Nov 24
Jonny Evans: on Manchester United, Northern Ireland, Ferguson…
The BBC have a wonderful little feature on Jonny Evans. [video link here] If you haven’t watched it I suggest you do.
Evans talks about his family’s move to Manchester from Belfast, his relationship with the manager and his team mates. There is some high praise from the likes of Giggs and Solskjaer. Giggs, says how “we’ve hardly missed” our first choice centre backs whenever he’s slotted into the side in the absence of either Ferdinand or Vidic.
But more than that, it presents us a small window in to the player, the man — he looks every bit the part of a United player. Yet, he looks to shun the flash lifestyle associated with footballers these days. There are signs that he’s obviously surrounded by a good circle of people to guide him through that.
I know a lot of footballers these days say the same old stuff in interviews, but there seems to be an air of sincerity about Evans that isn’t there in say, Rio perhaps [no disrespect to him.] He also seems in awe of the club and that he feels genuinely privileged to play for the club. Now that’s the sort of thing that would leave a lump in the throat in these cynical times.
Other reads worth your while:
RoM, on replacing Ronaldo’s goals
In case you missed it, and since there isn’t much to be talking about right now, try the Soccerlens podcast.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Have a break, have a Premier League title
- Ronaldo Scores, Players Come Through Unscathed… So Far
- Man Utd 5-0 Stoke City: Right Response, But Still a Long Way to Go
- Man Utd v Wigan
- United 2-0 Doncaster: Reserves’ Day Out
Tags: Daily Roundup
November 24th, 2009 at 7:29
I would always love this man for his Kung Fu Kick Version 2 on that Dogshit Drogba….. It was awesome… Just Priceless…
Read that interview on BBC yesterday. Yeah the lad is just as down to earth in his personal life as he is tough on the pitch… Just another great player in the making…
November 24th, 2009 at 7:37
It was interesting read on ROM. I know ROM is always bit more optimist about United than the boarders here are but still there are couple of things that I would like to re paste (as quoted on ROM) are:
09/10 United – 26 goals in first 13 games
08/09 United – 25 goals in first 13 games
09/10 United – 5 points off the top with 13 games played
08/09 United – 8 points off the top with 13 games played (with game in hand)
We are just battering our players day in day out here. Like they have done something of criminal act but if we see bigger picture like pasted its not a lot of difference is it??? I know we are progressing but even after loosing the best player in the world we are definitely not regressing like many here make out. Stats at least doesn’t show that. I am bit surprised at the Goal Scored number as well. I mean even after thrashing our team that we just don’t score enough goals and all we actually have managed to score more than last year at this stage…
So, in conclusion things actually might not have been that bad isn’t it??
November 24th, 2009 at 8:12
Scoring 42 goals – 150,000 per week
Scissor-kick – 30 million
World best player – 80 million
Club loyalty and honor- priceless.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:53
@ Onkar – completely agree. We’re in pretty much the same position as this time last year, having sold our best player and one of our most useful. At some point despite the occasionally poor football I have to give SAF some credit for maintaining steady sailing in turbulent times.
Who are you guys rooting for tonight in the inter/barca/rubin group? It’d be kind of sad for Barca to go out, imo, but by the time they play Inter they might know that a loss would mean just that!
And of course, I’m a Fiorentina fan for the evening.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:43
@Beachryan: However, we played pretty subpar football for most of last season. We limped to the title last season. So last season is not something we should be looking up to as an example of a top United season.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:28
@Beachryan: In fact I would like to differ on that. I mean all my life I was one those who followed Barca if Man Utd is not around in that league or champions league. I always felt that Barca is the team I would have followed had I not fallen in LOVE with United. But how things can change???? I mean I have nothing against Barca but all talk of Barca is this, Barca is that and all. While boasting about Xavi, Iniesta are bombs or not we all forgot that they are already behind there rival Real ‘the mob’ Madrid in the La Leagua and definitely struggling to keep themselves in the CL. I mean I am all Mourinho today. Just kick those Barca guys and try and push them out that all what I want. I mean no matter how but we atleast not playing as bad as to to loose against fucking Ruben Kazan and they call them selves the best team in the world. Fuh get it…
If they are going out I will just love….
November 24th, 2009 at 11:29
@Beachryan: Yeah tonight all mixed bag with Fiorentina and Inter Milan support is on my agenda….
Common you guys…
November 24th, 2009 at 11:33
@ RR – Yeah fair enough, I don’t think we’ve reached the performance heights of 06/07 since, well 06/07. But no team is perfect, and the premier league becomes tougher each year. I’d love for us to be flowing forward all the time, producing wonder goals and what not, but no team other than Chelsea are really playing like that these days.
And I have to remember that Fergie oversaw those teams, and he’s overseeing this one. There are signs that we can still play well, but just not the consistency. Hopefully it’ll come…
November 24th, 2009 at 11:58
@Onkar: Ruben Kazan are Russian Champions dont forget and Man Utd lost to Burnley ,a Promoted team…So dont be blind..
November 24th, 2009 at 12:00
Interesting article. Yes we are in much the same position as last season. But it is worth remembering that Ronaldo was injured at the start of last season and only regained his form after Christmas and really came into his own in the Champions League.
Rooney started the season on a hot streak but now the goals have dried up for Rooney it is stupid to rely on our midfield for goals especially as the moment we come up against a good side our midfield goes into defensive mode.
What we really need is either a prolific striker partner for Rooney. Owen could have fitted the first category but so far he doesn’t look like being anything more than a bit part player. And we are no closer to solving the riddle of how to get the best out of Berbatov. I just do not think he is a good fit for our team. He slows us down and our players look ordinary at half speed because we are low on skill.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:37
For the Curly haired-one lovers: Hargo was in training today, but not with the main squad. He was doing ‘light fitness’, ’short passes’ and ‘keepy-uppies’. Great.
No Rio, Gary, Evans, O’Shea for tomorrow…ulp!
November 24th, 2009 at 12:44
@owen: Yeah.. I was waiting for this Burnley thing to come at me. Thats why I was specifically mentioning the EUROPE and not Domestic League. But, then also, I never said that we are not bad did I? All I am saying is every time is Barca are also not that great this season are they??? They have also added players to there squad a striker worth around 60mn isn’t it??? And the same time we have lost the best player in the world. So i think you are good enough to understand what point I am trying to make….
I have a problem when people say that the way we played today Barca would thrash us….
Sorry.. A BIG SORRY.. I don’t buy into this argument. Its relatively easy to win one odd game such as final but if they meet us over two legs then I am ready to put everything on the line that We would still be able to beat Barca if the man in Black would allow it to be fair and square.
I have problem with people just grossly undermining our performance and ASSUMING the Barca greatness… No Boss I can’t join anyone on that bandwangon.
And as far as champions are concerned then I still distinctively remember that when we did beat the German Champions in CL there were many here who were saying they are just German Champions we should have beaten them this way, that way etc.. Shit performance, snooze football and what not. But when it comes to Barca its Russian Champions.. FUckin get real mate they are UEFA Champions and moreover they are so called “The Best Team” world they should be able to Man UTD (according to many the English Champions) then why not just the Russian Champions (No disrespect towards Russian Champion)????
Fucking double Standards???
November 24th, 2009 at 12:50
@colver: I agree. The biggest problem that we need to address in my mind is Berba. The Man is class apart compared to his team mate, but we are just not using the full potential of the Man. I mean he is really playing at the half of his ability levels tbh. If we will be able to address that first if he is able to do what he use to do with his clubs previously then I think to large extent (I am not saying fully) we will be able to solve this issue in my mind. I mean common the man used to score more than 20 goals and almost 15 assists a season which will give more than 35 goals contribution a year and we need that. If we get that then even this MF MAY look good….
November 24th, 2009 at 12:51
@Onkar, RR, Madchester,Beachy, as RR stated last season isn’t really a benchmark. I’ve been saying for a couple of years that its time for some of our players to step up to the plate. After all, alot of them could look no further than to Darren Fletcher for inspiration. Here is an example of a consumate professional who, not so long ago was being slagged off by many a united fan(including myself!) and now he’s one of our stalwarts! Johnny Evans is a player who has elevated his performance to become a more than able centre back. The Ulsterman seems to have his head screwed on and have his priorities sorted.Very much in the Fergie mould like Giggs, Scholes,Irwin,Keane.Don’t forget, Evans still had to do “time” in Stalag Keano, Sunderland, for a certain famous Christmas Party incident. People can criticise Fergie for tactics ect, but at the end of the day its the responsibility of our players to perform at the appropriate standard befitting of wearing that famous shirt. Club Loyalty and honour is indeed priceless.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:58
Both my Manchester and Hungarian sides are in full support of Debrecen tonight.
November 24th, 2009 at 13:08
@phoenix red: Yeah bro… I agree that last season by no means should be the bench mark for the comparison. I also not saying that the we are are and will not miss RONALDO. That is the biggest myth. But, all I am trying to point out is we are some what overreacting to the situation. I mean we are grossly undermining the performance of the team this compared to last term thats all what I am saying. I know and I totally agree that we have not reached the magnificent levels of 06/07 season we may not reach that level with this team. But, the whole point I feel of this stats and discussion was to make all of us (including me) realize that things may not be as bad as we are making them look like. It could have been all but worse….
November 24th, 2009 at 13:12
@Traverse: Common Debrecen….
Kick the bloody hell out of those fucking DIPPERS…. 
November 24th, 2009 at 13:13
oh yeah, while i’ve got a couple of hours off, i’ve been listening to Kasabian “Kasabian”, Stranglers “No more heroes”, Ramones “Road to ruin” and High Contrast “Tough guys dont dance”
November 24th, 2009 at 13:20
Come on Fiorentina……..time to kick the cheating Frenchmen
November 24th, 2009 at 13:25
@Onkar: It is easy to say that we will see them now we cant forget the humiliation we deserved that night…
November 24th, 2009 at 13:27
@owen:
“we cant forget the humiliation we deserved that night…”
???????
November 24th, 2009 at 13:30
@Onkar: CL final…
November 24th, 2009 at 13:31
@owen: The debate was actually not b/w Man utd and Barca…It was started by Grog who told that Ronaldo and Messi are light years ahead of Xavi,Inieta and Rooney…
Are they ???
November 24th, 2009 at 13:38
@Onkar: I have clearly said time and again that I am not at all saying that we are not bad. We might be!!! But, we are definitely not as bad as we are made out is all what I am saying… To add to that all I am saying is some fans really have this habit of assuming that Grass is always greener on the other side. But, its not the case. Barca is also struggling to reach to thel levels of last years. And that to after adding a 60mn striker to already SO CALLED all conquering team.. So, I have a problem with people assuming there greatness while undermining ours just like that…
And bro.. move on.. That night is long gone.. Talk about tonight and tomorrow night.. When one those finalist (who are regarded as THE BEST) will play for the survival and at the same time the other finalist (So called regressed and BS team compared to Barca) is already qualifies looking to settle group leader’s position…
Live in present bro it would help… I will still maintain that over the period of two games I am sure these So called SHIT and SNOOZE football tactics by Fergie would prevail on top over the So called all conquering Barca team….
November 24th, 2009 at 13:42
@owen: I know and I am not saying that I am following on that Ronaldo Messi and all saga. But, “I am just objecting the mentality of few fans who assume that Everything They do is Great and Evrything we do is just a BS compared to them” thats all.
I distinctly remember someone passing the statement that “If we play like this against Barca they will thrash us”.. I doubt.. Heavily.. At this point in time they really won’t be able to.. I am 110% SURE…
Thats the whole point of this debate and it has nothing to do with players as such….
November 24th, 2009 at 13:43
Onkar. The truth is we just do not have players on the same wavelength of Berbatov. The majority of our team is built for fast, direct, counter attacking football supported by tough no-nonsense defending. Berbatov is our most skillful player but his ponderous play and lack of speed hurts the performance of the rest of our team and we do not have midfielders capable of giving him good service.
It is much easier to bring in a player who is a better fit for our team, than try to reinvent the team to bring the best out of Berbatov. Veron was also a class act but he never fitted into our team and the rest of the players just weren’t on his wavelength.
November 24th, 2009 at 13:45
@Onkar: Mate that isn’t a TRUE assessment at all, because our goals scored ratio last season was MUCH DIMINISHED because Ronnie was out for 2-3 months – isn’t it???? Somebody tell me if I am mixed up about that please
.
November 24th, 2009 at 13:46
@owen: I won’t agree with Grog on this.. That Ronaldo and Messi are definitely not light years ahead of the rest mentioned.. I think in whole of that debate point of debate was the Phrase “LIGHT YEARS” isn’t it?? Because, I think we all would agree that Ronaldo and Messi are definitely ahead of anyone at this point in time but, LIGHT YEARS… I doubt….
November 24th, 2009 at 13:48
@Beachryan: I am right behind Milan and Fiorentina Beachy – of course
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November 24th, 2009 at 13:51
@CraigMc: I don’t remember.. If he was out for such a long time.. I know he was out at the beginning of the year but 2-3 months.. Not sure.. And secondly, I am not saying that RONALDO is not missed (he definitely is) but all I am trying to do is give some other perspective by trying to point out that we are much better that what media and we all boarders are assuming.. Thats all bro.. It will interesting to come up with such comparison post January as that was the time when RONALDO really single handedly picked up the team… I doubt we will be able to keep that tempo this year and that will be the time we will miss RONALDO like never before….
November 24th, 2009 at 13:52
@CraigMc: Milan or Inter MILAN bro.. I am all for INTER MILAN today.. I just want Barca guys to take a big kick in ass for some weird reason bro…
November 24th, 2009 at 13:56
@phoenix red: I completely agree with the sentiments of your comments here Phoenix!
November 24th, 2009 at 13:57
@colver: Unfortunately I am getting to know that fact hard and fast in my face bro.. The day he will leave Man UTD that will one of the saddest day in my life bro.. As I just loved that man since his Leverkusen days.. But….
November 24th, 2009 at 14:08
@Onkar: No Onkar I cannot agree at all mate. Our SNOOZE football fails to win against the teams who are usually very good at keeping possession in the BIG games that matter. Having said that we feckin walloped Chelsea down at their place, where once again our strikers failed to capitalise on our fantastic possession and superiority in that game, and a refereeing error gave the game to the opposition. This is what happens when you are on top in games but FAIL to put the ball in the net, the ref somewhere along the line is going to fuck up and make a vital wrong decision against you. Regardless of the stats from ROM, we are not great at getting goals away from home are we? Not as we should anyone. Now we have 3 away games on the trot isn’t it, so we will see!
November 24th, 2009 at 14:15
By the way, Johnny Evans is one of the FIGHTING IRISH, and one thing about the Irish – they are ‘Never say Die’, and are fiercely fucking loyal. That’s what we see in our Irish lads, and Johnny is no exception to that rule
.
November 24th, 2009 at 14:28
@CraigMc: In Chelsea game also ,the best thing which would have happened was a draw bcoz we were not going to score…
Against Pools also we struggled and lost which is same on their current form…Mid field was dominated by Lucas and Mascherano ,this everyone forget and starts telling that we will dominate Barca with players like Xavi,Iniesta,Toure,Messi….
November 24th, 2009 at 14:35
@CraigMc: In Chelsea game also ,the best thing which would have happened was a draw bcoz we were not going to score…
Against Pools also we struggled and lost which is shame on their current form…Mid field was dominated by Lucas and Mascherano ,this everyone forget and starts telling that we will dominate Barca with players like Xavi,Iniesta,Toure,Messi
November 24th, 2009 at 14:37
@CraigMc: I do not want to beat a dead horse Craig, but for what it is worth, I agree with you on every point you made about Rooney. Don’t get me wrong, I love the lad and I hope he stays with United for a long, long time to come. However, I have seen a regression in his play as well. He looks unfit and his finishing, while never the greatest, also seems to not have imporved. And Rooney is reaching an age where his metabolism is naturally going to slow down. And that happening to a footballer who smokes and has stated repeatedly that he hates to run only leads to one thing: a Andy Reid look-a-like in a United kit. I just feel Rooney has lost something. Gone are the days where he would try anything on the pitch, shoot from distance, try incredible volleys, run at defenders. While I feel Rooney is a more cerebral player than a few years ago, he is also not as dangerous, especially without Ronaldo. You see, while Rooney helped to make Ronaldo what he is today, Ronaldo also helped Rooney in the same way. Difference is that Ronaldo still has world class players filling in what would be the void without Rooney at Madrid. Hence Ronaldo, when fit, playing “world class” football still. In Rooney’s defense in regards to his current form, he is coming off a calf injury and last year when he missed some time due to injury it took him some time to come to form again. while I believe a good stretch of games will get Rooney back to banging in the goals, unless he losses some weight, stops smoking those cancer sticks, and works on his finishing, world class Rooney he may never be.
November 24th, 2009 at 15:05
@RichmondRed: I agree with all you have said there mate – good assessment of Rooney and his problems. What greatly concerns me more than anything, is the MASSIVE amount of games that Rooney is playing, for Man United and for England. I sincerely believes that Rooney has taken on a supposed Ronaldo persona, and feels he should never be left out or brought off after an hour so that he is rested. Thing is that would be ok IF and its a BIG IF, Rooney had the natural athleticism and body type as Ronaldo has. Also Ronnie never drank and certainly never smoked, and looked after and primed his body like a true Professional Athlete. Ronnie’s body he kept in prime condition, and that is what Ronnie has over Rooney. I wonder if in the end what we have seen as a regression in Rooney performance from the splendid footballer he was when he first came to us, is actually down to the Roon trying too hard to be THE MAIN MAN in Ronnie’s absence. He is not made for it, and has his own game and he should just focus on being Wayne Rooney footballer, and not put pressure on himself by boasting of what he will be to United AND England, and then being devestated if he doesn’t make it. That is all I was trying to point out, and it worries me a little that Rooney fans can’t see these things. Maybe they can though, but are just loyal to the lad, and I can understand that
November 24th, 2009 at 15:09
@owen: I understand where you are coming from Owen and I agree with your sentiments!
November 24th, 2009 at 15:15
Anybody watch our reserve games on MUTV? Oliver Norwood and Magnus Eikrem are absolute up and coming experts in dead ball expertise. They both practice, practice, practice, long after other players have gone, just like Becks did, and it is showing in their superb goals scored from free kicks. We certainly need players coming through who are majestic in the free kick art as Becks and Ronnie are, because we presently have nobody in our 1st team who can do that with any consistency. So free kicks not the advantage to our 1st team they once were
November 24th, 2009 at 15:31
@Onkar: I think ROM in their stats FAIL on this vital point – that the other teams in the running for the PL last season were in shit form, and had important players missing for them, and maybe if that wasn’t the case they would have been out of sight and uncatchable by the time we got going
.
November 24th, 2009 at 15:44
@Ober-fuckin-tan: hahaha… who wins:
Handballers or match-fixers?
November 24th, 2009 at 16:09
@CraigMc: and @owen: I don’t agree in totallity with that statement that even in Chelsea game the maximum that we deserved was a DRAW. No way.. If you remember the game we had an offside decision going against us when ROONEY was 1-on-1 with Cech and you have that probability of him scorig was far more than him missing in that situation even though he is not world class according to you. Second incident was when Valencia was brought down in the box by that John fucking Terry which for me a dead penalty. So, you are talking about 2-0 Man UTD in just 15 mins and then Chelsea opening the game to chase it left, right and center. Not parking the bus agaist the all attack Man UTD and waiting for typical scrappy Chelsea goal.
Whether you are free enough to accept it or not but, we could have scored 2 goals in 15 mins if not for referees intervention albeit wrongly….
November 24th, 2009 at 16:16
@CraigMc: But, at the same time it also fails to highlight that we got the tougher draw than our opponents did and played almost against all the top half team. If it would have been other way around we might have been uncatchable distance away…
November 24th, 2009 at 16:25
@CraigMc: Could be if Hargo ever gets back in the mix. I for one believe he is a great dead ball specialist. Perhaps not Becks or Ronaldo, but better than what we have at the moment.
November 24th, 2009 at 16:32
@Onkar: Very true Onkar, BUT we played the other top teams when they were out of form so early in the season, and missing vital players – so chicken/hen situation, who knows. I truly think we got lucky Onkar, but very pleased we did
.
November 24th, 2009 at 16:35
@RichmondRed: Hargo is indeed a dead ball specialist, but all his present dithering and delays in him training with the 1st team, does not fill me with much hope for getting Genious Hargo back mate
.
November 24th, 2009 at 16:38
@Onkar: That’s exactly what I said Onkar – we SHOULD have got goals in that game, and when you don’t the ref will make some blunders, and the blunders went in Chelsea’s favour. Apart from that it would have been a deserved draw
.
November 24th, 2009 at 17:23
@Red Ranter: And last year we started without Ronaldo for several weeks and then even after he returned, it took him well over a month to find his fitness and form. I also think Chelsea this year is a better team than Liverpool our main contenders last year were. I do not see Chelsea with all that quality and experience folding the tent and going on a losing streak or drawing games against minnows to help us get back into it. But you never know. Football can be an enigma at the best of times. I’m still predicting third. Second is a good possibility if Arsenal do not fill their need for a quality DMF in January.
November 24th, 2009 at 17:38
@Beachryan: I was reading an interview with Ancelotti where he says at Chelsea he has been using the fitness and training regiment originally brought in there by Guus Hiddink. The reason for this is it limits the amount of injuries to a team. And seriously, Chelsea have had no real major injury concerns all season. Zhirkov was already injured when he was bought. It’s made me curious as to what exactly this regiment consists of because I am sick and tired of our injuries and the seemingly long time it takes everybody to return from them. Our back four has been decimated all season.
When I heard weeks ago that Rio was experiencing problems with his lower right leg and calve region I instantly knew that that it was related to his lower back problem. Having had a lower back problem for twenty years and having experienced all forms of Sciatica especially in the lower leg regions, I made the calculated guess that this was the cause of his problem. It therefore amazes me that it took over a month for United doctors to pinpoint the actual cause of his lower leg discomfort and finally declare that yes it was related to his lower back problem. DUH! No shit Sherlock I said to myself. It makes me wonder what kind of clowns are working for United in the training and medical side of things. Taking so long to diagnose a proper treatment or direction for Hargo, the inability to ever get Louis Saha healthy, the endless leg problems of Gary Neville (although for me, that was a blessing in disguise), the numerous other players with recurring injuries who seem to take longer than usual to return or recover. Maybe it’s all coincidence and I am going on about nothing but this Rio injury and the fact it has also been ages since we have actually seen a healthy Jonny Evans has me concerned about the kind of muppetry that is presently residing in the training room at OT.
November 24th, 2009 at 17:45
@Onkar: And you base your optimism on what exactly? Our prolific goal scoring and production? That was really evident when we played Liverpool and Chelsea. Is it our air tight defense of late? Is it our incredibly visionary and imaginative midfield who not only contain other’s midfields like Liverpools and Chelsea’s but who create a multitude of chances for our forwards to stick in the back of the net?
Sorry mate but if we played two games vs Barcelona they would clean the floor with us. Oh we would give them a battle but we do not have the midfield that will contend with theirs and we lack that little extra quality that we had with Ronaldo to breech their defenses. Our defending and even our keeping including EVDS of late has been anything but air tight and I doubt they could properly contend with the likes of Messi, Henry and even the Bitch Zlatan. I could see it being 3-1 or 4-1 on agg by the time it was all over. Sorry to be a downer but I base it on what we know about both clubs and what we have done since last year’s final when I thought we were going to win the game considering how many of their best were missing in the their back four that day.
November 24th, 2009 at 17:47
Just out of interest… has anyone seen a decent corner taken by Utd this season? I say this because in the last game, whilst I thought we played very well, especially in the first half (although in part this was down to Everton’s set up) every single corner that was taken seemed to never get any height and simply was headed away by the first man. I’d say its one of Nani’s redeeming features (the other being run-cut-in-blast-goal) to take a decent corner, however this year i don’t think hes even taken many good ones. Hopefully Hargreaves, or dare i say Adem will be able to take a decent corner… I only bring this up because I want Evans to get a goal.. and Vidic hasn’t been contributing like he once did. Now, perhaps its all down to a new tactic, but surely the point of taking a corner is to put the ball in the net via a beast of a header.
November 24th, 2009 at 17:49
@ Grognard – Indeed Ancelotti’s fitness regime (he brought that guy from the Milan labs with him, can’t remember his name) has made a difference – even more pronounced when you consider how much older they are.
Traditionally we’ve been pretty good about injuries compared to other teams, exceptions notwithstanding (I’m looking at you Glass knee saha!). I’m hoping it’s just bad timing. But one does wonder how players back int eh day survived…no subs and squads of 15 players!
Encouraged that Hargo is back at least on the same training pitch as the first team. It just worries me that they’re not letting him kick the ball yet. I mean, he was supposed to, amongst other things, be our new set piece specialist!
November 24th, 2009 at 17:51
There is no doubt that something is wrong with our physios. Every season we get defensive injury crises. Luckily we now have quite a lot of depth in that area but I still think a lot of our dodgy defending over the last two seasons can be attributed to the psychological effects of injuries.
If Chelsea bring in a big name signing in January the title is theirs. If they fail to strengthen I think the African Nations Cup would give us an outside chance at the title. Personally I think this could be the year that they win the Champions League. Barcelona are not as imperious as last season, we do not have the Ronaldo factor, Real Madrid are still a team in transition and no-one else is really outstanding.
I do not like us losing ground to Chelsea as it took us three years to break their dominance under Mourinho. But if you lose the best player in the world and do not even bother to bring any quality signings in then what do you expect.
It amazes me that Fergie would sell Ronaldo so easily knowing there would be no money available to buy a viable replacement. You can draw contrasts with the Beckham transfer, but it is completely different….we were nowhere near as reliant on Beckham as we were on Ronaldo. We have become a selling club.
If Barcelona came up with £85 million for Rooney and Rooney wanted to go we’d sell him I am sure. The only thing preventing that happens is Rooney’s own loyalty.
Thank God for FM2010.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:01
@CraigMc: There we go bro, we finally are in agreement on something. No way do we beat Barca with the ham n eggers we presently have going. Barca has how many world class players on the pitch? We have two, and according to you, Rooney is not one of them so then I as Onkar or anyone else, how are we just as good? We outplay Cheslea but still lose is an ongoing them with us of late. And we allowed ourselves to be beaten by Liverpool who are in a sadder state than us. We have no goal scoring ability or imagination compared to the likes of Barcelona who scored over 100 league goals last year. Our defense is beat up and playing poorly overall conceding not only goals but the kind of chances we never used to give up in the past. Our midfield minus Fletcher is pedestrian at best. In fact without Fletcher they are frighteningly awful. Our wingers have no guts or presence and cannot seem to enforce themselves in a game. Our strikers are the best defenders or midfielders we have. God knows they aren’t playing like strikers because they don’t know where the 18 yard box is and they have ben getting famine like supply from the rest of the team. I’d say that in comparison, we are in a world of hurt.
How many bad results do some people need to get the hint? And none of our supposed stars like Rooney or Carrick or Berba are stepping up and making the difference. Instead it has been the most unlikely of creatures. a tall gangly like individual known as Darren Fletcher has become our talisman in every way. Without him we would be dead and buried already. And some think we could be Barcelona? We couldn’t beat them last year when we had a better team and they were decimated by injuries at the back. Onkar and others need to take a reality pill and stop dreaming. Christ how I hate blind and naive optimism.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:07
@RichmondRed: I think there is a real misinterpretation here between what Craig is saying and what you are agreeing with. First off, Craig and I are not in agreement on whether he is a legend or a world class player and whether he is a pile of dog crap? Not I nor anybody else opposed to Craig’s feelings disagrees with the fact that of late Rooney has been shite on a stick and that he has been suffering since late last season with something. I have brought up his smoking and lifestyle habits, his weight, his work ethic and Fergie overuse of him. It’s all catching up with him but none of it I believe is fatal in terms of forcing the player into a permanent decline. I think proper rest, a change of lifestyle and a change of tactics by Fergie would once again make the lad world class. So we are all in agreement on his lack of form. Where we don’t agree with Craig is in his classification all time.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:15
@Onkar: Excuses excuses excuses. We lost the game mate. Yes we got robbed but we still officially lost the game. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Shoulda, coulda, woulda is an ongoing theme with many on here. I prefer to use couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, didn’t instead. The great teams make their breaks and the great teams make their luck. We are luckier than most but not lucky enough it seems to beat Liverpool and Chelsea when we must. We win those games and it is us comfortably sitting in first. We lose them and we are 5 back. All because we are unable to score in the big games and unable to keep the ball out of our net when it counts. Sure Drogba cheated but they got away with it and we never get away with that kind of skullduggery do we?
November 24th, 2009 at 18:19
@Onkar: Again excuses. Last year our draw was ten times tougher. Last year we had to play the then top ten teams in the EPL on the road in the first half and the big three right after a Champions League game. Last year’s first half schedule was the schedule form Hell. This season’s is a picnic in comparison. Again, we need to stop making excuses and face the reality of the situation. We are not good enough to win this league and if we are to win it, we need an injection of players in January, a different tactical approach (which is not going to happen) and teams like Chelsea and Arsenal to slip up mightily. I can see Arsenal slipping up because of their youth and a few weaknesses, but Chelsea is buoyed by experience, skill, grit, drive, pride and a manager who is a proven winner. You do the math.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:29
@Will: The corners aren’t always the problem. It’s the players in the box that are the problem. Static and lifeless. One of the biggest improvements in Peter Crouch’s game thanks to Harry Redknapp is how he has gotten the lad to move around and towards the ball on corners and crosses. The goal Terry scored against us is a perfect example of the kind of headers we never score on. A defender moving right to left or left to right and glancing a header or moving towards the ball and not just waiting for the ball to reach him. Proper corners have more men in the box and have players assisting others like picking off a defender to free up a player. We also lack forwards with a true aerial presence. Look at how lethargic and lazy everyone is on throw ins. They are just standing around while Evra and others are looking to throw the ball in but have nobody open. We are a lazy and unimaginative team on set plays. We got away with a lot when we had free kick specialists like Ronaldo and even Beckham before him but the fact remains, we have always been shite at corner kicks.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe that United scored a single goal off a direct corner in all of the 98/99 Treble season. And i believe the only one was at the end of the Champions League final vs Bayern. Considering it was David Beckham taking all the corners then, one would have to be in shock over that stat. But it’s not Beckhams service that was the problem. United are not setup or well coached in this are of the game. Other lesser teams work at this stuff much more because they lack the talent and so set plays are their bread and butter, but for us, it seems like and added waste of time.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:30
@Grognard: I absolutely love Wayne Rooney. I am pulling for him to do well as if he was a sibling of mine. However, a certain doubt has crept in over the past 15 months or so that while his temperment has cooled, his intellect for the game has imporved, and his passion for football is through the roof, his skill set has peaked. I am not saying this with certainty. I agree with you that given the added changes of lifestyle and such in his life progress can be made still, but I have my doubts. Like any footballer, Rooney cannot do everything on his own. All world class footballers need others to help compliment their game. Ronaldo was that compliment to Rooney and likewise in the other direction. However, when Ronaldo was injured at the beginning of last season and was not there to compliment Rooney I begin to see a less threathening Wayne Rooney, just my observation. Just the year before that even I began to see a change in his weight, in his movement, in his ability to run at people. And when Ronaldo did not start the season last year I saw the same thing in Rooney I had begun to see the previous campaign. This continues today. Grog, I think Rooney is a brilliant footballer and I thank my lucky stars that he is wearing a United kit. I hope you are right. I hope your thoughts that a few changes here and there and Rooney will be the Wayne Rooney we all fell in love with when he first burst into Old Trafford. However, I am 50/50 on that happening. Of course those changes you suggested need to happen to get the best out of him, but he also needs a player or two to compliment his game and what we have right now does not do that in my opinion.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:37
@Grognard: FFS Grog just stop the crap eh? You don’t agree with Craig because you put your own WARPED and wrong interpretations on what Craig is saying, unlike other people. Why you feel the need to do this, who the fuck knows. But I would appreciate if you didn’t comment on my posts anymore, because you sure as fuck don’t read and understand them properly, and I will not comment on yours. In this way people on the blog won’t have to suffer long drawn out debates like the Rooney one. This is not a popularity contest of opinions Grog, where people who see what I see, have to be told like children by you that they don’t really see the Rooney debate in the way I am seeing it at all. There are as you say plenty of Rooney fans who agree with you Grog, so why you feel the need to try and convince others that they don’t see really, what they obviously do see I cannot imagine – Sad mate, just plain sad! Lets hope Red Ranter is around for when you call on him to intervene eh???
November 24th, 2009 at 18:41
@Beachryan: The Milan labs guy and their techniques are becoming famous and are still a mystery. The reason Milan can have so many older players is because this lab has perfect a fountain of youth system that seems to rejuvenate older players and makes them not only play better and feel younger, but recover better and faster from injuries. The secret behind it is North American sports medicine. Juergen Klinsmann also brought many of the philosophies as well as specialized trainers with him from California when he was managing Germany. It works wonders compared to the old school ways of English teams and how they deal with injuries and fitness. I mean I still laugh when I see pictures of OT dressing rooms and training rooms. My high school’s training room had more state of the art machines and more modern looking dressing room than OT and all the other British stadiums. In North America we just laugh at the the large bathtub all the players get into to wash after a game. GROSS! In North America we use large showers for that. It’s faster and healthier.
The machines being used by NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA teams are state of the art and revolutionary when it comes to physical training and cardio workouts, They also limit injuries and do a great job preventing them as do exercise and Yoga segments. England is so far behind the times in so many areas of professional sports. It amazes me that they are actually able to compete with continental Europe. Germany, Spain and Italy are years ahead in sports technology and medicine and their training grounds and buildings are true state of the art and highly secured facilities that have all the tools and trappings to secure a player’s health and potential. Meanwhile, England is still in the Dark Ages.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:44
@colver: I said this yesterday and I’ll say it again. Fergie bit the bullet and finally allowed Ronaldo to leave the club against his wishes. If Rooney was also forced to leave, Fergie would up and quit on the spot just out of disagreement and rage. He would never allow for the selling of Rooney while he is Boss.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:48
@RichmondRed: I actually do not think his skills have peaked. He’s still far too young for them to peak. But they are actually regressing. That’s not because he has hit his peak and it’s downhill from there. Instead I think they are regressing way ahead of schedule due to the reasons I have given before. The good news I believe however, is that they could return and he could improve even more if some of those conditions are changed for the better. The most important thing is to get him of cigarettes, get him more rest and change the tactics and chemistry of the team to get him playing more like a goal scorer.
November 24th, 2009 at 18:55
@CraigMc: It’s because what they are saying is very much in agreement with what I have been saying about Rooney’s recent decline. You on the other hand have been going around talking about how useless and overrated Rooney has always been. There is a major difference there. And I do not appreciate the harsh words as they are incredibly mean spirited when you say I should not comment on your posts anymore and you will do the same to mine. I consider you a friend on this blog. Apparently this is a one sided relationship. And trust me, when it comes to reading comprehension, you are not in my league mate. That’s not an insult, thats a fact. Yes I am long winded but that’s because I can. I have the intellect, grammatical and vocabulary skills to be that way. So please do not infer that I am some kind of idiot who cannot make sense of your posts. Perhaps it is you who cannot make sense of your own thoughts because all along you have just been working us without actually believing a word you write. No need for you do disrespect me like this and to be this rude. I thought you and I were a little bit closer than that. Perhaps I was wrong?
November 24th, 2009 at 18:56
@Onkar: I don’t really know where to start. But no team however perfect can just waltz past any team. Yes Barca lost to Rubin the Russian champs, but that doesn’t mean they are not the best team in Europe. Real Madrid are considered to have taken over that honour by some quarters but even they lost to some random 3rd division team 4-1. Doesn’t mean they have been dethroned. Losing to crap teams is not a sign of anything, it is simply evidence of humanity of the team. The difference with us is we RARELY play well and these teams almost always play the very highest standard of football as it is known today.And on Xavi and Iniesta, I won’t make any noise about it because I don’t think it will go anywhere. I agree with some of the things that I think you are trying to say though
November 24th, 2009 at 19:01
@Grognard: Just out of curiosity…when do you think Robbie Fowler’s skills peaked? Statistically, Robbie Fowler was never the same after he turned 25. Fowler had four or five wonderful years with Loserpool before he leveled off due to weight problems, discipline issues, injuries, etc. I am not comparing their stories, but then again…
November 24th, 2009 at 19:12
@Grognard: Interesting. A few posts back you stated that if certain changes happened in Rooney’s life these changes could “once again make the lad world class.” That suggests that you do not see him as a world class player now…
November 24th, 2009 at 19:29
Grognard: I agree with your point. Rooney can be improved. The main problem is he is having to do too much work to make up for the inadequacies of the rest of our team. Part of it is to do with his personality. He wants to win so takes on too much and spreads himself too thin. The best thing we could do for Rooney is to sort out our midfield, get him a decent foil so that he is free to do his thing in the hole and cause havoc.
Like many English players Rooney plays best in a 4-4-2. Yes he performed well in the 4-3-3 we used to play in the Ronaldo days but the leading light of that system was Ronaldo and Rooney took a back seat.
The best thing for this team would be to return to a 4-4-2 and that means we need another central midfielder who can pull his weight, so we do not have to do this wimpy loading the midfield whenever we come up against a half decent midfield. In an ideal world Hargreaves would return and he and Fletcher would solidify our midfield. But we all know that is unlikely to happen.
So long as we continue to play 4-5-1 all the time against good teams Rooney will never flourish.
November 24th, 2009 at 19:57
@RichmondRed: If Rooney’s career stalls because of weight/fitness problems, he unlike Fowler, can always be converted into a midfield player.
Still world – class at that!
November 24th, 2009 at 20:10
@NicoQB: Better covert him now only so that we will not have to make any excuses for his below 20 goals this season
November 24th, 2009 at 21:08
@NicoQB: Honestly I do not really believe we have seen the best of Rooney. However, I just cannot see him being a midfielder on a permanent basis. How old was Scholes when he became and out and out midfielder?
Oh, and world class…? I like how people throw those words around. Doing so deminishes its significance. There are very few world class players in world in my opinion and Rooney, while an incredibly brilliant footballer, is not world class nor has he ever been.
Wayne Rooney is becoming a United legend, but I would hold off in calling him world class.
November 24th, 2009 at 21:20
Looks like Liverpool are heading for the exit door. Fiorentina are 1-0 up against Lyon! But Barcelona are 2-0 up against Inter and Rubin drew so looks like Barcelona are going through
November 24th, 2009 at 21:45
Apparently Phil Brown has got the Hull chairman’s daughter pregnant. Eww.
November 24th, 2009 at 22:05
@Traverse:
really??!! that guy is just comical… guess she couldn’t resist the uber-tan 
well, that explains why he hasn’t been sacked yet 
November 24th, 2009 at 22:40
Liverpool, lol.
November 24th, 2009 at 22:41
HAHAHAHAHAHAH Liverpool OUT of Europe. Another trophyless season awaits Merseyside. All that needs to happen now is for them to get pushed into fifth place by Tottenham or Man City and it is bye bye Benitez, bye bye Torres!
November 24th, 2009 at 22:53
Liverpool…
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaah
November 24th, 2009 at 22:55
@RichmondRed: A truly World class player would get in the brazil football squad.
Rooney would.
On current form, so would Fletcher.
Whether they would get in the starting eleven is another matter.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:13
@colver: or hellow torres
November 24th, 2009 at 23:20
Liverpool cut of their noses to spite their faces, because IF they had not rushed a 70% fit Torres to play against United, then they would have had a fit player for their European encounters. Torres healing process was set back a good number of games by them pushing him to face us, and now that decision has COST THEM 30 million, and that’s just this season. If they don’t finish top 4, they will really pay for the Torres against United decision
.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:22
@Footy4Eddy: Eddi mi man – don’t be CRUEL to the Pool. Scouse GITS
.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:23
KRAP- Keep Rafa At Pool!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 23:25
@CraigMc: I verbally raped all possible Scouse fans I could find in Oslo!
Wild night mate, wild night!
Ahh, this is sweet!
November 24th, 2009 at 23:27
@Footy4Eddy: This.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:31
@Footy4Eddy: Were all of them GOBSMACKED by the Fiorentino result Eddi
.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:34
@Footy4Eddy:
– your KRAP – ‘Keep Rafa at Pool’ would make a fantastic T shirt slogan Eddi, all Mancs would buy it 
.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:40
@CraigMc: They were hillarioud mate!!!
When Liverpool scored it sounded like they had just won the Champions League, but when Fiorentina scored the place went all quiet after the loudset groan Ive ever heard in my life. 
Unfortately I started laughing, so the very next thing I did after seeing the look on their faces was to run like SHEEEEEEEEIT!!! Them doing their really best impressions of Stevie Me, trying to hit the innocent guy. And lets just say Ive got over 50 notifications on Facebook because of my “opinions” of their result. Liverpool fans went mental, saying the Europa League is now their target. I said thats aiming low, them saying thats all they can do, me laughing at their patheticness. 
I love this!
November 24th, 2009 at 23:41
@CraigMc: Considering of starting a facebook group with that, who joins?!
November 25th, 2009 at 0:05
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y91KgyeNRqk
November 25th, 2009 at 0:10
@Footy4Eddy: Eddi mate you need to be careful when winding up those Norwegian L’fool fans
. I would be because your all VIKINGS over there right – with steel helmets and horns 
.
November 25th, 2009 at 0:13
Anyone seen this?!
http://www.lfc-endofseasonparty.com/
Funny as f*ck!!
November 25th, 2009 at 0:14
@CraigMc: Ive got my crew with me, would have beaten those lads had it not been for me having a math test tomorrow, which I spent 5 hours reading for today. Im afraid of noth`n!
November 25th, 2009 at 0:56
Xavi and Iniesta are just magnificent. Jose Mourinho’s side totally outclassed and outmanouvered it’s not even funny. Talk about disappearing in big games,with Iniesta man of the match. Anyway let’s make this relevant to this forum
. We would do well to take lessons from Barca in terms of football and team management(though they should emulate us in organisational stability). If we are humble enough to do this we will definitely be firm on the road to the pinnacle of football excellence. Why do I make comparisons with Barcelona? Firstly because just as we used to(up to 2007), they firmly believe in free flowing attacking football. Also, they,just like us , believe in team work,so we have a lot in common.
Where they are ahead is obvious;the quality on the pitch and team management.One thing we could start with, and this is not by learning from Barca alone but it’s basic football sense applied by all football teams bar two i.e. United and Liverpool. Some flippin consistency in team selection.Every single coach in Europe,before the season begins, is fully aware of the tactics they will apply for that season.Consequentially,like a movie director he has main characters specifically cast to play these plans out and a supporting cast as well and even stand ins.Pep Guardiola’s main cast is that of Messi,Xavi,Iniesta,Ibra,Keita,Henry etc and these play in almost all the scenes.We should also learn to apply this principle and select our main cast and stick to it. As in movies,chemistry is critical and it is the main ingredient for fluency. That’s why Barca can just as well play with blindfolds and still outscore the opposition. We reached such a level of excellence in 2006-2007 with Scholes and Carrick playing almost every game. The combination of Rooney and Ronaldo was lethal but beautiful to watch(only Quentin Tarantino would get that).That would not be possible without consistency.Now we have played something like 11 different midfield combinations so far this season and it’s clear in the way we play.No direction,fluency or confidence,just disjointed and confused.
We could also learn certain aspects of tactics and techniques from them. Like how to pass a football from one team mate to the other and quit those damn long balls(are you listening Vidic and Carrick). These things are taught in training and that’s why Barca,Milan,Arsenal,Chelsea and Madrid are near perfect at it.This goes hand in hand with receiving a pass and making runs off the ball. Our tactics make us too predictable. Everyone patriotically sticks to their positions like WW2 soldiers especially chief culprits Carrick and Scholes. Move around and open up.Now these things are all about tactics and techniques and the coaching staff is responsible for this.
Another area we could learn is in the youth dept. We have exhibited zero balls in this aspect. Barca have excelled in this dept and have shown massive faith in their youngsters. As we are speaking they have recently unleashed another one from their long line of talented youngsters. Pedro,has already recorded something like 10 goals so far in his breakthrough season coming from Barcelona B(equivalent to our reserves). Pedro can be compared to Macheda or Welbeck. They have also just recently extended another youngster’s contract by the name of Sergio Busquets(was involved in Rome)who played today in midfield. Another youngster debuted in Europe tonight by the name of Jonathan Dos Santos,young brother of Barca youth product and current Spurs player Giovanni. All these players featured tonight against Inter and the first two are already becoming regulars. We also have enough quality in the young players,yet we insist on playing them as rarely as possible. There is no reason why Rafael and Fabio should not be trusted more especially with the right back position. Macheda should have played at least 4 league games by now and all our matches should include at least two youngsters in the starting line up. Let’s show some faith in this crop and play them some games of significance.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:06
@RichmondRed: He’s not playing like a world class player right now but I still think he is one. Being in bad form for a spell does not drop your status you have developed over an entire career. He would have to go like this for at least another year before I said to myself ok, he’s not ever coming back.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:08
@colver: Totally agree. It’s great knowing that somebody else sees it as I do. Encouraging really considering how others are buying a lot of crap being sold on here by some.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:47
@Jay wire: Well said. I agree with you entirely on the Barcelona way of doing things. United is running it’s on field product like an old boys club and volleyball team. What I would give for some stability. The problem with playing your starters most of the time with a large squad is that there are other good players who are sitting on the bench getting more and more disgruntled. That’s unless the environment for them is so great, they love the club so much that they all start feeling like John O’Shea and Ole Gannar Solksjaer.
Barcelona doesn’t have a problem gaining loyalty from it’s players because it is one of the two big names in Spanish football. This equates to one of the big two names in South America also. Kids who grow up in Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries automatically grow up dreaming of one day playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona. When they are finally selected or bought by the club, they are treated like royalty, their parents are treated like royalty and the bond and loyalty for life is sealed. The club does everything to make them feel wanted, loved and appreciated even if they rarely start or if they are too young to start.
United on the other hand has cultural block that they cannot help. This block hurts their chances when it comes to building security and loyalty from their young foreign players and the players they buy who do not speak native English. We are constantly looking to buy talent from South America yet we have no way nor do we try to make these players fit in well and feel a part of life in Northern England. They come from hot climates like Brazil or Argentina and then they get stuck in the cold and the rain and have none of the cultural advantages and staples that makes life easier for them. They are forced to have to learn another language and in many cases, just don’t. When United buy more accomplished players from other countries, they come with the hope and the aim to become regular first team players. Then Fergie either benches them or rotates the Hell out of them so much so that they lose rhythm, form and confidence. Anderson, Nani, Tevez, Rafael, and the list goes on and one of players who are trying or have tried to make a go of it in Manchester but have either failed or are failing because the country and culture as well as weather is too different and the team does not allow for their own expression and interpretation of the game not to mention the endless rotating and bowing to the old boys club that is Neville, Scholes, Giggs, a trio that have kept many a good player down in my books.
Fergie has had his foreign successes and Ronaldo and Cantona were great ones, but overall, he has failed badly with non English speaking purchases. The team just isn’t warm and cozy like Madrid and Barca are to these types of players. They just don’t work at making it better by helping these players either get more acclimated to their new and very foreign surroundings, or by playing them more and helping them get more acclimated to the game the team system and the league. Instead Fergie builds them up with praise and early confidence only to break them down. He has done a masterful job destroying both Nani and Anderson as well as others by making them out to be more than they were, playing them out of position, demanding of them to lose their natural instinctive way of playing and then rotating them until they have lost any momentum and confidence in their form. Instead he continues to parade the old guard while youngsters who I feel are ready to play rot in the reserves. Young players on a reserve team are like fruit on a tree. They reach a ripeness and they begin to rot. I am already seeing the rot in Welbeck and Macheda as well as Gibson, Fabio and a few others. Some might say they just aren’t good enough to play for the first team. I say they are but Fergie is too much of a coward to break one or two in with a regular and fair shot. He gives them one game or one half and if they don’t wow him like Ronaldo, they are sent back down.
Sure Fergie has a lot of pressure on him to get results but he is allowing the team around him to age along with him and they aren’t getting any better folks. Macheda for one should have had more games up to now. Gibson is also one player I wanted to see more of and it’s good to see Rafael back because anything is better than watching O’Shea at RB. Would Evans be getting the chance he has gotten had it not been for Rio’s back injury? Nani has never had a fair run out there and Anderson who I don’t care for continues to be the height of inconsistency because he is not played enough. Trial and tribulations of having a deep squad in England.
Finally, if Man Utd or any top English team wants to be like Barcelona, best for them to start treating their players the same way and best for them to start buying players from countries that have English as a strong second language and where the culture and the weather isn’t so foreign. Lyon only buy French players or foreign players who speak French. And if they dabble in any other language, they stick to one. In their case it’s Brazilians. But they have an active team of scouts who pick quality kids in Brazil, not just primadona’s. They nurture them, bring them to Lyon, take care of their needs, their families needs, get them a home and get them started with French lessons. They have a liaison hired full time to help them get their kids in school, buying specialty items that they require as well as cultural needs. Everything is taken care for them. All they have to do is play football. And when a team like Lyon invests so much in a player like that, what they do is play them. They get their chance and aren’t stuck in the reserves or on the bench rotting while 35 year olds take up all the playing time. It’s a young man’s game but nobody would get that impression from the way United operates.
United needs to change their team culture and their buying strategy if they want to be like Barcelona. If I was running United I would buy UK players for loyalty and depth and Norther and Central Europeans for the basis of my squad. They mostly speak English, they understand rain, snow and cold and they can adapt as easy to English culture as I can if I lived there. And let them continue their Brazilian experiment if they need to. But it will fail long term, I guarantee it.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:01
@Jay wire: Barca should never even have been in the final. They are frauds.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:32
@Aymen: And Manchester United should not have been in the final either because they were even greater frauds based on how they succumbed to Barcelona in the final.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:16
@Grognard: Thats the problem isn’t it GROGY… The only thing that I am pointing out since yesterday was that we have that weird biased towards Barca even though we are SO CALLED Man UTD fan. I mean when I pointed out that Ref messed it other wise we would have rather I say we should have won that game. But, then you had problem with that as you said we were poor and all that things but, when someone point out that this SO CALLED best team in the world reached final just on the basis of not one, two three but 4 wrong decision then you seem to be ok with that and you just deflect the point towards soem thing else.
I mean the Fact remain that and it will forever that Referee ROBBED CHELSEA TO ALLOW PASSAGE FOR BARCA TO THE FINAL. And the CL trophy that they have won against the below par Man UTD performance has not 1,2 but 4 dents on it…. They definitely didn’t deserve it no matter what all the Barca Obsessed fan here feel….
We got what we deserved I agree we were shit on that day but Barca definitely did not get What they DESERVED AS WELL THAT IS EXIT FROM CL AT SEMI FINAL STAGE. And No one and I repeat no one can deny that…
November 25th, 2009 at 6:17
@Onkar: *The only thing that I am pointing out since yesterday was that we have that weird biased towards Barca even though we are SO CALLED Man UTD fan. I mean when I pointed out that Ref messed it other wise we would have rather I say we should have won that game.
Regd CHELSEA GAME
November 25th, 2009 at 17:45
@Onkar: You are missing my point though mate. I don’t give a rat’s ass about Barca. I don’t care if they got in thanks to a terrible ref or that Chelsea got screwed. In fact, I’m glad Chelsea got screwed. My point is that we throw excuses around like I use toilet paper (I use a lot). As Barca is not the team we all support as our number #1 team, then what they do or how they do it does not concern me. But when we point a finger at them and make excuses for how they got to the final, all we are really doing is making an even bigger excuse for ourselves or making United look the worser of the two because they lost badly to that sad bunch of Spaniards who didn’t deserve to be in the final. Hell, we had our lucky breaks along the way and we didn’t play well against Porto but got through. Moral to my story is never insult a team that beats you soundly as it just paints a bad light on the team you support.