Jul 30
Saha, Giggs and Agents, EVDS and Other Stories
Morning all from the Red Rants towers — er, I don’t think I’ve greeted anyone like this before.
Let’s quickly settle down to what we do best — rounding up the news stories of the day (and yesterday).
The Guardian speculates that Sunderland might be keen on securing the services of Louis Saha — presumably, to give their physios a good work out, and ensure that they always have their hands full and earn their chops.
Roy Keane has been very active (and arguably more successful) than last season in the transfer market. However, it must be said that he has been getting mostly mediocre players and, typically, players we already know awful lot about. Whilst, for a United fan, it could be worrying that he hasn’t managed to broaden the horizons of his scouting network much, he has at least gotten off the ex-United player bandwagon and moved towards signing players from the Premiership. But Louis Saha? Unless Keano can glare his way into making Saha fit, I don’t see the point of him trying to buy Saha.
Ryan Giggs had a pop at the mecenary nature of the modern footballer, where a player may jump ship for a ten grand. When Giggs says such a thing, you know you can’t dispute it because of how he’s conducted himself all these years. And ex-Arsenal man, Gilberto, couldn’t disagree either:
“When you win things, you achieve more than anybody else. You get better contracts, and more money, anyway. I can’t blame a player who wants a good contract. But I believe if they stay at the club, they can earn good money and do a lot for the club and themselves. So if they win something, it means more and they are more appreciated by supporters.”
Chris Eagles has moved to Burnley. I saw this coming anyway, although I believe he could have moved to a premiership side like Hull or Stoke or West Brom. We wish him luck and we’ll certainly remember his icing-on-the-cake goal against Everton to make it 4-2.
And finally, EVDS is still not ready to reliquish his No. 1 spot to Ben Foster and intends to remain our goal keeping mainstay this upcoming season. He’s a proud and hungry lad, and I think, unless Fergie deems it right (or if Edwin makes a gaffe or two) EVDS will continue being our No. 1 this season too. That said, I’m sure it must be really hard for Kuszczak to read in the papers that he’s not even being mentioned in the same breath as Foster — let alone VDS. Must be unfair on the Pole because he has played more games for United, and is a decent shot stopper.
Oh well, Foster is English. So all eyes will be trained on him this season.
Related items from Red Rants:- Saha’s Injury: Who do we believe?
- Fergie, The Raging Bull | Terrified Vidic | More Quotes from Hargreaves
- Brum 0-1 Reds: Another Scrappy One-Nil Win
- The Week So Far: Benitez, Heinze, Strikers, Nani, EVDS, Ferdinand, Gibson, Saha and Spurs
- Man Utd Stories of the Day
Tags: Daily Roundup
July 30th, 2008 at 10:10
VDS is 37, but he was awesome in Euro’s and ofcourse UCL finals. So unless something Lehmann’ish happens, VDS will continue in front of goal.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:27
Reading Giggs comments only makes me proud that we have such a loyal servent at our club. He has truely demonstrated over the years that he is a true legend and a player that any young lad coming through the ranks should look to emulate.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:29
It also looks like Keano is breaking away from his other penchant of signing Rep of Ireland players. Unless …
July 30th, 2008 at 10:32
We should now just focus all our attention on our team. And not care what the rest of the world/football clubs are doing
July 30th, 2008 at 10:39
It’s always interesting with these oldish goalies, when they come back from vacation. Have they gotten the rest they needed to keep motivation high, or have they lost the good form, they had going for them… you never know. I think, VDS was outstanding last season, and he was probably the best keeper in the league - and one of the best in the world. He showed his high standards at the Euros. However, he’s reaching an age where a medium length injury/vacation can affect his form. I trust him to stay fit and in fitness in his break, but it’s something else once the season starts again. He’ll surely be first choice, and it’s going to take either quite a few lapses from his side or an explosion of development from either TK og Foster to pip him.
I think, VDS will remain number one next (and his last) season, and I hope so, because it’ll mean we have a top top goalie guarding the net for us.
And btw. Giggs is spot on and classy as always. Hate those greedy agents.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:21
A bit off-topic….
just saw the OFM ad in the sidebar.
Is OFM better than xpert eleven??
July 30th, 2008 at 11:29
Re: Eagles - really think we dropped the ball on that one. He’s a talented player, certainly mid-low premiership table quality, am surprised he wasn’t off to Sunderland like Richardson! Burnley is a serious step backwards, but maybe he’ll be poached/it was a personal decision. Regardless, £1.25m is a joke of a sum. I’m fine with us offloading our younguns but we should be pushing for better deals. I’ve not seena single one go for reasonable money, even Rossi was a steal. Watching Levy milk us makes me think we should be doing the same!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:33
Giggsy is a legend, the Portuguese player could learn a few things off him, but maybe players are not made like that anymore.
I like Foster and believe he will be integrated into the team next season, but I do think Kuszczak is an accident waiting to happen, but can pull off amazing saves.
Not so sure RR with your views on Keane, about being more successful than last year, I take it you mean with the quality of players he has brought in? if so Chimbonda, Diouf, if he brings in Kaboul and oays £10m for Mr Glass, are big gambles if they do not pay off, personally I think he has a good chance of being the first managerial casulty of next season, but that is just my view.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:59
I hope giggs’ statements poke some sense to that portugese egg head. back to matters goal keeping, i think EVDS will push kuzcack( i find it hard spelling his name) and foster to work harder for tha pole position next season. no doubt EVDS will fumble in our games but at least we hve quality cover
July 30th, 2008 at 13:06
and oh, i saw sunderland willing to buy him at 10 million. thats a lot considering he is priced at 2 mils. its surely not a bad deal for us.
off topic- Fergie’s lamenting about the missed chances of signing african players.i always think Britain should relax their work permit regulations so that we get african talent that can be developed in our academy cheaply rather than them going via the french league and buy them at exorbitant prices or waitting for them to get dual citizenship
July 30th, 2008 at 13:08
Maybe Eagles should have gone earlier to give his career a better start.
At 22 he’s certainly way past the “Youth Team” group of players.
For what it’s worth, I though Richardson was at least twice as good when he was playing for us, then eagles ever did.
July 30th, 2008 at 13:09
@nelson otieno: Your comment doesn’t make much sense. Will VDS push the others? I don’t think, VDS needs to push anyone. The others will have to do the pushing.
And you don’t think too much of VDS? (you are certain that he’ll fumble, is what you wrote)
July 30th, 2008 at 13:10
@nelson otieno: Is Saha priced at £2 mil - where do you have that figure from?
July 30th, 2008 at 13:27
tomas
sorry about that. its the others who will do the pushing. i guess the statement is due to English not beng my first language. about fumbling, i didnt imply robison/ lehmann howler style, I just have a feeling his perfomancess will be a bit rugged this season but only time will judge me. maybe its the pre season gloom that makes me feel pessimistic
July 30th, 2008 at 13:29
@Tomas: He does fumble the odd shot but what keeper doesn’t, I was at Anfield and Reina was awful, and Chech makes more mistakes than EVDS but never gets mentioned, especially by Andy Gray
July 30th, 2008 at 13:39
@Stephen: If he hasn’t learned from Giggs yet, I doubt he will learn in the future.
July 30th, 2008 at 13:40
Tomas
yeah its 12 million, not 2. am a bit mixed up right now so i better stop commenting. but 10 million is still a good figure, considering his persistent injuries. im tired of that ‘when saha is fit, he is a good player’ song. when is he ever going to be consistently fit
July 30th, 2008 at 13:42
@Grognard: Bloody hell uou are up early
Well that was sort of my point mate, he will never learn it is always about him I’m afraid 
July 30th, 2008 at 13:47
@nelson otieno: He has been quoted @ £10m in the press in the UK.
July 30th, 2008 at 13:48
@nelson otieno: No worries - you have clearified just fine
I agree that 10 mil will be a good price considering his injury prone history.
July 30th, 2008 at 13:59
For me Roy Keane is a terrible judge of talent and lets face it, regardless of how big his transfer kitty is, great players do not willingly accept moves to teams like Sunderland, Stoke, Hull etc. Where was he when Eagles was sold. Considering the garbage he has purchased so far, he could have had Eagles for a song and he would have had a decent young player who I feel is good enough to start for his sad bunch. Pascal Chimpanzee is as useless as they come and Taino is average at best. Now he is looking to also add the laziest and most unmotivated player in the Prem in Steed Malbranque. This guy actually has some skill but he also has his head up his proverbial ass 90% of the time. And to add insult to injury he now wants to add Louis Saha, as if his trainers and medical staff never had enough to worry about with all the broken hearts and depression that’s going to emanate out of the Stadium of Darkness.
I love Keano as a player and as a United legend but he clearly is a poor judge of talent and character. He would have been better served to
to sign a bunch of young prospects and tried to convince a few good players from medium or mediocre clubs to join Sunderland. Instead he has decided to bring in all the failures from Spurs and a few other teams instead. I cannot see how this will make his team better. Hell, he would have been better served if he had bought Eagles and tried to get Campbell, Welbeck and a few other reservists from United on loan.
Or try to rape Scotland and Ireland for some fresh and young players. We’ll see how he does but right now I am not optimistic. Especially since he wasn’t smart enough or apparently rich enough to keep Johnny Evans. As a manager on the field and as a motivator I think he’s OK, but he has a lot to learn. I sometimes wonder why some guys accept thankless jobs that offer nothing but misery and lowered expectations? What a thankless job it is to manage a bottom feeder in the Prem. Little money to spend and no good players who want to play for you. It adds up to a forlorn hope and I for one don’t get it nor will I ever understand the desire to be a loser. And yet I suppose, somebody has to take those jobs and sometimes, that’s the only way to get your experience. I still don’t see how managing in the catacombs of Hell is going to do shite for one’s CV. Yet, managers like Bruce, Clough, and a few others have proven their quality by starting at the bottom.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:29
@Grognard: I think you forget that when Keane took over they were 23rd in the championship. That same season they won the league. They survived the first season in the prem with a squad lacking largely in both experience and talent, and most of the players he’s signing are mid table prem players. Malbronque, Chimbonda, Tianio, Diouf are all players who will get you mid table…
That’s Sunderlands target this season. Not be in a relegation battle. This team doesn’t look like a relegation team..
July 30th, 2008 at 14:30
@Grognard: Don’t want to piss on your cereal, but the PC brigade will be along soon for calling Pascal that.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:33
@Grognard: I like Nigel Clough would be a good coach for us!
I agree with Keane like all young managers they always think they can turn a player he also has turned into Mr Rent-a-Quote, Bruce I don’t agree is has proven quality, he spent money and has got Birmingham relagated once and lucky not more.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:37
@benjd: I think it was meant as a more play on words than anything else.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:39
@Stephen: Yep, I have no problem with it, but it could be misconstrued.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:46
@Traverse: Keane’s abilities are not in question as a game manager and he was more than capable of overtaking the Coca Cola League but the Prem is a lost cause. My problem with football in general has a lot to do with my North American mindset. To me finishing middle of the table means nothing. There is no playoff format in football’s elite divisions that allows teams to fight for, say the the top 8 spots in a 20 team league. And if you make the top 8 you challenge in the playoffs for the title. Now I’m not advocating that system, but I just have a hard time understanding the motivational standards of a team that has no hope of coming close to the top at all. I ask myself what’s the point? Every team in American and Canadian sports buys in to the belief that if they struggle and fight hard enough, they can get into the playoffs and when they get there, anything can happen in a short tournament situation. The only motivation for most of the teams in the EPL is to avoid relegation. And for a few others it’s try to get a place in the UEFA Cup. Not exactly my idea of proper motivation and reason to play a campaign. I don’t know but I just believe that football has too many teams in every top tier league. I would prefer no more than 12 teams in every division 1 league in Europe. Let the elite fight it out. Even the the last place finishers of each league will have a some quality to them. I just cannot bare to think of a schedule that includes teams like Hull and Stoke as well as Sunderland and some others. Talk about excitement.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:48
@benjd: It’s got nothing to do with race or creed and everything to do with the sound of his last name. So if the PC Brigade can’t figure that out, then I couldn’t give a rats ass.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:49
@Stephen: Actually I was referring to Brian Clough, as being one of the few managers to take a bottome feeder and turn them in to a champion at the highest level.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:53
@Grognard: You can’t put Steve Bruce and Brian Clough in the same category, twice EC winner and Brucey, love him as a player but again not sure as a manager.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:54
@Grognard: I know it wasn’t mate. No worries
July 30th, 2008 at 14:55
@benjd: Well lets stop and think now, how many times have I been known for making racist remarks in the past? And if so, wouldn’t I pick on a lot more players of different ethnic backgrounds? Oh yes, once I referred to the Italians as wops but seeing as I hate their football, I’ll learn to live with that one. Chimbonda has a Chim in front of a it as well as the same number of syllables as chimpanzee. To misconstrue anything in that is just looking for trouble where there isn’t anything. When I think of all the blokes who refer to the French as frogs, the Germans as krauts on this site, I can’t help but laugh at your PC directed slap of my wrist. Give me a break mate.
July 30th, 2008 at 14:57
@Stephen: I think Bruce has done wonders with absolutely nothing to work with. Clough would not have done any better in today’s EPL as the money and the influx of foreign talent have made it impossible for a team just promoted to do well.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:05
Fergie thinking of increasing African presence - is it a sign of Eto’o move to OT (now that Berba looks less and less likely each day and we need to a signing before season starts so that the player can get some time to know the squad). Eto’o is everything we need, pace, skill, deadly finishing. And fergie is the man that can actually handle him. He can be an inspired signing really.
And at 26, he is actually 2 years younger than Berba.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:06
@Grognard: Excuse me? I try and give a simple heads up and you get all shitty?
how does this:
get processed in your head and turned into something it isn’t. I am in no way giving you a hard time or getting all PC on you.
Jesus I can’t be bother to post here any more.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:11
@Grognard: Not sure if agree mate, Sheffield United, Wigan, Palace you can’t realy judge. Birmingham promoted a couple of times relagation and various mid table finishes I wouldn’t say he did wonders he also spent some money mate, but do love him was at he the Sheffield Wednesday game and will never forget it!
July 30th, 2008 at 15:22
@Grognard: I’m sorry but I just don’t agree with your vision of making top leagues of teams of 12, nor to the point that leagues should have playoff positions for the top 8 spots. If we did this, not only would you create a bigger divide in the English game, you would also find that there would be not enough of Englands top talent playing in the big games, leading on to near enough no experience in Europe. Also concerning the playoffs, I have never agreed to the fact that a team could finish in a European place just due to their fitness at the end of the season rather than the style of football they played.
Secondly, you say you don’t see the point of teams being happy avoiding relegation and finishing mid-table. The money is huge when you stay in the premiership, and the fact is staying their, while slowly building a team eventually to fight for the European places is a huge enough incentive for these teams. Each time a team stays in the premiership, it is seen to be £40 million of extra revenue compared to the premiership.
Oh and my third point, who can’t wait for United to destroy teams like Hull, Stoke and West Brom next season? I know I can’t wait.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:25
*Compared to the Championship. Sorry.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:29
Grognard:
Have to agree with Benjd. All he was doing was giving you a heads up. And he said ‘no worries’ too. There was little wrong with what you said, but come on, why do you have to go over the top? Easy mate, why so serious?
July 30th, 2008 at 15:30
Hey Grog,
I reckon you touch on a couple of good points regarding Keane but I’m going to keep faith in him for a bit longer. I’m looking forward to seeing where he goes with the team this season, staying up last time round has to be viewed as a success and on top of winning the championship he’s steering the ship in the right direction.
I’m hoping he can motivate the new recruits sufficiently and bring Sunderland to mid-table. They’ve got a serious fan base and a great stadium so it would be good to see them move up the league. Like you, I’m continually flummoxed by Keane’s signings but I hope he does well. It would be great to see Louis go over there and stay fit / perform for a few years. Remember Paul McGrath’s injury’s improved hugely once he left Old Trafford - Villa just told him to play as against sending him to hospital non-stop - Obviously comparing Oak to Balsa is a bit of a push but you get my drift.
Middlesboro have gone the route of young talent supplemented by a few experienced stars and have done OK so it’s yet to be seen who will be proven right in the long-term. He could do some more work in sourcing players abroad, you’ll never get value for money in the premiership.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:38
@benjd:
I sympathise with you mate I had Grognard tear the head off me a couple of posts back when he got it into his head that I was telling him what to do. Still wondering where he got that idea from when I was just voicing an opinion.
July 30th, 2008 at 15:46
@Jig: you can’t compare McGrath as a player to Saha, as he was twice the player, and he had a serious injury and could not train, Saha’s are mostly psychological!
July 30th, 2008 at 16:41
Stephen, Yeah I know hence the comparison between Oak and Balsa but McGrath said in his autobiography that Villa kept him away from the treatment table and just looked after him (v. light training etc) He said Utd kept trying to fix the problem.
On another note: is anyone experiencing extremely slow loading speed on this site? For the past few weeks it has been amazingly slow to load any page. Not having this problem anywhere else so it’s obviously an issue with RedRants - Server issue maybe? (I use Firefox on Mac if that helps anyone trying to figure it out).
July 30th, 2008 at 16:41
Leave Grogs alone he is just a bitter, German loving Canadian, He really doesnt mean harm. Keep in mind he is still dealing with having his heart broken by the greasy one.
July 30th, 2008 at 16:44
@Jig: Sorry mate didn’t read your comment very well!!
July 30th, 2008 at 16:58
@johnsom33:
Aren’t we all mate but we’ll say no more about him. The Portuguese one that is!
July 30th, 2008 at 17:05
@Red Ranter: Let Benjid put a smile on Grognard’s face
July 30th, 2008 at 17:19
@benjd: The problem is that you opened it up by bringing it up in the first place. Your job is not to be watch dog or peace officer. The PC types will come out more from your warning than from what I said. That’s in their nature. I just was afraid you were stirring up a hornets nest by using the term PC when I didn’t feel it was necessary. So don’t take offense at my reply because no offense was intended. I just wanted to point out the situation and how trying to say the right thing can often backfire and then make my life Hell for a few days on this blog. Sorry if I pissed you off.
July 30th, 2008 at 17:30
@Red Ranter: Racism is serious business RR and I don’t want somebody stirring up hatred when there was nothing racial in my name changing of Chimbonda. I was really afraid people were going to jump all over that comment once he launched the PC warning. I’ve been accused of a lot on this blog but that one I was going to nip in the bud because it was unwarranted and unnecessary. And I don’t think I intended my reply in and angry tone. In fact I was pleading to him to give me a break. I don’t believe that I went over the top but yes, I was serious. Why shouldn’t I be? If someone wrongfully suggests that my remarks were racist in nature, I should get serious. Why? Because it plainly wasn’t a racist remark and he unfortunately was raking a hornets nest by suggesting it. This blog has members from all parts of the world. The last thing I want is for somebody to mistake my poor attempt at humor as being racist in tone and thus poisoning everyone against me. Therefore, I think my reaction and friendly enough reply was necessary to stop the inevitable from happening. Sometimes you and others portray me as such a miserable ogre and I honestly am not. If anything, it just makes me more defensive because nobody wants to be seen in a negative light.
July 30th, 2008 at 17:38
in his best Will Smith impression: Y’all need to lighten up…just calm down people, calm DOWN!
worried about racism? i’m not even worried about jailbait
you decide what’s worse.
July 30th, 2008 at 17:42
@Grognard: If you’re that worried about impressions, remember that prevention is better than cure. Personally I have no problems with calling Pascal a chimpanzee (see, I just did that) but if you have a problem with people calling you rascist then you should think twice about putting such stuff in print (or just learn from the experience).
I’ve been accused of far worse (some people still believe i tried to run them over with a car, but that’s a different story) and the best thing i’ve learned is - if you’re worried about reactions, minimise damage beforehand, not after the event.
and to everyone else - Grog is NOT a miserable ogre. He’s just miserable because he can’t take a joke (i’ll bet $100 that he doesn’t take this one well either)
July 30th, 2008 at 17:53
@Stephen: Those teams exist for one reason mate. To pad the stats of the giants and thats all. They have reason or purpose to exist in the EPL other than to give the elite teams an excuse to have a feeding frenzy. Keane spent money this year and last year and what exactly did he buy? Castoffs and players like Yorke and Cole who should have retired 5 seasons ago. Hardly a sign for wise spending. And if he beat Sheffield Wednesday, who bloody cares? What the Hell is a Sheffield Wednesday or a Wolves or Burnley for that matter? They are small teams that don’t belong in the big show.
My proposal is simple and would create more parity and incredible competition from week to week. It would also guarantee that a team could not take a fixture lightly and that at the end of a season you wouldn’t have teams that lost only a few games. Every game would count and every point dropped would matter even more so than now. I honestly think it would create fewer draws. Picture this, a league that starts with just these teams for starters;
Manchester United
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham
Aston Villa
Everton
Newcastle United
Middlesbrough
Portsmouth
West Ham United
Sorry Blackburn fans, You just missed out on it.
The teams fight it out in a 36 game schedule style that is similar to the one being used in Scotland and only two teams get demoted and two get promoted every year. This would still punish futility and reward two winners from lower divisions while still keeping the league more competitive.
Look it’s just an idea I have played with and even if nobody agrees with it, that’s fine. I just have a hard time getting excited with games against bottom feeders as well, is there anything more painful than watching two unimaginative, uninspiring and talentless teams go head to head in an mid season fixture? Whats even more painful is watching Manchester United try to poke a hole against a team that never came to compete but to survive by placing 10 men behind the ball and erecting the Berlin Wall. It’s rubbish and you all know I am right on that note. Football should be competitive and tight, but unfortunately now there is such division between the have and the have not’s instead. Reason, reform and common sense are needed before things progress to such an unwatchable level that the league will have financial and ethical issues to deal with.
July 30th, 2008 at 18:10
@Hakieran: It should never be about money. It should be about winning. Trying to stay up because of money is pathetic and sad. A league and competition is designed for teams to want to win and be declared champions. The present system unlike US sports does not promote much of a chance for more than 3 or 4 clubs to be declared champions because only one team at the end counts. There is no playoff round to allow other teams that had a good season to be rewarded for their efforts. Instead England has bothersome and annoying cup competitions intermingled within a season that cause nothing more than distractions and fatigue for the top clubs fighting it out for first overall and for supremacy in Europe. I just do not believe in the left wing ideology that says all teams should be able to compete for the FA Cup when we all know that the chances of a team from the lower division below Coca Cola actually making it to a final and winning is slim to none. Sometimes a miracle happens and you get a Millwall or a Cardiff in the final but nobody but their local fans give a damn in the end. I have watched every FA Cup final sin 1976 and I didn’t bother with this year’s. Sure it’s fair and all, but really, only the honest and bold have the guts to admit that it was rubbish and that the majority of fans want big teams in the final because they crave a spectacle.
The league right now has too many dull encounters and that has to stop. More has to be riding on the top 8 positions in football than just a place in Europe. A playoff scenario where the top eight meet in a two game knockout competition where 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7 and so on and then progressing to the semis and a one match final on the home ground of the team with the best record is the best and fairest way to determine a champion and keep all teams interested in the season right to the very end. I’m sorry but it works in North America despite the age old British and footy argument that the team that finishes first overall in the season, deserves the championship. Perhaps they do, but is it the best scenario for the health of the league and the game? And regarding your argument about no room for British players. Frankly mate, if they aren’t good enough to play in a twelve team league, they don’t deserve to. I want the EPL to become an elite league where all teams from 1 to 12 can kick ass in Europe because they play very competitive games domestically and they don’t waste energy and resources playing meaningless games against minnows who have no business playing games at that level. It’s common sense and yet it is radical thinking. But then again, that’s what English football needs to become better in style and in substance. RADICAL THINKING.
July 30th, 2008 at 18:14
@Jig: I too would love to see Keano take Sunderland to great heights. They are a team that deserves more because they are trying to think bigger and because any team with a large fan base and a fantastic stadium deserves to succeed. I just question his player purchases. I’d call these players bums but that would be an insult to bums all over the world.
July 30th, 2008 at 18:18
have we signed anyone yet? sheesh….*exasperated*
July 30th, 2008 at 18:19
@scoop: Scoop mate, sometimes it’s very difficult to interpret what a person is thinking by the words they use. Your intentions may not have been to wind me up, but when I read your comment, it felt like you were telling me how to think. Sorry for that but please understand that I am awfully controversial on this blog and because of that, I have been attacked many many times. This makes a person a little defensive at times. I’m sure if you and I had a beer together at a pub, you’d have a completely different opinion of me. It’s the nature of the Internet. Quite often intentions and motives are completely misunderstood. So, lets forgive and forget and get beyond that. I apologize for having jumped all over you on that day, OK. PEACE!
July 30th, 2008 at 18:21
@johnsom33: You said it mate. And you got to love those Germans eh?
July 30th, 2008 at 18:24
@Ahmed Bilal: I’m trying to figure out what the article has to do with the pretty young thing in the picture. Ah Hell, who cares? She’s cute.
July 30th, 2008 at 18:29
@Ahmed Bilal: HA! HA! HA! fooled ya. I can take a joke. But it helps if it’s funny.
And unfortunately Ahmed, I’m just not a politically correct person. As you, RR and others on the site know very well by now, trying to suppress my thoughts and expressions just brings out the worst in me. Still, I am not the miserable old windbag everybody thinks I am. I’m a controversial and often misunderstood but gentle windbag who is sometimes a bit too sensitive for his own good.
July 30th, 2008 at 18:35
@Wink: No kidding. It’s extremely difficult watching us lose players left and right but nobody is coming in. It really goes against my nature as I do not believe in standing pat. Even a champion needs to improve from the past season. Mark my words, if we don’t add that striker the team needs, we will not repeat as champions. Everybody except Arsenal is improved and hungry to fight on. And Arsenal should not miss the overrated Hleb too much. And I still think they will replace Flamini. We on the other hand have been bogged down by the Ronaldo affair and to top that off, he will miss many games in the beginning of the season when our schedule is hardest. I don’t know. Still, despite all the doom and gloom, I think Ronaldo has no choice but to stay and Berbatov I feel will end up at OT as Spurs really have little choice but to sell him if they are going to afford Arshavin and Pavyluchenko. Man I have to say that I really like the potential look of that Spurs team.
July 30th, 2008 at 20:07
I do like the look of spurs too, but I liked the look of City last year, and look what happened to them. They can bring in whoever they want. They will still be looking up at us, chelscum, and the scousers. hard to believe Le’Arse will drop out of the top 4 also. So as long as the give us Berbatov, bring in anyone they want. I’m sure we’ll buy them in 2 years time for 4x the price.
July 30th, 2008 at 20:44
@Comma: Don’t get me wrong, I’m not touting them for the title but I think if Ramos works his magic and they adapt well to each other on the pitch, they have a chance of 3rd or 4th. I don’t think anybody comes close to United or Chelsea but Liverpool and Arsenal can be had in my humble opinion. I especially think that Liverpool will continually be compromised by the lunacy of their manager. Arsenal are good and young but they have lost a few players and have yet not replaced them adequately. I think Spurs can really mount a threat but they still need to sign Arshavin and one or two more strikers like Pavyluchenko. If they were to shock the world and get Villa, then who knows. They still need a CB of top class to help Woodgate. King is done and Dawson was garbage last season.
July 30th, 2008 at 20:48
Is it me or is it becoming more and more obvious that the only persons who really wants Ronaldo at Real Madrid are Calderon and Ronaldo himself. The players don’t want him, the board doesn’t want them and in a poll 82% of the fans favored van der Vaart and Villa over a Ronaldo swoop. I’m also starting to believe that even Ronaldo may have second thoughts after the negative comments of some Real players and of course the breakup with his Spanish slut. I don’t know but I don’t think Calderon has the necessary support to make this deal. Which means that we may be off the hook for this season but I’m sure the same soap opera will start up again next season. God give us strength!
July 30th, 2008 at 21:02
@Grognard: your constant belittling of clubs is something that I have to disagree with. These clubs are as important and have as much history as United and I think should be respected. For fans of these clubs they are extremely exciting and great teams to support. For instance how many times when one of these teams are playing Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool have you become nearly a fan of them for a day, cheering when they score and cursing when they let one in? These teams’ cup finals are against the top 4 and if they beat a member of the top 4 it gives them bragging rights comparable to if we win the league. Not exactly unexciting IMO.
PS. I’m not telling you how to think I’m just disagreeing with you
July 30th, 2008 at 21:42
@Liam: i agree, i think the only team that doesn’t have history in the league are the chavs, i always root for a team when i watch a match without united playing, because football has become a drama and every match always has repercussions.
July 30th, 2008 at 21:52
@Grognard:
Fair enough mate. All done lets move on
July 30th, 2008 at 22:31
well, when keane missed the last spurs friendly(thte one before tonight) we all know what happend their, berbatov has missed tonights friendly, i wonder what this could mean…
July 30th, 2008 at 23:17
@jos: When did you read or hear him saying this????
@Grognard: *Sigh* said it before and i’ll say it again, we’re being a little over dramatic aren’t we? Besides Pique(who has promptly being replaced by a better player namely Evans) which first significant first team player have we sold again? I don’t quite get the part about losing players and not bringing in any. Our team is still the most cohensive of the big 4, so i don’t see what the fuss is about. I too would like to see a player come in, but i doubt i’m worried by the ones who’ve left(so far).
July 30th, 2008 at 23:50
@Liam: Sorry Liam, they are a waste of time and boring as Hell to watch. I admit that I’m a bit of an elitist when it comes to my football and I just can’t tolerate mediocrity. Team history means nothing to me if it’s all been done in the lower divisions. What, I’m supposed to become a big Blackpool supporter and respect the team because the Great Sir Stanley Matthews once played for them? I don’t think so. I’m a Manchester United fan and so I loathe all other teams in the English game. And that doesn’t make me wrong. It’s just the way I see things.
July 30th, 2008 at 23:55
@Rd: I’m not asking for a mass influx of players RD. All I have been asking for for two months now is for a striker. I will continue to beg for a striker because we badly need one. Yes our team has a lot of cohesion and style but we need a central striker who can be counted on in the clutch. And lets not forget how long Ronaldo will be out and how long it will be before he finds his game form and fitness. Not finding a RW or RMF just to back up what we have may also be a spreading ourselves a bit thin. I’m not asking for lot here. But what I am asking for I wish would happen finally so I can get some peace. I know I speak for many when I say the sooner the better.
July 31st, 2008 at 0:06
@Grognard: true true grognard, we do need a striker, and I see one comin in this friday (prob’ly Berba). We also need a young RW or RMF that can play understudy this season like Nani did last season (unless Fergie is considering Lee Martin
), cuz golden boy giggsy is gonna retire nxt season and I would like to see us continue with 4 experienced first team wingers then (Nani, Ronaldo, Park, new kid).
July 31st, 2008 at 0:15
@Grognard: Is it end of euros + 50 yet?
July 31st, 2008 at 0:29
It’s all doom and gloom. We haven’t signed anyone, i might as well slit my wrists…
July 31st, 2008 at 0:34
I will say this with all the boldness i can acquire. We must not buy a striker unless we lose The Eternal Idiot. Why? Because we would simply have 2 offload Rooney first. Thats how it works. Say we get Berbatov or Thierry or Eto’o Fils. Who should make way? I dont think it should be Tevez because in my opinion he was marginally better than Wayne. Those who believe Tevez is going 2 be our super sub,are simply speaking JRR Tolkien fantasies. Look at the following examples of having 2 many top strikers in your ranks. 1. Chelsea-Drog,Sheva,Anelka,Malouda. What happened 2 Sheva? 2. Real Maggots- Ruud,Raul,Robinho,Baptista, Saviola. Is Robinho rejoicing or Saviola? 3. Barca- a team which plays with one traditional CF- Eto,Henry,Ronnie,Messi. Not so great 4 henry or ron. Thats y i believe we dont need a striker unless of course we sold rooney and/or the Idiot
July 31st, 2008 at 0:34
@Grognard. I’m sure if I was bothered I could name a ton of high scoring and dramatic games that involved the lower clubs. On a lot of weekends I’ve preferred some mid-table games to United’s (which I usually spend criticising every little mistake a United player makes) These teams play against us the way that we played against Barcelona so to criticise them for negative tactics would be hypocrisy.
July 31st, 2008 at 0:35
@Grognard: I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said Grog, the point of my post was just in reply to the part of your comment about losing many players and not bringing in any, i was just trying to point out that unlike Arsenal and Liverpool, none of the players that have been sold were part of the first team.
July 31st, 2008 at 0:44
Tottenham are shaping up to be pretty useful. It is hard to keep track how much theyve spent. Anyone able to do the numbers?
They are packing one helluva midfield and no doubt are going to play 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 with wingers, but their central defence still looks like an injury waiting to happen and hard to see where the goals are coming from if they sell Berbatov as well as Keane.
July 31st, 2008 at 0:48
Im also not sorry 2 say this. The english league is void of quality. The lower teams are a waste of money and time. I watch five European leagues every weekend and the epl is last in terms of quality. Ahead is the french,spanish,italian and portuguese leagues in no particular order. I have never found joy in watching blackburn take on the mighty Fulham or Reading going “2 park the bus” at the Emirates and achieve a mind numbing draw,only 2 have the incompetent English commentators hail their exploits as “disciplined”. Watch Marseille vs Lille,or Recreativo vs Mallorca and u will realise that some people in England are wasting time and financial resources
July 31st, 2008 at 0:51
@Grognard: You are missing the point here though. The point is most of these clubs are there because they have been supported by fans through thick and thin. It is a part of the very fabric of English (and European) sporting society. To relegate these clubs into a position of a lower league would be to uproot their years of standing by their teams through thick and thin.
You are a Manchester United fan and loathe all the other teams. So then lets cut down the league to just Manchester United A and Manchester United B and let them play kick about throughout the whole season. Since you like both teams I’m sure it will be immense fun watching them play each other for the whole season. I hope you are getting what I am driving at.
Those teams may be boring to watch, but again, more often than not, when two big teams clash they become cagey and boring affairs too. Cutting down to 12 teams is not a solution. The traditions of the FA are some of the few things that are actually laudable where even a league two team hypothetically has a shot at reaching the very top.
The fact is, in your case, you need to see a team win day in and day out. But a vast majority of fans in England stick by their clubs, and I find that sort of loyalty in the modern age of attention deficient people, laudable. When you talk about the modern footballers having their principles eroded, the fan remains the one hope for football. So I think curtailing the Premiership to 12 teams would be unfair on 8 clubs which percolates down to the lower divisions.
No one’s telling you to support Blackpool. But why make the already suffering Blackpool supporter suffer more by riding roughshod over them? Small clubs lend a sense of drama with David v Goliath encounters at times, so I don’t see anything wrong with some of the small timers to mix with the biggies.
The league system is good the way it is now.
July 31st, 2008 at 0:54
@Just1n: We will sign Berbatov.
Hold on to the blade.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:00
@colver:
Spurs must be laughing all the way to the bank after offloading 28 year old Keane to Liverpool for £20m. It’s not that I think he’s particularly old, but his game relies on pace, so age will catch up with him quicker than someone like Berbatov.
If Spurs get their signings right, they are potentially better than Liverpool. They need a centre-half of real quality and a DM. I heard they’re being linked to Veloso. If they sold Berbatov and brought in Arshavin (as expected), another striker (Milito or Pavlyuchenko), and Veloso, then they’ve got a mighty fine side right there.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:01
@Jay wire: what are you on about?; “we don’t need a striker”. Of course we do. At the moment we only have TWO, who actually are supporting strikers. We do not have a centre forward, and don’t u dare mention saha, campbell, or ronaldo!! We probably have the most crowded and toughest match schedule in the premiership nxt season, given the amount of competitions we’re in plus the fact we have consecutive vital games during a limited period. Do you expect only Rooney and Tevez to play in all these games?
Just because we played around ronaldo last season and got away with it, doesn’t mean it’s gonna be the same this time around. Other teams have improved and wisened up to our game, so we have to adapt/evolve. Besides, ronnie would not feature till late october, so even if we decided to stick to our old system, the key player there would be missing for the first two months, putting us at a disadvantage.
Btw, Rooney, Tevez and whoever we get are gonna play a fairly equal amount of games, with whoever performs better gaining a slight edge over the other.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:12
@Red Ranter: Spot on mate! I mean, why should you fix something that isn’t broken already? The EPL is the most watched league in the world and the fact is I could watch Liverpool v Stoke, or Chelsea v West Brom, just for the reason that I would love the big team to lose, I mean last season Derby, the worst team in EPL history nearly drew 0-0 with us, and Barnsley beat Chelsea 1-0, BARNSLEY!
Back to the whole transfer saga, I don’t understand how Fergie is leaving everything to the last minute this season, when he was so quick with his signings last season and it was a success. It seems like more and more options are going to be lost for us, and we have been lucky that the Hunterlars and Berbatov’s of this world have not gone yet.
I just want to wake up one god damn minute and see someone we have signed, its got to the point that a fucking squad player wouldn’t be so bad, just ONE signing! ONE!
July 31st, 2008 at 3:41
@Traverse: No, it’s end of EURO 08 +33 days and all is quiet. Happy now?
July 31st, 2008 at 3:42
@Just1n: Just remember to use cold water afterwards.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:45
@Jay wire: So what you are trying to say is that we are fine playing a season that’s over 50 games with only two reliable forwards correct? Sorry pal but I just have to laugh at that one. Go back to playing your FIFA 08 with the injuries option off. Get real!
July 31st, 2008 at 3:50
@Rd: Yes I realize that RD but still, that was potential depth we let go and if we get a rash of injuries some of those players may have been needed. Still, we seem to be letting players go and Eagles is now gone, hopefully Saha will get his useless ass out of town soon too. We are definitely thin at striker and we really need depth at RMF/RW. Fergie needs to address these issues. Don’t assume that he’s so smart that he knows what he’s doing because I can god damned guarantee to you and everyone he knows he dropped the ball when he let Rossi go last year. We cannot go into the season with two strikers. It would lead to a potential catastrophe.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:56
@Jay wire