Jun 08
Manchester United 08/09 Season Review – Part I: The Attack
With transfer rumours in full tilt, let’s behave like nothing is happening in the world around us — apart from acknowledging that Roger Federer is destiny’s only child — and decide to look at the world that happened in the past year.
Since this is a trilogy — with a chance of a bonus part; either, for purposes of completeness, or due to the commercial success of said trilogy — we will devote a post each for attack, midfield and defence. Waffling will cover performances of individual players, and a few words thrown around to talk about the collective.
In this post, attack refers to the attackers which, for our purposes, encompasses the strikers and the wingers. Yes, sorry to disappoint, but Park Ji-Sung will be considered an attacker; even Tevez. Such is the complexity of the beautiful game.
Nani:
His fans, and there are quite a few of them around, will argue that he’s been misused, misunderstood, mishandled, and any other words that could go with that prefix. In fact, if Nani were to one day hang up his boots after a distinguished career, and tell the tale of his footballing career to his grandchildren, he would describe his 2008/09 season with one word: a miss. (alright, alright — two words!) In the limited opportunities he got to show his wares, he sizzled in some, and simmered in others. Mostly, it was nothing spectacular that would force the manager to make him a guaranteed started like Rooney or Ronaldo. But then, none of our other attackers are ever guaranteed first team slots anyway.
It is inexplicable why Ferguson would use Nani so sparingly, whilst he gave the other summer 2007 arrival, Anderson, a good run. I hope he gets a better chance next season, otherwise, his time at OT will fast run out.
Rating: 5.5/10
Park Ji-Sung: Also known as Ji-Sung Park — some would say, the Energizer Bunny. He represents the quirks of the game. Not nearly talented like Ronaldo or Rooney, and yet he’s a winger; limited in creative abilities, so he has to make up for it with work rate. Jonathan Wilson, the great ‘football nerd’, attributes the emergence of players of his ilk to the advent of the defensive striker/winger. He has had as good a season as he had last time. A few good performances, a few average ones and a few poor ones. He is a good squad player that would do well when called upon, but to view him anything more than that would be pushing it a bit. He will never be the greatest player that wore the famous red shirt (the one with the AIG scribbling, not the Carlsberg one), but his role will be respect by most United fans once they look beyond the derision.
Rating: 6/10
Dimitar Berbatov:
A £30m striker will come witl £30m expectations. It could be unfair, but when someone spends that much, they’d expect their money’s worth at the least. In what form that comes, is open to debate, but it still is out of the hands of everyone but the person in question. While there was overwhelming noise made about attackers running like headless chickens, they weren’t ready for an ambling mongoose either. His skill remains unquestioned, but one tends to wonder what might have been had he had a few yards of pace in him. Bollocks to the clamour to get him to track back. He’s led the assists chart in the league, but he needs to get a better return than the 9 league goals. One hopes a good pre-season can see a better second season from him at the club.
Rating: 6.5/10
Wayne Rooney:
His continued success with England recently, and his talk about his favourite position made it clear that Ferguson needs to get Rooney’s role sorted out. True he’s had some excellent performances on the left. But the manager needs to see where Rooney needs to ultimately play — the role of the second striker — in order for us to see the best of the lad. The barnstorming season all United fans hope for from Rooney continues to be elusive. He’s had a string of excellent seasons for us, and there is a strong argument to be made that he’s gotten better every season, but we need to see the step up, where he hits the next level as a footballer. This would not only suit him as a player, but Manchester United too. Everyone at the club must realise that Wayne Rooney, in the long term, is United’s most important player — not Ronaldo — and his growth as a player will define our future successes.
In short, another very good season. But falls short of outstanding.
Rating: 7.5/10
Carlos Tevez:
Refer Nani but add some whingeing to it. He’s scored some crucial goals this season whenever he’s played — the goal against Porto comes to mind — but while there was a lot of sympathy afforded to him because of his extended time on the bench, his constant tendency to go to the press at every given opportunity has annoyed a minority (surprisingly an overwhelming majority still are behind him) of United fans, including yours’ truly. His commitment on the pitch is without question. But his overall contribution falls short of his £25.5m valuation (which was what Liverpool paid for Torres). He is a good player, but not world class by any count. In all likelihood he’ll move to City, and I’ll wish him the best — as long as he doesn’t score against us.
Rating: 6/10
Cristiano Ronaldo:
For a normal footballer, he’s had an excellent season. But he’s not your average footballer. He’s been one of the few to emerge with any credit in the Champions’ league final. But the Real Madrid saga played out over last summer, and his tantrums on field continue to make it very hard for United fans to reconcile Ronaldo, the person, and Ronaldo, the footballer. It’s always a factor needed to keep in mind while making any assessment of his season, but I’ll attempt to talk only about his on-pitch contribution. Ronaldo continues to be very important to United’s creative energies. We can talk all we want about our squad depth, but he remains our main creative spark. Macheda was the hero against Villa, but Ronaldo’s contribution in that game was equally vital. He absolutely owned the second half of the season, once he completely shrugged off his injury. Added to that, he remains an unbelievably fit player, considering the amount of kicking he takes. Which brings us to the question, of whether to hold on to him or to cash in — it’s something, thankfully, I wouldn’t have to deal with in my season review.
Rating: 8/10
Honourable mentions: Macheda’s made the headlines with his goals, but it’s still not enough to review his season. Danny Welbeck caught the eye with a blinding goal, but whilst he’s obviously got the talent, he is still far from the finished product. Both players are for the future, and that’s all can be said about them for now.
And that ends our review on the attack. Join us tomorrow for Part II of the season review.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- Manchester United 08/09 Season Review – Part II: The Midfield
- Sepptic Blabbermouth Opens Gob + Roundup
- Manchester United Season Review | Part II | The Engine Room
- Join 08/09 Red Rants Fantasy Football. Win Prizes!
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
It’s official!!! Kaka is a Galactico!!! I have to say, that Perez guy does do some good business. Hopefully, he meets his match when he tries to snare Ronnie away from United. He is already making noise about signing Ronaldo, just days after he was spouting (rather like CalderMORON) all that nice and friendly inter-club relationship crap
. Hopefully, this signing will free one of their midfielders which could do some good for our team; Sneijder, M Diarra. Both are good enough to rotate in the squad, I think. 
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@Traverse:
, your so right mate 
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@Gabriel: Gabriel FFS, where have you been Bro?
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@Red Ranter: Don’t baffle me with science Bro, I want to know what’s going on
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@ROOOOONEY: I don’t know if he was loyal to United or the city of Manchester???
I mean really, does he have any7 idea what a Pandora’s Box he has opened up for himself by signing with a cross town rival? You just don’t do that. You’re better off signing with Liverpool because at least you are out of the town that is infested with United supporters who will hate your guts. If he thinks he will be welcomed back to OT with open arms and love when City visits next season, he’s got a rude awakening awaiting him. The guy has sawdust for brains. 
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@Traverse: Good point. If I was Ronaldo I would be mad about them going after Kaka and I would be doubly mad that they went after him first. Why? Because his ego will be telling him that Madrid valued Kaka more and wanted to make sure they got him first. I’ve said it all along, Ronaldo is not going anywhere. Unless Real break the bank and honestly, how much money do they have to spend? Last year they were conservative with their purchases. Now all of a sudden we are talking about spending 200 million? I think it’s BS. They will fail trying to get Ronaldo and will then attempt to get Ribery. Say they buy a couple of central defenders and a defensive midfielder. They have total shit for brains.
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@MoYa: There’s only so much great talent available. Just because we get 75 million for Ronaldo doesn’t mean there are any available players worthy of spending it on. After all, we are trying to replace the best player on the planet and a legend. I probably would hold off until next year and go after somebody early like Madrid did with Kaka. The longer this takes to happen the worse it becomes for United. And for whatever reason, there seems to be a negative tide amongst world class players in Europe not wanting to play in England for numerous reasons. Just because we want somebody and just because we have the money, doesn’t mean crap. If Barcelona offers Benzema a contract, he will choose them over us, I guarantee it. Manchester just hasn’t got the allure that Madrid and Barcelona have or even Milan, Rome or Turin. And their crushing loss in the Champions League final knocked the luster off of their armor and made them look less attractive to play for. Seriously Fergie, did you think you could get players to come and play in cold and wet Northern England by playing unattractive pedestrian football? Fergie made impossible for us to attract great names from warm climates.
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@Red Ranter: They don’t have to spill the beans on their negotiations or dealings mate. All we are asking for is some reassurance that all is well and that we aren’t going to have a mass exodus of talent and very little talent joining us. Let us know that the club is actively working on things and monitoring situations very closely. Something vague like that can go a long way in reassuring people that the Old Trafford offices are not vacated while everyone is on vacation and all around us Rome burns. And the memories of Rome are definitely burning vividly in my mind and in my heart. Just show us that there is a heart pulse emanating out of the old stadium. I honestly don’t think that’s too much to ask mate.
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@Craig Mc: Beautifully said mate. When did professional sports start acting like some super secretive covert intelligence agency hiding behind the once dreaded Iron Curtain? Football has become like the the KGB vs MI6 or MI5 with a little CIA for good measure. They take themselves far too seriously and they think that because they throw money around like it’s a bag of marbles, that somehow we need to respect their greatness and omnipotence and bow down to them as they are Gods and we are unworthy serfs or plebes. Next time we see Gill or Fergie lets get down on our knees and yell out “Yowsa Masser, we come to shine your shoes der Masser”. Unbelievable arrogance and snobbery. They forget who really puts food on their table and jewelry on their wives.
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@Craig Mc: It’s not like Real Madrid is veiled in mystery. They openly tell everyone what their plans are and what they want to do. They answer to a board and to investors and thus are not allowed to keep silent. It’s the way things should be. I hate secrets and organizations that keep them. And in sports it’s just silly.
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@Red Ranter: Look RR, we’re not asking for info on their attempt to get Valencia or Benzema etc. What we want to know is what is the deal with existing United players. What’s the deal with Tevez and especially Ronaldo. And are they or are they not going to sit down and listen to offers for him? Not too much to ask. We aren’t asking for numbers or any sticky details, just let us know if you plan on listening to offers or is he not for sale?
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@Craig Mc: You can’t know until they want to tell you what you need to know. Simple as that. Since you expect to know, good luck with that. Expect to be disappointed.
I’m surprised you all are acting as if this is something new.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1191613/Fantasy-football-Florentino-Perez-Real-Madrid-chief-picks-dream-XI–Ronaldos-there.html?ITO=1490
This is believed to be Perez’s wish for his ultimate Galacticos team. I noticed that Huntelaar and Sneijder are not in his plans as well as some others. Need I say more?
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@Red Ranter: It’s the last two summers having to deal with the anxiety that has been created over a possible Ronaldo departure. We are on pins and needles and the wait is torturous. If it’s going to happen, now better than later. If it isn’t going to happen then come out and say so and stop torturing us like this.
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@Grognard: Grog, RR doesn’t seem to understand that, he is a laid back, cool fucking dude
. You and me Grog, we demand that Man Utd management spill the fucking beans 
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@Grognard:
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@Grognard: Regarding Tevez, they’ve mentioned that they have offered a deal and his ownership is a sticky issue. I don’t know what other assurance I need. I know that much, and Tevez deciding either which way to go won’t surprise me the least bit.
Regarding Ronaldo, the club’s official stance is well known and they’ve been saying it for a good 2 years like a drone that he’s not for sale. David Gill continues to say that and so has Ferguson in countless press conferences and even once in the post season. What part of ‘he is not for sale’ can’t we understand? But of course, we want to read between the lines of the PR BS. Well, tough luck there, you can’t expect a club to come out of the politically correct stance. Which is why my contention is official statements from the club mean little when a whole lot of things behind the scenes can change all that overnight.
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@Grognard: They do forget Grog – the BASTARDS
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@Grognard: I have it on good authority, that SAF and Gill are putting the finishing touches on a block buster deal that will bring Eto’ and Benzema to OT. The combined cost is in the region of 45m, with the sale of Nani and Cambell and the 25m savings on Tevez’s purchase, covering the costs.
Also negotiations are going on with Blackburn to finalise the deal for Valencia.
On the Ronaldo front, I have learned that Madrid has backed off because of the Injury to his groin. Perez was quoted as saying “Christiano will cost us a lot of Euro’s, and we cannot spend them on damaged goods”. So I would imagine that puts pay to that!!
My sources have yet to release this news to the British press because of new, stringent regulations regarding printing unsubstantiated facts has just passed the House of Commons!!
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@Grognard: The last two seasons has actually hardened me and desensitised me to the endless crap that agents, clubs, and other sources trot out. I am not going to care until I see a player’s photo in flesh and blood unveiled with Ferguson by his side in the official site.
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@Grognard: Grog, come on now Bro, we know there isn’t a pulse emanating out!
. That is one bit of knowledge we don’t need them to tell us 
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@Redrich: Why would we buy two strikers? I hope all that is said in jest. Anyway, as I’ve said earlier — I’ll just look at these things as pure fun and get seriously excited by this only when I see something official.
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@Grognard: That’s what I completely despise about Madrid, doing their business through the media, unsettling players. That’s the very nature of them doing business that rubbed most United fans the wrong way the past two years, and I, for one, can never forget that.
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@Grognard: Lord if he thinks that we will give him the welcome he got when he went back to West Ham and they cheered him from the rafters, he is indeed in for a rude awakening. But you know what, I am not at all worried if he signs for the pities. I just hope he realises, that he will be cheered on by men with teatowels on their heads, pretending to be Arabs –
. When he comes back to OT with Man Pity, we will all be chanting BRAZIL, BRAZIL, BRAZIL. The argies and the brasilians hate each others guts. I don’t hate Man pity’s guts, cos they don’t incite any passion of emotion in me, and haven’t done for years. I think it would have been EXCESSIVE hatred if he had signed for Looserpool, at Anfailed – 
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@Red Ranter: No, but you can also NEVER forget that more often than not, IT WORKS –
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@Craig Mc: True. I won’t care one jot if he moved to City. But if he moved to Pool then he can expect a far more boisterous reception.
The Stretford End would be unrecognizable to him, if he returns in the red shirt of Liverpool.
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@Craig Mc: It works for clubs that have piles of money lying around. Not for clubs like ours and Arsenal. When we got the likes of Vidic and Evra, we got them on bargains because it was quick and other clubs didn’t even get a chance to get into a bidding war with us. Berbatov was played out like a soap opera in the media, and look what we ended up doing. You can say it worked, but with our debts, that’s not a long term strategy for all our targets.
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@Redrich: Pull the other fucking leg Bro, it plays Old Lang syne
. Man pity seem to think they have Tevez and Eto’o tied up, so who the fuck knows where your sources got their info from. With Berba, Rooney, Ronnie and all, I cannot see us bringing in both Benze=mard and Eto’o, but hey who am I. The Ronnie injury, that must be why Ronnie wants urgent surgery then, so that he is fit for the coming season.
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@Red Ranter: Ok boss, I’ll take your word for it then
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@Craig Mc: I convinced you so easily.
I must be getting better at this. 
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@Red Ranter: Well 2 strikers because we will re-sell Eto’ to Citeh in return for Micah Richards and Barry. The master plan all ties in with Tevez’s move to the Eastlands. SAF has called in 15 years worth of favors with Mark Hughes on this one, mate.
This is a really good deal for United and lots of fun too!!
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@Red Ranter: Poor little lamb, he will be met by stone cold silence, total indifference from the United faithful IF he returns in Pities blue shirt. But had he followed thru on his threat to join Looserpool, the ABUSE he would get would be something he would need full body armour for, and then he would still feel the wrath
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@Red Ranter:
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@Redrich: Where the fuck do you DREAM all this stuff up mate, it is so far fetched, your contact must be ET!
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@Craig Mc: In all honesty,
my contact has gotten first hand details, from close sources, with all parties concerned. DT has confessed that, should his real identity be revealed, it could well scupper all dealings mentioned here.
So please don’t press me for more details, all will be revealed by August.
Sorry about the leg mate, must be a problem for you!!
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Now that Real have Kaka, I suppose Snider (whatever the spelling is) will be sidelined. No way they can play both (unless Kaka plays as a striker!). How about a sneaky bid for snider (lets try to unsettle him at least). He is really a Scholes clone!
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The attack as a whole gets a 3/10 for boring me to piss nearly every freaking game this season. Least entertaining United side in my time as a fan.
No flair, panache or guile for the most part. Its amazing how shit we’ve gotten in attack since 06/07.
Hopefully the football improves next season because this season felt like a massive waste of time more times than not.
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@Redrich: That deal doesn’t make sense. If we wanted barry we would have bid for him. And if city want eto then they would go get him. None of this middle man bullshit. Your sources are having a go at you.
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@Johnsom33: He’s taking the piss mate. I thought it was obvious.
The moment he started talking about the master plan it was fairly clear to me. Premier League regulations won’t allow that by my knowledge.
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@Craig Mc: Why are you upset with Tevez for apparently signing for City?
If United management don’t want him, then good for him. He’s then at a club where he can make an impact and hopefully live to his potential.
If United management wanted him, then they only have themselves to blame. They knew 2 years ago what the price was and had about 2 years to clinch the deal. Look at how quickly Liverpool secured Mascherano?
I say, if the news of Tevez off to City is true, as sad as what it makes me, Good for him! I wish him all the best over there. He will always have my vote when he comes over to OT.
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@MUFC Fan in America: I agree. 3/10 for me too. (2007/2008 season were much better).
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[...] centre of the park. The wings were covered in chapter one of this epic trilogy, so kindly proceed here to read it in case you [...]
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@Craig Mc: Damn straight and we’ll bring out the nunchucks if they don’t right?
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@Red Ranter: The stance you have made clear a year ago needs to be reemphasized in order for Real Madrid to get the message. Madrid had a new regime change at the top and that changes things. They don’t stop asking for him therefore, we shouldn’t stop telling them to sod off and that we’ll sell him to them when Hell freezes over or when Liverpool win the league. Which ever comes first. I’m betting on Hell freezing over.
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@Redrich: No offense to you or no disrespect intended, but that stuff sounds like the work of Britain’s Marca “Vital Football”. Sorry but it just sounds like BS. Having said that, if it comes true (and I ‘m talking about the Etoo and Benzema part), I will write a sincere heartfelt letter of apology to you on this site for ever doubting you. As for Ronaldo, he can break his leg, pull his groin or have his dick sucked by a Tranny. In the end he’ll still be a United player. I just wished United would come out and just say so. But I do agree that the injury could scuttle Madrid’s plans for this year. It only means they’ll start again this time next year.
Also ask yourself one question. What do you do with Wayne Rooney if you buy both Etoo and Benzema? And why would they do that when they need to address their midfield and left wing side. Sorry but I think your source is full of it. But I will apologize if you are proven right.
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@Karl: Well good for you mate. I am not upset with Tevez, as I said I feel indifferent to him anyway. I don’t like cry babies who go to the press every few minutes, and badmouth our club and manager which is what Tevez did. A Fergie decision has never been boo-ed at OT for subbing a player, as it was recently with Tevez, nor has Fergie trying to address the crowd been outshouted by OT fans, chanting for Tevez. I hope I never see that again at OT. I don’t appreciate the way Tevez has gone about things, if you do that’s up to you. Jeez, he’s not that great as he thinks he is, nor is he worth the money his slave owners were asking.
By the way, Mascherano didn’t get signed until very late by Looserpool, because the very same slave owners were whining thru the media, as they were with Tevez. Same owners, same tactics. Maybe Tevez will get the respect he moans continuously about at Man Pity, poor little mite. But he won’t get it from me mate. You obviously didn’t read my post properly, I said I couldn’t care less about Tevez going to City, because I feel INDIFFERENT to it all. Looserpool now would be different!
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@MUFC Fan in America: You said it mate, and I mostly agree with your sentiments of our attacking players ineptitude this last season.
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@Red Ranter: I just can’t be like that RR. I mean if I was working and stressed out because of work like I am sure you are, maybe then I’d feel less concerned too. But i have too much time on my hands to constantly check on what my team is up to and the silence is maddening. I have been conditioned for years by baseball to look forward to the post season because that is when teams work a lot of trades and all the free agents are bought up. It’s lottery time and it’s great for guys like me who play fantasy baseball. Being Yankees fan, I always look forward to it because you know the Yankees are going to spend big. This year they really outdid themselves with Sabathia, Texeira and Burnett and how could any Yankees fan be disappointed and complain that their team did nothing and that they were quiet and never let them know what was on their minds.
The off season in North America is the Hot Stove League. A term that started in hockey and referring to the dealing and trading of players from one team to another. It gave lesser teams reason to hope and dream and it gave better teams reasons to lick their chops and drool over the possibilities. Well in the last two years Manchester United has just tortured it’s supporters by doing very little in terms of buying players but doing even less in letting us know what their plans and desires are for the club. What is the problem for that manager to come out and say I think we need a striker and central midfielder and we will try to see what we can buy. What’s with all the secrecy? We are talking about football here, not national defense. We’re not asking Fergie to come out and be the “Fourth Man” or Kim Philby. My God, can you imagine the tremors that will go around the world if we tell the world we are looking for a striker? God help us. I just think it’s all so silly and disrespectful to those who pay their salaries.
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@Red Ranter: Seriously mate, why do you watch the game whne you can just read about the score afterwards? That’s what you are sounding right. Far too cool and composed and lacking the passion and child like anticipation of a die hard supporter. Now I know you are a die hard supporter but where is your passion and lack of patience mate. They go hand in hand. You are being awfully Mr Spock about this all while I am being Bones McCoy. Damn it Jim I want answers.
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@Red Ranter: I’m not advocating that United to that, not at all. I just want them to come clean to the fans about what they can spend and what kind of players or positions they are looking at? And most importantly, I want reassurances about Ronaldo and Vidic and I want to know what is going on with Tevez? We have a right to know.
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