May 21
Jumping Ahead of Hull and onto Barca
So forgive me, if for once, I choose to not talk about Hull and rather focus the gist of my piece on Barcelona instead.
I received an email from Craig Murray (if you haven’t heard of Craig Murray, here’s his Wikipedia page), who sent me a link to a disturbing image and article centered around Barcelona — a club, he purports, supports a fascist dictatorship. [Link -- Warning: Contains an image of a dead body, might be disturbing. Read with discretion.]
There are parts of this story that have some truth in it — Pitch Invasion did a piece on Barcelona’s ties with Uzbekistan billionaires earlier (remember the Samuel Eto’o story?), and Alisher Usmanov, the Arsenal shareholder — so you can read up on them if you are interested. There are things that would make UNICEF quake in their boots.
But I don’t want to make this all political and look for reasons to hate Barcelona. I really like Barcelona as a footballing side. I’ve always been a little cynical of the people that run clubs in general, and I’m aware that they may not come with the cleanest of slates. But it was a story I was sent from Mr. Murray, and I thought I’d share it since there hasn’t been much media coverage of that angle. Craig Murray does say that anyone who supports FCB is a supporter of the fascist regime, and unfortunately, that is a stretch because football fans are usually captivated by the on field activities. I think the fans should voice their protest of the administrators’ involvement in dodgy deals — but I doubt one can fault the fans, some of who’ve been supporting the club even before Uzbekistan was a nation.
Moving on to United, Rio reckons he’ll be fit for the final — he’s in training kicking a ball. Fergie reckons he should have some minutes under his belt over the weekend. He’s already handed a starting berth to O’Shea. The back four, barring injury, should be fairly predictable.
The manager took some time out to talk about the kids, so to speak.
“Our young Italians? We have two and a half, Macheda and Petrucci plus the naturalised Brazilian [Rodrigo] Possebon. The three are all talented and I can assure you that these kids have a bright future ahead of them. Macheda is a great striker and we are all getting to know his skills. He came together with Petrucci and neither of them spoke English but they went to school, studied and learned quickly. Petrucci is another very strong Roman boy. He is now struggling with an injury that has ruled him out until the end of the season but he has great potential and will do well.”
Barcelona have Henry and Iniesta back in training. I say, bring ‘em on! Beating a Barca side that’s full strength on the attacking side will make the victory even sweeter.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard is sitting on the fence, yet leaning towards United for the Champions’ League final. Methinks there is a closet United supporter somewhere — so much for ‘I want United to die’ eh?
So there’s the news for now — more will be forthcoming in the days leading up to the final. I will be on vacation in the weekend but I should pop in an out and there will be a couple of articles to give you fodder to discuss. Be nice.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Porto it is then…
- Why Becks and van “the man†were sold so cheaply to Real
- Can Barca be beaten in Europe?
- Hot News Ahead of Barca | Gattuso and the Usual Nonsense
- Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Will be somewhat interesting with the Italian Ultra’s who absolutly hate us and the friendly Barca fans, jeez, stab vests for anyone who goes out there I would say, also the policing has to be 100% water tight, knowing the Italian police (Carabinieri?) This is unlikely as they are as corrupt as their govenment.
Like?
0 
0
@Stephen: I understand there is a large contingent of British Officers going to Rome, to police our lot
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc- indeed you have a valid opinion their mate, yet it is also ill founded. Both The main man who i and all the Manchester United fans alike have alot of repect for Sir Alex fergie and David gil have said time and agian they want to keep tevez. A petition is just a simple way of supporting this. Yes to an extent your right maybe tevez knows we want hinm here however signing a petition is in no way going against our club it is there just as a factor saying that we would love him 2 stay jus as the gaffer stated. So brothers lets stand United for once. This in my opinion is the greatest team we have ever had the pleasure of enjoying why not embrace the players who we have here. We made the impossibel possible and we will continue to do so becaue we are the pioneers of football
Like?
0 
0
Fuck meeee…I still have the torture of revision for three more uni exams to go through before next Wednesday, the last of which finishes at 7pm on Wednesday evening, leaving me to make a MANIC dash from the exam hall on campus to the nearest TV screen/set before 7.45pm!
But all I can think about right now is Barca! I sincerely hope a United triumph will be worth having to potentially resit a couple of exams in late summer!
Like?
0 
0
@Shera: He doesn’t want to stay, and with his recent behaviour and quotes via the media I am not sure if I want him to.
He has been treated better than Nani or Anderson with game time, and neither have sounded off via the media as he has, so good riddance.
Like?
0 
0
@Shera: Sir Alex fergie and David gil have said time and agian they want to keep tevez
The fans vocally made their noise heard in OT when he was subbed off, SAF and Gill said they want him — the stumbling block? His price. We are fans and hence we have no idea of the state of finances, the transfer budget and strategy that the executives have in mind. There’s no point in a petition if all the parties on our side want the same thing. You could make a case if the manager and executive don’t want him (although even that is debatable). Emotion is a good thing, but it’s not always sensible when you are a chief executive of a club and have to make some hard choices.
I think there are a good number of fans who also think Tevez is not right for United at the current asking price — and whilst it will be great if they do sign him, I won’t lose sleep if we put our foot down before we’re taken for a ride by his owner.
Also, Tevez has been mouthing off to the press more than necessary and I’m not willing to buy his victim card anymore.
Like?
0 
0
@Nino…Good luck in your exams bro and me darned sure you revise. I can assure you, it’ll be killing all birds with one stone. We’re going to rome to bring the trophy home on Caesar’s throne! By the way, 7.45pm? Are you by any chance in Nigeria?
Like?
0 
0
@Shera: No, just no.
Like?
0 
0
Just gimme De Laet
Yeah yeah
Just gimme De Laet
Yo yo
Just gimme De Laet
Don’t say it
Just gimme De Laet
Sean Paul
Just gimme De Laet and start the show
(Bash another ball for a throw)
He come from Antwerp, ‘n soon he go-o-o
(Not good enough to play for Stoke)
‘Cos we got Eckersley, and Fabio-o-o
Possebon ‘n Brandy ‘n co. (Come on, Sean Paul baby!!!)
Got to make some space for Manucho-o-o
(Come on, yeah, yeah, fuck off now!)
Ritchie de laet, couldnt get into the stoke team and has signed a contract extension with us.
Like?
0 
0
http://www.redcafe.net/f6/new-kit-232142/index11.html
Scroll down, you’ll see an official nike poster with the new kit on it, it looks ace in my opinion, and i got an erection over the keeper kit
Like?
0 
0
@WhiteY: Cheers mate..and no I’m from England not Nigeria lol. The match kicks off at 7.45pm UK time doesn’t it, unless I’m missing something??!
Like?
0 
0
http://apprentice.fremantlemedia.com/juniorapprentice/
Nothing to do with football, i thought i would post it for the younger readers on here, such as eddie.
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: Dunno about that. Looks like someones photoshopped those images ‘cos a lot of the player poses look oddly familiar from the last two seasons, leading me to think that they’ve just edited the existing kit by adding a black chevron on the chest.
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: haahaha. nice remix
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: My sentiments exactly RR, and I couldn’t have said it better myself
.
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: cheers for that dan, i have just applied hope i can make it
Like?
0 
0
@Mr.Muhozi: i hope you do to
i like the concept of the show, but it will be interesting to see how it is delivered.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: was over at fcbnews, doing a bit of jousting with the Barca fans, good fun.
Like?
0 
0
@Shera: You know what mate, think about this please, if you will! The very fact that since we have WON the PL again, and for three times on the trot again, and soon we will be in Rome fighting to make history, with back to back CL victories, ALL WE HAVE bloody heard about on press and tv is TEVEZ, tevez, AND MORE boring Tevez. Once again attention from our hard WORKED and endeavoured triumphs, has been diverted from the team to ONE individual player. Just as last season with Ronnie, now we have gobshite Tevez and his team of irritants. No disrespect meant to you Shera, but I wouldn’t sign anything for that guy right now, because he has gone about what he wants the wrong way. Fervent fans sadly have inadvertently encouraged this
.
Where is this leading eh? Fans BOO-ING Fergie’s decisions regarding Tevez, and that in front of the whole watching football world. That has never happened at OT before that I can EVER remember. Also if this is aloud to continue, we are setting a dangerous precedence, that players like Tevez becoming the TAIL that wags the Dog, instead of the other way around. You say we should stand together United! Is that really is how you see this, I do indeed mourn, because the press and TV will certainly use what you THINK is being United together, as actually Man United fans with Tevez DIVIDED against Fergie and the club. I see where this is heading Shera, and it appalls me. The day that fans start to try to FORCE their will upon the club, by derision chanting and boo-ing, is the day anarchy comes in, and RUINS everything great our club has ever stood for. Tevez has been a mouthy gobshite, and somehow, he has got United fans supporting his gobshitedness. Not me Shera, I do not approve of the way the Tevez team has brought this evil to our club. Not having a go at you personally Shera, but I do not like Tevez at all at the moment. He has no idea of TRADITION and good things of longstanding of our club. Viva Man United, Tevez you know where the door is!
Like?
0 
0
@Fred The Red: Well knowing you Fred, I am sure it was all in rightness of spirit, with lots of good humoured Irish wit
.
Like?
0 
0
@Nino:
, you’ll have to use your legs to MOVE faster than the speed of lightening to find the nearest TV. I bet you manage it though 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: one or two of them were about to get the hairdryer mate, but I decided that diplomacy was the best course of action
Like?
0 
0
@Fred The Red:
, so I was right eh? You did respond to them in right spirit. Knew you would 
. You can have more enjoyable banter that way though Fred. 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: theyre accusations of us being a long ball team get under my skin a bit mate, we might have our faults, but I dont think we can be accused of being a long ball team.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I totally agree with you mate. The day Fergie and the club succumb to the demands of supporters is the day we become like Newcastle United. Like it or not Fergie and Gill are in place to make the decisions popular or unpopular for the betterment of the team. And although I personally don’t want to see Tevez leave, I’ll be damned if it gets to the point that we threaten the manager over it and demand he do our bidding. The man has never steered us wrong in 25 years and rather than support one player who has shown great heart and desire while with United but very little tact and common sense, I for one will side with the manager every time. We aren’t talking Alan Shearer here or some other wannabe manager muppet. We are talking Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful club manager in history. What he says goes and if we don’t like it, well tough shit. I trust him and I have faith in him. Why? Frankly because he has earned that right after 25 years of success, 11 EPL titles, 5 FA Cups, a Cup Winners Cup and soon to be 3 Champions League trophies. So goodbye Carlito. Love ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya.
Like?
0 
0
@Shera:
The only petition i’ll sign is one to tell Teves to shut the fuck up, and get fuckin real. £30+ million, this is a joke. A fuckin joke, this is devisive to our prep for Barca. If i read one more peep out of Teves’ mouth, i would gladly drive him to Rafa’s slumhole. And btw what use would a petition serve anyway? If you want him to stay so much, why not do a whip around at your local? Now that would be much more productive, i’d say you’ld get two pennies to rub together. This is already pissing me right off, if he says another word, fine him, drop him and give him a one way train ticket from Picadilly to Rat infested Scouseland.
Like?
0 
0
My patience with Tevez is quickly running out. I appreciate his situation but if he REALLY wants to stay then mouthing off in the Argentinian press about it is not a good way to prove to the board that he is worth the ridiculous price tag being hung around the neck.
I know it’s really early and there could be injuries between now and then, but i want to put my hat in the ring and select a potential starting XI for the Final
VDS
O’Shea, Rio, Vidic, Evra
Park, Carrick, Giggs
Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney
and yet saying that… you could just as easily swap Berbatov for Anderson and play Ronaldo up front and Rooney on the left.
I’M SO EXCITED
My dream final, two of the best footballing teams in the world, two of the best players in the world… cannot wait!
As for the team for Hull… anybody’s guess, I’ve heard reports suggesting a mixed reserves/academy plus a few regulars, but it could quite easily be a semi full strength team
Kuzsczek (sp?)
Rafael, Evans, Rio, Fabio,
Martin, Possebon, Fletcher, Nani,
Welbeck, Macheda.
Hardly the worse team in premier league history…
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: Clearly mate, he hasn’t yet seen de laet.
Like?
0 
0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_QOcxlJnNg
I want a puppet Ronnie!
Like?
0 
0
i’d very much love it if Tevez were to score a goal or 2 in the final. whatever it takes for SAF and Co. to see that we need to keep him.
Like?
0 
0
@NicoQB: I love the Ronny puppet. They should market them.
Like?
0 
0
@MUFC Fan in America: Most of us love Tevez mate but lets face it, his agent is pricing him out of reasonable consideration. As much as he contributes, the money they are asking would suit a player who scores 30 goals a season. Tevez has 15 in all competitions. He’s just not worth that kind of money and if we pay it, we set a very bad precedent for future deals for other players who will be priced way above their true market value. Clubs will just assume we will pay that kind of money. Well we won’t.
Like?
0 
0
@MUFC Fan in America: After the way Tevez and his team have behaved, and spoken about the club and Fergie, he will be lucky to get on the field in Rome, never mind score 2 goals
.
Like?
0 
0
@phoenix red: Aaaaah somebody after my own heart Bro
.
Like?
0 
0
@Fred The Red: This is just a con by Barca to try to get us to wear ourselves out contesting MF. I hate their boring little dinky carousel passes back and forth for bloody ages in that MF area. If our threading the balls thru to Rooney and Ronnie LONG or not, brings us the goals that win the CL trophy WITHIN 90 minutes, I couldn’t care less what they accuse us about
.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Too true Grog Bro! People like Joorabchian, and other fast becoming powerful agents, are having a very damaging effect on the game.
. Their whole warfare waged thru the media outlets, is to subject clubs, even of longstanding great prestige and history, like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich etc, to criticism, derision, and downright disrespect of all they stand for. They are a cancer, which if allowed to succeed, means clubs will be run by Agents and player puppets, who will bleed clubs dry, and then go off with their millions laughing 
.
Teves, has been aloud to get away with murder so far, more than any other player has EVER been allowed to do, and not be disciplined.
1. He has related to the press continuously that he doesn’t AGREE with the way our club is run.
.
2. He has called our Manager an old (senile because this is what he really means) man, who doesn’t like Teves, and he doesn’t agree (again) with how Fergie does his job.
3. He has threatened to quit our club, because he is not loved or respected (PLEASE), this is not the feckin movies. We are talking about a player who coming from the saddest, and poorest life in Argentina, now is rich, and lives comfortably, something the other poor in Argentina would die for. And he thinks he is disrespected, give me a break
4. He truly BELIEVES he should play every game, and never be benched. This is just not going to happen, not at United certainly, and not at any other TOP club.
5. Not even Ronnie with all he did last summer, said the things that Teves has said, and so far got away with it. Ronnie didn’t criticise our club or management. He said how much he loved the club, Fergie particularly, and that he would love to be like Giggsy, a legend with history. Teves has said the exact opposite.
Finally, I do not understand why the club have allowed Teves to go undisciplined. If he gets his way, and succeeds, other players will definately know how to disrespect their way to forcing the issues at our club. Being the fans Darling at OT, like Ronnie last season, and Teves this season, certainly elevates a player to self delusional feelings of untouchability, where they feel they are SO GRAND, they can do and say anything they want. Time to put Teves in his place, or GET RID!
Like?
0 
0
ps – anybody think the climate has changed, from players understanding the privilege of playing at the top clubs, to players delusionally asserting, they THEY ARE DOING THE CLUBS A FAVOUR? MADNESS!
Like?
0 
0
Just like to say thanks to Fred the Red and NicoQB for your comments and respectful debate on Fcbnews. Cheers.
Like?
0 
0
@ Nick
My team for Hull,
Kuszo
Raphael, Rio, Evans, De Laet
Martin, Fletcher, Gibson, Nani
Welbeck, Macheda
And yeah, i’d say they have the beating of Hull or at least a draw
Like?
0 
0
@phoenix red: I think you got one player wrong Phoenix mi man
. I believe Red Nev is playing at Hull, so he will be alongside Rio. Fergie wont risk Evans with the niggling run of injuries he has had recently, especially as he is unsure of Rio coming thru the game. He also may play Tosic instead of Martin. We shall see. Also I thought Fergie had said, that he was thinking of Eckersley at Rt back for this one? Simpson is back at the club, is Simmo not eligible to play???
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: thats it in a nutshell! Grog. I wonder about his naiveity, and if its not that, then he and his team are trying to engineer a move out. Havent they heard? There’s a recession on!
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: i’m a big fan of Simpson, great to have him back. Love having a few Mancs in the squad. Yeah, play Neville beside Rio, that’ll garantee Hulls` survival!!!
I forgot about Tosic!!? Yeah Eckers is a good little trier too, i want to see if De Laet is as bad as Dan says…..
Like?
0 
0
My team:
Amos(PIG wont play, god forbid VDS gets injured in the final, who do we bring on?)
Neville
rio
De laet
fabio
Evans(corry)
fletcher
gibson
tosic
macheda
welbeck
you could also see evans in the centre and gibbo on the wing.
Like?
0 
0
In other news, Ji-sung Park insists Tevez is United’s best player and must stay at Old Trafford. The Korean is close friends with Tevez and says it would be “very disappointing” if he left.
From the man utd “paper talk” webpage.
if he believes that, he can fuck off to!
Like?
0 
0
@Shera: I would sign a petition complaining that they stopped playing the Stone Roses at OT before I would sign one telling SAF to ‘sign him up.’ Fortunately, Fergie will do what is best for the club (whatever that might be) and not what the mob want.
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: Dan who wanks of to old Dutch keepers wearing white new shirts…..
Like?
0 
0
@Dan:
, well said Dan! I guess Teves being THE BEST PLAYER (NOT), at OT, must suggest that us struggling at the beginning of season for points, when Ronnie and Rooney were out, must have been down to the other lesser players, according to Park on your Arse thinking 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Eric the Red: Aaaah Eric, you are a true Red mi man
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I will cetianly miss his five league goals next season if he wen’t with us, one more than Vida.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Thanks mate! Unfortunately it didn’t need to be like this. If Carlos had just shut up until the end of the season, then it wouldn’t have been as much of a big deal. And don’t even get me started on the ‘fans’ interupting SAF’s speech.
Like?
0 
0