Oct 11
Part-time gardener to make United debut soon
Young, French footballer, recent signing and part-time gardener at OT, Gabriel Obertan is expected to make his debut later this month if reports on News of the World are to be believed.
The former Bordeaux winger stepped up his training last week and Sir Alex Ferguson is paving the way for his inclusion in the squad in the next few weeks.
Obertan can play in a number of positions, but his future at United is likely to be on the wing. [link]
Related items from Red Rants:
- Obertan to make United debut
- United 2-0 Doncaster: Reserves’ Day Out
- Roundup: Amazed Anderson; Hargreaves Tops Poll; Ole’s New Avatar
- Some Waffle Ahead of Liverpool Game
- Few Thoughts on the Derby Win
Tags: News Snippets
October 11th, 2009 at 10:48
Excellent news.
October 11th, 2009 at 13:41
“He’s been seen helping an elderly member of the Academy staff by strimming his lawn, pruning his roses and watering his hanging baskets.”
How many players would to that? And this guy was supposed to have a massive ego! What a bloody nice guy. I wish all the best for his United career.
October 11th, 2009 at 15:26
Dats great,2 new players on the way…hargo and obertan..and in jan another two…hopefully theyl give nani and valencia a reason to start performing better
October 11th, 2009 at 15:52
Great news. I am looking forward to it.
October 11th, 2009 at 16:01
this guy will be a great buy, our new diamond in the rough
October 11th, 2009 at 16:09
in other news…. ronny is injured…. which makes me sad, but i am hoping he will regret his move to real…. and if he gets injured and sidelined due to the piss poor man management in real, then so be it
October 11th, 2009 at 17:37
@Wink: He loves Madrid and says he has adapted to the team and city faster than expected and plans to live their for many years. Does that sound like a player who is unhappy? He’s not going anywhere, believe me. We just need to forget about him and move on. Tough I know, but necessary.
October 11th, 2009 at 17:48
He’ll probably play in a Carling Cup game or Champions League…And, he will come on against Liverpool and score the game winner in the 9th minute of second half added time….Or is that Owen’s job?
October 11th, 2009 at 19:03
@ Lars : please dont take away that responsibility to score in injury times
October 11th, 2009 at 20:16
Great news. Just hope He comes good for us and quickly too. Hope he gives Nani and Valencia a good run for the money. Does this mean we wont get to see J S Park again. I hope so too.
October 11th, 2009 at 20:41
Great article on ROM about the Cantona “kung-fu” kick at the Palace.
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/getting-a-kick-out-of-eric-cantona-part-ii-ii-the-kung-fu-aftermath/
October 11th, 2009 at 22:17
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=goal-realmadridstarcristianorona&prov=goal&type=lgns
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving team.
October 11th, 2009 at 22:30
John O Shea was MOTM for Ireland against Italy, imagine that!! As a right back too! It was a 2-2 draw. Pirlo was very impressive, that wouldn’t have happened in Keanos’ day! Ireland are thru to the 2nd place playoffs, where we really need the luck of the irish to proceed.
October 11th, 2009 at 22:38
The whole Fergie outburst against Alan Wiley is raising serious dust. Apparently, His apology has only worsened issues. I’m pretty certain referees and match officials will have a vendetta against us whether or not the FA hands Fergie a ban. Sad times
October 11th, 2009 at 22:41
@Grognard: This will test Kaka ability to run the club. If madrid plays like they did against Sevilla and lose a couple games in His (Ronaldo’s) absence, Madrid will make 1st round exits in the CL and beg Barca for mercy in the Primera. If it works out for them, Ronaldo coming back could cause a stir up. Lose lose situation for madrid is possible here and I just keep smiling!!
Foster is Englands 4th best goalkeeper according to Capello — playing for england’s best club. Something smells funny.
Any meat to the rumors about Villa, Alex, and other large spending rumors on Tribal football and BBC?
I like the dual City-Barca swap with Robinho/Kompany for Puyol/Toure — or the 65 mill Ribery.
October 11th, 2009 at 22:48
Paul Pogba!!!Looks like viera! this lad is gonna be special…im on the bandwagon already
October 11th, 2009 at 23:04
@WhiteY:
Now, if we get a dubious decision against us everyone will stir up conspiracy theories…
October 12th, 2009 at 0:03
I do not see Ronaldo coming back to us. He is already well on his way to establishing himself as a Real Madrid legend. And much as I hate them, once Real’s team gels and they sort out their defence they could become a real force in Europe. Chelsea and Barcelona both have ageing teams. We are in transition and it will be a good few years before our impressive crop of youngsters reach maturity. The Italian clubs aren’t as good as they used to be. So I think Real Madrid over the next few seasons could win a Champions League title which would keep Ronaldo happy (after all in five years he only won one with us).
Also Ronaldo left us because he wanted a new challenge. If he gets bored of Spain he’ll want another new challenge again-maybe Italy (after all he was close to signing for an Italian club from Sporting).
We need to get over him and realise that while it is unlikely we’ll have another player as good as Ronaldo for many years, we can build a better team than the one we had with Ronaldo and that should be our priority.
But we do need an attacking player with a bit of X factor. I like the look of the Teixara lad. But David Silva or Marek Hamsik would also be interesting. Definitely we need to be doing some business in January.
As for Foster-how many referees will Ferguson have to abuse this season to deflect criticism from Foster’s inadequacies? He is not good enough for the England team which is well known for dodgy keepers so certainly he is not good enough for us.
Expect a wave of clean sheets now EVDS is almost ready for action.
October 12th, 2009 at 0:20
@Lars: I think what will likely happen is that he will be given some sort of suspended sentence, with a lengthy probational period.
The refs will be happy as long as he is gagged in some way!
October 12th, 2009 at 0:21
Rooney has calf strain and could be out for 2 weeks missing the Bolton and CSKA games! Bollox. Ref Newsnow.co.uk
October 12th, 2009 at 0:33
@colver: Yep, we need a new striker for sure.
I’ve thought for some time that we could play a 4-3-2-1, with Berbatov playing in a more comfortable spot for him and Rooney and player X alternating as advanced inside attacker.
We’d have to have a solid CM and I’m hoping Hargo can regain fitness and form and solidify things here.
October 12th, 2009 at 0:35
@Phoenix Red: Well this coincides perfectly with the birth of his first child doesn’t it!!
October 12th, 2009 at 2:31
@Phoenix Red: good for owen, wellbeck, macheda
October 12th, 2009 at 4:20
@[OPTI]Madschester United:
bad for united
October 12th, 2009 at 4:30
Oh, dont get me wrong, i am a realist, and i know that ronny isnt coming back to us. but it warms my heart that real madrid already have a row on their hands and are showing signs of their circus routine again.
im just saying i hope ronny gets homesick again! haha unlikely tho with all the hot man love action in spain.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:33
oh yeah, what i said was not meant to stir up another ronny discussion.. moving on to more important news…
rooney has been derailed again…. which sucks…. hopefully he will get back on track….
look forward to more 1 nil victories i reckon
October 12th, 2009 at 6:42
Amazing, this was all over ESPN yesterday. Apparently ronnie has been cursed by a witch. The witch came out before the CL game between madrid and marseille,He cursed ronaldo and said he would get injured on that game and it happened, she said she had been hired by a wealthy woman who was mad at ronnie.she also said ronaldo would have long time injury
Ronaldo’s bro has hired another witch to remove the curse. 
October 12th, 2009 at 9:22
grognard have u been following up with Huntelaar lately?
Apparently 6 starts for ACM with 0 goals! Already there are talks of ACM thinking of offloading him in the jan window!!!
Flop in Spain and Itlay!!! Would anybody still want to have him at OT ??/
October 12th, 2009 at 10:19
JOs, is 8 goals in 20 games is a flop? Not for me also to call him a flop in 6 starts is unfair, jeez nothing like giving people time.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:40
@jos:
You might consider him as flop but I can’t. His record in spain was never that bad one can consider him as a flop. I don’t what are your expectation from a striker. First of all brush your understanding of the position called old fashioned out and out striker (which The Hunter is) and then pass your judgement about him. He is deadly in what he does. His goal scoring ratio for whoever he played including internationals show that.
And for gods’ sake give a lad time. Its mere 6 games new country, new culture and new team. Remember, we waited Full year for Berba to fire. Yeah! but you might be one of those you have already lebelled Berba as a United flop….
October 12th, 2009 at 10:44
@Stephen:
Agreed mate!!! People just want everything instant.. The lad has just joined them, and every thing including team, culture, playing style, life style is different to what he has been but still they will immediately turn on his back.
Remember, what happened to VIDIC and EVRA when they started with us. They almost look like the truck load of garbage. But, we gave them time and today they we all know what they are all about….
October 12th, 2009 at 11:02
@jos: Glad you came up with the stats.I have always heard people heap praises on players i cant stand at this club.
1-Huntelar.Very over rated no wonder he left Ajax so late and believe me Madrid can tell a star when they see one.
2-Mario Gomes.One good season at Stuttgart doesnt make you a good striker,look at him for Germany or Bayern.voronin.anyone?
3-Marko Marin.Need i say more?@[OPTI]Madschester United: I would love to see united play without Rooney and i guarantee the coordination will be better.Iam one person that has never believed in Rooney taking over from the great Ronaldo,and i believe it is hurting his own game attempting to do the undoable.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:08
Obertan and Rafael start for the reserves tonight. Exciting times.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:15
Think Rooney getting a break is probably good for both him and United. The team need to know how to function without him, and now is as good a time as any. Hopefully Berbatov won’t be too miserable after seeing Bulgaria knocked out of the WC.
Also happy to see Ferdinand getting the rustiness out of his system in these meaningless England games. Will be curious if he can really play 3 games in a week (@ Bolton) or if Fabio will have a look at Upson and Lescott on Wendesday.
You can’t judge a striker playing in that dismal AC Milan team yet. At least give him 20 starts.
With Obertan and Llajic beginning their careers with us over the next couple of months, it’s going to be fascinating to see if Fergie still has the balls to let young talent develop in the first XI, not on the periphery. We talk about Macheda, Welbeck, Rossi, Gibson and what not, but in reality they’ve all barely been used by Fergie in the first team over the years. Ronaldo was given his shot, and that obviously turned out rather well. But even Nani and Anderson have been rotated out with such frequency as to clearly inhibit their growth.
I don’t think SAF has the balance right anymore, his desire for immediate success is preventing us from transitioning to new players, and given that both his days and a load of our first team days are numbered, that should be scary for all of us.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:15
@donibrasco: First of all, i never believed in stats as they can be very misleading. but, now that you have brought in the issue of stats I would like to give stats:
Heerenveen : 46 matches 33 goals
Ajax: 92 matches 76 goals
Madrid: 20 matches 8 goals
Milan: 7 matches 0 goals
Dutch U-21: 22 matches 18 goals
Dutch Int.: 25 matches 14 goals
Total: 212 MATCHES 149 GOALS
That gives the Ratio of 0.70 goals per match or 1 goal every 1.42 matches.
I don’t think it is bad by any means is it bro????
October 12th, 2009 at 11:19
@Beachryan: I really hope that Berba will come all gun blazing. It will be interesting to see if Rooney is absent then who will partner Berba up front. Any news on Owen Guys??? Any idea if he is starting it up front with Berba. Or are we finally going give some youngies some chance (out of compulsion)….
October 12th, 2009 at 11:31
Owen will most likely start up front with Berbatov. He’s said that he’s fit and his injury was minor. Then again, I can see Fergie going uber-conservative for the start with Berbatov at the top of a 4231 with Giggsy in a free role behind him.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:37
@Onkar: I think the criticism is that he hasn’t really set the world on fire outside of the Eredivisie…
A place where players like Mateja Kežman and Afonso Alves, neither of which could score an open goal from the 6 yard line if you gave them 20 attempts, scored 105 goals in 122 for PSV and 45 goals in 39 for Herenveen respectively. Both of them scored nothing outside Holland.
It isn’t entirely Huntelaars fault, and his international record does point to him being pretty good, but Eredivisie stats count for nothing to the worlds top managers it seems.
Without them, it’s 27 matches, 8 goals…
October 12th, 2009 at 11:41
Update – faster than we thought! Obertan is playing tonight for the reserves, I’ll watch and report back
October 12th, 2009 at 12:32
Just about to watch the academy highlights… looking out for Pogba.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:42
@Traverse: I agree with your assessment of the Dutch league but still his international record is something which really show that he has what it takes. If I add only his term in Italy and Spain along with International then it gives me 52 matches 22 goals which is 0.42 goals every match or 1 goal just around 2 matches which by no means is bad considering that poor lad never got a settled period for quite some time now. And Even if I don’t Internationals (which one should) still he averages a goal around 3.2 matches which may not be prolific but still it won’t be as bad some people may make out.
And remember a goal every 3 matches in Man UTD will still give you around 20 goals a season man. Is it bad by any stretch of an Imagination???
October 12th, 2009 at 12:43
@Beachryan: And @Traverse: Do update us on how Orbeten looks like when he will play for reserve!!! Very curious to know more about the lad…..
October 12th, 2009 at 13:23
Eric Cantona!
October 12th, 2009 at 13:26
@Onkar: I’m just pointing out why Fergie may not be blown away with him. Would I take him? Yes. I think he would complement Rooney, Berbatov or Owen well… score plenty of goals and we’d have a stronger attacking line.
October 12th, 2009 at 13:44
@Footy4Eddy:
October 12th, 2009 at 13:45
@Traverse: Agreed he would have complimented well with all of our regular striker i.e. Ronney and Berba. He would have been a great option in absence of Owen (if it happens). And after looking at what Nani and Tony are doing (whipping the ball in the box, but no player to attack that ball). I am damn sure he was an ideal man with balls whipped in the box from both the wings. But alas….
I have no problems that he is not a part of our team (though I would loved to see him in Red Devils outfit), but I definitely have problem with people who on there half thinking and half knowledge will pass judgment like he is ‘SHIT’.
October 12th, 2009 at 13:47
By the folks…. What are the updates on ‘OH’???
Any one has any clue??????????
October 12th, 2009 at 13:51
Whats the matter with Valencia??? I mean if i am not wrong he has scored 2 in 2 for his country so far in last two rounds of International, but some how he seems to struggle with us…. Can’t seem to be able to score sitters even….
Then the same thing has happened with Berba ever since he has moved to OT… He has always been very regular scorer for his country but has struggled big time for us to even buy a single goal….
I can’t get
October 12th, 2009 at 14:13
@Onkar: Ole needs to sack the reserves off and go back to being a finishing coach for the first team
October 12th, 2009 at 14:47
@Onkar: I can’t work out whether they play scared in the big time of united, or ease up because they’re at the biggest club.
October 12th, 2009 at 15:47
@donibrasco: hang on a second, you think it has been hurting Rooney’s game not having Ronaldo? He is one of the top scorers in the league and has been far and away our best player. Without Rooney we are in NO way a better team, period.
October 12th, 2009 at 15:50
@Onkar: Valencia has barely played for us, his job isn’t to score it’s to get the ball into the box. He plays more central for Ecuador AFAIK doesn’t he? He probably has more responsibility. A winger’s first job is to set up, not score goals.
October 12th, 2009 at 15:55
Onkar, You said people need to give the Hunter time that works also for Valencia, he needs more time but so far he does look in awe at playing for us, he just needs to relax more in my view.
October 12th, 2009 at 16:02
Liam spot on, some people seem still obsessed about Ronaldo he was a great player but he no longer plays for us, he no longer wanted to play for us in his last two seasons for that matter, so people move on Rooney is United’s talisman and a superb player he is our future Ronaldo is the past move on.
October 12th, 2009 at 17:13
@Stephen: I haven’t given him a second thought since he left, other than a smirk at Madrid when I found out he’s injured.
October 12th, 2009 at 17:15
@Traverse:
October 12th, 2009 at 17:21
Jonny Evans has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad to face Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier due to an ankle injury
October 12th, 2009 at 17:39
@Stephen: @Onkar: Well He is labeled a flop coz he cudnt cut it at Real and now another top club like AC Milan are also thinking of offloading him (he is been bad for them really). he hasnt cut it outside holland.
And the thing about international record, well the current holland boss, if I remember correctly, is prefering KUYT over him!!! Just imagine – kuyt over the uber world class huntelaar!!!
Also what is Podolski’s international and club record?
October 12th, 2009 at 18:13
@jos: Leonardo is also a muppet and to label him a flop in 6 starts is hardly fair, and 8 goals in 20 games coming into a club in Jan could hardly be called a flop.
October 12th, 2009 at 18:29
@jos: As far as I am concerned he was not a flop at madrid, he just wasn’t used enough. When he started there, he scored a goal a game. At milan, the problem is the entire team is in complete disarray. The manager is going to get the sack any day now because the whole team has failed in every possible manner to elevate their game. Huntelaar has failed only in the fact he has received zero support and service from his teammates. His only mistake was not going to Stuttgart where he would have been the #1 guy and where he would have played every game on a team that likes to attack. Instead he is stuck in a revolving turn table of strikers who are all struggling because Milan has lost it’s leader Kaka and have no answer for him. Huntelaar does not have the kind of skill where he can take the ball outside of the penalty area, dribble around players, move in and score. He needs service, and when there is none, he can’t very much be blamed for anything. Gerd Mueller would fail on that team right now.
October 12th, 2009 at 18:32
@Stephen: I don’t like say 8 goals in 20 games because 10 of those games he came in late as a sub. For me it’s 8 goals in 10 games before he was benched because Raul wanted Higuain once he returned from injury.
October 12th, 2009 at 18:38
@Onkar: Nobody on here loves Huntelaar more than I do but one thing I will not use is the excuse “give the lad time”. Too many have used that lame excuse for Ben Foster and it would be hypocritical to use it on Huntelaar now. But the fact remains that Milan is a team in desperate trouble. They are in a world of hurt and unless their is a managerial change very soon, relegation is not out of the realm of possibility. They are that bad. Huntelaar is surrounded by a lot of old lazy players who are well past it and who are living on old reputations. He does not fit into the style of play they use which is so slow and does not use any kind of aerial attack like they had last year when Beckham showed up. Yes give him time but the constant problem of Pirlo and company playing like they are 40 is not going to go away. Huntelaar’s greed to wait and hope to be picked up by a team like United or Milan has backfired on him. Stuttgart was the perfect fit for him as it will be for his replacement Pogrebnyak.
October 12th, 2009 at 18:42
@donibrasco: I wouldn’t dismiss any of those players because quote often things do not work out just because they are not a perfect fit on the team they are with. Huntelaar is a goal poacher and he will show his quality, Gomez has skill but is lazy and Marin is going to be great but is still very young and needs time to mature.
October 12th, 2009 at 18:49
@jos: They play a 4-3-3 with wide wingers which is where Kuyt plays. That is why he is preferred. And quite often a player is preferred simply because he plays for a top team regularly and isn’t stuck sitting on the bench in political game like Huntelaar was stuck in at Madrid and now at Milan. Don’t compare the two as they are different players playing different positions. His record for Holland has been good despite the fact the team uses an up tempo style with less aerial service from the sides which certainly does not suit Huntelaar. Huntelaar is becoming a bit of a relic because his style of striker is quick becoming obsolete in the modern game and that more than anything, is the real issue here. It’s a case of advanced tactics not suiting the player’s gifts.
October 12th, 2009 at 19:16
@Grognard: Inzaghi still manages to score for Milan despite the surroundings. In terms of poaching abilities, he is the closest to Huntelaar there is in the modern game.
October 12th, 2009 at 19:32
Lovely bit of skill from Obertan, I first saw Henry do that warming up for Arsenal years back. Link here if anyone’s in need chaps.
http://atdhe.net/9782/watch-reserves-oldham-athletic-vs-manchester-united
October 13th, 2009 at 0:22
Obertan, Pogba, Llajic and others are the future, right now i’m more concerned with the present. That said, its good to hear that Gabriel has humility, maybe he can teach some of our other would be superstars something. Eh Fredrico?! The sooner we get Hargo back, the better! Hopefully Michael Owen is back and keen to impress. Dont know whats been in Rio’s weetabix lately, but he needs to cut it out! Other thoughts, Nani needs to play more, and our strikers need to practice hitting a barn door from 6 yards! Maybe Foster needs to practice closing a barn door
bring on Bolton and Moscow!
October 13th, 2009 at 5:41
@m34ch: How was the match and result? How did he perform?
October 13th, 2009 at 6:54
@Red Ranter: Actually from a perspective of style, Inzaghi is quite different. He’s a famous goal poacher but he really is a throwback to Gerd Mueller. Undersized, quick and like Michael Owen, likes to play off the last defender and break the offside trap. But what makes him extra special is his ability to get in the box and latch onto a ball and score. So in that way he is similar to Huntelaar, but the styles and build are very different.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:59
@Phoenix Red: All you guys sound like my friend Richard who is a die hard LA Dodgers fan and who is probably the most knowledgeable person regarding the Dodgers youth system or farm system who isn’t working for the team. Year after year this guy just gushes praise and gets a real boner talking about all the great can’t miss prospects the Dodgers have and how these guys will be stars. Well the fact is that only a small fraction of all those can’t miss prospects ever really make it big for the big club. Yet year after year he goes on and on about how great this player is and how great that player is. Fact is they are kids and the difference in class from the reserves to the main team is dramatic. Just ask Danny Welbeck. I will be very surprised if more than two of those seven or eight can’t miss prospects ever make it big for the club. And if I was to make a guess, I’d pick Pogba and Ljajic. The rest of them are just doing time until they move to another team. Sure I am being cynical, but that’s the true reality of the modern game and big clubs like United.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:07
New post up… a belated one, on the Ferguson referee rant.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:33
I hear obertan lit up the stage yesterday.