Aug 06
Shallow Squad or an Injury Crisis?
The team we pick to start the first “competitive” game of the season (if you can call the Charity Shield competitive) is going to be pretty threadbare. Prospects aren’t so hot for the Newcastle game either. This has caused a lot of debate here recently about whether our squad leaves us too vulnerable to injury or whether it is an unfortunate run of injuries which we could not have foreseen or provided against.
By the way, I’m going to try out numbering and lettering my paragraphs to make commenting and debating easier. I’m going to touch on a lot of themes here, and so it may help facilitate debate if you can refer simply to paragraph 3a. It may not work, but hey.
1. The squad
First of all, I’m going to set out all the options we have in each position, so that we start this debate by looking objectively at the resources at our disposal.
GK: EVDS, Kuszczak, Foster
RB: Brown, G Neville, O’Shea, Hargreaves, R da Silva, Evans [Simpson is now out on loan, in case you missed that]
CB: Rio, Vidic, Brown, O’Shea, Evans, Silvestre
LB: Evra, Silvestre, O’Shea, Evans, F da Silva
RM / RW: Ronaldo, Nani, Park, Giggs, Hargreaves, Fletcher, Rooney
CM: Scholes, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Fletcher, Possebon, O’Shea, Giggs
LM / LW: Ronaldo, Nani, Giggs, Park, Evra, Rooney
CF: Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Campbell, Giggs [Manucho is still awaiting a work permit; Welbeck has been mysteriously absent from pre-season games - anyone with info why please post it below]
In short, we have at least 5 genuine options in each position. Yes, you read it right – five. Not two, as Mourinho once advocated, five. Some better than others, but none would disgrace the shirt. Some overlapping, too, but there are thirty distinct players there, not counting Manucho, Welbeck or any other youngsters like Gibson.
2. The striker
a) Let’s also get the striker issue out of the way right here. Yes, we need another one – it is the only area where we have inadequate cover. Yes, it would have been nice to have wrapped up Berbatov already. But should we have gone out and splurged on a striker, any striker, just so we have someone for the start of the season? Definitely not. And yes, a fast start is desirable and a huge advantage, but we hardly got one last year and we coped.
b) It takes a rare combination of skill, temperament and potential to become a United signing. Being good isn’t good enough – you have to be good in the right ways for the team, just ask Seba Veron. Should we have signed Robbie Keane for £20m, just because we could probably have sewn it up by now? Dean Ashton for £17m? Peter Crouch for £12m? Or should we wait for the right guy at the right price?
c) My answers to those questions are please no, good god no, not for that price and yes, in that order. Also, just because we’re not reading stories in the press doesn’t mean that progress isn’t being made. If you’d just been reported for comments made in the media about Berbatov, you’d be pretty stupid to antagonise the selling club by continuing to make comments in the media about Berbatov. This is how we do business these days – quietly, behind the scenes, and not like Real Madrid.
d) I will admit, though, that our lack of interest in Huntelaar is surprising. But then there are a lot of top clubs on the hunt (sorry) for strikers, and none of them have put a concrete offer in for him – so what do they know that we don’t?
3. The injury list
a) Here’s the list, first up:
Ronaldo (ankle, 2 months)
Rooney (virus, first two games)
Nani (suspension, first two PL games)
Anderson (Olympics, August)
Carrick (virus, probably CS only)
Hargreaves (tendinitis, possibly fit from start)
Park (knee, possibly fit from start)
Saha (sniffly nose, the rest of his life)
That’s a pretty brutal spate of injuries – particularly so because it has focused entirely on our midfield and attack. We would happily trade, for example, Evra for Rooney and Brown for Nani, since we could easily absorb those injuries in the defence but would keep some of our attacking potency.
b) To illustrate further, this is what a comparable injury list would be for our rivals:
Chelsea: Drogba, Anelka, Joe Cole, Mikel, Deco, Essien, Malouda, Shevchenko
Liverpool: Torres, Keane, Babel, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Kuyt, Voronin
Arsenal: van Persie, Adebayor, Nasri, Rosicky, Fabregas, Diaby, Walcott, Bendtner
c) So to criticise United for not being able to absorb the injuries we have suffered without a drop in performance is to criticise the whole league, and probably every other top club in Europe (I don’t know the Barca, Real, AC Milan or Bayern squads quite well enough to do a similar comparison with them – if you do, please do so in the comments). Those teams would be lucky to put eleven players on the field who could beat Hull, let alone who have every chance of keeping us afloat for a few weeks if needed. We should instead be saying how lucky we are to have a few golden oldies and Tevez to reliably fill the void.
4. Should we have more cover?
However, to take our own squad in isolation and knowing Ronaldo was out for the first two months, would it be optimal for us to have signed more players? The answer to this remains no. There is a roadblock practical reason for this, and an objection in principle.
a) The problem is that you are trying to attract players when they know full well they have no chance of playing if the squad is anywhere near fully fit. This immediately rules out players who are really good right now or likely to become really good in the next year, leaving us with two types of player: youngsters for the future and oldies who might have an Indian summer. We already have the oldies, thanks, barring a miracle loan signing akin to Larsson. Equally, youngsters who are over a season away from being good are probably no better than what we can cobble together internally.
Therefore, the pool of players who will sign for us knowing that they will only get regular first team football if we have an horrific injury crisis and who are good enough to play for us even on a part-time basis is pretty small. The only name I came up with was Eidur Gudjohnsen, but there we go.
There is a third category of players, those who are in it for the money and a quiet life. Step forward, Carlo Cudicini (the best keeper in the Premiership when Cech was bought) and Wayne Bridge (only Evra and Clichy are better). But then is greed and lack of ambition a combination of qualities you want in a United player, even if we could afford them?
b) Whilst I’m here, I want to touch on Aaron Ramsey, who has attracted a lot of inches on this blog. A commonly-held belief is that the reason he went to Arsenal is because Fergie couldn’t be bothered to go and meet him. Whilst this doesn’t look very good (particularly set against fireside games of snooker with a young David Beckham, etc), it is wrong to say that this cost us Ramsey’s signature.
What cost us Ramsey’s signature was that we wanted to buy him and loan him back to Cardiff for a season. Arsenal, on the other hand, wanted to take him straight into the first team squad and offered him a shot at Premier League football. He (understandably, in my view), preferred the latter option. This isn’t speculation or my interpretation of things – this is what Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale said in an interview with the BBC.
So to use this as a stick to beat United and Fergie over the head with seems a bit silly. We didn’t need him for this season, but tried to secure him in the long term – he’s not so wonderfully amazing that he had to be signed immediately like we did with Nani and Anderson. Ramsey was thinking short term – end of.
c) The objection on principle is that I don’t want to return to the era of utility players. You all remember it – Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Phil Neville, Quinton Fortune, Diego Forlan all as integral members of the first team squad. Good enough to be in the squad, but not good enough for the first team. Fergie splintered our transfer budget, signing lots of bit part players rather than one big name. Would you have him spend £10-15m of our summer transfer budget on a fourth reserve player, or save it and secure the player we have identified as The One? I’ll leave that one as rhetorical.
5. I’d like to say one more thing before I throw this open for what I imagine and hope will be a fairly heated debate. I’m not a “loyalist”, I’m not supporting United for the sake of it, and I don’t believe the sun shines out of Fergie’s arse. Everything I’ve offered above is, in my opinion, closely reasoned and supported by facts. So if and when you disagree with me in the comments, please try to make your responses the same.
In summary – our team is going to be badly under strength for the first two games of the season. That does not make our squad defective and does not mean we should spend millions of pounds willy nilly on squad players to compensate.
Related items from Red Rants:
- The Effects of the Injury Crisis
- Manchester United vs Vfl Wolfsburg: Preview
- Manchester United vs Everton: Preview
- Can Chris Eagles be everything Kieran Richardson is not?
- European crisis for United
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
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Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
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Anybody wonder why Blatter suddenly said with regards to Ronaldo, its okay, the two clubs are sorting this out. That statement made me very sceptical. I thought United weren’t communicating with Real. That statement makes me feel there has been discussion between all concerned and a deal has been done.
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just wait and see. SAF knows what to do.
I personally want aguero, huntelaar or berbatov at the club, but i will not criticise SAFs superior judgement. nor should every united fan
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@Craig Mc:
It looks bad on its own, but if people view it fairly by comparing what he has said before I do think it justifies giving him the benefit of the doubt until theres something concrete to show otherwise
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@colver: WOW Colver, if I didn’t know better. i’ll say u’ve dated a supermodel before
Me, I’m just overjoyed, cuz he’s an awesome player for United and I hope he realises that madrid are just a bunch of two-faced, slimy has-beens who neva had and neva will have the best intentions for him…
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blatters a fat fool. the sooner hes out of there, the better. dont believe a word he sais. just like you dont believe caldemoron. or marca
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Wakey, I hear you mate, and I don’t disagree!.
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colver couldn’t have put it better myself.
In regards additions we all agree that we need a striker, but I don’t agree with people who claim we need wingers too. I believe Ronaldo, Nani, Park and Giggs should be enough. You can’t have 3-4 1st class wingers in one team. CR7 and Nani are our 1st choices and Giggs and Park back up and let’s not forget that if we get the Berba, then Rooney and Tevez can play on wings too. Add to this Evra on left and Hargo on right in case of an emergency, and you will see that we are good on wings.
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Not a legendary performance today. Juventus fielded a squad which rotated most of their key players (I wish Nedved would have been in, pure class.) Our squad, on the other hand, is obviously having some injury problems.
I’m not even going to bother stating the case for an additional striker again. It was painfully obvious today. I think these remarks attributed to Fergie claiming that there might not be any new additions is bollocks. Even if he made such claims, its just to send a signal that we won’t pay over the moon. Berbatov will be a Manchester United player. It might not be until midnight on August 31, but he is coming.
Does anyone else think that RDS was one of the best players on the pitch? Is that an indictment of the general lackluster display by most of the team? It was noticeable from my computer screen the effect he had on the crowd. I certainly was excited by what I saw. Did he anyone catch that run chasing after a loose ball into the attacking third where he looked unbelievably fast? He also delivered a few fine crosses in the middle, notably the one that Scholes scuffed. In his defense, I think Paul gotted mugged on the way up. Nothing malicious, but more than enough to mess up the header.
I can’t help but wonder if Fergie has been a bit hesitant about pursuing a winger because he thinks he might be able to get away with playing either da Silva or Evra on the wings if things get rough. I remember correctly, Evra shifted up to LM when Silly came one. An indication that this thought has at least crossed his mind?
RB has certainly heated up. I’m not sure how Fergie is going to handle the situation. I think the best option is Wesley, especially in light of our offensive concerns. Thankfully Nevs is as Red as they come and he’ll do whatever is asked of him. It will depend on how much Wes has to deputize at CB, but I expect Nevs to get 20 games or so. RDS gets the cup games, early FA matches, against Hull or one of the other whipping boys, and hopefully the last few matches of the season as we will already have the title sealed. Is 10 too much to hope for?
I was a bit upset not to see Fabio get a nod. Silly, really? I think it is important to get the top quality youth from abroad playing a game in Old Trafford. Impress in their minds the magnificence of the club. I know Silly is coming back from an injury, but I think the positive effect it could have had on Fabio is much more important.
Other quick thoughts; Tevez was industrious, Campbell anonymous, Martin needs a ticket to Nottingham and a bus…Is this Giggsy’s last year? Fletcher and O’shea not in positions that amplify their attributes. I can’t understand why some fans give these two so much grief. Role players who love the club and do whatever is asked of them is how trophies are won. Consummate professionals. O’shea in particular. Who wouldn’t love to have a pint with that bloke! Possebon looked good again. Unfortunately his position is one of the few at which we are deep. I just hope he gets a chance to claim his place and doesn’t jet off to Spain or Italy. Who else…I know Evans came on but I hardly noticed. Probably a good thing. Rio and Vids were as expected. Same with Evra and Brown.
Anyone know the particulars regarding the virus that affected Roo and a few of the others?
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Anybody know why Nani didn’t play tonight?. Injury????
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@Craig Mc: yeah, what happened to Nani, there’s no news about any injury on the website, or any other media reports. I’m guessing he was excluded due to his lethargic performance against Peterborough; he was playing like he didn’t want to, but was forced to… if that was the case, we all know Fergie doesn’t stand for bullshit like that, and nani would be in line for the hairdryer!!
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@mufc fan: Umm, don’t tell me you actually believed Fergie said those things??????
@Craig Mc: I think the reason for this is that selling Ronaldo now would have been too sudden and we wouldn’t have found anyone to take his place in time enough for the season, but now that we know he MIGHT be off next year, Fergie can access his options and start preparing a replacement, so when and if he leaves we won’t be left with a gapping hole in his position…
@IBleedRed: Not one of the best, HE was the BEST, and when Fergie becomes school-girl excited over a player, he has obviously seen a lot in him.
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@mufc fan: Umm, don’t tell me you actually believed Fergie said those things??????
@Craig Mc: I think the reason for this is that selling Ronaldo now would have been too sudden and we wouldn’t have found anyone to take his place in time enough for the season, but now that we know he MIGHT be off next year, Fergie can access his options and start preparing a replacement, so when and if he leaves we won’t be left with a gapping hole in his position…
@IBleedRed: Not one of the best, HE was the BEST, and when Fergie becomes school-girl excited over a player, he has obviously seen a lot in him.
@Craig Mc: I hope not, we really don’t need another to add to the list…
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RR…you should provide a “post delete feature” Sorry to everyone for the double post…
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@Rd
No arguments here. I’m just trying not to wind myself up too much over the lad. Has he already earned a song? Does he in fact already have a song that I’m not aware of? I wish Fabio would have had more of an opportunity. Hopefully it makes him hungry.
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Below is the entire Cristiano Ronaldo interview he did with the Portuguese paper. Very interesting and very refreshing. I’m almost ready to forgive him just because of the things he said about Fergie. Have a read;
Sir Alex Ferguson said this week that it was “the end of the matter” and that Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing at Manchester United next season. Is this true?
Yes. My coach was kind enough to come and see me in Lisbon a few days ago, which I think is common knowledge. It was a very honest conversation between two people that respect one other and that I’m sure share a mutual affection and friendship. What we said to each other will remain private. Sir Alex listened to me, I listened to him and we established that the best for both sides would be for me to continue at Old Trafford. So, I can confirm that I’ll be playing for Manchester United next season. And before there are any rumours and speculation about me staying against my will, I want to make one thing clear: whoever says or writes anything to that effect is lying. I’ll be playing at Manchester United with my heart and soul. I will fight and honour the shirt with the same desire and dedication as I always have.
And how do you think the people at Real Madrid will feel hearing you say that you’re staying at Manchester United?
I want to say that I was the one that was responsible for all this controversy. It wasn’t their fault because it was me that said publicly that I wanted to move to Real Madrid. It was also me, although wholly unintentionally, that caused the friction between the two clubs.
Your statements after the Champions League final and during and after the European Championship demonstrated your enormous desire to leave Manchester United and move to Real Madrid. What did you actually want?
I knew that Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had, allegedly, made a very substantial offer to Manchester United. For a while, I wanted Manchester to accept the offer and for me to move to Madrid. If I denied it I would be deceiving everyone, including myself. Anyone who knows me knows that it would have to be something very important for me to admit such a thing. If there’s one thing I’ve never been – nor do I ever want to be – it is ungrateful. Manchester United – from the Glazer family, the directors, namely David Gill, to the coaches, team-mates and backroom staff – is a club that will always be dear to my heart. Whatever happens in the future, that will never change. I’m very aware of what this club has done for me and I’ll be eternally grateful, come what may. But it was because of this, because I knew this club was different and extraordinarily human, that I hoped that my wishes and my reasons would be understood.
And what were the reasons that made you want to leave?
After we’d won the Champions League, I felt that in five years I had helped win everything there was to win. We’d won the Premier League twice and I’d won a host of individual awards, including the best goalscorer in the Premier League, Champions League and in Europe. So I felt that maybe I needed a new challenge. I never hid the fact that I wanted to play in Spain, at Real Madrid in particular, and I thought this could be the right moment. Manchester United and Real are probably the two biggest clubs in the world and it would never be an easy decision to make. Apart from the challenge, everyone realises that Spanish and Portuguese culture and lifestyle are more similar. Those were the reasons that made me consider the change.
Nothing else? The attraction of an even more generous wage that Real Madrid are said to be willing to pay, for example?
I’m aware that, whatever the circumstances, there will always be speculation about me. I knew that there would always be someone who’d say that my main concern was making more money. Others would insist that my vanity couldn’t resist being linked to the biggest transfer fee of all time at the age of 23. Of course I am proud to see my work recognised, but none of this had any major effect on what I wanted. In fact, if it was just a question of money, I would never leave Manchester United. Apart from the reasons I’ve just given, I also have to recognise that my family would welcome the change. The chance of being an hour’s flight from my mother and the rest of my family was very attractive, even more so playing for a club like Real Madrid. I know I have to deal with these circumstances, even though it’s difficult sometimes, but it’s harder to ask the same of the people I love the most. The best proof of what I’ve just said is the fact that I’ve just made a major investment in a house in Manchester, even though I didn’t have to. I did it not just for my own comfort but also for those closest to me. The people at Manchester United, particularly the manager, understood my reasons. But we all eventually concluded that I should continue to wear that No7 United shirt. It’s no sacrifice for me, it’s a great honour. I have important things to win in England. I will give everything I have to Manchester United. I want to defend the European title and help United become world champion, not forgetting the Premier League and other competitions.
Are you afraid of the reception you’ll get from the Manchester United fans?
No, to be honest. It’s possible but I hope it doesn’t happen. I know I’m a good professional, I know that no one’s harder on me than myself and that’s never going to change, under any circumstances. The high point of my career was winning the Champions League. No one will ever erase that from my memory, in the same way that no one will ever erase the fact that I did it in a Manchester United shirt. What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for. People have to understand one thing: at the age of 18 I arrived at a dream club like Manchester United. It was a dream come true. But, even at that moment, I was thinking about playing in England for some years and then going to play in Spain. Even at that time I was thinking that way, and I always gave 100% everything. Why lie? I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say the opposite of what I think, like some others do. I said exactly what I thought: I have a dream of playing at Real and I thought it was time to move on. People can’t be upset about me fulfilling a childhood dream.
But would it be fair for Manchester United to lose you while you are still under contract?
I’m very aware of what this club has done for me. I’ll be forever grateful. Manchester United and its fans can be sure that I’ll never forget them, no matter what happens. They’re special and they’ll always have a place here [puts hand on heart]. In fact, I confess that one of the reasons I had the courage to say what I did was the fact that Manchester United would be fairly compensated. The figure mentioned, which would be a world record, would serve as some compensation for the debt of gratitude that I owe the club, as least in material terms. I’m going to say something here that I’ve never told anybody: if we hadn’t been European champions I probably wouldn’t have even thought about going to Madrid. And there is something else that should be mentioned: I never wanted to leave against United’s will. When they turned down the offer, the people at United made it very clear how much they wanted me. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but now I can really appreciate it.
But you agreed with Sepp Blatter when the president of Fifa said that long-term contracts between players and clubs were a form of “modern slavery”?
That makes no sense, nor do I believe that’s what he meant, as he himself has already stated. My comment was about something else. I was saying that players should be where they feel happy. Nothing more. Sir Alex Ferguson was always intransigent and denied any possibility of a transfer … Believe me, it makes me proud to know how much he thinks of me. And he knows I feel exactly the same way about him. He has been one of the most important people in my playing career. Not only because of what I’ve learnt and continue to learn from him in sporting terms but also in human ones as well. I love the passion he has for football. If it were humanly possible I would like to have him always by my side. Of course it’s not possible but it shows how much affection, admiration and respect I have for him. He has always been like a second father to me at Manchester United. I’ll never forget that it was him that explained the significance of the No7 United shirt, which will always be my shirt. When I was at Sporting I had a number of offers, some of them very lucrative. One of them offered eight million Euros just as a signing on fee and meant that I would play for Sporting for one more year and then leave as a free agent. But money isn’t everything. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, Milan, Juventus, Valencia and practically all the big clubs were also interested. At the time, Jorge Mendes explained that Manchester United also wanted me and that Sir Alex Ferguson had told him that he would be very careful with my playing career. So I would play at least 50% of the games in the first season, which is what happened. This shows that I also chose Manchester United and that money wasn’t the deciding factor. Alongside my agent [Mendes], Sir Alex Ferguson has been the most important person I’ve ever known in my career. Because of this, because of the special relationship that exists between us, I know that he’ll understand that there are times when a father has to worry only about what’s best for his child.
The Spanish press continues to say that your future is at Real Madrid
There’s no point in making predictions. It’s not worth speculating because nothing is set in stone and things change all the time in football. Today there are opportunities that no one knows if they will come round again in the future. There are only two certainties: I’ll be playing at Manchester United, a club I’m proud to represent; Real Madrid will continue to be a great club without me and I will continue to admire the Spanish club, as I have done since I was a boy. I’m saying what I think and I hope that all the speculation will stop. The press has written some terrible things about me and about this whole thing. They’ve invented a thousand and one things and that’s one of the reasons why I decided to talk about this now. And people can be sure of one thing: everything I’ve said comes from the bottom of my heart and is the only truth.
Which means you don’t exclude the possibility the dream of playing for Madrid?
I’m 100% professional and I’ve always given my heart and soul to this club. I even played a major part of the season injured, which was verified by my operation. I played in excruciating pain while taking anti-inflammatory medication every day. And I’d do it again if necessary. This club deserves it because the United staff and the fans are fantastic, not forgetting the affection and respect I have for Sir Alex Ferguson. If one day I leave the club, I want to do it knowing that I did everything I could to help the club win as much as possible. If that happens, I’ll leave with the feeling of having done my duty to the maximum.
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From the look of him in pre-season, Giggs will get his 11th Premier League title and say thank you and goodnight.
Giggsy’s decision making has to be top notch to make up for his loss of pace, and from watching every pre-season match there has only been one time where he hasn’t hesitated his move, and it lead to Campbell’s goal against Espanyol.
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@Craig Mc: Have a look at the whole interview that I just posted. That’s not United placing words in his mouth. Nobody has been more down on him than I have and yet, I buy what he is saying because he is being honest and still he is somewhat conflicted. He’s like my ex, while going to school in LA she met somebody she fell for but she still loved me. In life you can’t often have both but in his case he admits to his love for Madrid but he also admits his love and gratitude to United and especially Fergie. I really believe his words are from the heart now that I have read the full interview. Also, the fact that it was in Portuguese should signify that it wasn’t staged. Lets put it this way, I’m not fickle and I am not one to easily forgive but for a guy who was dead to me, I have revived him and put him on life support. We’ll see if he forces me to pull the plug on his life support.
What he has done today is basically beg us all for another chance. Earlier today I discussed the fact that we should all have some perspective and realize that football isn’t on the same level of importance with the really difficult things in life and the horrors that happen every minute around the planet. To literally want to lynch a player for wanting to change teams is wrong even if he was wrong in the manner in which he went about it. He acknowledged that mistake and took responsibility for those errors in judgment. Now we all need to give him that chance but to quote the Dean in the movie Animal House, he is being placed on Double Secret Probation. One screw up and I pull the plug on the life support. I’m even willing to grant him my blessing for him to leave for Madrid in two seasons from now when Fergie also retires. I would think that would be a fair compromise and a historically romantic finale. If you want to still hold a grudge against him, I can’t blame you. He did shit all over us and it is still hard to think about it. But if everything is OK with Fergie and Ronaldo is OK with United, then who am I to rain on the parade. Commence au festival!
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@Red Diablo: CraigMC is one of our longest and finest members. He’s just been on hiatus for a while taking in the rays I suppose.
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@Craig Mc: sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, but since you asked, heres my take on the Ronaldo situation.
I share a lot of your sentiments towards Ronaldo and although I definately like what he brings to our team as a player part of me is uneasy about him staying after he so blatantly tried to engineer a move to Madrid, stealing our happiness in the process.
And although some of the statements in his latest interview still display a leaning towards Real, at least he appears to have been honest in recognizing the role he played in the whole situation which as Grognard stated earlier was more than I was expecting.
As regards to him possibly agreeing with SAF about staying for one more season then leaving next summer, lets wait and see, coz no matter what the fans may feel about him staying, SAF clearly wants him to stay so there comes a point when the supporters must trust the gaffer and get behind the team for the rest of the squads sake, coz if the fans do give him a hard time over a long period, it will eventually start to affect the team so we as fans must do whats best for the team also, and that means getting behind the team no matter who is playing.
He deserves to get an earbashing from the fans, but if he is true to his word and gives 100 percent to the cause, then we should probably give him a bye ball this time although I dont think his song will be sung as loudly next season as it was last season.
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@Liam: Unfortunately Fabio is stuck behind Evra who is young and a world class defender. I don’t know but if Fabio really starts to impress also, we may be willing to sell Evra in a year or two to make room for him. Certainly Raphael has got the RB spot nailed down for next year at the latest.
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@Mean Lean: The reason for wanting a striker like Berbatov or Huntelaar is that it gives the team an added dimension especially when teams place ten men behind the ball. Someone with aerial presence and total comfort in the 18 yard box is vital. Both Rooney and Tevez like to roam around and they spend very little time in the prime goal scoring areas of the pitch. We need that option of a striker who can hold the ball up and who can enter the box and become an instant target for crosses and passes. Both Rooney and Tevez like to carry the ball and work intricate little give and goes. That doesn’t work well against teams who defend all out. So Berbatov and especially Huntelaar would give us more options and give defenders more problems to think about. Hope that answers your question sufficiently.
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@Grognard: Wow, I knew ronaldo had a heart!! People tried to make him look like a cold-blooded mercenary, when he is actually a very passionate guy. This shows in the way he plays and his desire to succeed; now I know why he always throws a hissy fit when he’s fouled or doesn’t get the ball!!
I’m actually beginning to feel sorry for him, and see why Fergie was so calm about the whole situation. I totally blame Calderon for all the rubbish that we have witnessed this summer, if he just kept his mouth shut when we refused R madrid’s offer instead of blabbing to everyone within earshot his desire to snare Ronaldo, the poor boy’s name would not have been dragged through the mud by the media.
I for one would be cheering for Ronnie nxt season and hope we can win the ‘Septuple’ this year and send him off on a high; at least that’s what he deserves after for his immense contribution to the club these past few years…
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@Craig Mc: We are in agreement. We definitely need a striker, Hell, we need two strikers (one world class) and we could use a winger or two or at least one who can play both sides. We seem awfully content and pleased with our friendly today considering we had two good scoring chances all game. I honestly think we are in a world of hurt offensively but the good news is that eventually everyone will return from injury and I am convinced that we will get Berbatov or some striker before the window closes. For such a pessimistic and gloomy guy I honestly feel confident about that. Now if we don’t, we can whine and cry on this blog and we’ll do it in stereo.
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@Gabriel: Fergie said Nani was suffering from a slight calf strain and he didn’t want to risk him today. He said he expects him to be fit for Sunday.
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@Gabriel: no doubt about it, Ronaldo definatley showed a more thoughtful and deeper side to him in the interview, if he had just spoken like this earlier in the summer it would have went a long way towards the fans maybe understanding the emotional struggle he must have been going through, but unfortunatley his silence made him appear ungrateful and selfish but after reading the full interview, I agree with Grognard in that it appears to be a genuine and honest interview that just might win the fans round.
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@Gabriel: His interview was a revelation because he was honest in his guilt and complicity in this mess. He took the responsibility and he took it like a man. I respect that. It also surprised the heck out of me. I am also very pleased over his beautiful words towards the team but especially Fergie. Why? Because what he said was almost word for word what I said that he should be saying about a month ago. He actually literally repeated my words to a tee. That showed me that he has more character than I expected. I do however think he is still protecting Real Madrid’s role in all this. I think that is to be expected because he obviously will end up there one day not to long from now. But for now he is with us and he appears to be happy and content to be. And proud too. Who would have thunk it?
I’m curious what Red Ranter thinks of Ronaldo’s interview? He was one of those that was very upset over his antics too. Curious minds want to know??????
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@Grognard: @Fred The Red: So will y’all be cheering for Ronaldo this season?
I will 
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Good old Ronny, never doubted him for a minute
: 
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Craig Mc, mate we do not know for sure that some sort of an agreement has been reached between United and Madrid until next summer. So why should we speculate and boo someone of our own unnecessarily even before giving him a chance to show his commitment by playing well. I, of course understand your concerns, I have them too, but don’t you think that speculation here is unnecessary to the team spirit of United. Imagine the players thinking the same way, that he would leave us next season, that will only unsettle the team. Let me know if you contradict what I’ve said here…
Raphael has to improve his positioning but I believe he can be tested against weaker opposition to give him the feel of the league. He has not played for a year so he needs a little time in the middle. So probably for a month or so he can be playing in the reserves to make him more aware of his position and to make him fit and strong for the league.
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@Grognard: The sweetest part about this whole conclusion is the chance to throw it back in our rivals faces. All those ManUtd haters spewing venom against us and Fergie – levy the liar, Caldemoron, marca, septic blabbermouth, scousers, the english media -, they can stick it!!!
I still expect the media to somehow twist this heartfelt explanation/apology into something evil
and our opposing fans to boo him, but I trust Ronnie; if there’s one thing he knows how to do, he can take all the boos and venom spat at him by the fans/media and channel it into stellar performances on the pitch (just like after the world cup)!! The boy is gonna be a man on a mission when he recovers from his operation, and just in time for the christmas/new yr match swamp!! 
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I think Ronaldo came across pretty well, and I’m glad he came out and said something. Personally I’ve sort of got where he’s coming from the whole time. I think he’s an idiot to want to leave a a club that just won the Double, but I don’t think most people outside mainland Europe get the whole “Real Madrid” thing.
They’re a legend in the way even Liverpool and United aren’t, and I think that playing there is seen as validating your status as one of the best in the world. It’s all bullshit, but hey, a kid can have a dream. And as has been said, it’s simple to work in one place quite happily but harbour an ambition to play somewhere else. Ronaldo loves to win, it doesn’t matter if he’s playing for the club or his mates or himself as long as he plays well.
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Predictions:
1) Dimitar Berbatov will sign for Barcelona. After watching Barcelona in pre-season it seems to me he suits their slow patient build-up play perfectly while TH14 seems like a duck out of water…and Pep is interested….as much as I would like to see him play for United a part of me think he might not fit in well to our system…and the Spurs-United dealing seems a bit damaged at this point…
2) Sam Eto’o to Spurs (if Arshavin doesn’t get signed) or to United. Eto’o is a man on a mission… granted they were playing an MLS side, he is looking quite sharp…I think he would fit us perfectly with his mobile play and clinical finishing…apparently he is mates with Rio…I think he would be great for us.
Yes we are not firing (literally) in front of goal…Ronny saved us tons of times last term and it is apparent now that he is out…
My Ronny rant for the day … I can appreciate his interview and am ready to welcome him back …as much as it wounds the ego to think United is not his “dream” club I appreciate his professionalism and was never ready to trhow him under the bus…the problem with us as fans is that we are so susceptible to all the press statements…the man has spoken..lets take him at his word..to me his words seem sincere and I look forward to watching his magic for one more season.
Still waiting to ctach a whiff of these twins..missed today’s match…
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Follow follow follow.. United went to Moscow, there were thousands of reds who got pissed out of their heads, cozzz, united conquered Moscow!!
If you’re ready for Juve then you’re ready for Newcastle. Carrick should be back for the Barcodes tie, if not we can use Possebon in midfield. No point in putting out world class midfield kids if you aint gona use them at injury times init…
upfront, manucho and frazer campell could play ther first match together.. and
THE DONG AS A SUBSTITUTE!!!
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@Gabriel: I’ll be cheering for United. The jury is still out on Ronaldo. He has some mending to still do to those bridges he burned.
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@Grognard: grog
you have been such a great admirer of Huntelaar for so long. But one thing that has been amazing me for some time now is how none of the big clubs have gone for him!!! Utd need a top ‘Klass’ striker but we arent going for him (unless it is something entirely behind the scenes). AC Milan need one for sure but they are also not in the queue. Barca need one (despite having Henry) but they are also after the likes of Adebayor or Drogba or Berbatov! Neither are teams like Arsenal or even Liverpool (who splashed 20m on 28 year old Keane instead of greatest goal scorer on earth a.k.a. Hunter!) This is really bewildering!!! Ajax had even contemplated life after him and signed Sulemani as a replacement! Still nobody is coming for him! maybe the top coaches in the world (even his own coach Van Basten included) dont really rate him so much!
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Krishnan, I have never been one of those who advocated boo-ing Ronnie. I have never Boo-ed a player wearing a Man United shirt, no matter how much they irritated me. I agreed with those who said they would never sing his songs on the terraces again. Many of them might be having a re-think about that now after his heartfelt interview.
Fred the Red, I hear you mate. I agree that the team would be affected as well, if Ronnie gets aggro from the terraces, but I still feel he should not be the sole one getting all the accolades, chants and songs, as he did last season to the detriment of all the players, who were also giving their all for the club.
Grog, who would have believed it mate LOL, you have a soft centre!. Then again, I know you respect outright honesty, and passion, so not surprised that Ronnie’s plea has moved you back over to his side again. Well until he does something else to piss you off that is – haha. I think the majority of you are beginning to win me round a little. I agree with those who said though, that he should have made these things known from the beginning. If he had presented this struggle of his then, in the same words and modest way, there would have been none of the shite we have all been through all season. Like he said TRULY in the interview, he was naive to the utmost in the way he dealt or failed to deal with things. Ronnie says he hopes he won’t have to face a hostile OT crowd, that his explanation and apology will be accepted. It probably will, and what he said will go a long way to appease those of us who were pissed to the max with him robbing us of remembering our great double. We have plenty time throughout the season to do that though. I will put my doubts about a deal being done for the end of next season, because like Fergie, most of you guys want to put this thing FINALLY to bed, AND MOVE ON.
Sweet United, Oh Oh Oh, good times never seemed so good,
We’re feeling fine, Oh Oh Oh, just like Fergie said we would Oh Oh Oh.
I sing this all day to the tune of sweet caroline – Good ole Neil Diamond!.
Haven’t changed my mind about ALL footballers having Honours degrees in BULLSHITTING though!.
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@Craig Mc: I am sixteen mate! And its my holidays! So umm! Yeah you get the idea! Also I had to stay up to watch the Juve match! That ended at three AM over here!
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http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1337984
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@Grognard: Where did you find the English version of the interview?
I can say now that I’m happy to have trusted in the good of Ronaldo. As he clearly shows, he’s a good boy that was unwillingly thrown into this turmoil. Yes, I say unwillingly. It was never his intention to create such a fuss about his person. He was unwilling and naive.
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Man was I slow there, Red Diablo
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@Tomas: In my view you are being naive mate.
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@Stephen: In my view, you are being overly cynical mate.
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@Tomas: You said mate and I am not being awkward mate.
“It was never his intention to create such a fuss about his person”
He created the fuss, saying he likes playing in white ect. he could have stated he wanted to stay months ago, you need to understand he is only staying because he has to.
Saying he is a “good boy”, I am sure but he is, but not loyal to United, only to himself and fair enough that is up to him but he has a lot of bridges to mend, I wll never cheer him, he has let too many people down.
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@Stephen: I think, you have come to believe too much of what you read from gossip bs papers. He explains himself in this interview, and I’ll hold more truth to that, than I ever will to some unsupported story fabricated by papers and journalists under pressure to deliver stories.
What I wrote was that I don’t believe it was his intention to create the fuss, but that he created it because he was too naive about what journalists these days are capable of.
And he couldn’t have stated months ago that he wanted to stay, because at that time he hoped, Manchester United would sell him to Real – he says this quite clearly. He also says that he’d never go against the will of our club, and even though that may only be a half truth, I genuinely believe he loves our club and has no problem staying here. That’s what you need to understand.
And imo his interview shows that he’s loyal, at least to SAF.
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@Tomas:, He will not go agianst the will of the club because of loyalty payments.
So he is not loyal to United but to Fergie no mate Fergie won’t sell him and he knows that, not sort of player I want at my club.
He also mate loves the attention, if you can’t see that then good for you and an our opinions differ, but it is obvious mate that he does.
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@Tomas: Slow where???
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@Red Diablo: I just asked Grognard for the English version of the interview 20 mins after you posted it
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@Tomas: HEHE! Oh OK! Glad to be of help! Anyway! On manutd.com, Fergie has now admitted that we are SO short upfront! But he has said that we will cope!
Reverse tactics against spurs?????
I wonder!
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@Stephen: Of course he loves the attention, I never said, he didn’t. But him loving attention is no argument for him only staying because of loyalty payments and out of loyalty to SAF.
Ronaldo is exactly the sort of player, I want at my club, because he wins us trophies. I couldn’t care less if he was in it for the money and attention, because money and attention have become a great part of the sport, and we as fans need to understand and accept this. If we don’t, then all we can do is speculate about the bad in the players. The days of true loyalty from players are coming to an end, and if we don’t keep up, we’ll end up frustrated with them, for which there’s really no reason.
Having said that, I stille believe he’s here, because he loves the club. He may not be here for the remainder of his career, and I’m fine with that. I accept his wishes to move on at some point but refuse to think of him as anything but a good boy. He saw an opportunity to make a dream come true, and he tried to grap it – I respect him for that. I’m just sad that my club isn’t the club of his dreams, but I accept that it isn’t. He wouldn’t change to any other club than Real Madrid, and that’s very important to me, because it shows me, he loves MU – he just fancies Real Madrid more. Too bad for us, so I just want to enjoy the years we have him and not get soaked in the “I-hate-Ronaldo-because-he’s-not-loyal” mud.
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