sucked in my the propaganda.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:33
Gabriel - Feck me, didn’t know you felt like you wrote in your post about Ronnie
. Couldn’t have put it better myself mate. Learn something new everyday. Good to know that your stance changed when you contemplated ALL the facts. Respect mate 
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September 8th, 2008 at 15:35
Stephen, why thankyou kind sir
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September 8th, 2008 at 15:46
@Gabriel:
Ronnie is a mercenary and I will never see him in the same way I did prior to his actions over the summer.
He could have had a quiet word with the manager after the UCL Final but he didn’t. He decided to play the media by dropping stupid comments about how he will decide his future in a few days or after the Euro 2008 Final or how he is a slave or how he likes the colour white.
He is selfish because instead of allowing the fans to bask in the glory of the most succussful season since 1999 he decided to use the media to his advantage with his pathetic comments.
When I went up to Old Trafford for the game against Newcastle there were a few fans around me singing “f*** off Ronaldo”. So that shows wqhat people are thinking as I heard nobody disagreeing. People joined in! In all the games this season I haven’t heard Viva Ronaldo once. It was sung at nearly every game last season.
He is a selifish mercenary cnut.
Right in the other hand I see your point of view about how he didn’t do what Robinho did but comparing his actions to other footballers does not make his actions any better.
Ronnie is no doubt a class player but I think it will take alot for him to win back the support of the majority of the fans. MEssing about with his phone, laughing, and joking while the team is playing on the pitch is not showing a player who is bothered about the team he is playing in.
Let’s make an example here. Whenever another player in the United team scores how often do you see him celebrating with his teamates? Virtually never. Why is that? He is selfish and only cares about himself and his ego. What about what he said about the United fans? All he has to do is score a few goals and the fans will support him again? Is that what he thinks of me when I go to the game? I don’t think so! Look at when Portugal got knocked out of Euro 2008. His comments were selfish and arrogant about how it was not his fault Portugal were knocked out. It was other players not doing there jobs properly!
Yes he is a brilliant player of immense talent but that is all he is. It’s a shame that his attitude and selfishness and arrogance will stop him becoming a Manchester United legend.
George Best was ten times the man he is today.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:47
It always amazes me how people can be so hypocritical. Not in reference to anyone in particular. But imagine the bullcrap, Rio went through, with the ‘united faithful’ back when he was spotted in the same restaurant as kenyon. The press had a field day. Rio refused to comment,saying inhouse negotiations were taking place so it would be inappropriate. He maintained silence. BOO. Thats what he heard from the stands. Even saf afterward confirmed afterward that contract negotiations were what was being discussed and rio did nothing wrong. Then u have a Ryan Giggs,the man i credit with my following united. In his hey day,when the likes of Javier zanetti described as the best winger on the player,milan and juventus came knocking with serious offers which he didnt even bother to look at them. Saf even considered a madrid offer for him some years ago. But we never got any rubbish from him. Then a slight drop in form,and the ‘united faithful’ were at it again. BOO. Even in an away game last season,cant remember which. And on MUTV. Yet enter,the highly PAID slave and his shenanigans,since 2006,and the ‘united faithful’ were united in Viva Ronaldo. Even singing his name whilst he is on the bench at the bridge. So how should the likes of rio and giggs who shed blood for the club and yet were booed ,feel?
September 8th, 2008 at 15:53
AlphaRS-We cant be more on the same wavelength than this. 100% spot on.
September 8th, 2008 at 15:53
Ronaldo has a lot to prove to me, is his heart really at United? probably not, does he want to be in Madrid definatly yes.
If a player is only interested in his personal goals and not the teams then that could be a concern.
He is a superb plater no doubt, but he is only at the club because he is not allowed to leave! which surely does not make us United? Maybe we should have cut our losses and sold him and re grouped, as I have said he is a fantastic player, but if he does not want to play for us whats the point?
September 8th, 2008 at 15:56
@Jay wire: So if Ronaldo said matter-of-factly in public that “I want to join Real Madrid, Manchester United should let me go” , would that not be a bigger insult in our face? Maybe he should have said what we all wanted to hear then, “I want to stay forever at Manchester United” while his heart was set on madrid, and the negotiations were going on behind the scenes, would that not be a lie? what if after he said he wanted to stay and Real actually got him, would we not brand him a traitor and liar?
Seriously, his silence was pretty much the best way to have handled it. Again, look at the Robinho case. Ok, ronnie did make some hinting gestures, but is he not allowed to? after all, that was his desire, to play for Madrid!.
Seems to me, some people are actually angry at the fact that he wants to play for another team, but that can’t be held against him. Almost every player in the world at one point in time wants to play for another team, maybe Berbatov, hargreaves, Rooney are all as ‘disloyal’ and ‘egotistical’ as Ronnie, afterall, they too wanted to leave their respective clubs to play for us!.
No player should have to apologise for trying to acheive his goal or dream, and I do not expect one from Ronnie. He did, however, like you say, create a bit of a circus with his naive gestures/comments, but he apologised and justified them, which is why i’m ok with him now.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:04
@AlphaRS: If he scores a few goals, the fans will support him again.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:13
@tevez: Lets hope we are not that shallow.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:26
@Jay wire:
Thank you. I know that was a bit of a rant but the whole Ronnia saga has annoyed me no end!
@tevez:
I certainly will not be doing that.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:31
liverfools arein trouble
September 8th, 2008 at 16:39
@Gabriel:
That’s fair enough mate.
I am only angry with him because he took the joy out of basking in the glory of the double over the summer with he comments.
For that I believe he is extremely selfish.
I mean Ronnie could have said something along the lines of “I am a Manchester United player and I am extrememly proud to wear the shirt. If another club wants me then they should go speak to SAF about it as the media can speculate all they want but it won’t matter a thing”
September 8th, 2008 at 16:46
@gator:
Fat Rafa is in trouble!!. All he can do now is play an ultra-defensive formation (what’s new?), but we’ll still nick it.
September 8th, 2008 at 16:48
Don’t we we believe in our club or its history? whats is this “Seems to me, some people are actually angry at the fact that he wants to play for another team, but that can’t be held against him. ”
Er thats is why we don’t the fans have fallen out of love with him, give me strength!
September 8th, 2008 at 16:55
@AlphaRS: true, true… that was actually the main reason I was pissed at him during the summer, but when he did the interview, he did apologise for his naivety and that’s why i forgave him.
The summer was a bit rough, and tbh, that was mainly due to the media’s obsessed desire to convey negative stories involving United. i mean, when we won the CL, Sky was more interested in John ‘Cry Baby’ terry sobbing on the pitch!!.
All in all, we handled everything well, we kept one of our star players, and got another!. Not forgetting the fact that with the additions/inclusion of Manucho, Rodrigo, twins, evans, petrucci etc we have a more balanced squad for the present and a promising squad for the future. No amount of media-induced hysteria can taint that fact!.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:00
@Jay wire: let me put this question to you. I assume you have been brought up supporting United, so if you were playing at Madrid or Barca and United expressed interest in you would you be tempted to leave and play for them? I know I certainly would. Yes I was disappointed that it looked like he might leave but you have to understand that he never supported United and idolized Madrid. He only said he would leave if Madrid payed the 75-80m that the papers were claiming so that the club would be well compensated
You clearly still hold a grudge against him for the 2006 WC thing. Tell me this, if Ronaldo could play on Saturday and Gerrard stamped on Rio and Ronaldo went over and protested to the ref would you see it as being that bad?
September 8th, 2008 at 17:04
Ronaldo coulda have done this, could have done that, let it lie already. he is still with us, and i for one am happy.
my personal stand on this is that he is a vital part of the team. you dont have to love him, but u have to love the team he plays for. getting right down to it, as long as man utd wins with good attacking football, who cares who is playing? he made mistakes, but who hasnt?
I am happy we won the battle to keep him, but if he wants to move, let him go. and this time, with man shieky in the fold, R.midrifts will have to pay up or piss off.
Personally if Man sheiky are stupid enough to try to buy the stars of the teams, i would enjoy their fall when ADUG realise their play thing isnt working out.
If i was hughes, i would buy all the wonderkids in the world, and MAKE my own stars… they are the ones who are able to be bought. people like the ramseys, the diogos, the andersons and nanis before man utd landed them.
too bad for them, i am a man utd fan for life;)
September 8th, 2008 at 17:04
The thing with Ronaldo for me is that I understand his desire to play for Real. If I played at Real and United wanted me I’d feel the same way. His courting of the media was disgraceful but he never really gave out concrete statements, so it’s hard to judge him. Then of course there’s both England’s and Spain’s excitable tabloid papers stringing stoies together out of nothing.
If the Abu Dhabi lot said they’d wipe our debt for him, that would do it, but it’d need to be a startling offer to let him go to City. It’s like if Liverpool made a bid.
I personally think that even though Ronaldo has a desire to play at Real he’s not unhappy with us, and he’ll stay motivated because he absolutely loves to win.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:06
Leaving aside the city factor which is just too ridiculous to consider for the various reasons stated above, Ronaldo will leave, it’s when not if. I think SAF knew he’d get Berbatov now and can build the team to be Ronaldo-independent after this year. That’s why he convinced Spartacus to stay. He knows that next summer, if he still wants to go, we won’t need him.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:09
A United player wants to play for another team, to me that is betrayal you cannot rationalise support you either in or you are out.
Ronaldo great player but another footballer for hire and we are better off without him.
As a club we should be beyond that and if people do not understand that then its over my head. I can never understand a fan who supports a player for wanting to leave over a fan who belives his view is being disloyal.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:15
AlphaRS said, “Utd fans at the N’Castle game chanted Feck off Ronaldo.” What a fecking travesty - shame on them - says more about some United fans than it does about the player they are abusing -pillocks!.
Ronnie messing about with his phone, laughing & joking, while his team are playing etc etc etc. Well how feckin dare he
?. I mean like other United players in the stands are 100% concentrated on the game the whole time!. Pick, Pick feckin pick 
.
Georgie Best 10 times better than Ronnie is today?. Are you feckin serious?. Bestie the always pissed up one?. My old man went to every United game in those days. He told me Bestie used to disappear for several days at a time, when nobody knew where the feck he was. ALWAYS turned up for training late, and quite a few times disappeared at half time, into a distant room instead of the dressing room with the other lads, to have sex with some bird, 10 minute quickie so to speak. I heard Bestie admit to these things on the Parkinson show, and we all were laughing about it. Bestie was a great player, a legend yes, but a model pro like Ronnie - NO feckin way
.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:22
@Stephen: mate, of course I believe in our club and it’s history… and so do other fans of other clubs. If every player decided that it would be an insult to his repective clubs history and prestige to leave for another, there’ll be no player transfers!!
We expect all that loyalty and respect from the players but they deserve nothing back?
Ronaldo wanted to play for Real Madrid, not because he felt it is a greater club, they might be close, but because it is nearer to home/family, suits his lifestyle and more importantly, was his childhood dream.
The reason i’m even less angry at him is he actually respected our club and it’s history by refusing to moan and bitch about leaving our club. Hell, the guy even tried to apologise and explain his intentions and naive gestures during the summer. What other sign of respect and loyalty do we want?
He might have taken away from the gloss of our double, but the media and manchester City Council had a huge part to play in that. Abusing and demonishing the guy because he has the wish to, once in his lifetime, play for his dream club is ludicrous. Berba, hargo, and Rooney had that desire or wish to leave their clubs and play for us too!!.
We are a great club, but let’s not get carried away with totalitarian or despotic ideologies in thinking that when a player plays for us, he should have no desire to play for anyone else.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:44
@Gabriel: Mate we have given him a lot of loyality, to be honest and call me a heathen I don’t care about other clubs I only care abourt United. He handled the whole summer transfer business badly, and I will never forgive him for it, I pay that club a lot of money every year, and that club pays his wages so I expect something back.
Craig, Bestie is the best player ever to wear a United shirt end of mate and he showed the club loyalty.
September 8th, 2008 at 18:00
RedB says, “next season we wont need him.” I admire your optimism mate
.
Stephen mate, like AlphaRS and Jaywire you don’t seem to be getting it!,
.
You think any player that plays for us, should declare undying love and fidelity, for the rest of their careers. Trouble is though, Latin players are already in love with the Madrid’s, Barcas or others who they loved and supported since youth. We brought in foreign players, thinking they would be as undying in their loyalty as our legends were/are. Some of them might be, but most of them like Ronnie want to be nearer home, where they love their own culture and families etc etc. Most of our legends and loyalists for life are Brits mate, in their own culture and homeland. We need to get used to the idea, that if we want to continue to recruit the best foreign players, they will mostly come on a less number of years, than our Brits. Live with it my friend
Tevez says, “once he scores goals, the United faithful will support him again.” Judging by the bitterness residing in quite a few of the United fans, I wouldn’t bank on it Tevez. My arguement is, that he shouldn’t need to score goals to get fan support. He is wearing the United shirt, and says he will give it his all. That should be enough, but sadly it won’t be. Rio, and Giggsy being booed is just an example at the fickleness of many United fans, behaving like spoilt brats, and abusing players just because they cannot find a way to get over things. Still that’s life Tevez, and we have to live with it. Anybody booing near my mates & me on the terraces, home or away, will be finding themselves in a scrap, so hope they are in for the same kind of verbal abuse they are dishing out. This has brought division amongst the United faithful - thats
.
September 8th, 2008 at 18:19
@Craig Mc: That is a two way street, I supported Kleberson, Bellion, Djemba x2 and Prunier, so should I not support my club because, well thay were shit?
I think if a player is being payed £70-90k a week they should show us loyalty, sorry if I am old fashioned.
I will not live with it that makes us different to the scousers who win nothing, our players belief in our club wins us doubles, not league cups.
September 8th, 2008 at 18:36
@AlphaRS: Alpha RS, if you go back and see all the matches of the previous season, Ronaldo does go and celebrate with his team mates. Its not as if he stands alone when everyone else is celebrating.He looked genuinely happy. For instance, he is the first to run to Scholes when he scored against Newcastle. Of course he did behave like a selfish prat during the summer, but he has come back now as a United player and he would lose the desire to play for us if we continue slating him throughout the season. Those fans in the newcastle game have behaved like Man city. Think back how the city fans used to call us corporate whores and that we only buy success, but look at them now. Those fans are exactly the same as City fans. They’ve behaved no better than Ronaldo did during the summer. He has come out and apologized so move on and let him play as he did for us last season. Lets criticize him depending upon his performances on the pitch.
Craig Mc, in yesterday’s post you had commented that United should be taken over by DIC. I’m not in support of the Glazer takeover but I think they’ve behaved well and have not interfered in the footballing side of things. I think that’s why we’ve been better off when compared to Liverpool and Chelsea. So how do you know those guys would be away from football and stick to the management side?
September 8th, 2008 at 18:40
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz
September 8th, 2008 at 18:52
Robinho scored for Brazil….
September 8th, 2008 at 19:02
@Stephen: fair play to you mate. I think he has been respectful, professional, maybe a bit naive and selfish in his behaviour over summer. He never once did slate our club or miss a club activity or deadline, rather even went on to try and appease the hurt fans after the media-induced fiasco was coming to an end.
As per gettin somethin back from him, I would believe his performances last season’s and those before would be ok. It’s not like he contributed zilch and when we needed him, he decided to leave or sumthin!.
Call me ‘in tune with the times’, but given the current climate of football, he has actually proved very loyal and respectful towards our club.
September 8th, 2008 at 19:45
Stephen, if you don’t learn to at least TRY to live with it, you are going to be continually disappointed mate. Because this is the climate of modern football. We would have to focus on buying only British players mostly, or at least those players also who don’t mind marked change in culture, and lack of sunshine
.
September 8th, 2008 at 19:53
Krishnan, I was saying mate that DIC had asked the Glazers if they were interested in selling the club, and that DIC would have brought phenominal wealth with them. That’s why L’Pool want the american owners to sell to DIC. The Glazers said NO to any sale. I wasn’t saying that the Glazers hadn’t been fair owners and given Fergie the players and help he needed. I think there lack of interference in team matters, buying selling etc has been exemplary. Yet I did wonder whether the debts we have racked up as a club, might not some day come back and bite us on the butt. I have no reason for this pessimism, but it has happened to other clubs carrying loads of debt. Things change. But yes, with DIC if they had come in, who knows like you say Krishnan, if they would have been to us the great meddler that Abramovitch is to Chelski. If the City owners are anything to go by, on early coming and going comments, maybe they would.
September 8th, 2008 at 20:09
Any News about Anderson’s Injury Guys????And will Hargo be starting against l’pool….Could you guys pls let me know about our probable midfield against L’pool.
September 8th, 2008 at 21:31
I hear that the Abu Dhabi royal family are estimated at 1 trillion dollars….HOLY FUCK…
September 8th, 2008 at 21:32
YAWNN! Football without United is … boring!
Sept. 13th is next day in my book…
September 8th, 2008 at 21:45
Get it through your skulls. Ronaldo isn’t going anywhere until Fergie does.
Until that time, lets enjoy the boy. He gives his all and leaves his heart out on the field. We can’t ask for much more than that
I know I will.
September 8th, 2008 at 22:12
I was angry at Ronaldo too because we didn’t have chance to celebrate ou