Jun 02
Ronaldo Resolution, Benzema, Rio Ferdinand
All papers are awash with news that Ronaldo is going to decide his future in about ‘two days’. There’s no need for me to provide a link; just head off to any decent football website and you will see the report.
Now let me tell you this: I have resolved to steer clear of Ronaldo speculation for the rest of this week. In the sense that I would only report news if there are any, but will not add any more of my opinions on whether Ronaldo must stay or not. I’ve had enough of things right now, and I am certain that nothing will get resolved until the Euro’s get over.
Of course, those of you interested in speculating, be my guest but also be prepared for a long month of doing that. Because, regardless of Ronaldo’s imminent decison over the next couple of days, he will still be linked to Madrid till July.
I, on the other hand, am tired. I do appreciate Fergie’s decision to stick to his principles on keeping Ronaldo at all costs and I planned on writing an entire article on that, but then considering all comment threads on here anyway end up discussing Ronaldo, I decided to ditch it to avoid redundancy.
Meanwhile, let’s move on to players who actually think being at United is as big a privilege as anything — John O’ Shea, for example. He hopes United’s excellent season can work as a spring board on to greater things and hopes to be the best ever.
If you happened to read the Guardian a couple of days ago, you would have certainly chanced upon this excellent interview of Rio Ferdinand. I know he got a lot of stick in the past, but since this season (and towards the end of last) he is among my most favourite United players. I’ve written enough about him already, but I can’t seem to stop talking about how much he’s matured and the fact that he really seems to mean it when he says he wants to finish his career at United.
Apart from the ability and skill of some of our players, it is the attitude and understanding of some of the lads — that they are at a great institution like United — that has helped us achieve so much. It’s a shame he continues to be judged on his off field activities, although he has cut down on all that. He respects his new found status at United, and he’s appeared very articulate in his recent interviews; all signs that we are seeing a man who’s finally realised his purpose.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Fergie, please make him captain for next season.
In transfer news, we are being linked to Lyon’s Karim Benzema. I say he won’t go anywhere till the Euro’s get over. After that, he will be sold at a hefty price. The Lyon president is a smart man and he knows he can get better value if he waits till the end of the Euros. That said, I am not sure if he would sell his prized asset this season at all. So let’s not get too excited about this. However, if we do pull off a coup (either signing Benzema or Huntelaar before the Euros), then getting piss drunk and running naked in the neighbourhood would be a reasonable reaction.
In Manchester related news, Mark Hughes is being linked to the… wait for it… City job! I’m not sure if I’d like that. But I would rather he go to the council house than go to Chelsea. Chelsea with Hughes could become a force to fear. It also looks a more plausible rumour, considering Sparky’s affinity for Chelsea.
And before I sign off, here’s something that can be worth your while during the summers. One of our readers (and contributors), Andrei, has set up a Euro 2008 fantasy league. I’ll quote his words for details:
I made a Euro 2008 Fantasy Football league at UEFA.com and I remember some of you asking for one in the comments about a week ago. So, if you want to join, just go there [uefa.com] and sign in with you UEFA account (or make one, but disable the horribly annoying newsletters they will be trying to shove down you throat), click on leagues and join league 34443-8197 98380-18218. Hope to see you there.
Andrei had sent me this a couple of weeks ago, but I somehow never got around to putting this up. So go there and start playing fantasy football.
Update: Some readers have pointed out that the code for the Fantasy League is invalid. Andrei has informed me that, for some reason, UEFA have reset their leagues. He has assured me that he’ll fix this soon.
Update 2: Here’s the new code for the fantasy league: 98380-18218. Enjoy!
Related items from Red Rants:
- Do United Need Another Left Back?
- Do you like Rio Ferdinand?
- The Karim of the Crop?
- Breaking News: United accept 80m Ronaldo bid
- Teams Start Talking Big As Champions’ League Clash Looms
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
Grog – I called him Mr Wantaway, because RR made this thread for people to escape from all the exhaustive Ronnie debating in the other thread. As for Nani being a Ronaldo arse licker, I think you’ll find that it is Anderson who has come out and says he spends every living moment of his time with Ronnie, barring he doesn’t sleep with him. I think little man Nani has got himself a nice English bird to spend his time with in recent days lol!. If as you say Grog Nani becomes Mr Wantaway Mk 2, then I’ll hold my hands up. I remember Nani and Anderson saying they had come to Utd to play alongside Ronaldo, so perhaps your right about a semi mass walkaway!. Tev seems to be the one talking about wanting to play in Spain someday now. Anybody think that the different agents of players, have their own little pub meet ups, where they discuss what to get their players to say what they think will ultimately benefit the Agents bank roll in multitudes of monies gained?.
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Is it gonna be Benzema? or Huntelaar? or Berbatov? or Villa? or Eto’o? or Gomez?
Well the sun are running a story its gonna be Roque Santa Cruz after our attemps to sign Henry failed -
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1238371.ece
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Alright mates, check your tv listings if you are in the UK. SAF’s first full length interview, in perhaps a decade, on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm and 10:30 pm UK time with Sir David Frost.
LINK
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Roque Santa Cruse – mmmmm – there you go Grog, another latino!. I think he is a bit thicker skinned though, having braved our climates in Germany and now England. He has proved he can score in the Prem, so not a bad asset. Doesn’t mean he wont go thru the Latino revolving door though if he does good, and certain Latino clubs come running!. That’s if there is any truth to the report. I do like Santa Cruz though!.
To all the bleeding heart Mr Wantaway fans, I am not one of those who has suddenly turned on him because of this present sags. If you remember, I have said of a long time, that he has no humility in comparison to other No 1 world players. He believes his own hype, and thrives on the hype and exaltations afforded him by others. He has been more selfish than unselfish in the pursuit of personal ambition and goals. And I have been saying this before Real Madrid ever came in for him. He does kind of think it is his right to be lauded and rewarded with every conceivable award, and guffaws at Ref’s who don’t go for his sitting on his arse, arms raised in the air pallaver.
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[Craig]
You too?
I thought you decided to stop talking about Mr X.
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Yea sorry RR, I was just answering a couple of people’s comments. I will move on OK?. I’ll make it my last so help me God – haha!.
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Good to see that this post never veered to the talk about “he who must not be named” Transfer news from Utd have been trickles, but i hope we sign Huntelaar becuase i think he’s the RVN type of striker we need. Just wanted to add something about Micah Richards, i’ve seen people bring him up on talking reds,b what do people think about him and also does anyone think we should sign him considering he has said he loves Arsenal and personally i’d hate it if we sign someone whose heart is with the frogs at Emirates.
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I understand Benzema would be tough buy but it is a double edged sword for Lyon president to
wait till Euros to be over to cash on him…
Scenario 1: Benzema excels in Euros
- think about it will any team pay more than 30M pounds to buy him
- in that case MANUTD would go for another workable options as there are quite a few if not Benzema
Scenario 2: What if Benzema fails in Euros and some more names prop up
- Lyon President stands to lose whatever he would have wanted to make out of his sale
- He would have to wait for another season may be to cash on him
In such a scenario, if Lyon president is really thinking of selling him off, then I think he will
if the price is right and as a businessman he would have set a kind of range in which if the offer
fits, he would sell irrespective of it is before or after Euros..
I personally feel Benzema is a great choice to add to the stike force of Rooney, Tevez and Manucho
(Taking for granted that Saha would be sold)… Hope to see MANUTD sign him asap…….
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RR; The Ronaldo story is a hornets nest and it just won’t go away. Too many people like myself care too much and give a damn to let the story go away.
I for one want to come out and say that I am not one of those people that have turned on Ronny. Am I concerned? YES! Am I disappointed by his tactics? YES! Would I prefer Fergie sit him down over selling him to Real? YES! Will I dislike the player if he leaves OT? NO! I will be disappointed but life goes on and thank God we still will have Fergie to right the ship. Hopefully this a detailed and choreographed attempt by Ronny and his agent to get a new contract now that he is indisputably the best player in the world. And in that case Fergie give the boy what he wants because contrary to what Craig MC says Ronny is a treat and blessing for this club. Selfish? My coddling. He plays his style and inflicts incredible damage on the opposition. His ego and his drive to be number one is what makes him so great. He is no different than many famous North American athletes who like to trash talk and pose for the camera. This personality flaw, is what makes him unstoppable and why nobody should quash it. Have you seen Fergie try to? No. Why? Because he knows better. Fergie fears no player and if there is something wrong with a players attitude on or off the pitch, they will hear about it. Ask RVN, Becks, Keano and others what happens if you cross the Boss.
RD; 90% of the UK players that have ever played for United supported another team growing up. My God Henry was ready to come here two weeks ago before the new manager at Barca convinced him to stay. Any UK born kid would be proud to wear the red of United. They are arguably the greatest club in the country’s history and one of the greatest in the world. Arsenal is nice too but it’s a considerable drop from where Man Utd’s throne is. I think Richards knows this. Hell, he toughed it out at City. The Red Devils would be a considerable upgrade plus there is a position for him beckoning. I think Wenger is more than happy with Sagna at Arsenal.
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[Grognard]
Regarding the player who will not be mentioned feel free to talk about him (as I said in my post, be my guest). I have made a personal resolution in that I will only report news if there is anything worth reporting, and will not form any opinions on HIM for the next week. It’s my personal decision and just a request so that we can discuss other issues worth our while.
As I said, I won’t talk about Mr Spain although I won’t stop anyone from discussing it.
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Grog mate, I know a guy who bleeds our red colour and good enough to be one of our strikers. That would be Manucho, you guys must have seen what he said in the United’s website about only wanting to wear a United’s shirt. That just shows passion for the club and believe me guys, he will be a great asset to us.
That said, I won’t mind us getting Huntelaar. He’s a better prospect for us rather than Benzema. The Hunter is quality and will show us more passion in play. Berba to me is okay but he is just like Anelka, Mr. Sulk. I doubt he would like to be a 3rd choice striker.
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i would prefer a winger over a striker because next season ronnie will most likely have left, and if hasnt, he will for the season after next, leaving us with 3 wingers fine, but what about giggs, what about when he retires? which could be after next season, leaving us with nani and park, we could buy veloso/o’hara, to play left back, and evra on the wing but i would rather but a proper winger.
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[Dan]
If he doesn’t leave what about this season? Of immediate importance is a striker. We even have Hargo who can play on the wing. But we have only 2 strikers and an unknown Manucho. Saha will surely leave. Ideally we need 4 strikers for two positions which we don’t have. We managed last season, but that shouldn’t disguise the fact that we were short upfront.
Wingers, we can buy the season after next if necessary.
And Veloso/OHara at left back? WTF? Buying midfielders to play them out of their position is strange.
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Agree with you Grognard, You Know Who has just gone about it in the wrong way, at least as us supporters are concerned. He may go there in the future, but will stay until at least as long as Fergie is at OT.
There is just no way that I can turn on him after what he has given us during this past season and the one before that. The goals and immensely beautiful football he has put on display have surpassed any expectations that we could have placed on him since he first came to Manchester and put on the red shirt.
He has also raised United’s repertoire and standing in Europe around the world. Every great team needs at least one superstar, and He Who Must Not Be Named is our star, even though all the other players are stars and just as valuable in my opinion: the starters, the bench, the reserves and even the academy…
Anyway, can’t wait to see who our next striker will be as well as how the best player in the world does in red and green in the Euros (especially on Saturday against Turkey).
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Santa Cruz anyone? Rumour that United have bid £15 mill for him.
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Santa Cruz is just not that great. Yes he had a good season on a team where there was very little pressure. He does not handle pressure very well and that is why Bayern got rid of him. Both he and Pizarro would become invisible in big games, especially in the Champions League. Some players are just born to play well fro average teams. You have to be a cut above to play for the likes of Manchester United
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Dan; I’m one of th few that agrees with you about the need for a winger, but we certainly need a striker more at this point in time. If we lose Ronaldo the need for a winger will multiply but we cannot expect to compete in 60 games next year with two strikers and some mystery meat known as Manucho. With that said, Giggs is getting old and Ronaldo’s time with us may be shorter than expected, so getting an Arshavin or some other winger like the Greek kid Ninis or the German lad Marko Marin would be a good move. If nobody has caught either Ninis or especially Marin, check them out on YouTube. Very nice young talents that have incredible potential. And neither of them would break the bank to get.
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hi all, am a regular visitor of this site and this is my first post.
according to SAF he is in search of a striker who is tall (exact opposite of tevez and rooney) but both hunteelar and benzema dont fall under that category. My choice would be Kenwyne Jones, cause he is tall, fearsome and young. unlike the other choices jones hasnt seen glory yet so i guess he will contribute more to the team and his work rate will be high.
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I think Dan is right regarding Ben Arfa.
If HE stays (chances are HE will), SAF will definitely look for a winger and use HIM upfront.
We already have an excellent on our books. Problem is, our striker is also the world’s best winger.
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i vote for ronaldo to be sold and benzema to be bought..hoho..just let ronaldo go..we cash some money from him and buy someone else that can help rooney and tevez to get the goals..as for the right wing we already have nani..hoho..the future is bright even without ronaldo
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