Aug 12
Interview with Rob Smyth
Red Rants welcomes Rob Smyth, formerly of the Guardian, who is currently a freelancer. He is also a Manchester United fan, so I took the chance to catch up with him and thank him for taking out time from his busy schedule. This interview was done a week ago so some of the answers may not fit in with the current state of affairs. But here you go:
Red Ranter: Hello Rob. Let’s start with something easy: your thoughts on United’s past season; players that stood out, turning points, tactics etc.
Rob Smyth: The exasperating thing about last season is that we never really got to bask in it: within days of Moscow the Ronaldo nonsense started, and even watching the end-of-season DVD is a slightly weird experience – precisely because, when you appraise the season, you can’t look beyond Ronaldo. Forty-two goals is absurd for a wide forward and, while I actually think he played better in terms of influencing games overall in 2006-07, the fact is that he scored the opening, tone-setting goal in an amazing 18 games. If that’s not a record, I’d be surprised. For all that, I still think the most important factor was the defence: two goals conceded in seven knockout games, and 22 in the league. Without the defence we’d have been out of the title race by mid-October. Statistically and actually, it’s the best defence we’ve ever had. Rio Ferdinand will never be a United legend for off-field reasons, but on it there’s an argument for saying we’ve never had a better centre-half. He is preposterously good. I’m still slightly uneasy with putting so much eggs in our defensive basket, and the tactics away to Barcelona and Chelsea still rankle, but inevitably those aesthetic concerns are dulled by the end result.
The obvious turning point was Carlos Tevez’s goal at Blackburn, without which the title would have gone into Chelsea’s hands. But in terms of the overall narrative I think a big turning point was the introduction of Anderson against Wigan. Before that we had really struggled for goals – nine in 11 games – but then we put four past them in the second half and 20 more in the next six games. That really got the season going. He faded towards the end, as is to be expected, but he was a revelation for the most part, and watching him own Gerrard at Anfield is a personal highlight of the season. Tactically it was the year we grew to love 4-3-3/4-6-0; ironic, then, that it might be sacrificed this season for a return to 4-4-1-1.
RR: Moving on to the obvious question of the summer: what do you make of the whole Ronaldo soap opera? Your thoughts on Ronaldo in general, the slave comments, and Real Madrid. Do you think there is a chance he’ll go to Madrid despite Fergie’s comments to the contrary?
RS: When I first heard Ronaldo wanted to go, I was upset but acceptant: we always knew this would be a holiday romance rather than something everlasting, like with Eric. But since then has behaviour has been astonishingly repugnant and disrespectful to basically everyone. I don’t think he will go this year – I think it has become far too big a point of principle for Ferguson – and that he will probably be allowed to go next summer. I worry about what it might do to the dressing-room but, as we saw in 2006, these things are quickly forgotten, especially when the man in question is man of the match almost every week. And he will be: there are no concerns about Ronaldo’s level of performance once he is fit. His ego is too great for him to allow that to slip.
RR: The Berbatov transfer: Do you think we need a target man, first of all? Is Berbatov the answer. You thoughts on other options if not Berbatov — the likes of Huntelaar, Benzema etc, perhaps? What do you make of the Levy-Ferguson situation, and is there a chance that he might actually sell him off to a club outside England out of spite? Or will we again pay over the odds?
RS: When I first fell in love with Berbatov, around February 2007, my instinct was that, sublime as he was, he was the wrong type of player for United, who work better with a firecracker such as Saha, stretching defenders and offering a different option. But I think Berbatov is such a fantastic footballer, quicker than we think and also very good in the air, that he couldn’t fail to be a good addition – especially as the usual concern, how he will adjust to the Premiership, is not an issue. And he’s so obviously a United player: unbelievably talented, and with a Cantonese swagger that will piss off opposing fans.
I know people think Berbatov’s signing would compromise the 4-6-0 United played towards the end of the season, but I am not so sure. He’s more mobile than many realise, and has the capacity and the game to roam wherever he wants – albeit from a central base – so in that respect I think United have the capacity to play the same way as last season. That said, Ferguson’s recent comments about playing Rooney out of position, and the departure of Queiroz, might well mean a return to Fergie’s old favourite 4-4-1-1. In that case, Rooney and Berbatov look an absolutely superb partnership. Either way I think it’s a good signing: maybe not for £30m, but despite the debt money feels almost irrelevant when United go into the market, because you know they are going to get done on the price.
I don’t think Levy will sell abroad, mainly because I’m not sure there’s that much interest. If it did fall through Benzema would be perfect – in fact I’d take him over Berbatov – but it seems there is no chance of that. I’m not convinced by Huntelaar, who I’m not sure is mobile enough and seems a bit too much like 04-06 Van Nistelrooy to me. Eto’o seems to carry too much baggage, even though stylistically he is absolutely perfect for this side. So it all comes back to Berbatov; there are worryingly few viable alternatives.
RR: Any other positions that need strengthening?
RS: Right-back is certainly a concern. There is scarcely any precedent for a player of Neville’s age coming back from a long-term injury to play regularly. Brown overachieved last season but is still limited in that position, particularly in possession. And the cover is less than inspiring: Simpson has promise but the first half against Everton suggested he was out of his depth, and O’Shea is no more than mediocre. Hargreaves might be our best back-up there.
The other area in which we are incredibly weak is goalscoring from midfield. I accept that, in part, that is a product of the way we play, with two deep-lying midfielders, but nonetheless a return of eight in 179 games from the five main CMs is appalling for a side with such quality and ambition. You would hope there is scope for Anderson to add this to his game; as we saw with Ronaldo, and also Fabregas last season, goalscoring is often the final frontier for a talented young player, and when they do they come in spades.
Cheers for your time Rob.
I did send him a follow up question regarding Ronaldo’s interview, and his views now on the whole saga. When he does reply, I will add it to the interview. I do hope to do some more interviews during the season with other people (perhaps with Rob again, sometime in the future). So watch this space.
Update: Here’s my follow up question on the Ronaldo interview and his opinion on the Portuguese winger.
RR: Now that Ronaldo has spoken about his intent. What are your thoughts? Do you think the OT faithful will forgive. Will he still be booed by fans to let him know what they think of him. What would it really take for him to win back the affection? Will you forgive?
RS: I think the Megastore Majority will forgive, but the harder core won’t, and I doubt we’ll hear Viva Ronaldo at too many away games. To them I think he will become a footballing fuck-buddy: someone who gives you moments of ecstasy but without any emotional commitment whatsoever. I’d be really amazed if he won back the away support: not because of his desire to go to Madrid, which is fine, but for the way in which he went about it. I think the only possible way it could happen is incrementally, over a period of three or four years in which he doesn’t say anything about Madrid. But that simply isn’t going to happen.
Related items from Red Rants:
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- Some interesting reads
- Interview with Phillippe Auclair
- Ten minutes of madness, a summer of regrets?
- Manner of United’s Win More Important than three points
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@Grognard: exactly! I’m sure more than a few of us were excited by the signings of Kleberson or Djemba Djemba
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@Mike: Sounds good, but i’ll have to wait to see if its really true, if it is, £25m is kinda a good price, and i’m happy Fergie didn’t cave in to their £28-38m demands. Also, its looks like Levy’s case will be thrown out, which is awesome news. We get the player for a good price, Levy has nothing on us. He’ll probably say this wasn’t a sale and that his hands were forced. Hopefully Fergie didn’t donate a penny to the Spurs charity…
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@Grognard: I agree that the 4-2-3-1 can be negative, but with the release passing ability of Hargo and Carrick it needn’t be negative. That is, it’s not as though either of them are just going to park their ass in front of the back 4 and contribute nothing offensively. Better still, its flexability, which you admit, allows you adequate defensive cover in the form of a 4-5-1 that you can then fluidly alter to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-4 on attack or counter. Seems the best of both worlds to me, though I agree it hardly needs to be used against the premiership lower-weights.
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haha i read the rob smyth article, and hindsight is a bitch when u have been proven wrong. and wrong u were, so very wrong…
but you were also just doing your job. plus no one (at that time) would have disagreed with you. only now are people not harping on the fact that carrick is worth his weight in 18million pounds. so i reckon u cant be faulted when some of your predictive peices have been proven wrong
but isnt it nice that a reporter with inside info dishes out juicey bits so that average fans get them first? (only if its true and u arent pulling our leg, because if you lie, so help me….
)
haha lets hope we get our much awaited signing…
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I just added Rob’s reply to my follow up question on Ronaldo (following his big interview to Publico) at the end of the post. Do have a read.
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Even more awesome news:
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/08/12/Prem-Guardiola-rules-out-Henry-sale/
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I’ll believe it when he has actually been signed and unveiled at a press conference. After this summer of total bullshit and tabloid rumours running wild I have had my fill of teasing and I want facts and proof. Now I have to hope and pray that Huntelaar isn’t signed by either Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal in the next couple of years. That would break my heart.
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@Wink: but isnt it nice that a reporter with inside info dishes out juicey bits so that average fans get them first?
Hence Red Rants, the site that always gives
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I’m with RR and Grog amoung others. Until I see it on the Utd site – oh wait, there was that whole Ramsey thing. Until I see a picture of him beside SAF holding his new #9 jersey (please Fergie take it off of Saha) I’m holding my breath. I guarantee, however, that the first thing I do upon waking is some serious surfing of BBC, Setanta, and Manutd.com
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Since when did reporters stop being human being that have the same up and down emotions as the rest of us. If I had a penny for every time I had made wrong judgements and spouted them forth, I’d be a feckin rich man. I know that goes for the rest of you all too, so don’t deny it lol. Rob Smyth, like most reporters, are not going to get it right all the time, and when was there a LAW decreed that we couldn’t say one thing one minute, and change our mind the next?. Rob may have felt what he wrote was a mistake, but it is how he saw it at the time, and like the rest of us, he is entitled to say how he is seeing things. Reporters sometimes commend and defend, and other times attack and maul, that’s the darn truth of it. I can live with that, because it gives all bloggers an opportunity to have a bloody good moan, or squeal with delight if we agree with what’s said. Rob, I hope you will find time now and again to visit this blog and post. And don’t feel you have to be defensive all the time either.
Oh how I hope Berba is indeed finally signing for us in the next few days. If he does, then the reporters/commentators from talk sport were right, when they said they had inside info that Berba was definately going to sign with us. However, their timing was out, because it is somewhat over the 48 to 72 hours they stated on the show.
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Mmmmm, I just read your question, and Rob’s answer about Ronaldo!. M’thinks you have been in cohoots with RR and those who have the same mindset lol. You just got through admitting Rob that you made a mistake in things you said, and apologised for it, and RR and others immediately supported you. Why can’t Ronnie be given the same response to his apology and admission that he made mistakes and went about things wrongly. DOUBLE STANDARDS m’thinks going on here.
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@Eric the Red: That’s it mate. Until he is introduced in a press conference where he is holding or wearing a United home jersey I will consider all news BS. The media bloodsuckers have already taken too much of my blood this summer. I’m not falling for another one.
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@Craig Mc: Good one Craig. Quality burn.
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I just don’t think that Berba is the right player for us. Grognard; you said that he will get a load of assists but that is the type of player that both Rooney and Tevez are and you know what they say about too many cooks… I still think that when a player like Eto’o is available at a knockdown price he would be worth taking a chance. He is what we’ve been crying out for a fit and better Saha. He is a goalscorer and a playmaker second. I just feel that Berbatov is the oposite. Then again I’m usually sceptical about the players that join us. Some players have to really prove themselves to me before they are accepted. I have gone through that process with Rooney, Carrick and Hargreaves in recent years. Maybe its just Irish natural bias against English but now Rooney is probably my favourite player and Carrick is a quite well liked player. Hargreaves still has to do a bit more but I’m now willing to give him a chance.
Shit! As I write this I see on SS that Eto’o is staying with Barca. Still I think we need a different option to Berba. He doesn’t have to be a target man IMO because I think that is overrated. We just have 2 top class SS and no CF. David Villa would be great for instance because he is a great goalscorer and I don’t think that aerial ability would really make too much of a difference when most of our misses last season were ones that a great finsher would have put away not necessarily a target man
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@Red Ranter:
Apologies RedRanter. To be honest, I’ve had a bit of a chip on my shoulder about Rob Smyth since I saw that article 2 years ago, so you can imagine I was a little irked when I saw his much changed opinions getting air-time on here. I subsequently made a comment about him being a bit of a ‘fatherless boy’ and such (if you know what I mean), however my post never made it onto the blog, so I assumed I was being censured. If that wasn’t the case, then I apologise for accusing you.
Grognard and others have suggested I was being a bit harsh. Well I’m sorry, but when you read a newspaper article that makes you sick with rage because of its shear absurdity and viciousness, then that writer isn’t going to exactly provoke good feeling from you when you stumble across him again for virtually the first time since you read that last piece. Rob has explained himself, and I appreciated his reply. Some journalists would be so arrogant so as to completely ignore any criticism coming their way. Rob was not, and for that I applaud him.
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@Craig Mc: Your comment first appeared as if you were referring to me, but then I saw that it was addressed to Rob.
It surprises me that you see both situations as the same thing.
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@RedAddict: I don’t know about the fatherless boy one, but there was one where you called him something else that I deleted because, I didn’t want attacks to be personal as I mentioned above.
About the links I don’t know how it got sent into the spam queue. The system goes bonkers from time to time.
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@Red Ranter:
Yes, I may have made reference to him being somewhat of a ‘see you next tuesday’. Really, I was a bit of line. I won’t abuse the guests like this in future, promise.
Forget it about the links. I was just frustrated at the time, but I understand it can’t be easy to juggle the problems with a blog like this. If I have any more legit problems in the future I’ll let you know through the mailing facility.
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RR – It surprises me that you can’t see the similarity in both situations lol. I would call myself one of the ‘hardcore’ that Rob refers to in his comments about Ronnie, and if as Rob and you say RR, that United fans will drag this out, until Ronnie is so dispirited that he really feels he cannot stay because he has lost the United support forever, then I think Fergie should have flogged him, because some of us obviously don’t back Fergies judgment. Rant over!.
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@Grognard: Grog
Huntelaar will now be signed by Real… as RVN replacement either next year or year after that! We can better forget about him.
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@Craig Mc: I actually disagree with Rob’s generalisation about the hardcore support not forgiving Ronaldo. And Rob saying that Ronaldo will never be forgiven is also something I disagree with. So I really don’t know what you are getting at.
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@Liam: The big difference in the way Berbatov gets his assists is the favt that he plays deep, holds up the ball and then distributes. And when he distributes he has a lot more imagination and flair as he has incredible finesse qualities with his passes. Lobs, chips, flick ons etc. His assists often come when he is facing away from the goal. This is way different than what we have had before. This style and ability is so much like Cantona it’s scary. This is why Fergie is won over by the lad. Fergie’s only human himself and he cannot forget the majesty and total awesomeness of the King. Berbatov may not be Cantona, but he will be reasonable facsimile.
I agree with you about Etoo’s style fitting our system better as he is the anti Rooney and Tevez. So was Huntelaar. But Fergie wants Berbatov and who am I to question him. As for Berby’s questionable attitude, Fergie will square that out like he did with Cantona and other bad boys we have acquired. After you play for a winner like United, you would have to be mad or crazy to want to leave because your attitude is bad. RVN screwed himself royally because he wanted all the glory and he wanted the offense to funnel into him so he could reap the glory. Berbaatov is not like that. He gets just a s much joy setting up a teammate as he does scoring goals. And he will score around 20 goals for us in all competitions. He is not prolific. Don’t expect 30 or 40 goals. He will be just like Cantona. 15 to 20 goals and 10 to 15 assists and a cocky attitude that will piss off the opposition. I can’t wait. OOPS!
I just jinxed it. He’s not signed yet. I’ll wait until he is signed to celebrate. Don’t worry mate, Fergie knows his business. 
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@Eric the Red: No argument here. I agree with that. The team is so great and so dynamic that it can fit so many different formations like a glove. Can Chelsea say that? I don’t think so. They are as flexible as a 60 year old virgin.
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@RedAddict: Fair enough mate. I know how you feel but lets be fair to the fellow for taking his time to do an interview for our blog and lets not forget that we all make mistakes. He admitted his and that should be enough to satisfy you and any of us who had issue with it. He sounds like a stand up person and I for one, hope he contributes more of his knowledge and feelings on united in the future.
RR; Next time you talk with him ask him what he thinks of some of our opponents and who his least favorite team and players are. Inquiring minds want to know.
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@jos: Ah shit! I knew we had lost him but for him sign for Real Satan would be just horrible. That would be a real shame. If not United a team that would have suited him beautifully would have been Bayern Munich but they are already stacked at striker. I wouldn’t mind seeing Spurs sign him. He would be very good for Tottenham and would really create a mini rivalry with us due to Berbatov and Huntelaar being linked with us.
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Re the reporter, at the time it was very fashionable to write United off so presumabely he was instructed to toe the party line and write a scathing column. Maybe his editor was anti-United.
Real Madrid are assembling a Dutch brigade with Van der Vaart the latest addition. It seems entirely plausible he’ll end up replacing RVN in the Dutch team and the Real team.
I hope we do wrap up Berbatov deal because I cannot think who else we’re going to get. If its true we had a bid rejected for Silva..but that surprised me because we already have Ronaldo and Nani on the wings. Villa like Silva wants to stay in Spain. Benzema wants to stay in Lyon or go to Spain. Who else is left but Berbatov?
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@Liam: I pray to god this signing comes true. You may be skeptical right now, but Fergie picked a good player in berbatov.
Ps, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I once heard his first touch cures cancer. I think I read it on tribalfootball…
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@Grognard: Well I am not sure if he would relish move to Spurs! He is with one of the European giants and spurs are not really in the same league. He’d do better to stick with Ajax if no big team comes for him this year. He can move to the likes of Barca (who will need replacing Henry soon) or AC Milan or Madrid (who will need RVN replacement). He can also learn a lot from Van Basten and he the club captain as well at Ajax.
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congratulations on the interview RR
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Predicted squad for big games (until Ronaldo is back):
Mystery striker up front
Rooney and tevez as 2nd strikers/ attacking mids.
Anderson and Hargreaves on the wings
Carrick in the center
Defense the same as last year.
4-1-2-2-1 or 4-3-4-1 depending on how you see it.
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wowwwwwww… new loooooooook… site is looking amazing RR… congrats…
Happy to see the Kisssstiyanoooo wwwwwRonaldoooooooo pic on Headers… 
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@jos: He already learned a lot from van Basten with the national team. He learned that he would be second choice to the over the hill RVN. And when he did play his one game, he scored. Huntelaar owes van Basten no favors and I think if somebody comes a calling, he will be off.
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@Grognard: I couldnt have put it better mate!
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@Grognard: Hasnt Van Basten made him club captain at a club like Ajax at the age of just 24!!! Still doubts about him!
I think Huntelaar was plain unlucky to have RVN in front of him for national duty at the Euros. He is young and his time will come. But yes you are right that he will be off when a ‘suitable’ offer comes. My only point is he shouldnt go to a club like Spurs. Rather he can still wait for one more year and then go to the likes of Utd, ACM, Real, Barca etc. There will be plenty of opportunities for sure. A Spurs move might or might not be successful and that might affect his chances of landing a job at one of the biggies.
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Rambo, I’m sorry mate, but no way will Anderson and Hargreaves be Fergie’s choice on the wings for the BIG games. Fergie like me (thank God) has faith in Nani, and has already declared that he expects a much more mature season for him this time around. I think if Fergie plays with width in mind, Nani will always get his vote before Andie, and of course Hargo is commanding in central midfield. Well, I think so anyway lol.
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@jos: Huntelaar was captain at Ajax before van Basten showed up. And yes, he should wait for a better offer but I have to say in all honesty, that I really believe Spurs are building something very special at White Hart Lane. They are spending money and they are spending it wisely. If they get Arshavin I’m pipping them for 4th even though they are still suspect defensively.
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@jos: Spurs play football the right way and he would no doubt enjoy playing for them. They will also be competent against the big teams this year. They are not as bad, weak or small as you make out. I think most players see it as an attractive destination now too.
@Grognard: I still rate van nistelrooy more than huntelaar despite his age, and there was only ever going to be space for one of them in the starting eleven due to their playing style. It’s unfortunate for huntelaar that van nistelrooy was around really. Van basten did what he thought was best for the team, and i believe he fielded the superior player. Yes, huntelaar scored in his game, but van nistelrooy scored aswell and did his job in the tournament. Van basten’s judgement was therefore proven correct.
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