Aug 27
Some Words on Vidic + Fabio’s Cracker + Berbayawn
Sometimes honesty can be misplaced and ill-advised. Most of what Vidic said was true. Perhaps he could have been less honest about some of the stuff he said. Or perhaps, should we applaud him for his honesty?
Who knows, really! But what irks me is the tone adopted on some of the broad sheets.
Let’s consider this from the Telegraph with the headline: ‘I will not stay with United, says Vidic’ Here are the quotes:
“I will never stay to live in England, that’s for sure. You get only a brief glimpse of sunlight before it’s all cloudy again. The winters are mild, but in summer the temperatures seldom go higher than 20C. And it rains, rains, rains.
In future, I would like to test myself in another top league. I’m thinking of Spain. At least there will be no reason to complain about the weather. In England, they say that Manchester is the city of rain. Its main attraction is considered to be the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities. It’s not only the weather that I’m not happy about here. In Russia and Serbia the people’s way of life is similar. In England it’s totally different. Here they just don’t have time to feel the joy of life. Throughout the week they all work so hard. They only talk to people at lunch break. Then in the evening they come home and watch the telly, so they can get up early for work the next day. The only time to meet friends is at weekends, but for football players it’s the busiest time of all. It was much easier for me to adapt to Russia than England. In England I had no one to talk to. The first month was especially hard. I lived alone in a hotel, which I left only for training. I thought I would go crazy inside those four walls.”
Right, so the Serbs now think the English weather to be unbearable. What tomorrow? Fish finding it difficult to breathe in water? A baby finding it difficult to cry? Robots finding it difficult to add two and two?
But that said, it is perfectly understandable for overseas players to find the British weather inhospitable. But him publicly speaking about his desire to play in Spain seems a little daft, considering the pain our club was put through during the summer. It’s not that he shouldn’t be honest about what he’d like. But the timing seems poor. Our next investment, it would seem, would be to buy one PR bloke for each player.
But it must be a lonely life for a footballer these days eh? They have to go for training daily, then come back home tired and work on weekends playing those games when the whole world is watching. All they have would be a few days in an Olympic sized pool with a host of women ready to plunge themselves onto their fairly adequate bodies. And perhaps, for the speed crazed ones, a Bentley to let them while the time and get by with life.
Add to that the dreary weather of Manchester, it must surely be hellish life for a footballer, no?
Meanwhile, a young Brazilian — who should be alerting the scouts of Real Madrid so that they can come circling when he becomes a star — was in the news yesterday as he scored a cracker of a goal against Chelsea reserves. United reserves sealed a come from behind 2-2 draw, thus maintaining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s unbeaten streak. Man United youth have a good match report, as always. But if you are interested in the goal, then sit back and watch below: (RSS feed readers, click through to watch the video)
And finally, the Berbatov saga rumbles on as I yawn my Berbayawns. Tottenham have apparently agreed to sign Roman Pavlyuchenko with only paperwork needed. It’s not sure if he’s a replacement for Keane or Berbatov. But either way, he would be better than Darren Bent, surely?
Daniel Levy seems to like dicking around. So we’ll have to continue to wait. Or perhaps, yawn?
Related items from Red Rants:
- Manchester United start title defence with Birmingham, Burnley, Arsenal and Tottenham
- United related links
- Hargreaves Agrees Terms… and Signs
- Arsenal vs Man Utd: Preview
- On Premier League’s new media rules
Tags: Daily Roundup
August 27th, 2008 at 10:16
God I hate Jason Cundy, fucking rent boy, sorry irrelevant rant!
Great goal though looks a top player.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:23
Thats only a statement. Its just that i am sorry 4 evans. I wonder how he will break through to the first team with Ferdinand our captain and Vidic our best defender.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:28
vida’s comment certainly came at the wrong time..of all the people, i’m surprised that it was him..anyway, the new blue kit will be out on thursday
August 27th, 2008 at 11:25
Don’t hold what Vidic said against him. They might not be the nicest words to say about the team that got him out of the glaciers and they might not have come at the best time. On the onther hand, he was honest and he did not really give anybody any cause for alarm.
Most people find Manchester rainy and most defenders would like to retire in the slower Italian and Spanish leagues. Vidic wouldn’t have much fun doing what he is doing now when he will be 33…
August 27th, 2008 at 11:32
@Stephen: why what’s Cunt-y been spouting now? are Chelsea still the best team on the globe, nay the universe? or has 2-game Deco already got his number 20 shirt lined up for retirement? the guy’s an idiot & i refuse to pay him & numerous other ‘pundits’ attention.
when i have the “pleasure” of watching UNITED play on the television these days i turn on @ Kick-Off, turn over @ Half-Time, turn back just in time for the Second-Half & turn off @ Full-Time. whilst also having the sound off.
listening to punditery has become more & more tedious the more i age, it was always stupidity but now as i get older my tolerance gets smaller. TalkSport has become a southern biased station with all their former pro’s having strong ties to A.B.U.; Sky has employed the son of Satan, Jamie ‘i can’t see past my cousin & fathers arses’ Redknapp & Paul ’surely he’s still on the Apple Cider’ Merson whilst i can no longer listen to radio call ins or watch You’re On Sky Sports as it seems the contributing viewers seem to have the IQs of toads. i can’t even watch Sky Sports News for fear of a Cunt-y segment.
sorry to go off track but the name Cundy gets my blood boiling. he’s a “Chelsea legend” (whatever one of thos is) with a trophy cabinet smaller than my pants draw. i’m not enjoying the season much so far & haven’t enjoyed pre-season because it’s a reason for the likes of cunt-y to pass their hopes off as punditry.
re: Vida
i’d be annoyed to see him leave because he’s a valuable part of the best back 5 in Europe & a valuable part of Europe’s best partnership but (i don’t know about anyone else) but i have an absolute panic-up whenever he attempts to do more than head or put his foot through a football.
people talk about how good he has made Rio but i’d argue he shines because of Rio, i’ve believed for a long time that Vidic’s stock has been raised by the fact there are alot of people out there that refuse to credit/praise Rio.
he’s a top defender & i’d be sad to see him leave but he (just as a certain other player did this summer) seems to be getting above his station with these comments.
although since the Fergie-Berba, he-said-she-said i refuse to pay any attention to quotes unless i see it come directly from a persons mouth.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:38
@Andrei: i agree andrei, sure his timing is crap and he prob should have kept that to himself. but he gives no indication as to when he would leave. and its more likely he would head off to the sun when he was way past his best anyway. another 5-7 years outta him and everyone wins!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:14
@flu3: Superb rant on “punditry” – I agree with every word. Although I still have a bizarre liking for Andy Gray…
Disagree about Rio and Vida. They each complement the other perfectly, and neither would be as good without the other. Rio needs a physical, dominant-in-the-air type to allow him to focus on the more skilful players, whilst Vida can be shown up by a quick, tricky player running at him.
Think of it this way – Vida bosses Drogba, Rio owns Torres. It doesn’t work the other way round.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:20
I don’t have a problem with Vidic not liking the weather,the lifestyle,etc. in Manchester but what really irks me is his naivety to be so thoroughly outspoken and get himself under undue scrutiny from the press…I can almost guarantee it that this time next year he’ll be linked to Madrid/Barca on a regular basis.
This is the second time Fabio’s scored a cracking long range goal would love to see him get an extended role in the carling cup this season.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:25
@Penguin: trust me i fully understand Vida’s worth to the team, i just feel Rio will never/has never gotten the praise he truly deserves.
i like Vida but as in said, unless he puts his foot through the ball i still have palpitations.
i actually meant to go onto to talk about how Vida compliments Rio etc. but the post was so long i curtailed it.
the smooth & the rough of the partnerships comes together to make silk (if that’s even possible or plausible). what i mean is they work great together & have a great understanding.
my problem with losing Vida (which i’m not worried about & see his compliments as only a way to try & displace the harmony in UNITED) would be less to do with his abilities (though i rate him very highly) & more so with the fact he & Rio seem so in tune.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:57
To be honest I just don’t care anymore about all these bullshit football players say, because after the great season we have had and the antics not just from ronaldo but other players my passion about man utd and football in general has declined considerably. When we hear players like ronaldo saying he is a slave and vidic saying he does not enjoy life it makes you wonder what the point in following the game that does not give a damn about you. I am sick and tired ofsome of these united players using their success of last season as almost a step in stone to go to another club and these footballers in general moaning about their lives, I am sick of these owners who almost buy football clubs for free and expect us fans to pay for something they did not even buy, and then when they sell they make a fortune and expect us fans to pick up the pieces why they become even richer the game stinks no longer the beautiful game but the me game.
August 27th, 2008 at 13:06
Humm I’ve heard Vidic complain about the weather before, so I am hoping this is just bad journalism extrapolating and assuming Vidic wants to leave Manchester for sunnier climates.
Really though this summer I’ve been talking about emigrating the weather has been so bad. I think Vidic is just learning the English hobby of complaining about the weather.
We’ve definitely benefited from the stability. It is our first settled centre back partnership since Bruce Pallister.
That is a good thing but it means we cannot really blood any replacements. Pique has already left for Spain and I doubt an ambitious player like Evans will stick around forever.
August 27th, 2008 at 13:11
Well, well, well, the deceitful, word-twisting, hysteria creating media have been shown up once again!. Seriously, will papers continually take quotes out of context just to sell? What creditability is left in Journalism? Either the journalists are noticeably biased in their articles, or they just purposefully misinterprete quotes, in the process wrongfully swaying a population of neutrals!!
I mean, people already started saying Vida wanted to leave United? It’s getting crazy, first Sir Alex’s proposed comments, now this!. I don’t even know which site/paper to read anymore as it seems they are all doing the same at the mo… pathetic!.
August 27th, 2008 at 13:23
guesse thats what happens when your euro champions/ league champions. it has always been the british mentality to try and destroy any kind of success. I find it interesting though that the papers have run with this story… is it because they can see there readership is already bored of the Berbatov saga and that they realise that United fans are pretty indifferent to the prospect of him pulling on the red shirt if he does come? Personally I dont think anything is happening with that transfer and that it wont happen.
btw cant wait to see the Fbaio goal when I get home. why has MUTV decided not to show the youth and reserve games live like in past seasons? could this be at the request of Ole?
August 27th, 2008 at 13:33
@sig: The media really get on my nerves. I would have no qualms with it if it were not intentionally done to stir up hysteria and negativity. Also the fact that they have a responsibility not to deceitfully sway Neutrals. If they were using facts to sway people’s impressions, then fair play, but when it is lies and misdirection, then it’s just irresponsible. Champions or no Champions, no team deserves to be demeaned and dragged through the mud like so.
August 27th, 2008 at 13:57
Nemanja told ManUtd.com: “I’d like to clarify that I did not make these particular remarks. I spoke about the difficulty I had settling in to life in Manchester, but that does not reflect how I feel now.
“I enjoy my life very much as a footballer at Manchester United and I’m very happy to be a part of this great club. I think I show that in the way I play every week. I also have far too much respect for the people of Manchester, and England, to criticise them in this way.”
August 27th, 2008 at 13:58
@flu3: Spot on mate every word!!
August 27th, 2008 at 14:03
No need to get alarmed about Vidic everyone. He has denied all these quotes attributed to him.
I’m not sure where the interview is but I found the info on the BBC sport website:
“The Serbian told the club website: “I did not make these particular remarks. I enjoy my football here very much, am happy to be here, and have far too much respect for the people of Manchester, and England, to criticise them in this way.” (www.manutd.com 1312)”
August 27th, 2008 at 14:04
sorry never saw colvers post, was still typing
August 27th, 2008 at 14:22
Yea as Colver has said, Vidic has said those comments are taken out of context and misquoted. I think he loves life at the moment and is loving playing at the best club in the world. I hope he can stay for another 3-4 years at the very least. Vidic is one of my favorites and losing him would be tough to bear.
August 27th, 2008 at 15:32
@Kevin:
Yeah one of my favorites to he is a class act in the middle of the defense with Rio. Has definately got Man Utd legendary potential.
The article really threw me earlier just because I couldn’t believe Vidic of all people would come out with a statement like that.
Thankfully it was just another liberal dose of sensational venomous misquoted bile spewed out by the filth that is the British media on a daily basis.
More annoyed with myself that I didn’t take my usual pinch of salt when I read it.
August 27th, 2008 at 15:48
Apparently Pavlyuchenko is heading for Spurs. I think he is a smashihg player and I wouldn’ have minded if we had bought him instead of Berba. Anyone wants to bet that we will be buying him in two years time for double the price Spurs is paying today?
August 27th, 2008 at 15:50
As per usual, a footballer has been misquoted. Vidic had complained about the weather and that he had a hard time settling in when he first joined the club, i.e. not now. Stop reading the gutter press ( I mean every single newspaper on sale in Britain) and you’ll have a much better time as a fan. Berbatov/Ronaldo transfer rumours dragging on ? Not if you don’t read the papers. The “sagas” were/are mostly paper talk.
August 27th, 2008 at 15:57
My entries getting auto deleted here
?????
August 27th, 2008 at 16:15
@frankie: Don’t count on it. Maybe modric though, when fergie accepts that carrick and fletcher are shit.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:24
@tevez: you are joking right?
August 27th, 2008 at 16:25
@ Tevez – Don’t want to get into it now, but my lordie. Carrick, you may have noticed, has just won 2 PLs on the trot and the CL, starting more games than any other United midfielder. Either you argue that United win in spite of the man in the middle playing the most matches or at least partly because of him. Eeesh.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:29
@Paul: Unfortunately the quotes were attributed to him and even the Telegraph reported it that way. Shame.
We can do little if there were actual quotes attributed to him, although I must say, at the back of my mind, it sounded a bit strange for Vidic to say those things.
Good that he clarified.
*adds Telegraph to my personal blacklist.*
August 27th, 2008 at 16:34
@tevez: you’re kidding right?? To label carrick shit is an insult to the guy..he was our best midfielder last season and has performed consistently for the last 2 years. You’re deluding by still trying to convince carrick isn’t United material because he is.
Most people in the beginning of his United career he passed way too much backwards or sideways but now he is the ideal playmaker in the squad and i think the fact he got more game time than anyone else in mid field is testament to the fact.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:38
you’re kidding right?? To label carrick shit is an insult to the guy..he was our best midfielder last season and has performed consistently for the last 2 years. You’re deluding yourself by still trying to convince everyone carrick isn’t United material because he is.
Most people agree in the beginning of his United career he passed way too much backwards or sideways but now he is the ideal playmaker in the squad and i think the fact he got more game time than anyone else in mid field is testament to the fact.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:44
I thought Carrick bashers were extinct?
If the importance and contribution of Carrick to our team play is not evident, then i’m lost for words. He has been the most consistent CMF for us since his arrival. He is involved heavily in all our link up/attacking play and does a better job in DMF than O’shea (sorry John 
).
Seriously, we are feeling the absence of our primary playmaker. I reckon if Carrick was on the pitch for our three matches this season, we would have won all by nothing less than 2-0. Consider the first 30mins of the Newcastle match and then look at the rest of the game.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:44
@tevez:
Bit of a harsh one there mate. Carrick has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of seasons for us and Fletcher although not one of the most gifted players is an excellent squad man and has consistently been doing the business for us when called upon. We would be right in the shit early doors had it not been for his 2 goals so far.
August 27th, 2008 at 16:44
tevez
you are talking rubbish, what is it with people like you that you have to run around the pitch like a mad man and tackle hard, or be like mascherano who’s only real strength is tackling hard stands in front of the back four and passes it square, or lampard who scores goals but does very little else. Carrick offers composure crisp passing and keeps the ball moving all the things a continental midfielder offers. Carrick may not score 12 goals a season or runs around the pitch tackling hard like the overrated mascherano but he is teqnically one of the most gifted and talented midfielders around.
August 27th, 2008 at 17:11
I can see some peoples fustrations with Carrick, he needs to be more aggresive, but in Europe he is so important as get keeps possession. He is our Pirlo and needs a tackler playing with him. He will be vital when Scholes hangs his boots up and you can tell he loves playing for us.
And I will never forget his penalty God bless him!!!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 17:28
I think Carrick is one of the first names on the teamsheet these days. Just look at how the performance level took a nose dive once he came off against Newcastle, although the score was level at the time I think its safe to say we were dominating them at that point. And I think his defensive cover work has improved dramatically and is a part of his game that doesnt get enough credit. He might not be a Gattusso type, but he is great at intercepting passes and breaking up play. I think this season he could add a few more goals to his game also.
August 27th, 2008 at 17:37
Im with tevez on this one. Whilst not being so extreme as to call them ’shit’, I must iterate my feelings and views. Im not a great fan of Carrick. He is a non-entity in far too many games. Lets face it guys. 50% of the games he just doesn’t show up. I rate Anderson,Hargreaves,Scholes all higher up the pecking order than him. If you agree or oppose my views please do post your taughts in a hospitable manner…PS: Whilst not being eloquent as most of you are, since im still a minor(16), I hope to have got my views across in an understandable manner.
August 27th, 2008 at 17:47
@Ishaq(South Africa): To be a succesful side you need various components make that. Carrick is a spoke in a wheel which make it all go round. His passing range short and long are fantastic and he calms things doen in midfield, he also intercepts the ball well.
He is not Hargo, Scholes or Anderson he is a different player to them, and thats why we are double winners.
August 27th, 2008 at 17:54
But you hav to agree that his ability to pass does not justify the fact that he does not show up for half the games.One tends to forget his on the field. Perhaps its just me
August 27th, 2008 at 18:00
@Ishaq(South Africa): I go to a lot of games and what you don’t see is the movement and space that players create. He also has, with regard to quick passing, the ball more than any other player, which in football today is very important. He was no doubt expensive, but a good player and a important part of the team.
August 27th, 2008 at 18:33
Rooney is SHIT with a capital S. He only scores offside goals.
August 27th, 2008 at 18:44
Carrick=better value than Berbatov but hey he’s old news. Let’s sign Pirlo, Mascherano and Essien because quite simply we have no quality CMs
if not I’ll have to start this argument again
@Craig Mc: I’ll assume to you are joking
August 27th, 2008 at 18:45
@Craig Mc: Now I believe ur smokin something or maybe just trying to create a stir
August 27th, 2008 at 18:49
@Liam: lol, I don’t know if people want to recycle the players at our club every two years or what? The greatest players have been the ones who have stayed and developed with one or two clubs; Kaka, C Ronaldo, Maldini etc This is not FIFA or Football manager where you buy and sell players every season!!
August 27th, 2008 at 18:54
Liam, Gabriel, you know it, I know it. Rooney is not smokin that’s for sure. Oh wait a minute, he does smoke doesn’t he?. Ole Puff Daddy Wayne. By the way, one thing I would never go near, and I mean NEVER, is drugs of any type. DOn’t smoke, never have, dont ever do drugs, not even tempted ever – drugs are a mugs game. However, I have been known to be a bit lager braindead now and again. Before you say it though, NO I’m not on the lager, I’m stone (not stoned) cold sober.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:02
@Gabriel:
The greatest players have been the ones who have stayed and developed with one or two clubs; Kaka, C Ronaldo, Maldini etc
Er, how about Maradona, Rivaldo, Ronaldo (the fat one) — they’ve been journeymen for most part?
August 27th, 2008 at 19:04
@Craig Mc: he was our second best player on Monday and scored a legitimate goal that was wrongly ruled out. If that had counted he would be on the same as Torres so I’m not worried. I’m with you on the drugs thing btw.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:09
@Red Ranter: with the exception of Maradona players do seem to play better when at a club for a while. Rivaldo played his best at Barca and it was all downhill from there. I never really rated/paid attention to Ronaldo so I wouldnt know with him
August 27th, 2008 at 19:13
Guys, we have been on the Rooney debate a thousand times before. Now let’s just let Craig and tevez have their fun bashing our most important attacking player and move on. After all, no amount of arguing is going to change people’s opinion on a blog…
PS from now on I will close all my posts with “Rooney – better than Ronaldo”
Rooney – better than Ronaldo!.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:17
@Red Ranter: Obviously there are the exceptions, i didn’t say All the greatest players? You have to agree that most good players peak at a club they have played in for quite a while(at least two years) and most times when they move on, it’s all downhill from there…
August 27th, 2008 at 19:29
people are gonna hate me for saying this but Fat ronaldo is on a free and there’s no doubting if he regains his fitness and is as sharp as ever he would a great free signing and he’s only 31 we can still get 3 years out of him, Even tho berba would be good £25m for a 27 seems crazy money!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1049593/EXCLUSIVE-Rotund-Ronaldo-verge-signing-Manchester-City-admit-Italians-AC-Milan.html
August 27th, 2008 at 19:34
Andrei, Rooney better than Ronaldo – hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
August 27th, 2008 at 19:38
Liam, Gabriel, UNLIKE Andrei who doesn’t get it, you saw straight away that Craig Mc was once again just winding people up, trying to stir up another hornets nest. Some people are way TOO serious.
Ronaldo MILES better than Rooney.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:40
Viva Ronaldo, Viva Ronaldo,
Better hurry up back, cos we’re playing like cack,
Viva Ronaldo.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:42
@Viz: if we were going to take a chance on a washed up Brazilian I would prefer Adriano. He is somebody who would be world class if he cleaned up his act
August 27th, 2008 at 19:43
Where’s the legends of this blog?. JB, Fred the Red, Stephen, that understand the Craig Mc tease machine, and go with the flow.
RR will probably be on soon to rap my knuckles, so fret not Andrei.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:48
@Craig Mc: How come im not on that legends list
Hehe.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:50
OK i was very blunt. It was a joke (the modric bit, not the carrick bit). Sorry i called him shit, i should have been more constructive. I see carrick as an average player in a good team, where he gets away with it as he is playing alongside great players.
I feel carrick was brought in to fill a gap when we never got john obi mikel to play for us and failed to sign hargreaves. Centre midfield is in transition at the moment, with anderson developing. Carrick is lucky he is playing and i doubt very much fergie finds it ideal.
Carrick is not united quality. As a playmaker, he is not at the same level as the other players in the top teams in the world. Scholes is twice the player he will ever be. Scholes remains our playmaker, the architect of our team. He is still the most intelligent player in england, and really with his age he needs to be playing as a deep-lying midfielder now as he doesn’t have the legs to get up and down the pitch. Until scholes is finished i would gladly take him over carrick in carrick’s natural position. He is a far superior player and when he retires we will need to replace him, carrick’s not up to the job. For me, he isn’t composed enough. Sometimes he plays good quick passes into the strikers, but he doesn’t know when to slow a game down and keep possession. Hopefully possebon comes good as i have been very impressed with him. Veloso at sporting lisbon is a good playmaker. He does not have the defensive qualities he is made out to have but he can boss a game and is very composed.
From a defensive point of view, carrick has quite a good reading of the game and he makes some good interceptions, but he’s not at the level of a hargreaves or even a mascherano, who i think is overrated. Defensively, hargreaves is fantastic and makes carrick look really inadequate.
Anderson will be a much better player than carrick. In future, he will be the driving force of our midfield. He is very positive – direct and always looking to go forward. Compliment this with someone who can slow the game down and who’s always calm and composed. That’s not carrick for me. He will do for the time being and then he will make adequate back-up, but he’s not the quality of player manchester united should settle for.
August 27th, 2008 at 19:53
@Craig Mc: Rooney and Ronaldo are like ying and yang, 2 sides of the same circle etc. They compliment each other beautifully. Rooney does all the donkey work and Ronaldo is there to add the style and glossy finish. Its because of Rooney that Ronaldo has become what he is IMO. However they are always adding new things to their repetoire’s to make it a more complete circle. Beautiful
August 27th, 2008 at 20:03
@Liam: Rooney does none of ronaldo’s work. Rooney does work he doesn’t have to and if he was to just stand up front and not bother when the opposition has the ball you would see no difference in ronaldo’s play. The rest of the midfield cover for ronaldo, he has a free role. He uses his energy when we get the ball and conserves it when we don’t. That’s his job. If anything, rooney should try and copy ronaldo here.
August 27th, 2008 at 20:04
@Liam: its because of rooney, ronaldo has become what he is? your joking to right?
August 27th, 2008 at 20:11
Liam, Ying and Yang, now that I can agree with. Yeah I believe your right mate, those two do bring the best out in each other, They make sweet football music together. I think they feel naked if the other partner in crime is not on the pitch alongside them. The Tev is part of that little together club as well. Those three = Dream Team.
August 27th, 2008 at 20:13
Dan(u)ol, great apologies mate. Of course your part of the old team legends of this blog. How could I have forgotten – so soz lol.
I’m watching the Arsenal match, to see how this Ramsey is as a player.
August 27th, 2008 at 20:15
Most of Rooney’s work is down to his frustration, eg when he looses the ball he runs like a man possesed, after normally a full back commits a needless foul and out comes the inevitable yellow card.
Love the guy to bits though.
ps Auguero scored again
August 27th, 2008 at 20:16
I’m watching the pool game on RTE. Why was it delayed? They didnt have commentators for the first minute so they had John ‘clueless’ Giles and Ronnie YSB Whelan babbling on. The sounds gone again now and Giles just came out with ‘if you get it up to their feet (Keane and Torres) they will form a partnership
Now they have the commentators phoning in the commentary 
August 27th, 2008 at 20:23
@Craig Mc: I was going to give Tevez a special mention but I forgot. I usually fly over for one game a year. Last year it was Wigan at home and it was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. Being beside the goal in the front row of the Stretford end helped
August 27th, 2008 at 20:27
@ tevez: “if that is your real name”, what the hell are you on about?! when you drew comparisons to Veloso it blew holes in your whole argument. you fall into the stereotype of hyping star names, to even put Veloso into the class of Carrick shows a lack of understanding. potential can only get a player so far, but potential is nowhere near the worth of 2 Premier League medals & a Champions League medal. how are you going to rate a player (with definite potential) that plays in a weaker League, for a team that can’t even win their domestic championship above a European Champion & mainstay of the Domestic Champions of what is widely percieved as the best League in Europe.
i have no problem with you expressing your opinion but when you say “i doubt very much Fergie finds it ideal”, what gives you that suspision? the fact that he has played the most games for us in midfield last season or the fact that he doesn’t have an accent above the a in his name?
what i’ve seen of Possebon is impressive but to pin your hopes on a youngster like he outing Carrick is nothing short of lunacy. once again potential can only get you so far.
so Carrick is “not UNITED quality”? let me guess you’d like u to sign Veloso for £30mil & de Rossi from Roma for £40mil? Carrick compliments the UNITED team perfectly & his record for UNITED stands to back that up. to criticise him is fair but to say he is “not UNITED quality” when he blatantly is makes no sense.
he may not be as good as Hargreaves in the tackle but i’d argue he reads the game better. he may not have the driving force of Anderson but he does have a cooler head. that’s what’s so good about the UNITED midfield, they compliment each other & Carrick is an important cog in the UNITED machine.
August 27th, 2008 at 20:29
Standard just came so close to scoring. 2 players clean through on goal and they, excuse the caps GOT IN EACH OTHERS WAY!
August 27th, 2008 at 20:30
this is off topic but i’m just wondering how many times this season will united wear the new blue third kit. once, twice, maybe three times? i mean it will most likely, if not exclusively, be used in european games and how many times will united have to wear it because it clashes with another team that wears red? i don’t think too many. i assume the white away kit will not be worn for european games at all, just like last year’s black away kit. what do you guys think?
August 27th, 2008 at 20:35
@Liam: I am not sure if I want the Dippers to go out, if they do then they have to concentrate on the league, which could be an issue for us. Please someone talk me out of my logic, I fucking hate them more than life its self!
August 27th, 2008 at 20:51
@Craig Mc: hehe thanks mate
August 27th, 2008 at 20:57
@Stephen: benitez wouldn’t be able to win the league if liverpool was the only team in it.
August 27th, 2008 at 20:59
@Primachenko: Ha Ha thnk God for words of sanity!
August 27th, 2008 at 21:03
Forlan scored. We should resign him.
August 27th, 2008 at 21:05
i would proffer that carrick is now as important as Rio and Wayne to the team i.e we are not the same team without him / them. First choice for the centre MD – it is all about keeping and passing the ball
would be up for signing the fat ronaldo for the odd cameo – quite simply the best player ever to put on football boots – ever imho
August 27th, 2008 at 21:09
vidic didnt say that
August 27th, 2008 at 21:10
deny deny deny
I live by that code too vidic hahaha
August 27th, 2008 at 21:36
Oooof!. Lighten up!. I was just… I… well… I don’t know what the hell I was trying to do. It was meant to be light-hearted anyway. Not an attack on Craig, just a response to a wind-up. I guess it didn’t come off…
Rooney – better than Ronaldo
NB about this, I was not joking.
Rooney – better than Ronaldo
August 27th, 2008 at 21:37
@flu3: I doubt fergie finds it ideal because i don’t think carrick is very good and we should have a player of a better standard in his position. What’s wrong with that? It makes sense – it’s just my opinion.
I don’t have to think a player is better because he plays in a better league or for a better team. Like i said, carrick is an average player in a good team. He is not on the same level as his teammates, namely rio, vidic, evra, hargreaves, scholes, ronaldo, tevez, rooney. These players have the quality i expect from an established first team starter. Anderson and nani will in the near future. Carrick does not. When i talk about a player being of ‘united quality’, this is what i mean. From my point of view, it is blatantly obvious carrick is not at the same level. He is not good enough to hold a starting spot at a top club. I don’t put him in the same league as xabi alonso, for instance.
Veloso has impressed me. It doesn’t matter if he plays in a crap league or for a crap team. The best players don’t have to be at the best teams. Tevez signed for us after impressing at west ham. Isn’t berbatov a great player? Riquelme? Arshavin? Benzema is the next big thing and he plays in france. Do you dismiss his potential because he’s only playing in france? Hell, james mccarthy has barcelona looking at him and he plays for bloody hamilton. Players should be judged on ability alone, they should not be handicapped by the club they play for. I think modric is better than carrick. Veloso too.
August 27th, 2008 at 21:40
damn Standard have started playing defensively. Expect a Standard red card or a Liverpool penalty. The ref is on a complete homer
August 27th, 2008 at 21:47
@Liam: Jim Beglin’s impartial views are enlightening also, BBC have Hanson and Lawro, Sky have Rednapp and Gonzo sorry Thompson who do we have, er fuck all conspiracy!!!!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 21:56
@Stephen: yeah, i realised that too!!. why are Scouse supporters allover Tv football media. Out of all of ‘em tho, it’ll have to be Andy Gray dat winds me up the most. He couldn’t be more biased if he tried
feckin twat!! 
August 27th, 2008 at 21:58
I love the fact that they didnt even bother with this on BBC 1 or 2,hell Dunphy didnt even show up for the RTE coverage
August 27th, 2008 at 21:59
@Gabriel: Andy gray is the best football pundit around by a mile.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:00
@Gabriel: I forgot Souness is also on Sky, Mick Quinn is a scouser on Talkshit and Alan Green on 5 live is a big Liverpool fan ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 22:03
Liverpool can’t even score a goal against Liege in 180mins of football… pathetic!. To think Torres turned us down for that hell hole of unacheivement. Don’t know fate is worse, them not qualifying for the Champions league and making a push for 3rd(seriously, that’s the highest they can go) or them making it and dropping out in the second round…
August 27th, 2008 at 22:07
Liverpool refuse to give the ball back. Cunts.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:09
apparently the ‘crazy, deluded Standard manager just lost the plot’ this is great
August 27th, 2008 at 22:10
Is Kuyt rhyming slang for something? If not should be!
Oh I forgot Paul Walsh played for them too!!!!!!!!! Ok I will stop now!
August 27th, 2008 at 22:14
@tevez: seriously tevez, have u heard him doing commentary in a United game? He might be a good pundit, but it is blatantly obvious the guy dislikes United. Even more so is his outspoken love for the scousers; when Gerrard scored that screamer in the FA Cup, the guy literally ejaculated on set!.
He might be a good pundit n all but at least try to hide your affiliation/bias when trying to ’supposedly’ deliver unbiased, fair commentary for games.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:16
btw, any link on the internet for this scouse horrorshow? it’ll be funny to watch ‘em not qualify… hopefully gerrard, torres or benitez will do a JT and sob their eyes out
August 27th, 2008 at 22:17
@Gabriel: To be honest I think Rednapp is better than him @ least he is more honest and argued with Gray on sky when Mascherano was sent off against us, which I thought fair play to him.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:22
@Stephen: yeah, that was even one of his most biased comments ever!! Can’t believe i forgot that one!. Redknapp looked like he was gonna slug him! lol It’s the fact that he doesn’t even try to diguise it that grinds my gears. how could he have justified mascherano not gettin sent off in that match?
August 27th, 2008 at 22:22
@Gabriel: I’ve honestly never noticed a particular dislike for united. He does know his stuff, more so than any other pundit i can think of. He did go on and on with that drivel about gerrard one time which made no sense whatsoever. That was hilarious.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:24
@Gabriel: He absolutly loves Gerrard you mentioned the Cup Final but do you remember the Olympicacos commentry!
August 27th, 2008 at 22:32
FUCK!!!
August 27th, 2008 at 22:32
@tevez: then you haven’t been listening properly mate(no offense). the guy does it all the time, little side comments like when we get a 50-50 decision in our favor and other big ones, like the mascherano sending off at home against his beloved scousers (he actually had the nerve to say it wasn’t deserved
); even jamie redknapp, a liverpool faithful disagreed with him.
He however knows his stuff, there’s no doubt, but he’s a biased scouse-supporting twat (excuse my language)
August 27th, 2008 at 22:32
well…that took some time
1-0 liverpool
August 27th, 2008 at 22:34
@Liam: feckin kuyt!!! can’t believe Liverpool will get away with yet another great escape!! Bet Andy Gray is jerkin off at the moment lol
August 27th, 2008 at 22:37
@tevez: the whole, “my opinion” argument is an over-used one on the net. how can you have an opinion on someones thoughts (i.e. Fergie’s thoughts on Carrick) & more so believe it to be a negative one when he’s never had anything but good to say about the man. how can i respect/accept someone’s opinion when it’s based around an assumption with the weight & gravitas of thin air. this has nothing to do with me not accepting your opinion, it has to do with the fact i think you’re wrong.
re: your final paragraph.
) you try to find fault in my argument & nibble @ it as if it was a bone. i acknowledged Veloso’s potential (re-read my post). i simply said that i put far more weight behind a player that has a resume that proves he’s a winner against the “undoubted potential” of yet another European prospect.
did i say i didn’t understand his potential. yet again (as with most net users these days
my reasoning for mentioning the League he played in is, how can you rate somebody that plays consistently against inferior opposition (in regards to BWIN) against a player that keeps his place in the best team in Europe, in the best Leagues in Europe. Veloso hasn’t been tested at the level Carrick has consistently so the point of mentioning him seemed. . . pointless. who was talking about Benzema, Riquelme or Arshavin?! yet again another defence mechanism; i never slated the league he played in or his “potential ability” i simply question his resume & the comparison.
you keep rating Carrick against Anderson & Hargreaves in their better areas but you continually ignore the fact that Carrick is better than them in some areas. i like all 3 of the players but find it sad that you don’t even credit Carrick in areas he blatantly excels above the 2. you seem to have a ignorant view to Carrick.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:45
‘they deserved it in the end, Standard gave it a go but weren’t good enough in the end’ Thats Giles’ story. He must have missed the first leg and the first half tonight when Liverpool were second best. Standard missed a peno in the 1st leg and had the better chances tonight. I still can’t believe that Liverpool get away with it for the 3rd game in a row. God i wish we were playing them this weekend
August 27th, 2008 at 22:48
@Gabriel: I think he’s quite fair and he analyses things objectively. He’s not always quick to compliment united, but when they’re playing well he does say so. He was very complimentary against portsmouth with regards to ball retention, rooney, tevez, etc. while some united fans preferred to talk about us not creating more chances, scholes passing sideways too much, rooney doing his best but not effective enough, tevez dropping too deep, etc. Gray never mentioned any of this. Still, i will be listening for it in future, perhaps i will catch a snide comment.
Redknapp knows his stuff too, when i think about it.
August 27th, 2008 at 22:53
@tevez: Sometimes I wonder why you support us mate, to say Scholes pssing sideways too much, Tevez dropping too deep and Rooney doing his best and not effective! Scholes is the best player we have produced in the past 10/15 years, no question.
We won the double with these players, don’t forget that mate!
August 27th, 2008 at 23:05
Andy Gray commenting on the Pompey/UNited match Monday. United were 1-0 up and leaving the field for half time. Gray said, “Well United will not be able to defend a one goal lead, Portsmouth will come back and score. United can’t hold out.” Hahahahahahahahah – Rio and Vid must have heard him make that comment, but they sure got one over him and his poor predictions.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:09
Can anybody please tell me why the feck the Scousers, Arsenal and Chelski pinch all our feckin songs?. Haven’t they got any imagination of their own?. Scousers roaring tonight, only one Fernando to our Ronnie son. Arsenal same thing, and Arsenal chanting “Hand Ball2, Hand Ball as our lot do. I mean, are they so thick they cannot form their own tunes, songs etc. Or am I just being petty?.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:13
@Craig Mc: It is down to having a very low IQ, I believe the average in Merseyside is 6, and in North London, to their credit fair slightly better, at 6.5.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:24
@Stephen:
i was born in enfield.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:27
@dan(u-ol): Sorry mate, I heard Enfield was an exculsion zone and IQ’s are very high there!
August 27th, 2008 at 23:36
Stephen said to Dan(u)ol, “I heard Enfield was an exclusive zone and IQ’s are very high there.” You wouldn’t know it from Dan(u)ols posts!.
Haha – just teasing Dan(u)ol honest, don’t send me a letter bomb in retaliation mate.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:46
@flu3: What i mean is i’d imagine the manager isn’t satisfied with having a player who is not of united first team calibre playing in united’s first team. Is it unreasonable to feel the manager would not be happy with a sub-standard player as his best option?
At what point did i mention veloso’s ‘potential’? I said i rate him higher than carrick. I am basing that on his current ability. Same with modric. Carrick is not a bad player at all, i just don’t think he’s good enough for a regular place in united’s team based on what i have seen. He has played and won with united for the past two years but as an individual he just doesn’t have the same ability that our important players have.
Once again, the reason carrick has his place in the best team in europe (which we aren’t) is because of circumstance. We couldn’t get hargreaves to start off with, we lost mikel, hargreaves after signing and now still has trouble with injuries, scholes is old and anderson, his replacement, is still developing. Good timing for carrick. Luck. That’s why he currently seems to hold down a place in united’s team.
I use arshavin as an example because he too plays in an inferior league against, and with, inferior opposition and yet he is clearly a class act. He is a great player who, unlike carrick, has the ability to warrant being in a top side’s starting line-up. A quality player playing for an inferior club is still a quality player. An average player playing with outstanding talents is still an average player.
With regards to the comparison, i see in scholes a better passer and playmaker and i see in hargreaves a better player in all aspects of defending. Carrick is better than scholes defensively but we have hargreaves for that. Similarly, carrick is better at playmaking than hargreaves but we have scholes for that. Carrick doesn’t have an area where he excels.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:49
roll on the end of the transfer window.
August 27th, 2008 at 23:54
@Stephen: I’m not saying any of that mate, i was making the point that andy gray was very positive towards united when analysing the game against portsmouth because he was being accused of being biased against united. All the negatives are things i remember being said here but not by me, and andy gray never mentioned them either. Just to clarify, i don’t agree with any of the negatives.
Hmmm. ‘Sometimes i wonder why you support us’. What else have i done like?
August 27th, 2008 at 23:56
tevez, Carrick offers a lot. He is a very balanced midfield player who reads the play well enough to be good defensively, but is also composed on the ball allowing us to keep possession. The value he adds is his Hollywood passes that start so many of our moves. Scholes is better at the short passes and clever flicks. Carrick is good for the raking long passes. That is why Carrick and Scholes have been our first choice central midfield partnership for the past two seasons.
August 28th, 2008 at 0:07
@Stephen: @Craig Mc: your to funny for your own good lol.
August 28th, 2008 at 0:16
@colver: He does read the play well and his strength is his long range passes, particularly zipping the ball into a striker’s feet, although he also enjoys the occasional ball over the top. I wouldn’t say he is particularly good at generally dictating a game though, and he is not as composed or intelligent as i would like. Take away scholes and i think we have a team who would be prone to conceding possession too much.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:37
@tevez – Carrick’s biggest strength is his ability to gel nicely with other players in midfield by keeping it simple. Scholes and Carrick whenever they play, have this innate understanding of each other and keep ticking the ball between each other very nicely.
Having world-class players at each position doesnt mean a world-class team always. So you may rate Alonso higher than Carrick but still Carrick does the job perfectly for United.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:01
@tevez: after reading your last post, i trully can’t see there being any reasoning with you.
when you “rate” Veloso (who is nothing more than potential @ best right now) above Carrick in the current term whilst i myself think Veloso is sub-Carrick it’s best we agree to dis-agree. you ask, “Is it unreasonable to feel the manager would not be happy with a sub-standard player as his best option?” yes when you haven’t got a clue if sir Alex feels he’s “sub-standard” or not, you simply can’t vouch for sir Alex in regards to his feelings on Carrick, simple as. you value your opinion far higher than you should. we all have a right to one but you can’t base an argument on sir Alex’s.
i like fans that can look @ their own teams with a sense of cynicism but when taken to the extreme, they prove to be fools. you argument against Carrick may be a good one but the fact you’re so ignorant in regards to him nullifies your points.
you continued to bring new arguments to the table in an attempt to avoid the fact your initial comments were pure nonsense. you can have it out with Stephen ’cause i’m done.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:23
RE: VIDA
People, stop panicing (or was that just me). Vidic has said that he made those comments a while back and that they’ve been taken out of context. It’s on the skysports website. But honestly, I think it’s natural for foreign players to find things difficult when they first join an english team. Even Evra came forward and criticised english weather and food. I think that after a while, players settle down. Papers like the telegraph and all those rags bring things like this up to coincide with things like the Ronaldo fiasco! They’re just trying to sell more papers!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:04
anybody knows who the fuck Tony O’Neill is?! other forums hated this guy.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:12
tevez, i agree Carrick is a lot more effective when he is paired alongside Scholes. For that reaon I still feel Scholes and Carrick is our first choice central midfield even when Anderson and Hargreaves are fit. Scholes dictates the tempo, giving Carrick the time to spray passes and it works very very well and is integral to the system we played last season.
Really though when Scholes retires I think we will need a playmaker to replace him and Carrick probably will not be up to the task. But then again neither will Hargreaves or Anderson. So it will be interesting to see what our midfield will be post-Scholes.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:48
@Craig Mc: I guess its something we just need to get used to. After all, they pinched “You’ll never walk alone also from us”. (Unfortunately, trying to tell that to a scouse is like commiting the cardinal sin).
August 28th, 2008 at 8:55
@colver:
Wasn’t that why we added Anderson to the squad to replace Scholes?
I think Fergie will go for a Carrick Anderson combination this season.
One thing has to be said though the goals return from the central midfield is extremely poor.
August 28th, 2008 at 14:01
I do not see Anderson as a natural replacement for Scholes even if will end up taking up one of the central midfield slots. Anderson is more of a box-to-box midfielder than a playmaker. Do we need a playmaker to play alongside Anderson? Or would we do better with a combative partner to replicate the Ballack Lampard partnership? Personally I thought Anderson and Hargreaves looked very good the couple of times they played together.
Carrick and Anderson I don’t think would work because Carrick needs someone alongside him to dictate the tempo so he can express his passing range.
August 28th, 2008 at 14:03
@colver: That was my point, we need another playmaker when scholes goes.
@AlphaRS: Anderson takes scholes’ place positionally, as the team’s attacking central midfielder. We will still need to replace his qualities as a playmaker.
Carrick anderson combo will be a little wasteful in possession, and scholes is still our stand-out midfielder for now.
@flu3: I didn’t base my argument on fergie’s feelings at all. I’m don’t ignore carrick’s abilities. My initial arguments made complete sense.