Said Giggs, as he indulges in self-deprecation accepting the award for BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. Widespread media reports suggest this was a surprise as he beat “supposed favourite” — and formula one driver — Jensen Button. Tee hee!

“I grew up watching this programme. To see the people that have won it and to be here is unbelievable.” He went on to add, “I am playing for the greatest manager that has ever lived and I’m playing for the greatest club. Perhaps I’ve become more appreciated as I have got older.”

Well done, Giggsy! Hopefully, your next stop is knighthood.

BBC link to article, which also contains video of his acceptance speech. [Tiny bit of irony as Freddie Flintoff, a Man City supporter, has had to announce Giggsy winning the prize.]

We continue to edge closer to United related news, but this was too difficult to pass up. When the King speaks we have to listen:

“I think that Raymond Domenech is the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI. If it was up to me, I’d put (Bordeaux coach) Laurent Blanc in charge of the France team,” the former Manchester United hero continued.

“He continues the season with Bordeaux, he wins the league with Bordeaux and he wins the World Cup! I’m not the only one who thinks that… What shocked me most wasn’t the handball, honestly,” said Cantona.

“What shocked me most was that at the end of the match, in front of the television cameras, this player (Henry) went and sat down next to an Irish player to console him, even though he’d screwed them three minutes earlier.

“If I’d been Irish, he wouldn’t have lasted three seconds.”

Just two clips for today. Some curious bit of stuff from Ferguson.

Continue reading “Ferguson on mid-season trips: last season & this season”

United have released a list of their Champions’ League squad members, and importantly, Owen Hargreaves is a part of it. The 25-man squad also includes Kiko Macheda, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson. However, Anderson has been relegated to the secondary list of additional 10 members which includes Welbeck and Evans.

Curiously, Zoran Tosic doesn’t even feature in any of the lineups.

25-man squad: 1.Van der Sar, 2.Neville, 3.Evra, 4.Hargreaves, 5.Ferdinand, 6.Brown, 7.Owen, 9.Berbatov, 10.Rooney, 11.Giggs, 12.Foster, 13.Park, 15.Vidic, 16.Carrick, 17.Nani, 18.Scholes, 20.Fabio, 21.Rafael, 22.O’Shea, 24.Fletcher, 25.Valencia, 26.Obertan, 27.Macheda, 28.Gibson, 29.Kuszczak.

Additional players registered: 8.Anderson, 19.Welbeck, 23.J.Evans, 31.C.Evans, 33.Hewson, 36.Gray, 37.Cathcart, 38.Zieler, 39.Chester, 40.Amos.

Edit: Another strange exclusion is Richie de Laet

Edit 2: according to UEFA rules additional players could be added i.e., any player born on or after 1 January 1988 who has been eligible to play for the club for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday.

It seems some people find it hard to move on. We all acknowledge that sometimes, in a relationship, both parties might have been at fault and, like adults, we say what we have to say, and move on.

The relationship between clubs and players, players and managers and players and fans is not that different in essence. [Of course, if a player spites his fans, then the gloves are usually off, and we see even mild-mannered, cultured adults turn juvenile -- but I digress.]

Carlos Tevez, falls in the second category. And, by recent evidence, has shown little signs of growing up.

Continue reading “Carlos Tevez continues to spout venom”

The Mirror carries the story today according to which, Antonio Valencia flew in last night for a medical to sign for United. It’s only the Mirror that’s running the story, sans quotes, but considering the Ronaldo transfer was confirmed at the end of last week, it was only a matter of time this happened.

The sum quoted is £16m which is what I have a problem with. Personally, any sum over £12-14m is too much for a winger who’s been consistent, but not outstanding. True, he’s an out and out winger and does give us some width.

Continue reading “United to overpay for Valencia this week?”

“Manchester United is my home. Even when I say my heart is here people still make things up. But this is where I want to play.” – May 24, 2009

Question asked yesterday: “When did you know you would be going to Real Madrid?”

“After we won the European Cup I thought there is no more I can achieve here. And when you have done all you can, you know it is time for a new challenge.

The News of the world article says it all really.

Note: Comments closed on this one. Enough discussed about Ronaldo already. For any discussions, please head to the previous post.

So it has come to pass. Manchester United have announced that Carlos Tevez has decided to reject United’s offer to make his loan move permanent. Here’s the statement:

Continue reading “Breaking down the United-Tevez-Kia tug of war”

As reported in most dailies around, United have finally got a shirt sponsor on board to replace AIG. What’s with the club’s recent obsession with insurance companies, really? I guess the answer is £s;80m

Anyway, the facts…

Continue reading “Manchester United get Aon Money”

While Red Ranter drowns his sorrows in a skanky C-list celebrity (his excuse), Stephen Darwin, who hosts the Soccerlens podcast and the Manchester United podcast for Football FanCast steps, into the breach with a look at what Manchester United’s finest did during the international break.

An international break tends to frustrate me something chronic. Especially when key players are involved in meaningless friendlies against little-known nations with absolutely no chance of getting anything from the game (bar the match-day shirt of one of their prestigious opponents). 

Although after two consecutive defeats (need I remind you), this international break may have actually arrived at just the right time. The lads can now go away with their respective nations, clear their heads somewhat and return with that burning desire to compete on all fronts once again.

So with much of the United squad involved in international matches over the weekend, here’s a brief round-up of who, what, when, where, why and how.

Continue reading “Have a break, have a Premier League title”