Mar 17
Is Fabio too good for the reserves?
Rafael da Silva, one of the Brazilian twins United signed has given an excellent account of himself this season. His tenacity, ability to dribble and pace belies his tender years and has caught many eyes world over. But the much touted of the two, however, was Fabio. He captained the Brazilian U-17 team and was the more impressive of the two during the U-17 World Cup.
Fabio has had a frustrating season blighted by injury. He had a shoulder operation which kept him away from action for months, and thus kept him from developing his game. However, since his return to the reserves, he has been nothing short of outstanding. I’ve been witness to only a handful clips and highlights, but there are indications, like his ability to hold his own against Tottenham in the FA Cup, and his general form for the reserves, that it won’t be long before he’ll be getting a real run in the first team.
But yesterday, if not earlier, should have surely put the backroom staff and Fergie on high alert. In a game between United reserves and Rochdale, Fabio scored a hat trick. It’s hard enough for a full-back to score goals, but a hat trick makes one rub his eyes. I was curious to see his stats this season for the reserves, but couldn’t find any in the official site. Thanks to the excellent Man United Youth blog, I found that he has made 9 appearances this season (8 starts, 1 sub) and scored 6 goals. It’s too early to say anything so early about a player, but if these stats are those of a full back, then one can’t help but sit up and take notice.
Reports all over have been glowing about his performance yesterday. And there is talk of a wonderful volley for one of the goals. If anyone can post links to the video, I’ll be well pleased and grateful.
So, the question is, is he ready for the first team?
I’d say, if his brother did alright, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be given a look-in. (Of course, not just because he’s Rafael’s brother.) However, from what I’ve seen of him, I think his attacking instincts could be better served on the left wing, giving us raw pace and fearlessness that seems to be in short supply in the first team. Fergie seems to have lost faith in Nani this season, and there aren’t any other creative players with searing pace, bar Ronaldo, on the wing. I’d say, why not? But I’d love to hear from you.
I’ll leave two links to the match reports of the game:
1. A poster, on Red Cafe
2. Man United Youth’s match report.
- ‘Fabio will be one of the greatest left backs for Manchester United’
- Video: Diouf Scores Again for the Reserves
- Two Reasons Why United Aren’t Looking for Fullbacks
- Featured Video: Manchester United Reserves v Newcastle and Citeh
- On the Kaizer Chiefs Friendly + Rodrigo Possebon
Tags: Discussions
March 17th, 2009 at 10:03
After seeing how poor Evra has been in the past two games, surely there are worse things to do then give him a chance against Fulham? My only concern would be that he’ll line up against Dempsey, who is quite good in the air, and Fabio doesn’t strike me as a dominating aerial presence!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:09
Even he will be ignored.Carlos Q. had a dream of succeeding Ferguson so he brought in a Portuguese contingency of players with the kind of football philosophy he believes in.Touch and flair game.Its the reason Nani and Anderson played well,why Tevez was good,why the Da Silva twins came and why Possebon was seen as the next big thing in Europe by United fans.Oh i forgot Manucho.Young players were given chance to play and we were the envy of the Premiership and Europe.
When CQ left for Portugal,Fergie went back to his old self.First by appointing a puppet as an assistant coach and trying to rejuvenate his old servants who are supposed to be bit part players judjing by performance,and in the process suppressing the CQ players.We have shot ourselves in the foot and we now cant say we are the best team.look at how we perform against the top sides.
We have gone back to singing praises of Darren Fletcher as a starter at United,Giggs a creative midfielder and who knows what else?I call that Recession as a team.If Fletcher and Giggs are your better players it is not because they have moved overnight from average players to super stardom.Its because they have dragged the team to their level and that should be scaring.Not for Fergie.We cant ride on our luck all the time.This was bound to happen.
Our strikers are also an enigma.They treat the box as enemy territory yet that is supposed to be their office.Am tired o fans giving excuses for Rooney and how much he runs,wins balls(not so correct if you look at the stats of our 3 strikers)if we wanted that striker we should have kept Alan Smith.You want to help the team?score goals.Do you see Torres running?his job is defined not by him or his manager,but by football itself.score.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:26
Am not too sure SAF will risk fielding Fabio against Fulham. Though, we completely dominated them in the FA cup tie , they have a good record there. The players would be fired up anyway and I just hope the tempers wont be flying high. There is every chance that the lads might try too hard to set things straight. Yes , Evra has been woeful since his return but I would prefer an experienced defender to a young raw talent such as Fabio especially when the lads have to hold their nerves , regain their collective cool and leave the horrid result behind. Also Evra would want to prove himself.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:36
@donibrasco: What a pile of utter crap. People love to hark on about how Anderson and Nani have went backwards since CQ left. Well if you care to open your eyes you could see regression in their games in early 2008 while CQ was still at the club. Personally I reckon Anderson’s form has been better in the first half of 2008/09 than the second half of 2007/08.
Why is it that Rafeal has bee giving his chance this season? Possebon’s regression can be traced back to the injury against Boro in the CC. Fabio’s breakthrough has been hampered by injury and Evra. And Manucho, christ he can’t even get himself into the Hull team, that’s how good he is.
Maybe the reason Fletcher and Giggs have got back in the team is because they have pulled their socks up and played well. It strikes me that people were so infatuated with their beloved Latin players that they spend their time making excuses for them instead of actually thinking to themselves that maybe they were not as good as they first thought.
As for Rooney he has been one of our most productive and consistent attacking players this season, so no one has to make excuses for him. And yes, in the last two games I have seen Torres running everywhere, chasing down players, tracking back and making tackles.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:45
Well , whats wrong in singing praises of Fletcher and Giggsy . Fletch did exceptionally well in the first half of the season. Agreed, he will never be the player that Hargo is but he justified his place with some good performances. Though Giggs had a horrible start to the season , he really turned it around with some neat displays. The way he has been playing off late, he clearly is the best attacking mid we have got right now.
As for Rooney , I think he has looked pretty sharp since his return. You cant fault him for not trying against the dippers, he had no support at all.
March 17th, 2009 at 13:42
As much as i can see, don’t be shocked to see the same team as the last match fielded by SAF to prove to others and show what they are really capable of. I could see him making a point to everyone by fielding them.
March 17th, 2009 at 13:42
As much as i can see, don’t be shocked to see the same team as the last match fielded by SAF to prove to others and show what they are really capable of. I could see him making a point to everyone by fielding them.
March 17th, 2009 at 13:59
Plus O’Shea has been shite recently at right back.
March 17th, 2009 at 14:01
@AlphaRS: Then Who hasn’t been, it seems like even loosing form is contagious.
March 17th, 2009 at 15:00
@donibrasco: donibrasco that is a profound theory you have there. It does seem to hold water if you compare the brands of football practiced this year to last. Much slower in build up not enough cutting edge. Not enough incisive passing,etc.
You realy may have stumbled on something there and I have to agree with your opinion of Fletcher but not Giggs in that it is a sad day when Man Utd are depending on players as limited as Darren Fletcher for anything at all( love the guy, but squad player at best), we’d be better off blooding in real talent such as Gibson and Possebon or better yet Anderson. Giggs however has begun to play like a world beater again this year and warrants any praise which has come his way. I also agree with JB regarding Andersons form being better 1st half of 08/09 than 2nd half of 07/08.
You both make valid points. But Brascos assessment of the backroom staff situation is spot on. 2 yes men with virtually no character making no obvious or apparent impact what so ever. Hold your horses with the calling into ? of the quality of the latin contingent however because you are sorely mistaken if you are in any doubt of the abilities of Nani and Anderson. Anderson will definately become 1 of the best midfielders in the world and Nani is has incredible natural talent and mind blowing potential, his temperament and mindset however is and I fear may always be suspect.
The point about the reluctance of our strikers to play as “strikers” is the point which conjures the most significant concerns of all however. I must confess that in this respect I fear SAF may have made the most unforgivable mistakes of all.
1. Allowing Rossi to leave under any circumstances. He is world class.
2. Not rectifying the issue regarding us needing a goal scoring poacher type centre 4ward. And instead of buying the much cheaper, much younger, and in my opinion much better(goal scorer not footballer)Huntelaar and instead buying Berbatov( who incidentally I am a massive fan of,) out of some misplaced sense of nostalgia because he couldnt help himself in wanting to bring about the return of King Eric. Huntelaar 10 Real Madrid appearences 7 of which were starts 6 goals.
Then again we still have Frasier Campbell however who promises an awful lot indeed. A goal scorer at every levels hes played at.
And despite all this Donibrasco Man Utd are still the best team in the world hands down. Which very frightening 4 the rest of the footballing world indeed.
It aint all doom & gloom bro. A perfect team would just be boring, Wouldnt it!!!????
March 17th, 2009 at 15:02
Steven,its not an issue of beloved Latin players.It is clear Nani has lots of skill and has been productive each time he has been selected.Just that non British players(sorry we have more Latins than Eastern Europeans,Africans and Asians)have to shoulder the blame for poor performances.For instance you may never hear people saying Rooney has had a stinker even when it is obvious.All you will hear is that he had no support.What of Tevez,he threaded the pass that got us a penalty and generally was lively.
If Ronaldo doesn’t perform a miracle,then he is lazy,diver…and so on.He can score as many goals and drives us with his pace and skill and fans will still point to him.
About Fletcher and Giggs,who can they displace in Arsenal,Liverpool,Chelsea?
Anderson has been playing well,and in any case did you see Scholes and Carrick against Inter?or carrick against pool?
March 17th, 2009 at 15:51
@donibrasco: In your first post I knew it was coming, even on a completely unrelated topic you managed to find a way to slate Rooney.
and where is this place where people don’t slate Rooney for bad performances? Certainly not on this blog. Btw up until recently a lot of people have been saying Giggs should retire and Fletcher still gets many not United quality comments. Nani being productive? He needs to get a grip. Anderson too. Maybe if they stopped having orgies with Ronaldo they would’ve found time to work on their games and actually put pressure on the starting players like Fabio looks to be doing. I’ve been saying for a while there’d be no harm in giving Fabio a run out on the left wing. Anything so that he can get playing time and I won’t feel stupid when I get his name on the back of my shirt next season. Look at his shirt number, he can’t fail! 
March 17th, 2009 at 15:56
@donibrasco: and also considering how Fltcher and Giggs completely outplayed Deco, Lampard, Ballack and Mikel I’d say that your point about who they would displace becomes void. The fact that they are ultimately role players who start 1 in every 3 games is clearly lost on you
March 17th, 2009 at 16:19
In last nights game, Fabio was played as a winger which he has done in a few of his reserve appearances.
I think he should be tried in our midfield… Would be interesting to see him and Evra together destroying the left as well as tracking back.
March 17th, 2009 at 16:54
@donibrasco: I presume I am meant to be Steven.
I have to disagree, by and large the Latin players seem to get a much easier time of it that others. For example if a British/Scandinavian/French player made some of the defensive mistakes that Rafael has this season I’m sure they would have been absolutely hammered. Personally it doesn’t bother me because he is a raw 18 year old but I get the impression he gets a by from some others because he has shown good skills at times.
Only an idiot would slate players because they are Latin/European. My assessment about the Liverpool game, Carrick, Ronaldo and Anderson were crap, Ferdinand and Evra were dodgy, Vidic horrendous and Park, Rooney and Tevez tried hard but lacked support. But why should the Latin contingent get the excuse of not having CQ there to molly coddle them. They are professional footballers, they shouldn’t need a babysitter.
Nani productive? Against a pile of cannon fodder in the cups, other than that he hasn’t had much of an impact anytime he has played in a game of any note.
Personally I don’t give a rats ass about who Fletcher and Giggs would displace in the Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea teams. Both have them have worked hard and consistently performed well when called upon this season. But I’m not sure what you are getting at, as we don’t really have a settled midfield. Carrick is the closest we have to a sure fire starter and he has been consistently the best player in there this season. The others get rotated around him. And I’m not sure what the point about Anderon is either, he has been getting his chances for playing well since returning from injury.
Finally the reason that Ronaldo gets a bit of harsh treatment is because of last summer. If he put in a performance like that last season people would be rushing to defend or excuse him. After what happened with Madrid though you sense the enthusiasm for that has drained somewhat.
March 17th, 2009 at 16:55
If fabio was a winger, there would be no reason whatsoever to play park.
March 17th, 2009 at 16:59
@MoYa: A guy on redcafe who has done a pretty detailed match report reckons he was playing in the LB slot.
March 17th, 2009 at 17:06
Fabio should be givena chance in the first team. From what I have seen, he has more quality as a defender and an attacker than a combination of Nani and Oshea. And its not only in the reservesm he was the best player by a mile in the 2-1 win against Spurs! Evra has been very dodgy lately, and this may only be a confident problem. But it wouldnt be the end of the world to give Pat a rest and Fabio a chance to shine? He has been brilliant since his return from injury, and he might score some goals for us. He is a good free-kick taker from short distance, and if Ronaldo would let him take one IM sure it would end up in the back of the net. Either playing for Oshea, Evra, Park or Nani, just as long as he plays I will be happy.
March 17th, 2009 at 17:08
@JB: I think he is more of the LWB type… Just like Rafael, only more attacking and, guess what, better defensivly. Should be given a chance…
March 17th, 2009 at 17:31
@JB: I agree, all this since CQ has left all the Latin players have gone backwards bollox, I have said the same thing their form dropped when he was still at the club.
CQ has left us twice, failed at Real and came back tail between legs, he is failing yet again with Portugal so people want to take him back again? What happens again Inter want him he leaves or worse still, he becomes our next manager, then we really will have problems.
March 17th, 2009 at 18:03
The Da Silva Twins are quality. I firmly believe we should field them more
March 17th, 2009 at 18:20
@RedDevilEddy: Well an extremely attacking full back/wing back to be fair. Just pointing out though that he is/was a defender. Evra is an extremely attacking full back and can play at LM in a pinch but you wouldn’t call him a long term solution there. I would be inclinded to believe the same about Fabio.
March 17th, 2009 at 18:21
Donnibrasco, I for 1 am 100000% behind your first comment mate……bar ur rooney complaints that is! Wazza is our main man, he runs our team with his fight/ ethic & goals.
bar that side of it tho im with you mate. with CQ we had a fresh new movemnet on the go. the man had fresh ideas n the new team we had assembled were clearly responding to it!
this season has been a completely diffrent story tho as far as i can see….serious lack of flowing, cohesive football. the results are clearly stil;l there but thats down to the immese quality of the squad.
Giggs is a legend…AGREED. HOWEVER, i for one am fed up seeing him appear in every position under the sun when others shud be in that spot. the man was great but now he’s old. thats life aint it. really feels as if were scrappin the barrel now. giggs and scholes shouldnt start for us anymore in my opinion. at most they shud be comin off the bench to secure matches, slow down the pace of the game, coz thats what they naturaly do now theyr in there twilight yrs!!
Bk to the original point now though…
Im all for wee Fabio gettin a game or two on the left wing, for sure.
im payin no attention whatsoever to ppl tho calling for him to replace Patty after a few substandard games. b4 his injury (jst a number of weeks ago) he was the best player in the fukin team. whats wrong wit everyone??!!!
& by the way…the more i think about it, a Rooney/ Benzema partnership sounds incredible, perfect combination, just like Wazza/Torres would have been.
we need some electric pace up top lads, im convinced of it. thats why we hardly ever see our strikers in the positions we want them to be in, they lack true pace. Aye rooney aint slow but he aint truely quick either. (trust me, i used to be a sprint coach)
I like Berba heaps but for me he duznt tick enough of the relevant boxes we needed ticked! id much prefer he was a quick player, ala Benz/ Torres/ Pato… Our attack would have much benefitted from it.
March 17th, 2009 at 18:32
@ Realred – I could be wrong, but aren’t Rooney and Ronaldo two of the fastest players in the premiership?
I agree Tevez isn’t nearly as fast as I wish he was, but also don’t think Berbatov needs to be all that pacy. Ruud was never very quick but always in the right place at the right time. In fact, strikers don’t need genuine pace unless you play primarily long ball or counter-attacking. This season we’ve done neither, so I can’t see us benefitting from an Agbonhlahor esque presence. Torres works so well at Pool because he is able to get onto balls behind defences, usually because the rest of the Pool team are camped out in their own half, so the opposition defence is high up the pitch.
March 17th, 2009 at 20:15
This is probably a moment of craziness. But how about playing a 5-3-2. That would cut out the need for good wingers. We can make use of Evans, Rio and Vidic. The Da Silva Twins can bomb down the wings. We can play three central midfielders to beef up that area of the pitch. And Ronaldo and Rooney could play as unorthodox strikers.
March 17th, 2009 at 20:29
….Along with Macheda(once he works on his discipline issues) and Petrucci, I think all three are too good for the reserves. Hopefully they feature in the Carling Cup next year. Plus judging by the match report, it looks like Possebon had a good game, hopefully he’s getting back to his pre- Pogatez form.
March 17th, 2009 at 20:36
@colver: Didn’t we try Evra on the wings once because of the same reason, his speed? Didn’t work out too well. Might not work for the twins either.
March 17th, 2009 at 21:34
Beach, as i was saying, Rooney does not posess true pace. hes not slow by any means however, hes not rapid either
Ronaldo is the only one with true pace but he seems uninterested in using it this season.
were classy but sluggish up front, thats whats holding us back.
BTW Arhavin is fuckin dinamite. World class. he worries me. His vision/passing is incredible, never mind his dribbling!!
March 17th, 2009 at 22:28
@realred: I was saying that and often criticized for it for months. I’ve said all along the player was dynamite but people said he would suck in the Prem. Well, he doesn’t look to be sucking with Arsenal and he has played well even in the games they drew 0-0 in. What I would give for Huntelaar to come and prove some people wrong there too.
March 17th, 2009 at 23:35
Even he will be ignored.Carlos Q. had a dream of succeeding Ferguson so he brought in a Portuguese contingency of players with the kind of football philosophy he believes in.Touch and flair game.Its the reason Nani and Anderson played well,why Tevez was good,why the Da Silva twins came and why Possebon was seen as the next big thing in Europe by United fans.Oh i forgot Manucho.Young players were given chance to play and we were the envy of the Premiership and Europe.
When CQ left for Portugal,Fergie went back to his old self.First by appointing a puppet as an assistant coach and trying to rejuvenate his old servants who are supposed to be bit part players judjing by performance,and in the process suppressing the CQ players.We have shot ourselves in the foot and we now cant say we are the best team.look at how we perform against the top sides.
We have gone back to singing praises of Darren Fletcher as a starter at United,Giggs a creative midfielder and who knows what else?I call that Recession as a team.If Fletcher and Giggs are your better players it is not because they have moved overnight from average players to super stardom.Its because they have dragged the team to their level and that should be scaring.Not for Fergie.We cant ride on our luck all the time.This was bound to happen.
Our strikers are also an enigma.They treat the box as enemy territory yet that is supposed to be their office.Am tired o fans giving excuses for Rooney and how much he runs,wins balls(not so correct if you look at the stats of our 3 strikers)if we wanted that striker we should have kept Alan Smith.You want to help the team?score goals.Do you see Torres running?his job is defined not by him or his manager,but by football itself.score.
- I can’t fault this post donibrasco
March 18th, 2009 at 1:12
05/06 Torres: 40 apps 13 goals Rooney: 48 apps 19 goals
06/07 Torres: 40 apps 15 goals (beside Sergio Aguero) Rooney: 55 apps 23 goals
07/08 Torres: 46 apps 33 goals Rooney: 43 apps 18 goals
08/09 Torres: 28 apps 11 goals Rooney: 31 apps 13 goals
bar last season Rooney has been as prolific as Torres. Taking into account Rooney having to regain match fitness after being very injury prone and having to play more games. As well as creating waay more than Torres and having Ronaldo who rarely involved his teammates and was central to our attack for the past 2 seasons and I think nobody can say that Torres is that much superior to Rooney. But then again Rooney is exempt from criticism so I better start slagging him
March 18th, 2009 at 1:24
so.. no one has the highlights then?
March 18th, 2009 at 2:26
If Park can play on the wings, then I dont see why Fabio couldnt do it in a pinch.
I am also very interested in Petrucci and Macheda, how have they been doing in the reserves? are they close to breaking thru like welbeck?
March 18th, 2009 at 2:28
@Liam: Rooney is exempt from criticism, Ill agree with donibrasco on that part. Tevez has a bad game and people are shouting for fergie not to sign him permamently, but when rooney has a bad game and people make excuses for him. just to be clear I like both players, it just appears that people are awfully forgiving of Rooney but wont extend the same courtesy toward our other attackers(Berba,ronny,tevez…)
March 18th, 2009 at 2:31
@johnsom33: Johnsom, I think Petruchi might be injured, because I haven’t seen him lately in the reserves. Macheda is a great goalscorer one on one, he is brilliant. Fergie might try to bring him thru to the first team squad next year. Fabio is great going forward, and has a definate eye for goal. I am not convinced of his defensive abilities yet though mate. Rafael seems better defensively.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:33
@johnsom33: I agree with you Bro.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:47
Rafael has contributed more going forward than in his designated position and it seems Fabio is doing the same.
Fabio has played just over a half of first team football for us, and he looked good, but I’m not sure a stint on the bench (and that’s all he’ll get right now) will do him any good. What would be interesting though, is if SAF brings either one on as a midfielder!! They both have pace and good ball control and have shown ability to score goals, and really, what have we got to lose?
March 18th, 2009 at 5:54
it’s early to tell if fabio can dislodge evra at left back
March 18th, 2009 at 8:06
Plus, every game is clutch (- I almost spelled crutch
-).
We cannot really “gamble” with games anymore as we did in the early stages of CC and FA Cup.
Every game is MUST WIN and should feature the TOP FORM side.
I think, that included Giggs and not Da Twins.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:18
@Craig Mc: interesting, thought it was the other way around.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:48
I think he is ready for first team action – the only problem is that Evra is at left fullback. Regardless of the Frenchman’s performances in the last two games – I still think he is the best left back in the league.
Fabio’s progress has been hindered by injury and of course Evra – whilst Rafael has blossomed due to the injuries to Brown and Neville. Both players will be big players for United over the next ten years – legends in the making.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:03
@johnsom33: I don’t know where the exempt from criticism part is from, given the number of times I have defended him on here.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:05
@Madschester United: I agree Madchester, if we win the next 8 games, the PL is ours. Every game is a MUST win game for us, because the scouse gits and the chelski-ites are determined to go WIN all their upcoming games to end of season. We shall see how Lfool get on next week against Arsenal who are coming into form now. I am hoping for at least a draw. Nevertheless, we need to focus now on winning our next 8 games.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:14
CQ had a dream of taking over from Fergie?
Well if he did why did he fuck off to manage Portugal?
We are in the strongest position we can posibley have dreamt of at the start of this season, and blaming Phelan for loosing against Liverpool or Anderson and Nani’s lack od development is at best short sighted, Fletcher in spells this season had been superb as has Giggs, and Scholes was simply unplayable against Fulham so saying they should retire almost now is laughable.
I am as annoyed as anyone about loosing to the dippers, but it was a one off, a freak of nature and I am delighted to be in all competions with two trophies in the cabinet, with more to come. Liverpool have none and if the highlight of their season doing the double over us then they really have smoe serious problems.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:36
@donibrasco: I agree with your post (most of it at least). More importantly, I can see what you’re getting at and is in full agreement with that.
—
On Fabio…
I am dying to see both him and Rafael on the pitch at the same time.
I would love to see what will happen if both of them were to play on the same wing (on at back, the other in midfield). I have a feeling it can be pretty awesome.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:37
Fabio goals
March 18th, 2009 at 11:39
[...] week, Fabio scored a hat-trick whilst playing as a left-back for the Reserves, proving again just how able he is. He came from [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 11:57
@Stephen: A freak of nature – hahaha – I like that
.
March 18th, 2009 at 14:00
[...] Fabio has made just one appearance for the senior team this term, impressing in his 52 minute run out against Tottenham in the FA Cup. He has since been utilised in the Reserves but surely he’s too good for that. [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 14:36
I think Johnson33 put my rooney point across the way i intended.He does not get treated like our other strikers who are always targeted no matter what.
Any way my original point was that i really want Fabio to be given a chance but expressed my fears.It is not a knee jerk reaction following Liverpool loss,but a general view of what i feel might happen.
We are in a great position and thats all that matters,but in your opinion do you think we have gone a step foward or backwards?
March 18th, 2009 at 14:51
@donibrasco: Rooney got quite a lot of stick around here.
March 18th, 2009 at 15:40
@donibrasco: Is that for me matey?
March 18th, 2009 at 17:09
Giggs is pissing me right off with his pro Lfool comments. WTF is wrong with you Ryan. L’pool are a great team, I fear their players will win the PFA player of year awards, Torres, Gerrard world class etc etc FUCKING etc. Why don’t you tip them for the feckin PL title as well Ryan. This is a time to be bigging up Man Utd, not those tarts up the M62. You better play like you believe you can feckin win Giggsy if you are in the team at Fulham. Otherwise I’ll make your ears burn with spine tingling verbal duffing up . I don’t want players in our team bigging up L’fool at an important stage of our season
.
March 18th, 2009 at 17:42
Sorry RR but we need a new topic that is more game or team oriented because talking about Fabio is clearly not stimulating conversation.
March 18th, 2009 at 17:46
this is something to talk about
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1162975/EXCLUSIVE-Wigan-winger-Valencia-WILL-sign-Manchester-United-summer.html?ITO=1490
March 18th, 2009 at 17:47
@Craig Mc: This is why I always loved the old Arsenal and more recent Chelsea rivalries because in those games the player seemed to hate their opponents as much as we did. I have never gotten the impression that the present crop of United players has any dislike or animosity towards the present crop of Scouse filth. It’s left up to us the fans to spread the hate. It’s kind of a betrayal of sorts but then again, players care more about the money and the network than they do about age old rivalries and bitter memories. That sort of thing is left with supporters to deal with. After all, when it’s all said and done, that is why footballers all come across as soft tossers to me.
March 18th, 2009 at 17:50
@ROOOOONEY: Valencia is a nice little player but we certainly could do better with a little more cash. I’d much prefer a little more ambition and an attempt for Franck Ribery and doesn’t Fergie think it’s time we finally corrected the musical chairs situation in central midfield? Carrick needs a full time qualified partner.
March 18th, 2009 at 17:54
@RedDevilEddy: it should have been four goals! wow!
btw, who’s that number 9? keeps feeding fabs the ball!
March 18th, 2009 at 17:57
Something I just read online should get Craig a little hot under the collar. Sort of a betrayal their by the Lil Man wouldn’t you say Craig?
“Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Nani has joined the growing chorus advocating Jose Mourinho as Sir Alex Ferguson’s natural successor.
Although Manchester United beat Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the last round of the Champions League, the winger believes the former Chelsea and Porto manager will be the ideal replacement for Ferguson if and when the legendary Scot decides to call it a day.
Nani told the Irish Examiner: “Everyone knows Jose Mourinho’s qualities as a coach, and for him to manage a team like Manchester United, with this club’s potential, would be an easy job.”
March 18th, 2009 at 17:58
Rumor has it that Zenit is lining up for PIG for 4 million GBP, true or not i say sell him.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:00
@Grognard: Rio then Nani
well, United would be dull with that twat around, clearly i’m not a big fan of mourn
March 18th, 2009 at 18:10
@Grognard: I’d have to call myself a betrayer then Grog, because you know I advocated that I wouldn’t mind Mourinho at United. If I remember correctly you did too, saying you thought he could take the pressure of following Fergie, for at least 2 years interim period. I don’t see where Nani was being a betrayer anymore than Rio, who feels the same way. I think quite a lot of players have respect for Jose. I can understand Nani wanting a Portuguese manager/coach, for obvious reasons. I don’t think lil man will be with us when Fergie retires though, so it won’t make a difference.
.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:13
@Grognard: ps – one thing is for sure Grog. Jose would have not been taking all the SHIT Rafa Benitez has been dishing out to Fergie and our club lately. He would have stuck it back to him big time, as he got Benitez all steamed up in the Chelski/Lfool bust ups.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:24
@Grognard: Mmmmm that must be why Rafa and his scouse git players, plus the chelski manager and players are mouthing it all over the place about how they are gonna DO Man Utd, and give it to us large. Believe me when I say the Lfool and Chelski players hate us with an unparalelled hatred, and they are desperate to kick our arses out of the top four, and to deprive us of every trophy they are still competing for. I don’t think money is involved at all, it is HURT PRIDE – end of
. Which makes me even more maddened with the meeley mouthed platitudes coming out of the mouth of Giggs and even Rio right now. Get your feckin pride and passion back UNited FFS. Its paper headlines accusations today, that Rooney, Ronnie and Tevez didn’t bother to turn up for the Lpool game 
. They better come out guns blazing against Fulham, and the remaining games. The fans will be turning up giving ALL for the cause. I expect if we do go down (God forbid), we had better go down feckin fighting!.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:33
@Craig Mc: I don’t think he is being a betrayer anymore than you or I am. I just think it would get a lot of others upset. I too am an advocate of Mourinho as a short term replacement until that great and true heir to the throne shows up. and God knows when that will be because I certainly don’t see that bloke around right now. I’m sure you agree, we could do a lot worse than Mourinho. At least the Special One, we are guaranteed to continue winning and being in the thick of things. Even if our brand of football looses a little of it’s beauty.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:35
gary neville is a red.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1162985/Manchester-United-captain-Gary-Neville-isnt-hedging-bets-title–just-look-Google-Earth.html
Also, with Rafa still looking to offload Alonso, maybe we should do the unthinkable and buy a scouse.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:37
@Craig Mc: And who won those Chelsea vs Liverpool bust ups? My point is that Fergie is doing the right thing by allowing that fat Spanish windbag to say what he wants while Fergie allows him to hang himself in the media and then responds in kind by winning the title. Let him make a fool of himself and show some class and dignity. It’s up to us the supporters to get upset and start throwing the trash back. Fergie has more important things to do, like seal the holes in the Titanic so it doesn’t sink completely next time. Mourinho’s mistake is he would get baited and fall for it and then he would be distracted from his real job, which was to prepare the team for Liverpool.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:48
@Traverse: No doubt about that mate! United Through and Through! Top Man!
March 18th, 2009 at 18:53
@Grognard: I’m pretty sure I don’t have to create a new thread for you to bring something to debate today. When I get time off from work, I’ll post something up.
March 18th, 2009 at 18:55
@Grognard: You know Grog, Mourinho WON those mind blowing tangles with Rafa. Rafa was raging, and Chelski won the PL 2 years running, and would have added a 3rd if the Comrade Abramovitch didn’t stick his stupid nose in where it didn’t belong. Also you really are not going to tell me that Chelski weren’t robbed in their CL tangles with the scousers? Lpool as they did with Arsenal got offside goals AND undeserved penalty kicks. No way should Arsenal have lost to them in CL recently, Arsenal WERE ROBBED. Rafa talks about United getting ref favours at OT. He should look at his own backyard. Anfield get more favours because of the Kop, and Gerrard is as expert as Ronnie at diving
.
March 18th, 2009 at 19:03
@Craig Mc: You know I’d like to agree with you but there just seems to be too much love after games when they hug each other and exchange jersey’s. In the times of Roy Keane he would walk off after a game looking pissed off even after win and telling Patrick Vieiera to go fuck himself. I miss those days of bitter rivalry and poor sportsmanship. Football has become a game where nobody hates nobody, where diving and play acting is the way to defeat your opponent and where the animosity and competitiveness ends as soon as the whistle blows. It never used to be that way. There was a time when bitter rivals were truly bitter, that they would sneer and tell each other off in the tunnel just waiting to come out. Some might disagree with me and say that there is no room for that kind of stuff in the game. I disagree. I say bring back full frontal hatred of your opponent. Stop the play acting and diving and stop the disgusting hug fests and kissing competitions after games. I don’t want these guys to like each other or admire each other. Fine respect each other but at the end of the day never say a kind thing about them or to them and hate their guts on game day. I’m even sure Fergie prefers it that way. I mean even look at him. There was a time he and Wenger would have a quick and cold handshake. Now it’s much warmer and a few kind words are exchanged. There was a time he wouldn’t give Mourinho the time of day and now they share wine and tell war stories to each other. I’m glad things have cooled between him and Rafa because I remember times where they would greet each other before a game and smile and hug.
Sportsmanship is overrated. I am not advocating cheating or playing dirty or trying to intentionally injure players but I do not believe just because this is sports and not war, that we have to like, love or be friendly to our opponents. Like Rommel, everbody respected him but he was still a part of Nazi Germany and an enemy. Much more serious stuff than football but then again, supporters look at football with much more seriousness than perhaps teams do these days. After all, it is us poor blokes who dish out the money in tickets and merchandise in order to support our team. Our money is dear to us and in many cases, a lot of us don’t have that much to spend so an investment in Man Utd is heart felt and passionate. We only expect that same kind of sacrifice from our players. We want them to care about winning and dislike the opponent with the same passion and desire we hate them. Go into a game and imagine you are up against 11 blokes wearing Ku Klux Klan gear and let them have it. Throw them to the sword. Perhap I have been brought up wrong here in Canada where I have become used to hockey culture where players don’t shake hands after a game (unless it’s the end of a playoff round) and where animosity is great amongst rivals and where good old fighting often settles a lot of the problems. It might seem Neanderthal to many footy fans but I will say this again, hockey is a man’s game played by real men with giant sized bollocks who settle their grudges like real men and not by diving acting like they just got shot by Lee Harvey Oswald.
In America some classic black and blue rivalries like Chicago vs Green Bay or Dallas vs Washington have often been bitter and ugly. Tough physical games played in snow, cold and mud. Where they all come out of the game bloodied and bruised but with their dignity and pride intact. Footy doesn’t have enough hard men anymore. That’s why we love and respect a Keane and a Vidic. Because they have not allowed the sissy and gay subculture of football to change their way of thinking.
I’m calling for Man Utd to man the fuck up and start playing like hard and tough men. Go at your opponents with some fierceness and commitment and be mean as Hell, show no mercy and take no prisoners. Stop playing like little girls at the spring dance and start throwing you r weight and power around. Tough talk and even tougher to instill on a club with Ronaldo, Evra, Nani and Berbatov. But it’s time for some of the others to start showing some anger towards their opponents instead of too much respect. Find the killer instinct that I feel has been missing for seven or eight years now. I mean never settle for 2-0 or 3-0. Put the bastards to the rack and clean their clocks 6-0. They’d love to do it to us if they had the ability to do so.
Sorry for the rant but I really want to see an attitude adjustment with the club and I want them to get their anger on.
March 18th, 2009 at 19:07
@Red Ranter: Fair enough mate, leave the shit stirring to me.
March 18th, 2009 at 19:08
@Craig Mc: I’m thinking more of the Champions League where Rafa had Mourinho’s number. During Mourinho’s time at Chelsea, Liverpool were never a threat for the League anyway. And yes they did get robbed in the CL.
March 18th, 2009 at 19:31
On a business note, I am trying to understand why Manchester United continue to allow themselves to be linked at the hip with a crooked and corrupt entity like AIG? Yesterday it was confirmed that they paid out $165 Million dollars in bonuses to their executives. This money of course comes from the massive government bailout fund they were given. On top of that, rather than give the money back, many of those execs have taken the route of the golden parachute and have left the company with the money rather than stay and face the music.
My question is when does an organization like Man Utd finally say enough is enough and end ties with such corruption and criminal activity? When do they say that it’s not about the dollar and it’s about doing the right thing and standing up for the millions who have been burned by AIG around the world. I’m sure they would not be breaching any contract if they decided that it was in their best interest to end their relations with them and sever contact. That would allow them to take the AIG logo of their jersey’s as a show of respect to all those who were burned by this corporate piranha. I cannot tell you how disappointed and disenchanted I am with the Glazer’s for continually supporting a company that has ruined and destroyed thousands of lives. And you wonder why the media hates us so?
March 18th, 2009 at 20:28
@Grognard: Ribery is gonna cost us more that 40 Million Pounds! We arent Man Shitty Groggy! We’re Man Utd….. and we have NONE of that much spending ability!
March 18th, 2009 at 20:37
@Darth Red Diablo: I think that’s why I have stated numerous times that Ribery is a pipe dream. He would cost too much. The only way I ever see him coming to OT is as an opponent or if Ronaldo was to actually leave United. In that awful scenario, I could see Fergie looking to Ribery as a capable replacement. But could you imagine a team with Ribery on the left, Ronaldo on the right and Hargreaves and Carrick in the middle? What midfield that would be.
March 18th, 2009 at 21:00
@Grognard: Maybe because they are fulfilling their contractual obligations, on an extremely favorable deal given the current economic conditions, and to attempt to break the contract could threaten the clubs financial health. I would rather have some expert legal opinion on it rather than your gut feeling that it would not breach any contractual obligations.
And save the corruption and criminal activity hyperbole that the tabloid media love to trot out. To label what has happened to AIG like that is a gross over simplification of the entire situation and suggests a distinct lack of understanding around the whole process. AIG are just one component of countless factors that has caused the current economic crisis
March 18th, 2009 at 21:04
@Craig Mc: No we give a better response to any mind games, we went from a 7 point deficit to a 7 point advantage in the space of a couple of months, with 11 consecutive wins. That type of form trumps any stupid mind games that managers play.
@Traverse: Bit too similar to Carrick for me.
March 18th, 2009 at 21:33
@Grognard: Re: AIG, and business sense, in the current economic climate, I suppose, no one would be prepared to do the “right thing” if it means saying no to money — and I mean money coming from legit sources. Especially if you are a debt ridden institution like Manchester United. It’s all well and good to say we have to cut ties with AIG, but since AIG have already said they won’t be continuing on their final year of their contract, I don’t see the sense in trying to make “a statement” in these trying times.
I’d rather see out the year, take the money and say good riddance and move on. The second factor is the definition of questionable business practices that you accuse AIG of doing. The fact is, AIG has been around for decades, and their reputation has been less than stellar for a while. The fact United got in bed with them in the first place itself should have been a point of disenchantment.
The bottomline is, we can’t afford to do “what is right these days”, the least we could do is, what is right for United’s business, as long as it’s legit.
March 18th, 2009 at 21:47
@JB: AIG are run by a bunch of greedy scumbag criminals that sold many people down the creek while lining their own pockets. You can candy coat it all you like but I know differently and I also am related to somebody who got burned by them so I’ll ask you to shut it on the subject because you know nothing about it. Sorry but this subject hits a nerve with me and I know a lot more about it than you give me credit for. The fact that I don’t sit here and give you pages of proof as to how corrupt they are is just mew sparing this site a lot of that crap because it’s not football related. And spare the contractual obligation rubbish because once you get in bed with the devil, there is a way out. It’s just saying goodbye and severing ties. Something the greedy have a hard time doing to each other. Meanwhile our beloved team wears a poster on their chests that signifies corruption, greed and everything that is wrong with the world. WOW JB, that’s really great public relations isn’t it?
March 18th, 2009 at 21:48
Also I’m sure most of you might have seen it by now, but here’s the video:
March 18th, 2009 at 21:51
@Red Ranter: It’s all about money isn’t it? How the Hell is the economy of the world ever supposed to recover with thinking like that. When the greed never allows the economy to recover because it continues to get away with shenanigans and dirty dealings while we all look the other way because we wouldn’t want it to compromise our precious little football team. Pathetic, honestly pathetic. And shame on anyone who would choose the financial well being of their club over the proper legal prosecution and shutdown of a corporation that has destroyed people’s lives. Well RR, perhaps if you were one of the victims or you knew or were related to one, you might be singing a different tune.
March 18th, 2009 at 21:55
@JB: That must be why then, Fergie up until this season, has always been NOTORIOUSLY known for his ACCOMPLISHED mind games. To say otherwise Jb would to talk falsely mate!
March 18th, 2009 at 22:01
@Darth Red Diablo: Thing is though Diablo, we could have had the spending power of Man Pity, because the shieks wanted to buy out United from the Glaziers. I will never understand WHY the Glaziers in so much debt, didn’t want to seel out. It can only be that contrary to popular belief, United are a cash cow, and a lot of the money siphoned off and put into secret accounts in banks in the Cayman Islands – offshore hidden cache of FUNDS – money, money, money
.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:07
@Grognard:
I am looking at it from the perspective of United, because that’s what we are ought to be debating on here. PR or no PR, come next season, United’s season tickets will still be over booked. You think the season ticket holders give a rat’s ass over who the sponsor is? It’s the football on the pitch. If you want to debate on AIG’s unscupulousness well, this certainly isn’t the place for it.
If I was running the club, it then matters to me if AIG is run by criminals or not. Does the sight of AIG on our shirt sicken me? It bloody well does and I don’t even have to make it personal and be burned by AIG to know that much.
But should we take a stand by cutting off our ties on AIG? I can’t say, because I don’t know what is in the legal documents that hold this contract today, the consequences of reneging on it, and it would be presumptuous of me to assume we could just pull out AIG without any knowledge of what is in the contract. So I won’t comment on that aspect of it.
Finally, like it or not, it really is all about the money. But you perhaps don’t understand in what sense I’m referring to. Right now, it is in short supply, and from a pure business perspective, the Glazers will make do with what they get to finance their debt. And I understand their position, if that is the case.
However, me understanding their position has nothing to do with my own value systems that I exercise in my personal life, and my own personal thoughts on AIG as a whole. I am, in general, quite cynical about the business practices of these giant insurance companies. But my personal thoughts on AIG is not to be confused with my thoughts on the Glazers’ position.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:09
@Grognard: what do you think about Matuidi as Carricks sidekick? I also wouldnt be opposed to getting Alonso.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:11
@Craig Mc: you had me until you started talking about secret banks and what not.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:13
@Grognard: The fact that you know a victim makes me inclined to believe you are infact not well placed to judge the situation. But save lecture me on my knowledge of the situation or presume your judgment superior because a relative of yours has been burnt first hand. Whilst not impacted directly by AIG’s actions I know plenty who have suffered indirectly.
There are innumerable parties at fault: from AIG negligent and ill advised foray into insurance of financial derivative products, credit rating agencies who failed to grasp the inherent risks behind the securitization packages that they were grading, to regulators who did not ensure adequate policing of financial institutions.
We have central banks who didn’t identify the possible issues and require banks to bulk out their balance sheets to weather the storm and governments who failed to tackle (or encouraged) a housing market bubble which ultimately triggered the whole disaster. I could go on all night in this vein.
Finally we have joe public, who the media doesn’t really want to implicate because no one really wants to hear it at the minute. The banks may have supplied the rope, regulators and governments tied it but it was the public that stuck their head into the noose. The ‘corrupt fat cat’ bosses in Wall Street are merely a product of today’s society of greed and attitude of I want it all and I want it now.
‘And spare the contractual obligation rubbish because once you get in bed with the devil, there is a way out’, interestingly enough clichés do not invalidate legal contracts, no matter how much you may wish it.
@Grognard: Care to tell us what impact the club canceling its contract has on the proper legal prosecution and shutdown of a corporation that has destroyed people’s lives?
March 18th, 2009 at 22:16
@Craig Mc: I’m still not sure where you were coming from originally though. You argue that Jose wouldn’t have taken all the shit from Rafa but why bother responding to it when Liverpool did such a good job of imploding, up until last Saturday, after his famous rant.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:32
@Red Ranter: How the fudge did you do that?
March 18th, 2009 at 22:46
@Red Ranter: Correct me if I am wrong RR, but isn’t the contract with AIG between them and the OWNERS of Man Utd football club, and not with the club itself per se?
March 18th, 2009 at 22:52
@JB: Because unlike our mind games with other clubs in the past, Rafa has vilified Fergie personally, and not United particularly as a club. He continues to do this, and as the press reported yesterday, Rafa is being called the GOADifier, and says he has no intention of letting up on Fergie personally. He has a ferocious problem with Fergie himself and the things he has said, could be slander. I don’t see that with other clubs, yes they had problems, but it wasn’t personal VENDETTA against Fergie so much, but against Man Utd and a good few of our players. Rafa has made this open warfare on Fergie personally. Fergie apart from the one response, is letting Benitez DO him in the public arena. That is where I was coming from Jb.
March 18th, 2009 at 22:58
@johnsom33: Hahahahaha – then you saw the light eh Johnsom.? It was not a bad thing then to be lighthearted sometimes. God knows we need it after the heaviness of last weekends game
.
March 18th, 2009 at 23:03
@Craig Mc: I doubt it, I’m 99% sure the agreement will be between AIG and Manchester United (I believe this is a holding company called Red Football Joint Venture Limited). Not that it makes much difference since the Glazer family are 100% private owners, so the agreement is essentially with them (other than the obvious differences in legal liabilities).
@Craig Mc: I can see where you are coming from but why get in a war of words with him. Just let Rafa ramble away in the corner and sound paranoid
Incidentally he has just signed a new five year deal with Liverpool.
March 18th, 2009 at 23:10
@JB: Oh Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, not another 5 years or more of Fat Raf Bro
. I really believe he wants to be Fergie, and is insatiable with desire to replace Fergie as the man with influence in football. He is crying out for Lfool’s owners to give more money, and he would like money without end. Also he cannot stand that we have a larger stadium, better facilities and set up, influence on a grand scale, and are more supported by the world’s football populace 
. If Fergie doesn’t respond at all, can we take it, THAT HE REALLY HAS GONE SOFT. Because Jb, one thing we have never seen with Fergie teams is lack of fight, or given up the ghost, but in that game we just shrivelled up. I want passion and fire, Fergie used to insist on that – what happened Jb?
March 18th, 2009 at 23:16
Rafael Benitez, better known as the Fat Spanish Waitor, has delievered a good news to United, Villa, Chelski and other Prem teams` fans. He is staying at Anfield until 2014!
March 18th, 2009 at 23:17
Oh and thanks Jb for your insight into the other question I asked about who the contract was between.
I hope our strikers turn up against Fulham. I was very disappointed with their attitude, poor little damp squids. They have not turned up in the BIG games Jb. If our lot were afraid of L’pool because of the Madrid game, shame on them. I am already pissed with the platitudes of Rio and Giggs about the L’pool squad. The media hype, L’fool fearsome – tell that to Stoke, Fulham and other of the small teams that have done L’pool this season. Fearsome my arse. Our lot better be on fire and HUNGRY as feckin wolves that haven’t eaten for days – or else
.
March 18th, 2009 at 23:18
Guys, what do you make of this team?
Foster
Rafael Vidic Evans Fabio
Hargreaves Carrick
Ronaldo Anderson Welbeck
Rooney
Imagine that 4 years from now. Then we are there.
March 18th, 2009 at 23:26
heard we’re getting a new winger?!
Wigan winger Valencia WILL sign Manchester United summer
March 18th, 2009 at 23:53
oh, just saw it in a previous post, my mistake…
March 19th, 2009 at 3:46
I don’t know if I like Valencia… he is so young and risky – unlike RIBERY!
March 19th, 2009 at 4:32
@Craig Mc: I like your venom here, but I have to ask, or else what??
March 19th, 2009 at 4:53
@JB: It’s clear you do not get where I am coming from so I will just surrender to you and end it right now. To say that I am little shocked and disappointed by how some of us can remove themselves from the suffering of others to corporate criminals and hide in the corner has my jaw hanging in disbelief. My whole point was that I felt a great and honorable team like Manchester United should not mess it’s good name by associating with such a sleazy and unscrupulous corporate entity. We might as well have Bin Laden Construction or Mengele Farm Equipment on our kit next season. After all, why should we give a fuck, all that matters is football and Man Utd winning. You win JB, I give up consider your self one of Mourinho’s champions.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:01
@Red Ranter: Perhaps you should read a little more about them and watch CSPAN to see just what kind of crap they have been up to. Simply put, it hurts me and bugs me that the team I love and support is in bed with such a corporate whore and criminal. To some like JB I am an over reactive old woman who needs to shutup but I just can’t. My cousin lost a quarter of a million dollars due to their completely unethical practices in areas that had nothing to do with insurance. Having worked in corporate environments like this and having seen first hand a lot of the corruption that was going on in the IT sector ten years ago, I am far from naive or untrained in spotting this kind of crap and so it just pains me that United have not done their utmost to remove themselves form this unwanted publicity. I mean AIG is everywhere in the news. It’s about doing the right thing and showing some moral fiber and respect to those who have gotten burned. but JB would have you believe that they themselves have to take a lot of the blame for their losses.
Sorry to you and everyone for even bringing up the subject but for me it is a very relevant subject because it has something to do with our football team. I’m just glad I have never bought a United jersey with AIG on it. So from that perspective I never contributed to their criminal empire. I’m just very upset about all this.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:03
@Craig Mc: Yes it is and that’s who I am mad at because they are shaming the club with their corporate American made greed and old boys club loyalty.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:06
@Craig Mc: Fergie didn’t do shit when Rafa blew up a few months ago and that worked out well for us. Let Rafa put his foot in his own mouth. Fergie has more important fish to fry and doesn’t need to lower himself to the level of an eccentric fat gay waiter with a lisp and a penchant for young Spanish boys named Fernando. JES, DATS A FACT.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:08
@Craig Mc: Beyond all that bullshit, his signing will stick a rocket up their arse and give them a boost. The timing here is not accidental!!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:08
@RedDevilEddy: I for one am unhappy about him staying. I do not fear him or his team but I feel he is bad for the game the way he has turned the game into a tactical board game and his personality just makes me want to get on a plane fly to Scouserville and beat the tar out of that fuckers goatee. I just hate him so much that I want him out of my life. Hell, I hate him more than my ex. Dats a fact.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:10
@JB: On the positive side JB, that ends our streak of agreeing with each other. I know that was causing you concern and sleepless nights and you were beginning to question whether the world was truly round. Now you can sleep easy. Take care mate,
March 19th, 2009 at 5:16
@Grognard: I am aware of the kind of shit AIG and other firms have been upto, and I have been cynical of them well before the financial markets even blew up. But I don’t want to mix my personal cynicism with business dealings between two parties — the Glazers and AIG — who’s record in business ethics, is shady at best; that deal transcends cynicism. So, for me it’s not some breaking news. My argument was United should have never been with AIG in the first place, so to bring up AIG now once the shit has already hit the fans seems, oh so yesterday’s news to me. Which explains why I may have come across as desensitised, although I’m not. It’s just that even though I have a fair bit to say on the financial crisis, I don’t think it’s becoming of me to be airing that over here. It would be an endless rant.
Secondly, in future, when you bring up a subject that’s touchy and you feel emotionally attached to, and if it gets you worked up very easily, then I suggest in future you don’t bring it up. For your own sake.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:16
I hate when we are linked to any unproven player.Valencia/IS he better than what we already have?We are not Man City,but neither are we Spurs.We should only buy players that significantly improve on what we have.
Remember,the Roy Keane replacement issue?We spent on every djemba,liam miller,alan smith,kleberson,fortune and his chicken.wt need to buy quality and the rest from our youth system
March 19th, 2009 at 8:46
Congratulations all. FSW has signed a 5 year contract extension at liverpool
Eariler in the season there was an article at RoM describing how FSW had spent more than United since arriving at Liverpool. The dippers argued that that could be true, but since their squad was of lower quality than United’s, they needed to spend more. Agreed.
So, the best way to measure the spending of both the clubs to verify if United have indeed bought their way to 10 premiership titles in the Fergie era as is clamed, is to compare the spending stats between United and liverpool since liverpool last won the league title, i.e the start of the premiership era.
Here’s a wonderful site that provides the statistics:
http://transferleague.co.uk/
Net spending since Premier league inception:
Liverpool £202,445,000
Manchester United £200,585,000
Net spending since FSW’s arrival to Liverpool:
Liverpool £110,460,000
Manchester United £93,400,000
The answer to why we have won 10 premierships is just this : Fergie!
Long live Fergie, in Rafa we trust
March 19th, 2009 at 12:09
@donibrasco: For £5m might be a decent squad player, also he has prem experience.
March 19th, 2009 at 13:43
@Grognard: Most big business is built on corporate criminality mate, whatever mask it uses to front itself with, so nothing new there. Joe public will always be screwed mate. Look at how United and Everton fans are being criminally robbed of their hard earned dosh, by having not only to pay extortionate prices to the damnable FA for Wembley tickets, but the travel expense born by us fans is Dick Turpin burglary hold-up. Should all clubs pull out of the FA criminally led world?
.
March 19th, 2009 at 13:46
@Redrich: Or else they will get the biggest verbal duffing up they have ever had from Red Ranters and from the terraces from at LEAST the SALFORD REDS.
.
March 19th, 2009 at 16:59
I doubt we’d get Valencia for 5 million. He’ll be sold for 15 million or whatever Palacios was sold for. And he would just be a squad rotation player, alternating with Park.
What we really need is a top drawer central midfielder to partner Carrick. Ideally someone in the Ballack/Gerrard mould who can impose himself in central midfield and score goals.
March 19th, 2009 at 17:52
@colver: Hargreaves?
March 19th, 2009 at 19:23
Rd. Im not placing my faith on Hargreaves. I think we should use him as a role player for Europe and the big games when we need him to shield the defence or give a bit of attacking impetus on the wings. That way he will be less likely to suffer a recurrence of his injury and our team will not be thrown into disarray if he does get injured again.
March 19th, 2009 at 19:46
@Craig Mc: Hey mate (and other guys in the UK), I might be traveling in the UK around the FA Cup Final time…but I’ve no idea about ticket prices and how to get them! Need some info – Help!
March 19th, 2009 at 22:02
@antsBoy: Stay far away, wembley is an over-priced shit hole with very poor traveling conditions. Your better off going to a pub and watching it there.
March 20th, 2009 at 0:29
Im seeing there is not very much going on here at the moment…
So, Ive finished my birthday party! Lets move on to some more footy stuff. I just gotta ask you what you make of the new FIFA 09 Ultimate team? I think it looks great, and I cant wait for to download it tomorrow. Speaking of which, if you could make and ultimate team, of your choice(we are not talking reality, we are talking video game players skill) what would YOUR ultimate team be?
Mine would be:
Cesar(sick goalie in the game!)
) Evra
Maicon Rio Eddy(create myself
Ronaldo Gerrard Kaka Messi
Torres Benzema
subs: Casillias, Abidal, Alves, Essien, De Rossi, Rooney, Ibrahimovic
March 20th, 2009 at 1:50
I got hold of Ultimate team today. The servers are so slow I cant even change people in and out of my team. I’ve got a load of crap players in my first packs, and 1 good defender (a 75, and he’s on the bloody bench).
Once it works it’ll be bloody fantastic.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:16
@colver: I think we need to see how he returns from the injury. Next season could just be a come back year for him, being used occasionally while he returns to fitness and form. Or he could come back gangbusters, start every game, and show why SAF thought so highly of him in the first place.
Owen is definitely in the “owe us” column as far as I’m concerned. He needs to show that he’s not damaged goods and that he was worthy of his place on the England Team. He has a very good attitude, and as long as his body can heal, I think he’ll be excellent for us.
And if not, then what???
March 20th, 2009 at 2:54
Pretty slow around here, huh???, Liverpool game got the better of you?? , are Grognard and Red Ranter fighting again??.
Come on guys, lets climb back on that non-sensible horse and start to rave and rant about;-
1/. The CL draw. It’s tomorrow, and what’s the team that’s really gonna make you shit your pants??
2/. The Fulham game. Can we bounce back and thrash these minions??, or is our poor form to continue and then what??
3/. Is Park really better than Nani??
4/. Will Neville ever captain the fist team again??
Anycase, I want to send a huge and colective FUCK OFF to the scousers, their wives, their management, their ground crew and especially to their fans, Who I’d like add the further sentiment of AND DIE.
Oh shit, I think I’m ranting!!
March 20th, 2009 at 5:05
@Redrich: yup really slow…
but i’m really hoping we meet ‘fool, it’d be great to get another shot at dismantling them, they still talk about the win, like it’s a friggin world championship, it’d be nice to shut em up.
mind you, i remember when we trounced em 3-0 last season, and mascherano got sent off, wasn’t a bit deal cause it was expected.
goes to show the difference in class, reckon a team like Hull would warrant a more prolonged celebration if they beat us…
haha! that’s funny – Neville captain the “fist” team?
March 20th, 2009 at 8:51
im not one for this ultimate team thing, ive never liked online trading card type of things since i tried out a pokemon game, terrible, just terrible that was.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:22
Question for Grognard before the draw is made. You know more about Bayern Munich than just about everyone here so I just wanted to get your thoughts on how big a loss Klose is for them. It’s been reported he’ll be out for 6 weeks and maybe even the rest of the season.
How crucial is he for them? Will they have to change their system much without him? I’ve been thinking it could be a good time for us to get Bayern with their most consistent goal scorer out. I would certainly have feared the Toni/Klose partnership but Toni on his own doesn’t seem as much of a threat. I know Podolski would most likely replace him but he’s obviously not happy there and will leave at season’s end.
I, like you, believe Bayern are a genuine threat for the title as they’re one of the best attacking teams going around at the moment. However, one thing that has crossed my mind is that they may have peaked a little too early. If you remember when we beat Roma 7-1, we founded it difficult to back up that performance and went out in the semis to Milan. Plus, the other teams will have noticed what damage Bayern can cause after their destruction of Sporting. Before the previous round, Bayern were flying under the radar somewhat.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:35
CL Quarter Final Draw Predictions:
Chelsea V Bayern Munich
Man Utd V Porto
Villareal V Arsenal
Barca V Liverpool
To Progress: Chelsea, Man Utd, Villareal, Liverpool
Semis: Chelsea V Liverpool and Man Utd V Villareal
Finals: Man Utd V Liverpool, Man Utd to win 4-1
March 20th, 2009 at 9:41
Fabio was substituted at the half for the reserves, just on the thread topic. Wonder if we’ll see him on the bench on Saturday…
CL Draw:
Arsenal v United
Chelsea v Porto
Liverpool v Villareal
Barcelona v Bayern
March 20th, 2009 at 12:08
Offical CL DRAW :
villareal vs arsenal
March 20th, 2009 at 12:09
manchester united VS PORTO
March 20th, 2009 at 12:10
Woohoo
March 20th, 2009 at 12:10
Liverpool vs chelsea
March 20th, 2009 at 12:10
barca vs munich
March 20th, 2009 at 12:11
Porto…
LooserFool vs Chelski…
March 20th, 2009 at 12:12
winner of manu vs porto will face the winner of villareal vs arsnal
March 20th, 2009 at 12:12
Wow, we have to beat Porto and Arsenal to reach the finals. Commmeeee oooonnnnnN!
March 20th, 2009 at 12:12
It’s PORTO! With Arsenal or Villareal in the semis. WHAT A DREAM DRAW!
March 20th, 2009 at 12:13
barca vs munich will face the winner of liverpool vs chelsea duh >.>
March 20th, 2009 at 12:14
on paper we should go through to the final with ease , but its the CL you never know…
March 20th, 2009 at 12:15
What a draw! Porto in the quarters and Villareal/Arsenal in the semis. Quite possibly a final against Liverpool if they dispose of Chelsea and Barcelona/Bayern.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:18
Wow !! Have to admit , the draw looks easy on paper.
First Jose, now Porto !!
The media will be back with its quintuple talk.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:36
Yeah I have to say if we don’t make it to the finals with this draw we are going to have to ask ourselves some serious questions. We have a REAL chance of being the first team to retain the Champions League trophy. Now that would really cement our reputation.
I have to say out of all the English teams Id prefer to face Arsenal. They can pull off a win on their day but over two legs I think we are far too strong. After all they struggled to get past Roma.
The other side of the draw is more interesting. I think Bayern could beat Barcelona and then beat Liverpool.
A Bayern-United final ten years after 1999 really would be poetic.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:39
@Shreyas: sooooooo close there! are you psychic?
Bring on the portugeese, then Arsenal/villareal, we can only defeat ourselves now. Chelski to beat the Scouse gits and loose to Bayern who’ll scrape past Barca, United v Bayern final! 
thats the best draw for us, cant believe it! happy days
March 20th, 2009 at 12:40
what a draw!!! how sweet. if we dnt gt 2 the final, we wont deserve 2 win it. weve been givn a GREAT draw
March 20th, 2009 at 12:53
Bayern have never lost to Barca in the champions league….
If money could have bought a draw, ours bought this one. Its perfect for us. We’re in the half of the draw with the 3 weakest teams left in. Playing the first legs at home is interesting. We have to get the jobs done at Old Trafford, so we can take a buffer to Porto, and even more important with Arsenal/Villareal.
March 20th, 2009 at 14:31
Delighted with the draw!!!
This may be early to say, but watching Porto this season is terrible. They have lost Quaresma and Bosingwa, and since they baet us in 2004 they have lost Costinha, Deco, McCarthy, Carvalho, Ferreira and such. I dont consider them a good team anymore, and I dont fear them at all. I really like this draw, although we are a little unfortunate that the first game is at home…
And on a side note, Barca vs Bayern is gonna be the game of the season. The two best attacking sides in the world(who also suck in defense…) wil play against eachother, and we will see some rare duels. Messi vs Lahm, Ribery vs Alves, Klose vs Puyol and Etoo vs Lucio. Its shaping up nicely!
March 20th, 2009 at 14:42
Am I right in thinking that we’ll be playing on opposite days to Bayern Barca? If so, awesome, ready for some fun viewing!
March 20th, 2009 at 15:59
awesome draw! Rome is just a little bit closer it seems!
The renties and pool will fuckin murder each other, barca and munich will offer goal gluts, we have a safe trip to rome, we should not fuck it up.
Liverpool – United @ Rome
yummy!
March 20th, 2009 at 16:28
@RedDevilEddy: Klose is injured i think..
March 20th, 2009 at 16:30
New thread is up, so that you can continue your discussions on the draw there. I will also try to get the preview of the Fulham game later in the day.
March 20th, 2009 at 16:32
Just saw the draw and I got a say it’s a great one for us. The downside can be that we play 1st at OT in quarters and semis, but nothing is perfect. We are the clear favorites and if we don’t make it to the finals then we don’t deserve to win.
March 20th, 2009 at 16:57
@phoenix red:
. I am no Psychic, more like Shawn Spencer 