Sep 19
John Terry, AIG and Fergie’s Rant on Hackett
We all, by now, are aware that John Terry’s red card has been rescinded. The word, I can’t seem to find the link, goes that his punishment (i.e., the one match ban) has been ‘reduced’ rather than his red card being revoked. This in itself strikes me as strange, because I would imagine a red card would at least warrant a one match suspension.
My second gripe about this whole fiasco is about the nature of the card itself. The referee’s decision to send Terry off was not for a professional foul — which is rather easy to detect with video footage — but for “serious foul play”. This would be a matter of opinion and interpretation of rules by the on field referee, and if the FA are really concerned about the integrity of their “Respect” themed Premiership season, then undermining what seemed like a referee decision doesn’t sound like a good way to start.
It really makes no sense whatsoever. Either the red card has to be rescinded — which it cannot because it was a refereeing decision — or there has to be a one match ban at least, because it was a red card.
I, for the life of me, cannot understand this. Someone in the know, kindly educate.
This, of course, has not gone down well with Ferguson, whose rant against Keith Hackett has been well documented last season.
“By the letter of the law it was not a goalscoring opportunity. Maybe it’s good to have an FA panel people can go to but it certainly opens the gate to that kind of thing now. If it had been a Manchester United player Hackett would never have done this for us.”
I don’t buy the last statement, because I know it’s just his anger getting to him. But I do understand Fergie’s concern that this decision is yet another instance of inconsistency in the appeals process. He should have kept his mouth buttoned about the last line though. That could get him in trouble again.
Finally, something I’ve been meaning to write for a while but didn’t. AIG collapsed but has been rescued by the US Treasury. Which makes the US Treasury the shirt sponsor of United. People have expressed concerns about how AIG’s collapse might affect United’s sponsorship deal. But I say all that is unfounded. If AIG is to walk away from our contract, we only have everything to gain. Our brand value — on the back of having won consecutive Premier Leagues and a Champions’ League — has never been higher. So we will demand an even hefty sum from a prospective sponsor. At the moment, AIG survives, so we’ll still have that ugly looking logo on our shirt. (Yes, I have never been particularly crazy about having AIG on a United shirt.)
Related items from Red Rants:
- On Vidic’s red card
- The Glazers’ Busby Babes Tribute Madness – Sign the Petition
- International roundup and a link fest
- United We Rant: Vent Your Spleen
- Man Utd 0-0 Villarreal: Ronaldo Returns
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
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Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
@Grognard: terry is back, believe it or not he is back. dont worry, he’ll slip and mess up again. that cunt is too slow even to handle jo.
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Those Scousers are hopeless. That team has absolutely no imagination. They have goal scorers but no idea how to get them the ball. The service to Torres and Keane today was just comical. If today’s performance was not message enough that they are never going to go anywhere with Rafa the Dullard, then they truly are as stupid as Republicans in the US who keep clamoring for more of the same old crap that has led American straight down the toilet. Sorry for getting political but stupidity needs to be compared to stupidity. Liverpool are truly a joke and nothing changes with them. One has to laugh on one hand and then cry over the fact they beat us last week. How the Hell did that happen against such an awfully unimaginative and totally static side?
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@Nino: What? Forgive me but I have been out of the loop for 5 days while I was in hospital getting useless tests for a heart condition that wasn’t. It was just heartburn created by United’s piss poor performance of last weekend. Did Terry not get sent off in his last game? And if so, why is he playing? Please fill me in. Or let me guess, the pricks have decided to appeal the sending off?
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@Grognard: The theme of this post (on the main blog) was to discuss about the whole John Terry affair. It would help if you read the article above. Surprised you haven’t read it yet. (Or perhaps I’m just being deluded that people actually read my posts)
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OK I just read that the FA (aka Fucking Assholes) rescinded his red card. Why? Had that been Nemanja Vidic or Rio would they have done that? I guess there is one rule for Chelsea and another for the rest. Terry is a cunt with a terrible reputation and he is allowed to walk on this one? Unbelievable!
Is there any fucking fairness and justice left in the English game anymore? If I was part of the FA, I’d use every possible excuse to make an example of a cunt like Terry. He’s everything that’s wrong with the modern game. I’m just totally dismayed by this and I wonder how many more conspiracies against United we have to look forward to this year? 
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@Red Ranter: Sorry RR, I was just anxious to get my 2 cents in after being tied to a bed for 5 days and way out of the loop. My apologies. I always read your articles and it’s kind of funny the one time I don’t I got called on it. I guess I deserve that poke.
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I really think we miss CQ !! My concerns will be even deeper after chelski hammer us. Sorry guys but I really am pesimistic about this one!!!
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@nawaf: CQ is very much missed in the offensive third of the pitch as well, I think Nani and Anderson are struggling without him. I wonder if Ronaldo will struggle without his cultural and soothing influences as well? He was strong tactically but he was an excellent players manager. He really knew how to talk to the players and make them feel good and boost their confidence. Tell me, do either Nani or Anderson look confident this year? They look like fish out of water if you ask me.
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@Grognard: I think Nani looks good, Anderson however has been hopeless.
I think the game tomorrow depends on what formations each manager puts out. Will Chelsea play Anelka and Drogba up front or will he stick with the 4-3-3. Fergie has some potentially game changing decisions too. Like maybe playing Rooney in the middle might help! Tevez I think would make a half-decent Winger. He can leave a player in his dust and has a decent delivery. However, any formation will depend entirely on the fitness of Berba and Ronaldo
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@Liam: It will be interesting to see who sits out between Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov? I am sure Ronaldo will start and pretty certain Berbatov will too. So who will sit down? My bet is on Rooney. I think it would be a mistake to start all four of them and I really prefer Nani on the left wing over Tevez. Nani can cross the ball for Ronaldo and Berbatov. Eventually Fergie will have to make his statement and start rotating Rooney and Tevez or sit one down. I think he will rotate them so that they both get plenty of action. I don’t think Berbatov will miss many games as he was purchased for a reason. 4-2-3-1 is the way to go
EVDS – Brown, Rio, Evans, Evra – Carrick, Hargreaves – Ronaldo, Tevez/Rooney, Nani – Berbatov
I don’t care who starts over Rooney or Tevez. I just don’t want to see Scholes, Giggs, Neville or O’Shea start this game.
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@Grognard: i was thinking about this, i think the best line-up for chelski would be:
)
vds
brown
rio
evans(let the power of youth explode
evra
nani-RW
hargreaves
anderson
tevez-LW
rooney
bebatov
i think that formation would be best, but we all know that fergie will pick either:
vds
)
brown
rio
evans(
evra
fletcher
hargreaves
scholes/anderson
rooney
tevez
berbatov
i strongly doubt that ronaldo will start. in a game this bit and his lack of game time would be to much of a risk.
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I was under the impression that Berbatov was struggling for fitness.
I think we’ll go 4-3-3 with Fletcher, Hargreaves and Scholes in midfield and Nani, Rooney and Tevez up front.
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unfortunately ive made a blunder in my last comment
ive said either so im guessing you people thought i would list 2 formations, sorry, its the one…
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@dan(u-ol): We’re almost in agreement there Dan. I just prefer Carrick and his ability to thread a perfect through ball over the boring as sin Anderson. As for Scholes, I’ll guarantee you that Fergie starts the old man once again and he will be subbed off after we are down in the game around 65 minutes.
I for one will be shocked to the bone if Ronaldo doesn’t start. He needs him big time and this is a must win game. To hell with fitness. He will sub him off in the 70th if he is sucking wind. By that time we should know where we stand. I don’t want him coming in to the game when we are already behind. I want him to start and take the game by the scruff of the neck. To beat Chelsea at the Bridge we need to hit them early and often. Waiting until late in the second half to bring in the world’s best player is tantamount to disaster, unless we put up a wall and are playing for 0-0.
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@Grognard: oohh right, you haven’t been told yet…carricks out, for 6-8 weeks…
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clichy has torn his left shit lol
25 paragraph down.
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well this was all over 606 so im guessing bbc have fixed this shit, no pun intended.
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United will win tomorrow!
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@Viz: Sorry, but after the events of this summer, I cannot take what any player says seriously when it comes to club loyalty, personally i don’t see him spending more than 5years with us.
@Grognard: Unfortunately with Carrick out, we’ll need a lot more creativity, something a midfield consisting of Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher/ Park does not provide enough of, so Scholes will likely be starting.
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uniteds record against chelsea is realy a myth especially at stamford bridge and here are the reasons why, united have not put out a real manchester utd side since the 2002/2003 season and I will show everyone the teams since that season that leaves alot to be desired going to chelsea’s ground.
02/03 season {a} to chelsea
Carroll, Phil Neville, Blanc, O’Shea, Silvestre, Butt, Keane, Beckham, giggs, Scholes, van nistlerooy
subs Williams, Tierney, Veron, Solskjaer, forlan
this is the only time united have put out a strong united side that was capable of winning there and we should have if it were not for poll’s poor decision against scholes.
03/04 season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, silvestre, o shea, Keane, Phil Neville, fortune, giggs, van nistlerooy, forlan
subs Butt, Bellion, Carroll, ronaldo, Kleberson
04/05 season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Silvestre, Gary Neville, Keane, Fortune, Miller, O’Shea, Djemba Djemba, Giggs, Scholes, Smith
subs Ricardo, Phil Neville, Bellion, Forlan, Richardson
same season {a} to chelsea
Howard, Phil Neville, Silvestre, O’Shea, Heinze, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, ronaldo, Fortune, Rooney, Saha
subs Carroll, Miller, Spector, Scholes, Smith
05/06 season {a} to chelsea
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, o shea, giggs, Ronaldo, park, rooney, saha
subs Howard, Brown, Evra, Richardson, van Nistelrooy
06/07 season {a} to chelsea
Kuszczak, Lee, Brown, O’Shea, Heinze, Eagles, Smith, Fletcher, Richardson, Solskjaer, Dong,
subs Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Scholes, Carrick, Rooney
07/08 {a} to chelsea
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, silvestre, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, giggs, Rooney
subs Kuszczak, Tevez, Hargreaves, Ronaldo, O’Shea
you look at those lineups and how many times would you say united have a great chance of winning, only once when beckham was still wearing the no 7 shirt and ronaldo was in his first full season as a pro. when united faced chelsea in the 06/07 season at old trafford united almost beat them, and that was a real united side. last year in 3 of the 4 meetens between the two united won the 3 matches because united were at full strength. another thing I should point out every time united have put out a almost full strength united side against chelsea united have beaten them and last season we beat them three times when united were at their strongest.
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@RedAllTheWay: You say, you think Man Utd will win 3-0 tomorrow – How I hope you are right.
You said ROONEY will score two of the goals –
. LMAO, but it would be nice.
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@dan(u-ol): More bad news. Jeez you get isolated and out of communication for a few days and the world falls apart. Carrick gone for 6-8 weeks. Will we ever be able to field our “A” Team this season or will there always be one or more players injured? Frustrating.
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One vannot forget the revenge factor here. Chelsea really want revenge for the CL Final and will be gunning for us big time. This means we may be able to beat them on the counter. Fielding a fast team and not a slow plodding team that includes Scholes and Giggs is important. Nani must start over Giggs and Anderson would be a better alternative for this fast tempo counter attacking game than Scholes. But Fergie will go with the vastly overrated experience card. So with Carrick out I guess Scholes will have to start. Hell, I’d prefer Fletcher over him. I want players who can go forward and who have a burst of pace. Scholes looked so slow against Liverpool it was depressing.
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Grognard I agree, at this moment of time united’s best midfield four is hargreaves anderson ronaldo nani if ronaldo is ready and even though I am not impressed with nani at this moment of time he starts over giggs park and fletcher but dont be suprised if the useless fletcher giggs or park plays instead, it is one thing writing of giggs but dont’t write of scholes just yet. I still could not predict the team fergie will play. I could name vds ferdinand brown evra rooney tevez but the rest I have not a clue.
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Alot of you have not addressed one minor issue here and that is PS knows slot about both CR and Nani from coaching their national team, hence if they both start tomorrow that might not be a blessing for us. Anyways, besides the fact that we need the three points, I also think SAF needs to land the big Brazilian with a big blow if he were to send his usual strong messages of intent to new coming managers in the EPL, especially with the abundance of talent he has at his disposal. That unfortunatly might not happen. Again, even though I’m going to cheer the red devils in the bridge tomorrow, but I really feel we will have one fucking bad afternoon. Unless the gaffer can once again conjure up a miracle that is. Mind you I still think we should have won against the bar fucking codes though!
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I didn’t even want to stop by here. I’ll be honest I have a bad feeling about this. If we are going to get a result we need our playesr to be at the top of their games. No stupid mistakes like last week. It was so depresing to see us concede such embarasing goals. Agree with most of you that speedy guys should start and old timers should retire. It was obviose last season, but SAF insists on playing them. Where was Giggs’s experience, when he didn’t clear, not that he should the blame for that performance. Well I do hope for the best, cause we really need to start our season.
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@jason: I have screamed for Fergie to buy an attacking midfielder for two years now. For me Scholes is done. Yes he still has his moments like Giggs but they are few and far between. Bottom line is he hasn’t got the pace nor the attacking ability anymore that we need for him to possess. A team like United should not be so average in the middle of the park. Scholes, Carrick and Anderson do nothing for me and they never have. I don’t hate these players and in fact, I have been a Scholes fanatic for years, but there comes a time when sentiment must not overtake common sense. Fergie has gone a bridge too far with Scholes, Giggs and Neville. These players are not capable starters anymore. And if he isn’t going out to buy a replacement for Scholes, then Anderson better show some kind of fast development. Personally, I’d love to see Possebon in there. What do we have to lose? We suck with Scholes or Anderson anyway. I doubt very much Possebon would be that much worse. In fact I think he would be a revelation. Come January I think we need to address this issue. But I doubt anything will happen. Fergie will hide behind his stubbornness but in reality, this team just doesn’t want to spend to get anyone right now.
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Does anyone feel like Alan Hutton Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are being farm raised by Tottenham so that Manchester United can have future players to replace Aging Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale bolsters the defense(doesn’t seem so pertinent with Evra being such a superb left back). Anyone feel like maybe this is the best managed Company in the World right now?
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Scholes is decent but I think Fletcher should start ahead of, and Owen Hargreaves should play next to him. If it were me I’d play Ronaldo/Nani and Tevez winging. and Rooney behind Berbatov. Or leave Rooney on the bent all together and play Ronaldo and Nani. Or Nani and Rooney with Ronaldo starting on the bench.
This season Fergie can afford to motivate Rooney with bench presence. But after all the kid was brilliant with England. He just nees a good run at his position.
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I’m Imagining an Awe Inspiring Attacking Line up that crushes Chelsea tomorrow
————-VDS————–
——Regular Back Four——-
———-Hargreaves———-
–Ronaldo————–Nani—
———Rooney–Tevez——–
———–Berbatov———–
this lineup works because between Rooney, Tevez and Hargreaves, we have 3 people who will track back if needed (and in rooney’s case even if not needed). If Berbatov is indeed injured and unable to play, then I’d have the following lineup
————-VDS————–
——Regular Back Four——-
—–Hargreaves–Anderson—–
–Ronaldo————–Nani—
——–Rooney–Tevez———
I would love to see either of those line ups.
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personally though i would play Carrick or Scholes in front of Anderson at this point (like it or not, we miss the former two for their passing skills)
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I’d like to see Tevez on the left for his workrate coming back. Nani as a sub for leter in the game. Scholes / Hargreaves in the middle. I think Rooney must play again for the tracking back and hustling we all complain about – it’s vital in these games.
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Jonny, you will never see Fergie starting a team with those 5 attacking players and only one defensively minded midfielder. Chelsea would destroy us in midfield and we wouldn’t get out of our half. We can’t play our regular back 4 either because Vidic is suspended.
Here’s the line-up I’d like to see:
—————-VDS
Brown—-Ferdinand—-Evans—-Evra
——–Hargreaves—-Fletcher
Ronaldo——–Rooney———Nani
————–Berbatov
Bench: PIG, Neville, O’Shea, Scholes, Anderson, Park, Tevez
I still haven’t regained faith in Neville at right-back. Brown back in the team for me. Seen Johnny Evans play for Northern Ireland and the big games don’t faze him. I remember him making Torres look like an amateur. Drogba should be no problem then.
I’m worried that if Scholes played he’d be bullied out of the game even worse than he was against the dippers. Hargreaves and Fletcher is very solid and has the right combination of strength and a tenacity to ensure we don’t get bullied by Chelsea’s midfield. They didn’t give Villareal a sniff on Wednesday.
Rooney in his best position behind the front man please. No more right-sided nonsense now Ronaldo is back. Nani gets the nod on the left after an encouraging display on Wednesday. Would have been good to see what Berbatov could have done with some of those wicked crosses.
Tevez can be a great sub off the bench, like he was many times last year. Sometimes a weapon on the bench can be just as important as those starting, especially if that weapon is Carlos Tevez. The Chelsea defence won’t relish a fresh Tevez coming on at 60 minutes.
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@RedAddict: yes i agree, we have to have a secret weapon, a super sub
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